LG KS360

LG KS360

Features:
Camera resolution: 2 megapixels
Screen resolution: 240×320
Talk time: Up to 192 minutes
Standby time: Up to 400 hours

Pros: Design, QWERTY keyboard, display, value for money Design, QWERTY keyboard, display, value for money

Cons: Proprietary headphone/charging jack, lack of 3G connectivity

The final word: Targeted at teenagers, the KS360 is a commendable effort, but its lack of 3G connectivity is a black mark considering its features list. However, the QWERTY keyboard is excellent for SMS use and the price is definitely appealing.

ONE of the first QWERTY keyboard phones to be available on prepaid, along with the Centro, LG’s KS360 is a commendable slider that is only really let down by its lack of 3G connectivity.

The KS360 feels surprisingly solid for a phone that commands a price of just $199. The spring-operated slider is sturdy and firm, while the rounded edges make this handset comfortable to hold in both a landscape and portrait orientation. The backlit QWERTY keyboard is obviously a highlight: it’s a feature usually reserved for much more expensive smartphones. The KS360’s keypad is comfortable, provides excellent tactility and is well designed. The circular buttons are a theme throughout the whole device, extending to the five-way navigational pad and selection buttons.

When slid open, the KS360 automatically rotates the screen, but there is no accelerometer. Annoyingly, when in landscape mode the two selection buttons don’t match up to their intended on-screen menu text, so you have to reach away from the keyboard to press them. The display itself is excellent considering the asking price of this handset, though sunlight glare is an issue.

The QWERTY keyboard is still handy, particularly for text messaging. Also bundled are a number of Boost games as well as multimedia features, including an mp3 player, a 2megapixel camera that doubles as a video recorder, an FM radio and a voice recorder. Where LG has yet again failed is with its insistence on a proprietary headphone and charging port; this means you are stuck using the included headphones, which are below average in quality. The lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack has been a gripe with almost all LG phones and shows no sign of being rectified.

For extra storage, the KS360 includes a microSD card slot, located on the left side of the handset. There is no card included in the sales package, but their price has fallen dramatically in recent months, so it shouldn’t add too much to your overall purchase.