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It may have style, but the LG Optimus L7 doesn't quite hit the mark compared to the competition, with to much thought put into the design making the user experience feel forgotten and rushed.
We liked
The Optimus L7 does have a decent screen, with the 4.3-inch display provides strong, vivid colours and smooth video playback.
The inclusion of NFC is a nice feature, along with the programmable Tag+ sticker included in the box, which makes the technology more useful than just having NFC alone on the handset.
We were also impressed with the battery in the Optimus L7, which can easily last a couple of days with moderate use.
We disliked
Unfortunately there are a few things which have frustrated us while using the Optimus L7, the main one being the sluggish processor LG have lumped inside.
While the Orange San Diego also sports a single core chip, the LG has not managed the same integration level as Intel, which has resulted in the Optimus L7 being a pain to use.
Even simple commands such as reading a new text message become a chore as the L7 plods along, as it seems to struggle with even the most basic tasks.
The speed issue hampers the web browsing as well, which led to us giving up on numerous occasions because things were just taking too long.
The VGA videoing capability is also a little bit of a let down, as San Diego can record full HD and the HTC One V offers 720p - which is becoming the norm for mid-range handsets.
Verdict
The LG Optimus L7 had the potential to be a decent phone, its big screen, Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and NFC technology are sadly put on the back burner thanks to the incredibly slow processor and user experience.
If you want a decent, single core phone with all the key features then you're better off looking at the HTC One V or Orange San Diego.
If you fancy something slightly different then check out the Nokia Lumia 710 or BlackBerry Curve 9320, as the LG Optimus L7 comes in behind all of these.
