LG VX-8500 Chocolate
Phone Scoop Review
Aug 11, 2006 by Eric Lin
An In-Depth review of LG's sleek new VX-8500 Chocolate slider music phone for Verizon Wireless. NEW: Video tour read review ›
User Reviews
Average Ratings
Great phone, if your a techy person
PROS:
-plays mp3s, can send to the phone with your PC via lg usb cable OR get a card reader and micro card
-verizon navigation app works amazing, not many people talk about it
-free mp3 ringtones if you make sure email mp3 attachment size is under 350k, otherwise it downsamples the mp3 and sounds not so hot
-DOES have adapter to plug in a standard headset
- fits nicely in your pocket
- nice sounding speaker
- good picture quality
- good reception
- first phone with animated background i have seen
- phone feels like an ipod
- you can use the phone with or without sliding it open!
- works fast, no lag using the phne
CONS:
- Getting used to touch sensative buttons
- touch sensative buttons inconsistant
- numerical buttons look a bit cheesy to me
- a bit awkward trying to type txt messages with one hand, you have to use two hands
- No speakerphone, wtf!
I have to say, this phone is a lot different from my previous audiovox 9900, so there is a learning curve. I would only recommend this phone to techy people who like devices like this. It can do exactly as advertised. Although, the touch sensative wheel is cool and annoying at the same time. The wheel doesnt act like an ipod wheel. I would have given this a 4.5 or 5, but with the touch sensative wheel quirks and awkwardness of one hand texting I just couldnt do it. Otherwise great phone.
Very Slick, Exciting Phone
Two negative features about the Chocolate:
1.) Battery life is terrible.
2.) No speaker phone. (Only when talking.)
The phone has a complimentary amount of memory without a memory card. However, I would still buy a memory card for it if you plan on downloading music. Otherwise the phone will run poorly.
Signal is great in most areas. If you live in a hilly area, I wouldn't expect to get the best of signal, even with a different phone.
Camera takes very good pictures. Very good quality. I was actually surprised. Video could be a little better, but you can record videos longer than 15 seconds on this phone.
The touch sensitivity on the phone will take some getting used to. It took me a day. You can change the settings on it under your phone settings.
Overall the phone deserves at least a 4.5 out of 5.
garbage
I saw the ads and ordered it right away. thought it would be a great phone and mp3 player, alot better than my samsung 950. on first inspection the phone was Small slick nice. played with it a bit and the touch keys were annoying always hitting the wrong key, forget trying to make phone call the buttons are way to small and the side buttons get in the way. thier is realy no pros to this phone the sound quality sucks, every sounds like their underwater even the mp3's. my best piece of advice by a different phone if you plan on putting it in your pocket. needless to say i'm out $400 since the phone couldn't survive a car ride in my pocket. went back to my 950 and waiting for the insurance to cover the chocolate and it will be on ebay.
4 days of heavy use with the Chocolate
PROs:
* Excellent reception, in the top 25% of all phones that I've used, measured by -dbm.
* Excellent call/sound quality
* Very above-average battery life
* Much improved interface with good themes
* VZ Navigator works EXCELLENT on this phone
* Touch-screen sensitivity adjustments
* Supports 2GB MicroSD
* Awesome form-factor, one of the only sliders that I have ever liked.
* Lithium-Polymer battery
* Lots of memory without an extra card
* Great camera
CONs:
* Vcard problems over Bluetooth
* Approx. 1/2 second pause when answering occasionally
* No speakerphone
* Fingerprints easily
Overall, this phone is excellent. It's reception is great as far as I am concerned, and I have tested a TON of phones. If you cover the antenna, it goes from average down to below average. Hold it correctly, and it's a GREAT performer.
The battery life on this phone has been incredible for me. The screen, Bluetooth, etc. don't seem to use hardly any time up. I used it very heavily for hours on end and at the end of the day it had just switched to 3/4 bars. The bars seem to be completely proportional.
They really hit everything on the head. Most phones annoy me because 1 or 2 features are ruined. This phone really has nothing missed, unless a speakerphone is terribly important to you. I don't use one, because usually their sound quality is poor, especially to the person on the other end. This does not bother me.
Other than that, if you like the features of this phone, I highly recommend it, you will not be disappointed!
Its a very good phone!!!!!!
I just bought this phone and what can i say this phone is amazing, the only negative about this phone is that there is no speakerphone other than that i love it.
What Can I Say...........EXCELLENT!
I'm more of a sit back and read guy on on here rather that an active poster, but I take in everything I read and weigh my options. I've tried almost all the high-end Verizon phones; 8100, 950, V, 8300, RAZR (before anyone asks, I always sell my current one before I get another, I'm not loaded), and now the CHOCOLATE. I'm definately happy with this one and will be holding onto it for quite some time. With the others, I was content to have a change, but never fully satisfied, and felt like I was just settling, and continued to try to decide on another phone, but not with the CHOCOLATE. I am no longer searching.....this is IT!!!
I'm A Chocoholic!
I was definatley hooked on this phone from the get-go! Looks amazing, works amazing, what more could you ask for? I have no complaints thus far except maybe they could have thrown some real chocolate in the box too! LOL
Pros outweigh the Cons if...
if your buying it for the style and form, not the music player.
Pros:
Size-easy for a guy to throw in his pocket and go on his way
Weight-very light, but does not feel fragile (check Cons)
Sound- I was surprised with such a small phone the volume that comes out of this thing. I'm impressed. I also like that there's two different volume controls. One for the phone and another for the music player.
Themes- very cool. I like the Rock'n roll theme the best. (the Jazz theme legs behind really bad, though.)
Reception- very loud and clear ( in the Canton, Ohio area)
Battery- No Problems. Also, disable the EVDO to improve battery life.
Cons:
If you have reception problems or if your phone is freezing (mine did several times), take it back for a new one.
1. Think black plastic rubber bands held together my charger port cover, Felt very flimsy. Second phone had clear, strong and thick plastic rubber bands.
2: When talking, if I need to use touch tone buttons on the call, I have to look at the menu and go back from wherever my face took me when it touched the soft key pad.
3: There are short cut keys for a limited amount of options (no missed calls or recent calls short cut
Buying for the music player and still not convinced? Hereâs the costs:
1. $150-$300 phone
2. $99 bluetooth headset
3. $99 2G memory card
4. $30 music essentials kit
5. $30 car charger
6. $20 pouch
Total: $428-$578
P.S. For some reason I haven't found out yet, alot of my MP3's on my computer don't sync and upload to my phone. In this case, I have to transfer them to my Ringtones menu and play them as that, which doesn't use the music player.
Looks AND functionality!
Just recently joined Phone Scoop after getting the Chocolate and looking around for sites with info on it. I am happy to be here, seems like a great place for phone info. Anyway.....the Chocolate....this phone not only meets, but exceeds my expectations! Great look with great functionality! What more could you ask for?
fragile phone!
I just got this chocolate bar in the mail, and I've been testing out these past few hours.
I switched from a RAZR to this phone, and already, i can feel that the chocolate is going to feel a bit cumbersome in my pocket, especially at the club.
kinda funny, considering a lot of their advertisements take place at the club.
another thing-- the touch-sensitive keys on the outer shell get me mixed up with the keys on the numpad that i have to actually press to get a response from the phone. i get mixed up quickly between just touching the phone, and using some pressure on an actual button.
the resolution is good, but nothing spectacular. I know within a few months i'll have scratches all over this nice glossy phone, especially the front cover.
so, i'm taking this chocolate bar, wrapping it back up, and taking it back to Verizon Wireless to return it.
i'll keep using my RAZR until the KRZR comes out in Q3. i recommend you RAZR lovers do the same. ;)
