LG Dare VX-9700
Phone Scoop Review
Jul 10, 2008 by Eric M. Zeman
LG's Dare is its best touch-screen phone yet, but it's not perfect. See what shines, and what fizzles. read review ›
User Reviews
Average Ratings
I took the Dare! I left Sprint!
Great phone! No complaints and very pleased with the Dare. It's way better than the Samsung Instinct and Verizon's service is way better than Sprint's.
The Dare delivers the goods as it's very well built phone with nice features.
Dare me again....
I got the Dare in late summer 2008 and used it for about 3 or 4 months. I was stuck between this and the Voyager Titanium. After a couple weeks of contemplation I decided to take the Dare. (No pun intended.)
Once again LG did not let me down with there amazing device.
PROS:
1. Excellent touch screen. It was very responsive with a very easy to use interface on it.
2. The Flo Technology on it amazes me. Going through pictures and menus was a breeze.
3. The camera at 3.2 MP was something to behold with the Auto Focus, face detection and flash. I never carried my camera with me.
4. Very slim form factor. (one of the main reasons that I took it over the Voyager) It can easily fit into any pocket.
6. Texting was a breeze.
7. VCast videos were amazing.
8. Very good battery life.
Cons:
1. The web browser on the device is a little hard to use. But still functional.
2. Texting is a breeze as long as you do not use the Virtu Keyboard. I found it very hard to use. But on the up side..... using word on the device is amazing and compensates for it.
3. I am having a hard time thinking of cons for the device so I am going to stop.
Honestly it is one of the best phones there is on the market from VZW....and trust me I deal with phones for a living...I only got rid of the phone because I was required to get a Blackberry to Sync with our server. If it wasn't for that....I WOULD NEVER OF GIVEN THE PHONE UP!(I honestly really miss it!)
Pretty decent phone
I just got the Dare for my B/day 2 days ago and so far it works very well.
I originally wanted a Storm but the added $30.00 per month charge turned me off.
The Pros:
Nice sized screen
Easy to use keyboard
Great sound quality
Easy to organize favorites
GREAT speakerphone......... best I have ever used.
Cons:
Camera shutter is EXTREMELY slow
Camera is VERY hard to use..... does not take good macro shots at all!
No place to store addresses
Not enough themes
Accelerometer only works on 2 or 3 applications
All in all this is a phone worth the money but I look forward to new software up-grades.
IF the Storm didn't want so much for the monthly Net charges I would get it instead in a hearbeat....... its a MUCH better phone!
Ok but not great its still LG
well what can i say, the lg dare is great for the features, but i still ran into the same problem's like the chocolate2. i am on my second dare and so far so good. the first one had blue tooth issue's, that would make my voice cut in and out while talking. so i took the phone back and got another one, blue tooth problem fixed, and with the software update the touch screen is a lot better, but the earpiece on the phone don't work sometimes. i got to shake the phone in order to get it to work. but i hate holding a phone up to my head any way so I'm not going to worry about that to much. would have gave it a 5 if i didn't have to return it to get another one. the problem is that the phone makers are rushing product just to get it in the stores, when they need to take their time and make sure the product has no bugs before going to the customer. so to sum it up get the phone, its not bad, but you might have to go threw a few before you get one the works right.
i want to give this a good review so badly,...
but i can't.
i'm not sure what to rate this.
it has fantastic features and specs that i love, but i've owned it for two days and have had numerous problems.
i'm a big texter.
and i find it extremely hard to text on.
i'm 14, you think i would be able to figure it out.
but it's just plain hard.
maybe i need some getting used to, but for now.....
camera. it's pretty good. good features and such, really love the panorama, but so far when it's kind of dark the colors get a bit distorted. the flash is fantastic though. also, timer. my old phone i could set somewhere, but this won't stand up on itself :\ my mom wanted a family picture, but she ended up taking it herself.
internet: it freezes. a lot. i go on myspace and everything, but it freezes every other second and i have to take out the battery. youtube is a plus though (: and the fact that you can get full websites.
and now for the big problem:
98$ at walmart. fantastic deal, right!?
i was using it at school all day (and let me add, battery life is very good), but during seventh period the touch screen just stopped. every other side button worked and all, just the touch screen wouldn't. took battery out, searched google, tried everything. less than 24 hours after using the phone. i took it to a verizon store, and they said they can't give me a new one since i got it at walmart. but they gave me a phone that could be a remake or something from the manufacturer? i don't really get that, but whatever... it works.
overall, the positives:
totally customizable,. favorites and movable icons, very neat.
drawing pad thing? it's awesome.
you can draw letters you want to text, it's awesomee.
speakerphone isn't that great though :(
otherwise sound is good.
copy&paste text features, and you can add a number from your contacts easily.
also, it turns almost every way :D impressive.
i think that's it.
so if it wasn't for all the problems i've had,
it's an amazing phone.
:p
email with any questions (:
motionlessriding@aim.com
LG DARE
Bought the DARE for it's features. Overall I like it but buyers need to be aware of the cost to own it.
PRO: Love VZ navigator. Touch is nice.
CON: Verizon costs to use the features is high. Internet browser is small and not easy to use. No way to put addresses in your contacts. Keyboard rotation is not dependable. Sometimes it doesn't work sometimes it is very slow. I would advise setting your lock to 7 sec as you can accidentally activate your browser and have to pay for megabytes. There is no way to lock the feature without losing internet and picture messaging. The most irritating problem is the location of the end key. If you answer right handed your face can touch the key and terminate your call. This happens to me several times a day. Screen holds finger prints and face prints. Very thin hard to hold. Can not balance it hands free. Placement of side keys causes activations when you try and hold it.
LG Dare is not a Smart Phone!!
Okay
Enough trying to compare Dare to PDA or a Smart Phone. Yes I've had Treo and had Blackberry. It's all good for their purpose and they all have different functions. They are not same nor they may ever be same.
Something you can do an something you can't do. Before I bought a Dare I was leaning toward the HTC Touch since I've had Treo 700wx I figure why bother with just normal phone. But I kind a glad I bought a dare cause it's small and simple to use and with Verizon Back up Assistant my contact is always in reach. I don't have to reply on Outlook ONLY. Also Dare has faster web and sending picture and texting is cheaper than paying a data plans. Now remember with smart phone you have to have a data plan and extra more for text service if you text and e-mail alot. Only draw back I see is file attaching when sending a e-mail. I see no other benefits.
Battery last longer, it's small. And my phone hasn't lock up nor freezes.
Seriously, is this a best phone they ever made? Probably not. But I think it's pretty up there if you compare touch screen phone. Couple of my buddy has an iphone, it's a nice phone but ATT service and coverages are terrible. If Verizon carry iPhone I might get it only if they make it little smaller.
Pro: Size, Web Speed, Battery, screen and finally no more Verizon UI.
Cons: Screen is a Finger Print magnet
On very Bright day screen is tough to see but that's all the touch screen phone.
Verdict: Great Phone! if you are looking for an multimedia phone and don't want to carry a Smart Phone that require a data plans.
Ps: Did you know with Smart Phone, if you want to send a picture messages you get charge as a data plan? If you don't buy their seperate package it will cost you a $$$ alot a $$$. I sent a 6 photos when I fiorst got the treo without a data plan, it cost me $37.00. So make sure you get a data package. For Dare all you need is a $15.00 for unlimited data plus what ever the text packages you need. I have $5 and it's enough for me.
LG DARE SUCKS
Wow, after reading these reviews you would think either this was the best phone on the market, or a whole lot of people who work for LG, i would take the later. First phone will not sync with a computer, no contacts calendar, just as a usb device. Yes that is pretty major I have an HTC Touch CDMA Rev:a 6.1 and it syncs all my outlook calendar, email, contacts, now I have all the information on a mobile device as if I was at home. LG gives you a stylus but no spot on phone to carry it! WHAT is with that?? The screen is not bad but big fingers a stylus is nice. Yes it does have a nice screen when turned sideways gives you a much larger keyboard that is nice. Now playing with the dare and I see no way to search the folders, I am sure i dragged and dropped some pictures on memory card, its says it has almost a gig of stuff but no way to see them and no way to search or browse the folders. Yes I know my Touch is far from perfect but I have played with the and I own a Touch this Dare is from from an iPhone! When Bell does their swith before the Olympics I will be going iPhone.
Not so much
I bought this phone the end of July. I was so excited because of the cool "touch screen" feature, of course!!
CONS
1.) The very first day I had it my friend called me on it and it never rang. It wasn't until I talked to her later that she asked why I didn't answer my phone and I said it rang.
2.) I am a big texter, so of course before I even made my first phone call, I wrote a text! It was a pain in the butt to text. I had to punch in the letters several times before it would type. It was not very touch sensitive at all!
3.) Everytime I was on the phone people would ask why I was echoing. It was the phone! I started reading reviews that said other people had issues with echoing, so it wasn't just my phone.
4.) Vcast and Web use was a nice feature but I couldn't get the screen to detect me hitting a button. It was so aggravating!
PROS
1.) Touchscreen was an awesome feature!
2.) It was easy to use.
That was about the only pros!
Needless to say I returned the phone.
LG DARE VS. VOYAGER
I had the Verizon Voyager and loved it, but i'm one of those guys that can't keep the same phone for more than 6 months so I told verizon that my voyager was acting up and after getting the phone replaced 4 times they gave me a dare. I have had no major problems with the dare, it does take a little while to get used to coming from a voyager which has a actual full qwerty keyboard.
The dare has a very nice Customizable UI similer to the updated version that can downloaded to the older voyagers.
Some of the features that you can do with the dare that you cannot do with the voyager are:
Customize your home screen & create shortcuts by draging icons from your menu to your home screen.
When you ignore a phone call you will get a message asking you if you would like to send a quick text.
A added favorites tab on your home screen that you can put your favorite contacts with photos in for quick access.
When playing music you can now exit out and be able to navigate through the phone while having a menu on the home screen that allows you to change the song, Stop/pause, and play music. Also there is a CoverFlo feature similer to the Iphone. It is not as good as the Iphone, you cannot slide your finger threw and select songs, it only lets you go one at a time and it plays the song every time you slide your finger.
Pros
-3.2 Mega Pixel camera W/Flash
-Sensors on the front of the phone that turn the screen off while you are on the phone and have it up to your ear so that you accidentally hang up or push any buttons
-Customizable home screen
-Very nice battery life
-Excellent sound quality
-Nice responsive touch screen
-Quick text option when you ignore a phone call
Cons
-No Visual Voice Mail (I'm sure there will be a update for that soon)
-No Mobile TV
-No Mobile Banking feature
-Texting is hard with having to put symbols in
I am a sprint employee but I carry a Verizon phone because I have been amazed by both the Voyager & the Dare
