AT&T’s LG Trax: Hands on! review
LG has a sense of style around them. The Chocolate, the Prada phone, and the Shine immediately come to mind when we think of them. The new LG Trax takes styling cues from all over the manufacturers diverse line up. It’s glossy, it has a metal kind of vibe to it, and it looks real sharp. While not the most high-end phone AT&T offers, we think it’s a great entry-level phone for those of you that want to take advantage of the Video Share service, or just some straight 3G action. Sadly, we did not get a chance to try out the Video Share service yet, and while it’s mostly a novelty for now, we can see this really taking off when AT&T extends it across their whole product lineup and releases a full 2-way video chat client. How does the LG Trax perform, though? Is it stable? Ah, the answers my friends, are…after the jump. And no, this isn’t an episode of American Idol…
Phone:
Phone quality and regular GSM/EDGE reception actually fared pretty well. Calls were crisp and clear. We really would have liked the 3G reception to be a bit better, though. I guess we’ve been spoiled by the Samsung Blackjack…
SMS/MMS:
Texting wasn’t a problem. Messages came through quickly, and while T9 might have been created by the devil, we had no problem bangin’ out short texts to friends thanks to LG’s quick entry method to the dictionary. Over 3G, Picture Messages sent almost instantly.
Instant Messaging:
We can’t call it…it is just IM at the end of the day. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing amazing, yet it worked rather well. Is this an SMS-based app or data? One problem, at least that we saw from our brief tests, were that even though multiple IM networks are offered (AIM/Live Messenger/Yahoo), you can only log in to one at a time. It did give us loud alerts which ensured excitement every time we got an IM.
Keypad:
The keypad was usable. Keys were decently spaced, offered good tactile feedback, yet we found the center button of the directional pad to be very annoying. Why? It’s linked directly to AT&T’s MEdia Net page. We got the fake out numerous times thinking it would bring up the menu. As you can see in the above photo, there are for application keys around the center select button. Pressing the top key takes you right to compose a text or picture message, pressing down brings you to your contacts, pressing left opens "My Stuff" which contain your games, apps, ringtones, pictures, etc., and finally when pressing the right key, it takes you to the Instant Messaging application.
Camera:
The camera ain’t much to write home about. A now standard 1.3 megapixel camera lens graces the exterior of the LG Trax. Pictures were average but shutter speed was pretty zippy. We’re not mad at it.
Cellular Video:
While the Trax had a bit of trouble holding onto a 3G signal, AT&T’s Cellular Video service still worked extremely well even over EDGE. Video buffered and played real fast, and quality was good. In addition to viewing video normally, there’s also an option for "landscape" mode, yet it looks a little awkward when you’re walking around watching video on your cell phone while holding it sideways.
Screen:
It looks like the actual screen is pretty clear, definitely glossy, most like clear but, LG’s UI really messes it up for us…Time to enter 2007, guys. We’d rather use Motorola’s old Synergy OS
Speaker:
Speaker volume on the LG Trax had us pleasantly surprised. While on a call both parties could hear each other clearly using speakerphone. Music playback sounded great, with decent high, mid, and low reproduction. Pretty loud, unlike a certain other cellphone we know off…
Exterior:
The Trax exterior looks sharp and isn’t by any means confusing. There’s a volume up/down key on the left side, and beneath it there’s a dedicated camera button which will launch the camera application, and take the quick flick. Finally it’s followed by the headset/charging jack. On the right side, all we have is a microSD slot.
Conclusion:
The LG Trax definitely packs a punch in the feature department. Camera, Video Share, 3G with HSDPA, quad-band EDGE, a loud speaker, and a decent messaging client make it pretty appealing to the entry-level 3G buyer. Making calls sounded great and having 3G on a decently-sized phone is nice. We just wish that LG would upgrade their OS because it really is starting to age. Also, web browsing wasn’t the greatest experience either. It wouldn’t be our first pick when we walked into an AT&T store, but then again, a lot of people have been asking us about the Trax, so go figure.
Thanks, AT&T!
How do we rate the Trax, though? We’re giving it 3.5 BGs!
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 4:29 pm, iHateApple Said:
How ’bout those buttons on the front?? Gonna guess that they are music controls…
Any word as to the funtionality of the music player while the phone is shut??
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 4:35 pm, The Boy Genius Said:
I’m not sure if it was just me, but I couldn’t get the outside “music strip” to work at all…In theory it allows control of the music application when closed. Music sounds pretty good when the flip is shut.
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 4:37 pm, Jameson Said:
So funny! My girlfriend has been bothering me about the LG Trax for like a week! I told her to wait until some real reviews surfaced until I would buy it for her. Well BG thanks a lot for hurting my pockets. We are now on the way to an AT&T store!
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 5:13 pm, charlesa Said:
From inside at&t, we will not see video conferencing until 2009 (at least) on at&t. Although DoCoMo’s been doing it since 2004, technology always moves as the earth rotates - first Asia gets the new great technology; then Europe and finally the Americas.
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 5:16 pm, iHateApple Said:
well, I went to an at&t store to figure it out BG. I really like this phone and wanted to know how to get it to work before I took the dive. You have to hold down both volume buttons for about 3-4 seconds before the music strip will work.
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 5:20 pm, The Boy Genius Said:
Awesome! Just tried it, thanks. Works pretty well, right?
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 5:24 pm, Galvatron Said:
It’s an overrated girls phone.
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 5:34 pm, Jeff B. Said:
It’s ugly as all shit.
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 5:45 pm, Tee Jay Said:
I’m starting to beleive that Jeff B and Galvatron are the same person…lol
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 6:01 pm, iHateApple Said:
Yeah, doesn’t take too much of a touch to use the controls. I really like the phone. Now I’m stuck between it and the Samsung A717, both amazing phones!
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 6:32 pm, Jeff B. Said:
Trust me Tee Jay we’re not.
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 6:51 pm, marvONE Said:
glad to see you brought back the bg’s for this review since they were missing from the Helio Fin review.
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 7:10 pm, maikel Said:
So basically,besides Video Share there’s not much updated features when comparing this phone to the LG CU500.
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 7:44 pm, Galvatron Said:
No ne and jeff B arn’t tha same person. Ivks alwaus thoght LG’s private motto was “lifes ghetto”
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 7:48 pm, iHateApple Said:
No, the 500 also has Video Share…but is all around still a crappy phone to be honest. This phone just seems solid. OS and all. The 500 was always kinda sketchy IMO…
Permalink | Reply
On Aug 22, 2007 @ 11:05 pm, Fred Ritvo Said:
Just bought the Trax yesterday for $200 before a $50 mail in rebate and a $20 instant savings b/c i bought a data plan. It feels a little chunky compared to my old V3, but it feels solid. And to iHateApple, the strip on the front controls most of the functions of the phone while closed. You have to hold the volume control for a few secs to turn on the touchpad, and u control the camera, mp3 player, read txt msgs, or if u hav a headset, use voice commands. BG, right on target!
Permalink | Reply
On Sep 11, 2007 @ 9:30 pm, Big Joe Said:
Does the LG Trax change outside display with a picture i take and can i do a voice record and set it for my ringtone?
Permalink | Reply
On Oct 30, 2007 @ 3:16 pm, Jen Said:
I’ve had this phone for a week.
It’s gotta be the coolest phone I’ve had yet.
It works great.
To the question above me….YES and YES!
Permalink | Reply
On Nov 11, 2007 @ 10:06 am, Alana Said:
I have the LG trax and you can use the mp3 while closed by holding down the volume key until the blue light comes on then touch it. The options will show up for you to go to your playlists. Do you know of a site where you can get music sent straight to your phone like via text?
Permalink | Reply
On Dec 13, 2007 @ 5:44 pm, Jeff Said:
Can I set MP3’s as my ringtone?
I currently have a Sony W600i and it allows me to import my own MP3 ringtones. It’s a decent phone for receptiona and the like, but the swivel is literally falling apart. I work in the trades and I’m extremely hard on phones.
All I want is a phone that can hold up to getting the crap beat out of it on a daily basis. I don’t care about the rest of the bells and whistles, but I do like the set of ringtones that I currenetly use.
Not that I expect a response to this…
Jeff
Permalink | Reply
On Dec 28, 2007 @ 3:30 pm, Alex Said:
i’ve had this phone for a while, but does it take video when the flip is down like the LG cu 500 does??
Permalink | Reply
On Mar 2, 2008 @ 4:12 pm, kayleighcenaaaaa Said:
does anybody think that this phone is better then the LGCU500. i’m just curiousssss:D thanks.
Permalink | Reply
On Mar 4, 2008 @ 8:39 pm, JJ Said:
Just got the Trax, pretty cool phone only 1 problem… is it me or did it take everyone a while to figure out how to get the music touch in the front to work? Cant get it to turn on!
Permalink | Reply
On Mar 11, 2008 @ 4:34 pm, DAveF Said:
See above message on holding down the volume buttons to active the strip. I like this phone (had a Samsung Snyc and it was truly garbage). My only complaint is that ti seems to play the MP3 through my Blue Ant bluetooth headphones when it feels like it, and that’s not very often. Pairs up fine, just won’t stop playing the MP3 through the phone, and send the output to my headphones. Driving me nuts.
Permalink | Reply
On Mar 13, 2008 @ 7:40 am, DAveF Said:
To answer my own post, I found information on the Blue Ant site that basically said you should be shutting down your cell at least once every couple of weeks. I shut down my Trax, and rebooted it, and everything worked perfectly. It had something to do with the memory of the phone getting corrupted after a long time of being on. I also recall that AT&T usually has you reboot the phone to update it, may be related to this issue as well. I was always one to just leave my cell phone on for months on end, maybe that’s not the optimal way to operate.
Permalink | Reply