September 2007
LG Prada KE850 cell phone: First Look
We preview a fashionable, basic smart phone
Do-it-all smart phones were once the realm of harried mobile workers who need to multitask--checking office e-mail while running
to their next meeting, say. But Apple’s hit iPhone and the Nokia N95 show that multifunction phones can be designed more for play too.
Joining this new breed of smart phones is the $550 LG Prada KE850. Slimmer and lighter than workaholic phones, the Prada devotes its smarts to multimedia: music, photography, Web browsing, and other diversions. It has Bluetooth wireless (for hands-free mono or stereo headsets, and data transfers), e-mail capabilities, and built-in digital 1.9-megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash. What's more, like the iPhone, the sleek Prada boasts a touch-screen interface, but also like the iPhone, it doesn't allow you to create or edit documents and spreadsheets.
We're still testing the stylish Prada and will include it in our complete Ratings of smart phones (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only) soon. But here's what we've found so far.
HIGHS
Large touch screen. The 3-inch display is fairly easy to read in different lighting conditions and allows easy access to most functions.
Fashion-model-like stature. Overall, the Prada is smaller (3.9x2.1x0.5 HWD) and lighter (3 oz.) than most smart phones--sure to please the runway-conscious crowd.
Musically inclined. The phone includes a built-in FM radio and a digital music player that can access tunes from the phone's internal memory or microSD memory card slot. (2-gigabyte cards, not included, cost $30 to $50).
LOWS
It's difficult to control. The Prada lacks voice-activated dialing, voice command, and a QWERTY keyboard. (You key text with multiple presses of the dial pad.) What's more, the dial pad consists of virtual keys on the phone's touch screen. Since virtual buttons are not raised and don’t offer any tactile feedback, it can be difficult dialing phone numbers without watching the display.
Troublesome coverage. In the U.S., the Prada works on only one of two GSM bands, which could hinder coverage in some parts of the country. It supports the slower EDGE data network for Web browsing and file downloads. And there is no Wi-Fi capability, so there isn’t an alternative for faster Web surfing from your home or other Wi-Fi hotspots.
Shallow functions. Setting up e-mail was difficult compared with other unlocked phones and there's a 300-KB limit on each e-mail message, which can be a problem when receiving attachments--especially pictures. The digital music player isn't organized to let you search music by album, artist, genres, etc. And while you can open and read Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, you can't edit or create them.
BOTTOM LINE
Tiny and cool, the LG Prada phone lives up to its model name in style. But it lacks the performance and features that you would expect in a smart phone that costs more than $500. Still, if you value having one of the thinnest, lightest, and sleekest touch-screen phones now available, the Prada will fit you like a glove. Or a shoe.
Joining this new breed of smart phones is the $550 LG Prada KE850. Slimmer and lighter than workaholic phones, the Prada devotes its smarts to multimedia: music, photography, Web browsing, and other diversions. It has Bluetooth wireless (for hands-free mono or stereo headsets, and data transfers), e-mail capabilities, and built-in digital 1.9-megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash. What's more, like the iPhone, the sleek Prada boasts a touch-screen interface, but also like the iPhone, it doesn't allow you to create or edit documents and spreadsheets.
We're still testing the stylish Prada and will include it in our complete Ratings of smart phones (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only) soon. But here's what we've found so far.
HIGHS
Large touch screen. The 3-inch display is fairly easy to read in different lighting conditions and allows easy access to most functions.
Fashion-model-like stature. Overall, the Prada is smaller (3.9x2.1x0.5 HWD) and lighter (3 oz.) than most smart phones--sure to please the runway-conscious crowd.
Musically inclined. The phone includes a built-in FM radio and a digital music player that can access tunes from the phone's internal memory or microSD memory card slot. (2-gigabyte cards, not included, cost $30 to $50).
LOWS
It's difficult to control. The Prada lacks voice-activated dialing, voice command, and a QWERTY keyboard. (You key text with multiple presses of the dial pad.) What's more, the dial pad consists of virtual keys on the phone's touch screen. Since virtual buttons are not raised and don’t offer any tactile feedback, it can be difficult dialing phone numbers without watching the display.
Troublesome coverage. In the U.S., the Prada works on only one of two GSM bands, which could hinder coverage in some parts of the country. It supports the slower EDGE data network for Web browsing and file downloads. And there is no Wi-Fi capability, so there isn’t an alternative for faster Web surfing from your home or other Wi-Fi hotspots.
Shallow functions. Setting up e-mail was difficult compared with other unlocked phones and there's a 300-KB limit on each e-mail message, which can be a problem when receiving attachments--especially pictures. The digital music player isn't organized to let you search music by album, artist, genres, etc. And while you can open and read Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, you can't edit or create them.
BOTTOM LINE
Tiny and cool, the LG Prada phone lives up to its model name in style. But it lacks the performance and features that you would expect in a smart phone that costs more than $500. Still, if you value having one of the thinnest, lightest, and sleekest touch-screen phones now available, the Prada will fit you like a glove. Or a shoe.
