The LG Optimus 3D Max is the successor to the LG Optimus 3D, the company's first 3D phone, which received lukewarm reviews. So has LG learned its lessons from the launch of the device in 2011? Let's check it out.
Design
The phone is made completely of plastic, and feels "decidedly cheap" according to The Verge. The phone measures 9.6mm wide and 148 grams heavy - wider and heavier than the HTC One X, Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Samsung Galaxy S3.
The Verge also said the plastic rim stops users from fluently swiping the screen. The phone has a removable back.
The 3D Max includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and a power button on the top of the phone, along with volume buttons and a Micro USB port and a specific 3D button.
Display
The 3D Max has a 4.3-inch 800x460 IPS display that has "great viewing angles and bright, accurate color reproduction," The Verge added. However the Web site also noted black levels and the resolution didn't compare favourably to modern devices. Icons were said to look too large and some large text was pixelated.
Viewing the screen in 3D can be done from 30-40 cm away, though the phone offers around eight degrees of horizontal and vertical viewing angles before the performance becomes inconsistent. As The Verge said on the technology, too long was spent on trying to find the sweet spot for 3D to work.
Software
Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and HTC's One devices, LG launches the 3D Max with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and said Ice Cream Sandwich is "coming soon."
The launcher doesn't use 3D, but LG designs every icon in a cube style while wallpapers are bundled in designed to show perspective in 3D. The app drawer arranges the icons in a vertical style, though horizontal and text-only options are available, while mods such as ADW Launcher bringing greater functionality.
The Verge experienced app crashes, and had to remove the battery from the phone after waking the device from sleep as it froze.
The 3D Max supports NFC, and LG includes three cards which can be scanned for certain actions. The cards can also be reconfigured to perform other functions.
Pulling up 3D brings 3D apps, including 3D versions of games such as "N.O.V.A." Non-3D apps can also be converted to 3D through the Converter App.
Camera
On the front is a VGA camera, while The Verge described taking photos in 3D as "a lot of fun" and the phone includes a 3D live view for viewing areas before taking a photo. Saved 3D images are limited to 3-megapixel .JPG files at a 2048x1536 resolution.
Video is stored in 720p, and 3D content can be uploaded directly to YouTube.
Performance
The phone users a 1.2GHz processor, though the processor is apparently clocked at 1GHz and can't be changed. Despite generally good performance, slowdown did occur and The Verge blamed the unfinished software rather than the processor.
Battery life is just below 8 hours, though lasts a day in real-world use. Note 3D use, especially when gaming, is a significant hog on the battery.
Conclusion
The phone costs €499 sim-free, the same as the HTC One S. The overall impression is that the Optimus 3D Max doesn't seem to be a huge leap forward from its predecessor, offering spotty performance and uninspiring hardware, especially when compared to the iPhone 4S and Galaxy S3.
