LG Thrive (AT&T)

AT&T's LG Thrive is a good way to get a real smartphone on AT&T's nationwide network, without tethering yourself to a two-year contract.
 

 

 If you're experiencing a bit of deja vu right now, don't fret. The LG Thrive does look exactly like the LG Phoenix--they're actually the same phone, except that the LG Phoenix is available paid from AT&T, while the Thrive is strictly a prepaid handset. This means the Thrive is yet another addition to the LG Optimus line of entry-level Android phones, and looks and feels a lot like the rest of its affordable cousins.

The LG Thrive is also the first smartphone available for AT&T's GoPhone prepaid service. Other prepaid Optimus phones include the LG Optimus M and the LG Optimus V, but the Thrive is the first GSM model to be offered prepaid. It does require a GoPhone smartphone data package--$25 for 500MB, $15 for 100MB, or $5 for 10MB--which doesn't seem like a lot of data. You might want different prepaid phone like the LG Optimus V if you want to save money on data. Still, for an entry-level product, we think the Thrive is a good start for those who want to try out an Android phone without spending a lot of money. The LG Thrive is available for $179.99 without a contract.

As the LG Thrive is the same exact phone as the LG Phoenix, we'll point you to the LG Phoenix review for most of the design and feature details; for this review, we'll focus mostly on performance. The only exception is that the LG Thrive does not have mobile hot-spot capabilities or data tethering support, while the Phoenix does.

Performance
We tested the LG Thrive in San Francisco with AT&T Wireless. Call quality was decent, though it wasn't perfect. We heard our callers clearly; their voices were loud without being blown out. We couldn't escape the occasional static, however.

----------
Price Range:	$179.99

Spec Data

Service Provider AT&T

Operating System Android OS

Screen Size 3.2 inches

Screen Details 320-by-480-pixel, 262K-color TFT LCD capacitive touch screen

Camera Yes

Megapixels 3.2 MP

Camera Flash No

802.11x Yes

Bluetooth Yes

Web Browser Yes

Form Factor Candy Bar

Network GSM, UMTS

Bands 850, 900, 1800, 1900, 2100

High-Speed Data GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA

Storage Capacity (as Tested) 162 MB

Processor Speed 600 MHz

Keyboard No

Continuous Talk Time 6 hours 37 minutes

Posted in: Phone News