LG Optimus Sol: LG’s mid-range Android contender

Here’s a breakdown of the LG range of Android smartphones. At the top of the rung, we have the LG Optimus 2X, on the stylish mid-range side of things we have the LG Optimus Black, at the futuristic end we have the Optimus 3D. Now LG is looking to introduce an mid-range Android device into the market to complement an already decent line-up of phones (this is of course not forgetting the Optimus slider that may or may not come to Malaysia).

LG mid-range Android contender is called the Optimus Sol. “Sol” as you may or may not already know means sun in various languages but we’re not interested in linguistics today. So let’s get back down to business.

The Optimus Sol features a 3.8-inch display and packs a single-core 1GHz processor along with a 5MP camera and a VGA front camera. Running the whole show it runs on Android 2.3.

We have no word on whether the Sol will hit Malaysian stores but in the US, it is expected to retail for about RM1,280 which is not far off from the Optimus Black which retails for RM1,399 in Malaysia. So is there a market for the Optimus Sol here?

As far as we can tell there’s a strong demand for mid- to low-range Android phones currently in the country. Manufacturers with devices in this segment are enjoying brisk sales especially among the stronger brands like Samsung and Sony Ericsson. At the same time, LG is a name that is synonymous with value for money — it’s flagship Optimus 2X is the cheapest dual-core Android in the market. The Optimus Sol can find a footing in Malaysia but LG needs to boost its brand presence in the mobile device market to be taken seriously. And in a market that is already very noisy with big brands like Samsung, HTC and Sony Ericsson, it’s not going to be easy.

[picture from here]