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
Great Phone
I have had the phone for 1 week and decided to post a review today. Firt let me say that the person who left a review before me must be a total Moto fan so his review was unfair. This phone would have been given a 5.0 if it werent for the MP3 issue. I have had the E815 for about 3 months so I can give a good comparison. The moto does get better reception but not that much better. The build quality of the 8100 is worlds better than the cheap feel of the moto, The camera on the 8100 takes much better photos than my e815 ever could. In low light you do need to adjust the brightness of the vx8100. The 8100 is a great phone that will get better with future firmware updates. Remember that this is only V01 so there is much room for enhancments. Music on demand will make this phone even better. You can use DUN as there is a way to enable it, Style is way better than the Motos style. I have been a die hard moto user for a long time so I am not biased just honest. Hope this helps.
great phone
i just want to say that i work for vzw, this phone is all that and some more.....i read a review talking about how you can only do ringtones from vzw.....well you are wrong....i don't know how you do it, but i have a co-worker who can get into the phone and he can take any music/video, yes video, file and load it to the phone without paying for vcast or get it now.....this phone offers a great deal of options. Check it out, only down fall i have, working for vzw, i have heard that the vx8100 does not have that great of service....i still carry the lg vx6000 which i still love and have yet to get rid of, however i also carry a mot v710 and a blackberry 7250 as work phones. All in all, i would recommend any lg over a motorola! LG's are simple, user friendly, and they do last....just don't be an idiot with your phone (ie: water damage and deny it)
THE BEST FROM VERIZON
I dont know what people are talking about when they say there is a volume issue i have had both phones i returned 2 e815 within one week the first one got a blue screen on nite mode the second one had missing pixels on any camera mode. I paid full price for the phone so i decided to return this cheaply made phone and i am so glad i did first i think the guy at verizon store made a mistake because i received 53.00 credit he only charged by 249.00 for the lg vx8100 I think I was lucky and second this phone is perfect I have no volume issues the speakerphone worrks great and the camera and video camera is great on the motorola the video was splotch the one on the 8100 is smooth i thing the people complaining about the 8100 havent really tried it because you will be surprised. also check you camera mode on the 815 if you have red blue or black dots or any one of them combined you have missing pixels return your phone get the 8100 you will be pleasantly surprised
Yay!
First of all, I have always liked LG phones ever since I got my very first one (I can't even remember the model #, something like a TM-510 or something).
I have been REALLY enjoying this phone thus far. There have been a few minor glitches that I am sure will be worked out (phone has cut off and on a couple times when viewing messages in my "SENT" box. Calendar not recognizing recurring dates.). I'm sure most glitches that may be experienced will be resolved with a firmware/software update (I hope).
As far as the MP3/media player issue, I am willing to wait for this feature to become available. I didn't have it before, so...
Again, I really like this phone and would recommend it!
PROs
----
Wonderful internal and external screen (external FAR surpasses the e815's)
Ability to view messages from external screen, as well as missed calls!
VCAST! (if interested, take advantage of the VCAST promo being offered for $15 per month - I am!)
Speaker phone
Independent Voice Dialing
Camera!!
CONs
----
Few minor glitches mentioned above.
the bomb
the 8100 is the bomb i have had for a week and i love it. my manager has the moto 815 and it seems to die alot faster and its not nearly as person friendly phone.the 8100 is alot louder and the true music ringtones sound awesome on it.
What a phone
All right, let me give you a quick background of my epic phone journey.
LG VX6000
Back in the day sometime in April of 04' I bought the LG VX6000. I mean it was my first contract phone and I was thrilled. I took perfect care of that phone, I customized it like no other, with faceplates, flashing keypads, flashing antennas, flashing batteries. It was cool. Until one day my mom decided to throughly it into the pool. They put me in a loaner phone...b4 i worked for Verizon.... a Mot. C343 and I hated it the only thing I liked was the Glow Stick ringtone. Any way I got my 6000 fixed and I was in it until Christmas. I was waiting for the 8000 to come out so it didn't.
LG VX7000
So for Christmas I got the LG VX7000. Now this was a loud great phone. I loved the flashing colors and the swivel camera with a flash...+video. So from Christmas until February I was in the nice 7000. Well on Feb. 1st the phone I have been waiting for finally came out.
LG VX8000
So I pulled a few strings and got an early upgrade so on Feb. 18th I bought the LG VX800. I loved the speakerphone the very loud ringtone and the ability to view txt from the out side. Well then I see a phone which had all the great features from all my old phones.
LG VX8100
On Friday I will purchase the LG VX8100. I have played with the phone and it's what I have been waiting for.
It has the 6000's small compact style.
It has the nice flashing colors of the 7000.
It has the very loud ringtone and ability to view the txt and pix messages from the outside from the 8000.
Plus it has more, Bluetooth, expansion card slot, and much more.
The only bad part is the battery life, but I charge mine every night when I go to bed so I don't really notice.
So I have had the LG VX6000, Mot. C343, LG VX7000, LG VX8000, Sam. SCH-N330, and the LG VX8100!!!!!!!!!!!
So LG has done it they have made a perfect phone in my eyes.
Execllent Toy Phone
After reading many others reviews on this hone, I have to also add mine, which are a little different on the pros and cons:
PROS:
1. Solid phone
2. Excellent displays (front and main)
3. Bluetooth is great for earset, so much easier when driving or at home on computer, when you need both hands
4. Lots of phone memory. My former phone LG 6000, would have problems after using most memory
5. Everything else other people stated; such as ring tones, Mp3's, speaker phone, 1.3mp camera, camcorder, vibrate at any ring level, games, stereo speakers etc.
CONS:
1. a little more time consuming when inputing schedule reminders and alarms, no quick alarm like LG 6000
2. groups in the phone book can only hold 10 contacts, but you can make up to 30 groups. I have groups like Barfly's 1, Barfly's 2, Ho's 1 and Ho's 2 and so forth.
3. Not as loud as the LG 6000 when using phone - hard to hear other person. I adjusted the Auto volume, which for me helped. Although others said when it was OFF, it was better for them
4. when using the camera, have to take off the phone holster, otherwise it will cut off 10% of the picture on the bottom. (This is the holster that doesnt have the leather cover)
5. Voice commands - sometimes have to repeat. It will also ask if you said a persons name before calling. The pronounciation for Roger sounds like a person from India repeating Rajer to you. It may be better to use speed dial.
6. Default wallscreens suck
7. Clock display can only be set at Normal and Analog, which are very small to read. Wear a watch is better.
8. No little icons to choose from for the groups in contacts anymore.
Bottom line: If you want a phone with all the toy features such as MP3, 1.3mp camera and games and ringtone this is the phone to get. Other than that pick up a Sony Playstation, and simple phone.
Also, if your the kinda person that wants to show off your phone with the newest features, like an unpopular kid in high school, this is it.
Perfection
PROs
Strong Vibrate
BEST Camera
SHARP LCD Main screen
SHARP outside screen
Nice Reception
LOUD Speakerphone
Sleek Look
Mini SD Card Slot
Quick Interface
User-Friendly Interface
CONs:
The navigation keys and the side keys are placed a little different. (maybe its just my big hands)
Thats all the CONs I noticed.
The Best Of A Weak Lot
I've had all of the VZ EVDO phones with the exception of the Nokia 6256.
Signal - No lost calls. E815 showed more bars as a but lost a call here and there, the meter is not dispositive of RF strength. Call sound excellent. All of the EVDOs are very good here, you can't really go wrong. Even the maligned a950 intenna phone got excellent reception.
Usability - VZ standard menu gets ragged but it's just fine. Hidden menu allows disabling EVDO and saves a lot of battery life. One-touch button to vibrate mode, and it's very powerful, E815 is weak. Wish outside toggle would adjust ring type and volume but it doesn't.
Ergonomics - Front MP3 buttons are very useful. Interior keys raised and easy to use; much more so than those on the a950 (too close together) or the RAZR (too easy to hit the wrong button). The headset jack is on the side, better than the E815 which is on top and also covered by an annoying rubber cover that must be lifted up to insert the jack each and every time. The RAZR has no headset jack at all. Clam opens easily enough with one hand.
Display - Beautiful; inside and outside are 64K. Can read text on outer display.
Build - First rate and solid. E815 feels flimsy and RAZR is very wide and the metal easily scratches.
Camera - Whatever; none are great but V07 gets rid of annoying delay.
One final note - there's a disco display when a call comes in that can be either useful or annoying depending on who you are. It can be disabled in the menu if you hate it. What can't be disabled is this annoying "blooing" noise the phone makes when a call is missed - even if you hit the side toggle to quiet the incoming ring. If anyone can tell me how to disable this noise (I have a data cable and bitpim), I'd really appreciate it.
Overall I believe this is the best offering from VZW at present. New charging cradle is a big plus. a950 is similar but not as good. E815 is much longer physically and RAZR is too wide and has terrible battery life.
Best Phone I've ever had!!!
This is the best phone I've ever had. I know a lot of people had complaints about this phone in the beginning, mainly due to the mp3 player not being activated. Now that it has been activated, I don't think you can find a better phone.
The only thing that I would like to see improved in the Bluetooth reception (Echo) problem. I'm sure that they are working on this, and I really don't think it is a phone issue, more of a bluetooth technology issue.
