LG VX-8100
Phone Scoop Review
Nov 17, 2005 by Jesse Lewin
In-depth review of LG's mainstream EV-DO phone for 2005. read review ›
User Reviews
Average Ratings
Minor annoyances, but a Solid Phone
I bought this phone since I loved the VX6000 but was dissatisfied with the Motorola V710 and I hoped this would be the best of both worlds.
I was initially disappointed that the MP3 player was not functional, but I hung in there for the updated software, and I'm glad I did. Here's my rundown after the Version 4 update generally in order of importance):
The Good:
-Solid build quality
-Substantial feel, nicely contoured body and comfortable size
-Quick, intuitive menu interface and phonebook
-Excellent, loud speakerphone
-Excellent, very loud stereo speakers with '3D' sound
-Good full function MP3 player with terrific sound
-Pretty good bluetooth interface which auto connects to headset
-MiniSD card slot with sturdy plastic/rubber cover
-Camera excellent outdoors in daylight, pretty good indoors with good lighting, close ups OK with flash (which doubles as a great flashlight!)
-Quick, easy to use messaging
-Excellent calendar and scheduling menu
-Quick, sharp Mobile Web interface with EV-DO (when available)
-Powerful vibrate
-Very loud ringtones with the ability to set any MP3 as a ringtone (via
The Bad:
-Mediocre battery life
-Reception not as good as Motorola phones (Verizon, New York City)
-Not as many phonebook fields as VX6000
-Can not enlarge time on outer screen
-Speaker phone only operates with phone open
-No playlists on MP3 player
-Not enough volume increments on MP3 player
-No charging cradle available
-Crippled bluetooth functionality (Thanks to Verizon)
-1 second camera delay (see forum)
-Can not change annoying red top and bottom bars on both screens
Obviously I found more to like than not. They packed a lot of features into this phone and the biggest sacrifice is the battery life, which is significantly worse than other phones I have owned. The other bad one for me was losing a few phonebook fields, which I used to use for addresses on my VX6000. Overall a great phone and I expect to keep it for a long time.
Exchanged it for the UTStarcom8940
Ok its a great phone in its own right, but i thought that the design wasn't the "cutest". The main reason why i exchanged my 8100 was because of its horrid design and the bulkyness.
PROS:
+ Excellent Camera in light, one of Verizon's best
+ Disco lights were PIMP!
+ Both screens crisp and clear
+ Long battery life
+ Can read txt messages from outer screen
+ uummmm thats about it
CONS:
- Stero Speakers? I think not! Sounds are far to choppy and cuts in and out, NOT full duplex like it says. I had a better speakerphone in my old 6100!
- Video quality is horrid! Very choppy and the picture drags, like a foreign film
- Bulky
- Blue is ugly (my opinion)
- Can't view slideshow of pix on the outer screen like my old 8000 used to (GOODNESS i miss that phone!)
- Camera is too fuzzy when in a dim room
- Buttons are too loud when txting ::CLICK CLICKITY CLICK:: making it obvious when i tct in class
Ok maybe my rating is a lil far-fetched, but its what i experienced in the 12 days that i used this phone. The main reason why i exhanged it for the cdm8940 was because of the slim & compact build. Also instead of being made from some plastic-ish material that LG is used to, its actually made of a mettalish material like the RAZR, making it a tough lil guy. What i miss most about the 8100 is the NICEEE camera. The 8940's pics are good too though. Even though UTStarcom is mostly known for their terrible speakerphones, at least it is very clear and audible... and its a TRUE FULL DUPLEX!!!! Other than that, i like my 8940 somewhat more than the 8100, but the 8100 is an awsome fone, so dont get me wrong!
Belt clip NOT included
I can't believe LG short-change this phone by not including a belt clip. Every flip phones come with a belt clip and a charger. You can buy one for additional cost.
Great feature sets - okay "phone"
I was waiting for the LG VX-8100 to come to market so i can get my mother a phone to replace her old VX6000. The 6000 has wonderful reception and was pretty good in terms of features when it came out a few years ago.
After a day of usage of the 8100, my mother loves the features but she has had more dropped calls in one day with that phone than she had with the entire time she had with the 6000. The voice quality is not great when i call her. Her voice would go in and out and it was very hard to understand.
Besides the call quialty and reception, the feature set is great. Yes, mp3 player not working but i was using it for Bluetooth and other functions. The screen is very nice - both inside and outside. The general ergonmoics is good. Battery life isn't great b/c of the screen and EVDO. The build quailty was great for a phone and it felt solid.
I have owned many phones and this seems like the worst LG ever. I currently own the Samsung i730 and loving it. I have owned over 9 cell phones from verizon and I think the VX8100 was a big step backward for call quialty. If the phone didn't drop that many calls, i would be more inclined to give this phone a higher rating.
I haven't used the camera yet. It seems okay though.
If you really need good call quality - depending on your area (mine is San Jose, CA) the i think you should be careful of this phone. IT might work - it might not. Otherwise, feature set - its great!
UGLIEST WORST PERFORMER EVER!!!
First off, the phone is the ugliest Verizon carries. It does not even function as a phone. Froze up twice within first day, dropped calls, reception bad, call volume way too low. LG messed up on this one. Who the hell designed that piece of junk anyways? It looks so cheap. Go with the Moto e815. Much better phone, reception, sound quality, features sink 8100. If you have had bad luck with Moto, give the 815 a try. You will be glad you did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Needs major improvements!
I hated to do give it a 0 , but this phone needs a major overhaul. It really has the potential to be a winner if all bugs get fixed. What a let down! Had to return for Motorola E815-what a difference!
PROS
Classy design
Speakerphone not too bad
Not much else
CONS
Audio goes in and out, poor sound
Reception isn't great, no retractable antenna
Camera pictures are very grainy
MP3 player is useless
VCast very slow(maybe Verizon's fault)
Keypad feel
THIS PHONE SUX
I hate this phone get the moto e815 instead there the same thing except moto has a sleeker look, better battery, and better reeption, and the moto costes less What kind of idiot would buy this phone over the moto.
PROS over the moto
-more memory
-easier menu navigation but who cares
Cons
-low battery
-bulky crappy look
-costs alot
-reception sux like all lg models
-MP3 doesn't work????
if ur an lg freak get the 7000 best lg phone out there if ur not get MOTO E815 best phone out there
Very Disappointed
Not what I expected:
I really tried to like this phone. I bought the 8000 with the expectations that I would immediately switch into the 8100.
I didn't give the 8000 much thought but its turned out to be an exceptional phone. Unfortunately I wanted Bluetooth, I wanted an SD card etc.... I just don't know what they were thinking making this product.
Here's whats right:
- Its got all the features: EVDO, VCast, Bluetooth, Camera with 1.3 Megapixel and an SD slot.
- I'm pleased with the camera quality which seems to be superior to the Motorola 815
Here's whats wrong:
- Its an all digital phone with a stub non removable antenna. Think LG 4500 reception quality. 'All-Digital' I can handle but the stub antenna is not only more dangerous to use, the quality is about 1/3 of an antenna that extends. I can tell a HUGE difference with the LG 8000 that does extend.
- The speaker quality is poor. I try to show friends some downloaded music videos or VCast Encore sections and I'm embarrassed by the static this phone produces.
- I can accept the MP3 is crippled until Verizon decides to release a new way to get a buck from their customer "Music on Demand" but I'm pretty sore that with the 8100 you can no longer create your own ringtones. Anything downloaded, sent from friends, crated with the sound option will go to a separate section than ringtones. They can be played but not saved as a ringtone. Only the ones your purchase through Get It Now can you use as a tone. I can accept that Verizon is partly responsible but the LG 8000 doesn't do this, neither does the Motorola 815.
In an attempt to compete with the Motorola E815 and Samsung 970, LG is intending to discontinue the 8000 all together for this new model.
I returned the 8100 and going to wait for the Samsung 970 in hopes it meets all my needs. I've been able to try one out so far very pleased. If not then I'll stick with the 8000 for awhile as it makes just a great phone.
Bad reception!!!
Pros
nice build
nice external screen
good interface
I'm not sure what it is with LG lately but they have just gone down hill with call clarity and reception. Prior to this phone I have owned the LG 4400 and 6000 both great phones. The 6100 and 8100 have the most horrible reception problems. Got the Motorola E815 works like a charm, very strong reception.
Cons
Very very poor reception!
Yuck.
Piece of rubbish. This was the first phone I made the mistake of buying for my one-year visit to the US.
I totally thought the reception on this phone was junk. It feels more like a toy - and I wanted a phone. I like having all of the pretty pictures and cool features, but not unless it works as a phone. Which this doesn't.
This is a piece of rubbish and I dont' recommend it as a mobile.
