This phone really does shine!

For me, this phone replaced another slider, a Samsung SGH-A737, which had been my newest upgrade. Having found the Samsung wanting in so many ways (but that is another review), I went on line and used my husband's upgrade to purchase this phone. It was a refurb from AT&T, so the price was quite reasonable, and they shipped it super fast.

I was a bit trepidatious about ordering the phone online, having never seen it in person (it is available through both AT&T and our local Wal-Mart, but it was not in stock at the time). Naturally, I had done a ton of research on it, so I generally knew what it looked like and had read the pros and cons from prior and current owners. Still, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

When it arrived, I was absolutely thrilled with its look! The brushed silver exterior is quite attractive and the screen is definitely shiny enough to use as a mirror. It does fingerprint smear quite readily, but so did my RZR V3, so that was expected. I find that it cleans easily with soap and water. Additionally, the AT&T and LG logos are holographic and multicolored, which makes them shine in the light, something I found to be a nice surprise. Some owners have described this phone's looks as 'sexy' and I have to agree.

As for its size, this is by no means a small phone, so do keep that in mind. It is as thick as the RZR V3, but not quite as wide, so it fit our current generic cell phone case much better than the V3. I tend to like my phones larger, so the size is a good fit for me. It is also a heavy phone (due to the metal casing--a really nice plus!) but it is extremely well built, so the pro outweighs the con here.

The absence of the usual navigation buttons on the front face is somewhat disconcerting at first, but I found this minimalist look pleasing. Rather than the usual multi-keyed face, there are only 2 buttons, with a joystick in the middle. Pressing any of these keys pops up the display with a prompt to unlock the phone. In order to access the majority of this phone's features, you do have to open the phone, but that is really no biggie for me--when closed, my prior sliders also had to be opened to access certain features, so to me it makes sense to hide the buttons behind the face. Besides, it makes room for a really nice large screen, on par with the V3.

As for opening the phone, I found that the lack of a thumb bar made it a little troublesome. When using one hand, I generally end up pressing at least one button unless I concentrate (or use 2 hands). No biggie, but it might be a con for some. Once opened, the Menu and Options keys appear above the left and right buttons, and the display is backlit with a pleasing blue glow, much like the RZR V3. The call and call end buttons are located at the top of the key board and are easily accessed. The keys are very similar to the V3's and are large enough for me to press accurately without error (unlike the Samsung A737). Numerous reviewers in the past have complained about the size of the keys (as well as the flatness of the keyboard) when it comes to texting--I can not speak to this alleged flaw, as I do not use my phone for this purpose. For me, the keys are quite large enough and are easily depressed, even when dialing with one hand.

Unlike the V3, the display is only slightly customizable. The left and right keys are fixed, but under the options menu you are able to assign the functions you are most likely to use in the order that you choose. I was able to change the time display only slightly (by choosing the larger text) but an analog display is also an option, as well as a calendar. The menu is only slightly customizable, as you can choose either icons or a list, but the order is fixed. When it comes to the joystick, I haven't been able to customize its functions yet...not sure you can, but I'm still trying. Up takes you to texting, right is IM, down is your Address Book, and left is My Stuff....not terribly functional for me, but it might be no big deal for most.

Now, on to the joystick. Lots of reviewers list this as a huge con--so much so that I was really worried it would be the deal breaker for me. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to use! I now find myself fumbling with the older style navigation screens....I keep wanting to scroll! Simply run your thumb over the joystick in the direction of your choice to pull up the menu of your choice. To avoid constantly thumbing down to a function, there is a shortcut...just press that function's number and it will take you there (for example, under the Menu key, Recent Calls is #7...rather than thumb 7 times, just press the 7 key...presto, you are there.) Unlike other cellphones, pressing the middle of the joystick does not take you online...how refreshing! When you are in the middle of a function, it usually becomes the OK or view key.

As for the phone's various functions (bluetooth, texting, IM, internet, etc), I won't go into each...to me, it's a typical phone with a variety of bells and whistles, most of which I don't use. The call quality is great and I have not noticed any dropped calls so far, a complaint that some users have noted (I've owned the phone for a little over a week now, so I guess time will tell). The battery life is decent (I've been going about 3 days between charges and I don't use my phone that much). The camera function is also decent, and I really like the way LG set it up to look and act like a real camera. The first time I used it, I was a little confused as to how to hold the phone (my fault...reading the manual first might have helped), but I soon learned that it acts like a normal camera, even down to the capture button, which is located similar to its position on a regular camera. Pictures are pretty good for a cell phone, as it is 2 MP.

As for the phone being a refurb, I haven't been able to tell this particular phone was even used...no scratches, blemishes or unusual marks were found upon initial inspection. To me, this was absolutely a great deal. It does comes with a 30 day return/refund if you do have a problem, and a one year warranty beyond that. Some owners have complained that the phone scratches easily, especially the screen. So far so good, but I have noted a few light scratches on the back casing, and I'm pretty careful when handling my cellphones. I did locate a full body protective casing online, so I suspect I'll be purchasing it soon in order to keep this phone looking its best.

All in all, the only real problem I have with the phone is that my husband keeps wanting to steal it away from me! (he's the one who ended up with the Samsung a737). Guess we'll have to get another Shine at some point. ;)