LG enV3 VX9200 Phone, Blue (Verizon Wireless)

ENV3, this is a great phone - (owned Voyager and ENV2) June 8, 2009

Reviewer:  D. Bowman "Tech Dork"  (LA, CA) -

I've owned every LG "V" series phone. I started with the LG 9800 V, then 9900 enV, 11000 Voyager, enV2.

I really believe this phone offers the perfect layout for a phone for people who love to text.

When the phone is closed. It is a phone. Big numbers and a display big enough to see what you need to see, but it doesn't try to do more. If you want more, open it up. Inside you have it all. The QWERTY board, great music player speakers, huge bright high res display. Photos look great, videos look good. My kids watch videos of cartoons on my phone.

It is clear that LG really interviewed previous owners of their phones.
The changes are more improvements than really "new" features. All that makes this phone that much better.

I'll compare it to the env2.
The enV3 is basically the same size as the enV2.

The improvements.

Better camera. Now 3.0 megapixel and an added flash.
The flash isn't super, but it is better than nothing.
There are some new options as well. Panoramic view shooting.
When you hit the camera button, it goes to the camera mode a lot quicker.
They also added a slideshow mode to the viewer.

When the phone is open, there are 5 key improvements
1) The QWERTY keyboard features a new layout. The space bar moved to the bottom middle
like a real keyboard. This is taking a while to get used to, but I will eventually.

2) There is a quick access text message button. I can't believe I lived without this, haha.

3) The display is quite a bit bigger inside. The image is brighter and high res.

4) The speakers play music really really loud, and way better quality. Not fantastic, but what do you expect.

5) They added a new quick contacts button. You can add 10 fav friends. It makes it that much easier to pull them up.


When the phone is closed there are four great changes.
1) The display is a lot bigger. You can see pics and read text messages wayyyy better.

2) There is a joystick that replaces the old up/down toggle. Nice improvement.

3) No more pocket dialing. You can set the unlock to having to push the "OK" button twice.

4) There is a new "Contacts" button that makes it quicker to get to your address book.

Carry over features are great as well.
The navigation system from Verizon is top notch. I never rent a navi with my rental cars anymore. My phone is superior.

The visual voice mail is a must. You can now select which voice mail you wish to listen to. You no longer have to listen to all of your messages just to get to the last one. All voice messages show up on your display with the caller ID attached.

Oh, and always sign up for the "Back-up Assistant". This sends all of your numbers to your Verizon account on their web site. If you lose of destroy your phone, you can pull all of your valuable numbers and e-mail addresses back off the site. This app is priceless.

Terrific phone, weak on extras August 3, 2009

Reviewer:  Anonymous  (Portland, OR) -

Pros:
Sleek, elegant design
Large, clear internal screen (which protects it from scratches)
Full, spacious QWERTY keyboard makes it very texting-friendly
Micro-SD slot for memory expansion
Excellent call quality
Excellent battery life

Cons:
Can't transfer photos or other non-music files by USB cable
Can't sync calendar with MS Outlook
Verizon's app selection is poor and overpriced
2.5 mm headphone jack requires a very specific adapter that neither LG nor Verizon sells

There's a lot to like about the LG env3, and despite my frustrations with several aspects, I will most likely keep mine (which I've now had for about three weeks). Although the design is very similar to the env2, somehow it looks far nicer. Like that earlier phone, the env3's design combines many of the best things about standard clamshell phones and full-screen phones like the LG Dare, while avoiding their weaknesses. In a nicely compact phone, only marginally larger than a typical clamshell, you get both a numeric and a QWERTY keypad, so you don't have to mess around with awkward touch-screen technology or cycle through letters using a numeric keypad. I don't exactly have delicate fingers, and I find the QWERTY keypad very easy to use. You also get a screen large enough to enjoy photos and videos, scroll through song listings, read texts, etc., but it's on the inside, where it's protected from scratches without any covering. Really a sensible design. (And if you prefer a larger, external screen, you can pay a little extra for the envTouch.)

I started to really like the phone, but then came the disappointments. Though you can sync music relatively easily from a computer (it works just like any MP3 player in that regard), you'll need an adapter to make your headphones fit the 2.5 mm plug. I don't know why they would use this, since there are smaller phones with full 3.5 mm plugs. To make matters worse, the 3.5-to-2.5 adapter sold on Verizon's website is not compatible with this phone (or so they say), and many other adapters won't work with it either. (For those looking, the adapter on Amazon's site listed wrongly as a Motorola [it's actually from Cingular] works with it.)

Worse, there is no way to transfer photos or videos to or from this phone with a USB cable. If you pay for a data plan, this is no trouble, since you can email them to yourself or post them to a website. But otherwise, you're stuck. There is a laborious process by which you can upload pictures from your computer onto a Verizon webpage, then send them as picture messages to your phone, but the picture quality is terrible, and this still doesn't get photos from your phone to your computer. It ought to work just like a camera -- plug the cord into your computer and transfer the pics -- but it doesn't. The only reason for this that I can imagine is that Verizon wants you to pay extra for a data plan, which just seems like a dirty trick.

The env3 also has a nice-looking calendar that you can use to keep appointments, but it won't sync with MS Outlook. Why would anyone want to input all that data again on a phone? It would just increase the likelihood of errors and missed appointments. PDAs were syncing with Outlook years ago. Why can't this? I realize the env3 is not a full "smartphone," but this should be easy. The data transfer problems also mean you need web access to download ringtones, which ought to be possible by USB cable as well. (You can access the web without a full data plan, but charges accumulate quickly.)

Verizon is also advertising this phone heavily as an app-friendly device, apparently to compete with the iPhone. The folks at Apple can sleep well for now -- Verizon's app store has very little to offer that is interesting, and the apps are generally pricey. (E.g.: "Drinktini," a cocktail database, costs $3.49 per month; the guitar tuner app costs the same, or you can buy unlimited uses for over $20.)

All in all, the env3 is a terrific phone for calls and texting, which are of course two of the most important features. If that's what matters to you, I think you'll be happy with it. But most of the other features that seemed promising on the env3 are a disappointment in practice, and especially the limited ability to transfer data by USB cable.

Love it kinda June 15, 2009

Reviewer:  M. Montemarano "M&M Baker"  (New York, New York USA) -

I've had this phone for a week and overall I'm happy with it.
The phone itself is really nice, sleek, easy to use. The battery lasts days! I love that the key locks automatically, goodness knows how many random calls would have been made.

I have been experiencing bad reception, but that may just be Verizon...what typically happens is that I will have 4 bars but as soon as a call comes in my bars drop like flies. UGH!

I love that the speakerphone is nice and loud, however, it seems that whenever I use it my calls tend to drop. If I talk with the phone closed no problems. Which brings me to another gripe, why do I have to have the phone open to have it on speaker? I'm going to give it another week before I decide if I'm returning it.

I like it! June 25, 2009

Reviewer:  12Care  (San Diego, CA) -

I finally traded in my old Motorola RAZR and got an LG enV3. I am quite satisfied with it.

The phone clarity is very good, the battery lasts long, the menus are reasonably coherent, the build quality is excellent, the features are plentiful, and the ergonomics are well thought-out.

It excels as a text messaging tool, and it is lighter than most Blackberry models.

Broken. Broken. Broken (again). November 24, 2009

Reviewer:  J. Herr "uncritical"  (Washinton, DC) -

At first I loved this phone. It makes texting easy. I could even handle one phone sporadically turning off and having to get a replacement. However, phone #2 had the exact same problem. It turns out that whenever I applied pressure to the back of the phone it would turn off... same as phone #1. I did a little research and found out I'm certainly not the only one having this problem. When I went to Verizon and told them this they said I was the only one with this complaint. Apparently they have bad memories. I even tried calling LG, but they said it's their company policy to only keep sending the same phone OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. Now on to phone #3. I was SO excited to get this phone out of the box and discover that it does not turn off when pressure is applied to the back! Finally!! This morning after getting off a stalled Metro train I tried to call my boss to let her know I'd be late... I thought I was just a victim of bad cell phone reception. After work I tried calling my mother... but I couldn't hear the phone ringing. Finally it dawns on me--the earpiece is broken!! Luckily you can call people with this phone flipped open. I called Verizon and they told me I need to call them back on another phone--FUNNY VERIZON. I PAY YOU FOR THIS TO BE MY PHONE.

The short version of this story--LG ENV3 is a waste of time and money and neither Verizon or LG cares enough about customer service to fix the problem.

Good Phone With A Couple Of Huge Problems February 4, 2010

Reviewer:  CD Junkie  (Dayton, MN United States) -

I've had this phone for about 5 months now. The keyboard's great, the menus aren't bad, the layout's pretty good, and the sound is OK. So, for the first couple of months this was a great phone. However ... I have now had BOTH of the common problems with mine - The "turn off" problem & the "pocket dialing" problem. My phone started turning off a half dozen times a day. I looked like someone important - always checking my phone, as if something vital might be coming in any second. Hey, I just wanted to make sure it was still on. Took it to Verizon store, they downloaded the new firmware & it worked well for a couple of weeks then started again. Web searches suggest a battery connection problem. I just returned it under warranty. I'm crossing my fingers. Other problem: This is a pocket dialing machine. I have it set to the "double push" lock mode, but it doesn't actually lock anything. I made almost as many inadvertent calls as real ones. I WAS able to fix this by using a belt case and adding a thick piece of leather with a cut-out for the OK button. This keeps that button from touching anything when I move. It works, but I'd rather have the phone in my pocket. Overall this would be a nice phone if it worked like it should - but it doesn't.

Like the Features, Wish it Worked all the Time! September 17, 2009

Reviewer:  L. Mueller "luv2cook"  (Delaware, USA) -

This is the kind of phone my daughter wanted for texting, but it is our second one because the first would randomly power off 3 to 4 times a day, in the middle of use.
The problem is continuing with this new one, but she has decided to put up with it because of the phone's features. We don't have a plan that supports touch screen phones, so her choices are kind of limited.

Constantly Powers Off December 2, 2009

Reviewer:  J. Bach "BBach"  (Buffalo NY) -

Have had this phone for 5 months. Have received 2 replacements in this time because it continues to power down by itself. Have been to the store several times and have been told it requires a software update. Less than hour after getting miraculous update we have the same problem with the phone shutting down for no reason. Would not purchase LG products in the future,

Disappointing January 30, 2010

Reviewer:  James  (Henderson, NV USA) -

After reading the other reviews, I was under the impression that the problem of pocket calling with this phone had been adequately addressed. Unfortunately this has not been the case. Although the phone automatically locks, it constantly unlocks in my pocket and constantly makes pocket calls, pocket texts, saves numbers in my pocket, and shuts off in my pocket.

I gave this phone two stars because it has a good keyboard for texting. It also seems to be durable, since I've dropped it on hard surfaces several times.

A much better choice would have been the LG Dare, which my wife and son purchased.

A great choice for Verizon customers! November 6, 2009

Reviewer:  William W. Davis "famousdavis" 

So I recently upgraded my phone to the LG Env3, mostly for two reasons. One, I wanted a full keyboard that will make it easier to send text messages. Two, I wanted a better camera in the phone. The LG Env3 sports a three megapixel camera that does a very good job (see my posted customer images taken with this phone).

The keyboard has stiff keys, so if you do a LOT of texting, I think you might find it uncomfortable because the keys take a lot of pressure to press down. That's good in one respect, as it's hard to incorrectly press a key, but for heavy texting, your thumbs are likely to get tired. I really like that the design of the keyboard makes it easy to use the top, numeric row of keys -- on other phones with slide-out keyboards, I find that my thumbnail interferes with trying to tap the top row of keys.

UPSIDE FEATURES: The phone takes really good pictures! I'm very pleased with how it performs, although trying to take a picture of yourself isn't easy to do, as you have to change a camera setting so it will use the external display so you can see yourself while snapping the photo. The photo button itself is a little small and is not real easy to depress. The display is colorful and bright, the sound is good when using it just as a phone (not as a speakerphone, however, which has weak audio output making it hard to use inside a car driving on the road). Using Bluetooth to print photos was surprisingly easy to do, so now it's a snap to snap a photo and then print it using a Bluetooth-enabled printer. The web browser is full HTML, so I can now use websites that I couldn't with my older phones.

DOWNSIDE FEATURES: I have had a few instances where my voice echoes, and I *never* had that problem with the Samsung phones I've owned earlier. Once, the phone powered-off by itself, much like others have reported. I already mentioned the speakerphone not producing a lot of sound, and you can't enable the speakerphone without opening up the clamshell design -- not convenient when trying to answer the phone on the road. The web browser is a full, HTML browser, but the font size is INCREDIBLY small, and you can't change to a larger font size! That's the dumbest feature of this phone, so I only use the Internet for something urgent, not for casual browsing. (You can use the phone's "Zoom" feature to increase the font size, but the page isn't resized so you then have to scroll left-and-right, and the Zoom works only for the page you're on). I contacted Verizon Support about the too-small font size, and they confirmed that you can't change the font size on the browser. Surely, new releases of either this phone model or the web browser it uses will fix this stupid design

SUMMARY: This isn't a perfect phone, but it's a good phone choice for Verizon customers. Until Verizon's Droid phone makes its appearance, I'll be quite satisfied to use this LG Env3. Recommended!

**** NOVEMBER 28, 2009 UPDATE

After living with this phone for about two months now, I can say I really do like it, overall. Like other LG Env3 owners, my phone inexplicably shut-off -- but just once so far. The echoing occurred when I first got the phone, but hasn't happened since.

I've learned that the position of the camera lens is not so good, especially for right-handed people. It's so easy to accidentally cover-up the lens with your finger. Also, it's not easy to take self-portraits by using a hardware switch -- you have to choose Options to enable the external display to be used for self-portraits. The camera button does not have a nice feel to it. On the upside, the photos it takes, especially in bright, outdoor light, are very good. When I photoed my daughter trotting on a horse in bright sunshine, the photos did not blur. The flash setting works sporadically -- it always fires, but the shutter may or may not be synchronized to benefit from the flash. When it works, it works better than any other LED flash on a camera phone I've had. When it doesn't work, though, you have to re-take the picture again.

I still like this phone, but now that Verizon's Droid is out, I'm curious to know what owning the Droid would be like....