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LG Optimus 2X - $378 @ Harvey Normans till 9th Oct

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Hardly Normal are doing a good deal on the LG Optimus 2X phone, unlocked and suitable for Optus et al (3G-900Mhz)

  • Dual core, 1Ghz Tegra 2 processor
  • 4 inch screen
  • 512MB RAM, 8GB internal storage + microSD
  • 8Mpixel back camera and 1.3Mpixel front camera
  • HD recording, HDMI out port, and DLNA built in.
  • Android 2.2, upgradable.

This phone has the advantage that the software it comes with stinks. Therefore the phone is available MUCH cheaper than its SGSII, etc. compatriots. There are ROM upgrades and replacements that then fix this into a stable, fast, phone - so one for the technical able.

And yes, I did recently buy this phone, for more money, from Hong Kong.
Damn.

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  • +2

    For those interested, and techie:

    Modaco custom ROM (Kitchen and PreBakes)
    http://android.modaco.com/topic/346823-04-oct-gr3-wip-v20i-m…

    Cyanogenmod (officially supported)
    http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/forum/265-lg-optimus-2x-g2x/

    Both Gingerbread 2.3.4

  • +1

    really cheap for a dual core phone..

    • Atrix isn't really that much more expensive if you're willing to get a grey import. That's where I'm putting my money :)

  • +1

    I like your description :)

  • i got this back in August for $445 @ HN + GST off when i went overseas. the battery life is pathetic with data enabled on stock 2.2. can only get 8-10hrs lol

    and the official gingerbread update has been delayed further and further =\

    • Put one of the alternate ROMs on it. Supposed to fix basically everything that's wrong with it, including battery life.

      I'm sure the official update will eventually get here, but the official Cyanogen support means there is good support through ICS - 2.4 basically guaranteed.

  • Its also cheaper because it only has 512MB of RAM. Thats the main reason I didn't bother getting it on release. Damn good bang for buck now though, especially with official CM7 support.

    I choose to run CM7 on my Nexus One all this year, so it is by no means a poor mans substitute for an official Google release. I have the choice, and CM7 wees all over the official builds.

    • lol I have one. Dont believe all the hype about ram. I dont get any lag or anything :D And remember its 380$ not 500-600$ like the S2/Sensation/3d etc :D Aewesome phone!

      • +1

        Don't get me wrong, 512MB RAM is fine for now. Its mostly about future proofing. When every other high end phone was shipping with 1GB, you know its going to be the first to be left behind eventually. But at $380 its not such a big deal to ditch and upgrade when that day finally arrives.

  • Great price for the specs. Dual core 1GHz CPU, 512MB Ram, 4" screen. On par with eBay prices. Good one HN!

  • -1

    a friend has 1 he said it broke within a month……

    • -1

      Because its a LG

        • +8

          you missed the "is" so -1 for poor grammar.

    • Just warranty within a month.

  • LG Optimus 2X

    How much just for one ;)

    • Just do ur maths man…..

      • +4

        LG Optimus 2X - $378 so each $189

  • +3

    "This phone has the advantage that the software it comes with stinks"

    LOL, brain does not compute, about to explode :D

    • +1

      If it didn't stink, the price would be $500+ ;-)

      Luckily software can be fix, if you have the knowledge ……..

  • Luckily software can be fix, if you have the knowledge ……..

    Yes. Even if you don't have the knowledge it takes about 5mins to follow a tutorial and get a cusotm ROM (ie CM7) on The 2X.

    • +1

      You just know if I said it was easy, someone would complain.

      Never underestimate stoopid.

    • where is this 5 min tutorial.. i'm a noob and XDA is scary!

      and i don't really like the CM7 builds cos it loses FM radio and HDMI out :S

      • As I understand it, HDMI works, but a default 1080p resolution.

        I think there was also a hack to get the Radio working. But since the issue that stopped it was connected with the same issue that stopped A2DP working, maybe the recent fix for that will fix the radio at the same time?

        Of course Paul's ROMs don't have any of these issues since they are based on LG code.

      • +1

        http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1254359

        Use that build. Stock 2.3.4 which was leaked. Runs beautifully :D I have been using it for about 2 weeks after being on CM7 for a few months. I get bored of the same rom :p Might jump back to CM7 soon <3

        • i'll try that.. would u know if it'll wipe the phone going from stock 2.2 v10c?

        • CVonV: Yea it will wipe. If you read the thread you need to root, install custom recovery, install Version 1.6 I think, set up your account (google and shiz) then install 1.8 I think. Check it out. But it provides good stock experiance

  • +2

    Buy it with your Amex card and get the $30 gift card :-) . HN is in the list of eligible stores.

  • apparently lg is releasing gingerbread for it in october (guess its better late than never) so even if you don't want to flash a custom rom this is potentially good value

  • really tempted to pull the trigger on this but custom roms on my milestone still make it run beautifully 2 years after its inception

  • I bought this from HK for $400 last month. Slightly annoyed I didn't wait a little bit for this deal, but oh well.

    It's a wonderful phone for the price. The SII is better, but not by nearly as large a margin as the price difference would suggest.

    The only big downside I have witnessed so far is that it records 1080 in .3GP, which gives horrible compression artefacts in dark conditions and is barely passable in bright conditions.

    • +1

      IIRC that was down to the data rate, not the container. Earlier in the year CM7 was modded to increase that - resulting in quality that nobody had trouble with.

      • Oh really? I read that somewhere else about 3gp actually, but I didn't really believe it. 3GP seems to be very consistently associated with horrifically bad videos. I guess I'm wrong though.

        I would like to upgrade to Cyanogen but I'm concerned that it will void the warranty, and that I've read there are issues with the front camera and HDMI. I suppose I will get around to it eventually, proper 1080p recording would be a great benefit to the phone, but first I might wait for the next official LG update which will hopefully improve video recording.

        • +1

          3gp is just a container, chances are it's still the H264/AVC codec within, and like sane said down to the bitrate.

  • +1

    Great phone.
    I'm posting from one right now in fact.
    Wasn't so great at the start but cyanogen really turns this thing into a beast.
    And it's cheap!

  • Thank you for good post!

  • Thanks OP just bought one from HN Queen Street. They were already in the bargain bin marked at 30% off (about $400) but they scanned at $378. Only one left if anybody else interested….

    • +1

      Been having a play and the software is much better than I expected, don't understand what people are complaining about. It's super responsive, much more so than my N1.

  • Just bought this one - comes with a free 2gb microsd card too

  • Got one! Thanks.
    Came with a HDMI cable and weird vibration speaker thingy?

    • Sounds like people are getting more from HN than I got with mine from HK.

      Still got to find the right HDMI cable for it.

      • It's just a normal micro HDMI (type D?) to HDMI cable by the looks of it, few dollars on ebay.

    • No HDMI in mine - is it in the viberation speaker box?

      • Nope was in its own seperate box.
        That and the "vibe holic, portable vibration speaker system" were plastic wrapped together with the Optimus 2X.

        • It must be a case of ymmv

        • Yeah the box the HDMI cable came in says "for a limited time only buy LG Optimus 2X/3D and get a free HDMI cable".
          Guess mine was slightly older stock.

      • me neither, I was a bit disappointed as the review I read said it came with the cable

  • So will Gingerbread eventually be available for this?

    • Apparently this month

  • Big thumbs up for the OP. I was looking into getting my first smartphone a few days ago and was doing some research today when I thought there might be a good deal on ozbargains. And it didn't disappoint!

    First port of call - reviews:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbiS0fu4kis

    whirlpool thread didn't have too many negative things to say about it either -

    http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1598794&p…

    Went to the local Domayne, played around with the only LG model on display - optimus 3D. Touch screen was silky smooth, dialing, sms screens seemed intuitive and easy to control, no music installed so couldn't test that. Phone felt fairly light although that subjective - compared to my nokia navigator 6710.

    The original price was $580. DSE sell the Optimus black (which is the basically the previous version with a single core CPU) for $399. I'm stoked and gobsmacked that this phone is more powerful than the computer I had in 2000.

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