Korean firm LG introduced an inexpensive line of smartphones way back in December 2008. The LG Cookie was a huge success, for LG marketed it to the right audience: People love inexpensive, lightweight, uncomplicated yet feature-opportunistic smartphones.

LG recently revived that Cookie concept and has announced a new addition with a rescaled model called the LG Cookie Lite.

Let’s take a look at the new offering, and in our next post, we’ll run a comparison review with the original mobile phone in the line, so you can see for yourself what LG has done. We’ll even come back to this post and cross-link the review for you, which should open in a new window. If you scan this post before we finish, be patient. It’ll be up shortly.

Overview

There can be no mistake about this mobile phone’s intent: It is a low-tech device that fits nicely into its cheap mobile phone niche. Don’t expect a lot of bells and fancy whistles in this device.

What is there is, first, a rather unimpressive case. Glossy black is nice, but it’s a cheap, lightweight plastic. Don’t expect to have it unscarred if it is dropped a few times from over the head or onto hard surfaces. The red buttons that bookend the top and bottom of the display screen, however, lend a touch of higher self-image:

“Hey, we know that we’re not a top-shelf device, but not everyone can afford those. We are proud of the role we play, and within this class of mobile phones, we earn respect.”

For low-key users without a lot of expectations but a very tight budget, this might be an acceptable mobile phone. One of the quirks and restrictions of the model, though, worry us, regarding the Cookie Lite’s legitmate potential.

Specifications

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Dimensions: 95.8 x 50.5 x 11.9 mm / 77 g
Display: 2.4 inches / TFT resistive touchscreen / 240 x 320 pixels at 167 ppi
Operating System: ?
Speed: [2G device: Let's just say it's slow.]
Memory: 20 MB internal, expandable to 4 GB via microSD card.
Battery: 900 mAh / Talk: up to 8 hours / Standby: up to 500 hours.
Camera: 1.3 MP / 1280 x 960 pixels / Video: QCIF at 15 fps.
Connectivity: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 / Data: GPRS, EGDE. Both at Class 10 (low)

Features: Very low-grade camera, used most often in front on two-camera mobile phones. Facebook and Twitter integration is provided, but they load very slowly. The Handwriting recognition is a plus and not found on many smartphones.

Additional comments: The resistive display screen can get frustrating: It relies on pressure to activate options and icons instead of the capacitive screens people have come to enjoy and even expect in smartphones. Resistive screens aren’t as expensive, though, and LG’s use can be presumed to keep the price tag low: Remember that before you pound it into the ground in aggravation. Whether LG’s intent will work or not will be determined by the consumer.

What’s even more undetermined is today’s users accepting such a limited connectivity option. As 4G LTE is making itself felt, LG retrograded connectivity with 2G-only options: No 3G or even WiFi options may kill this device’s potential before it finds legitimate footing.

The lack of 3G speeds plays to advantage in battery life: 3G and higher specs gobble energy like no one’s business. Ditto, large display screens.

Overall opinion: Experienced smartphone users will not find this model attractive: It’s too slow with too few features. However, for the undemanding or even youthful user, this might be a terrific starter phone. With the extra bit of external memory, once a user outgrows this model, it can still act very well as a cheap MP3 player; adapt it to a dedicated music phone instead of tossing it.