LG Dare cell phone review - At a Glance (by Noah Kravitz)

LG Dare Review - At a Glance

Specs Images Expert reviews User reviews Manual Compare Accessories Mobile Content

Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008
by Noah Kravitz, Senior Editor

At a Glance Introduction Design & Features Usability & Performance Conclusion

At a Glance

Editor Rating:

4.7

Styling: 5

Ease of Use: 5

Display: 4

Voice Quality: 4

Battery Life: 5

Quality/Durability: 5

What’s Good: Attractive, highly customizable UI with home screen shortcuts; Compact design with high-res touchscreen; HTML Web browser and Email app with EV-DO Rev A support; VCAST Music and Video Support; Rhapsody streaming music support; 3.2 MP camera with flash and VGA video capture; 3.5mm headphone jack; Accelerometer and proximity sensor

What’s Not Good: “Full HTML” Web browser is mildly disappointing; Touchscreen can take a bit of getting used to; No VCAST TV support

Bottom Line: Dare is the best multimedia phone Verizon currently offers and the best cameraphone they’ve ever offered. It may well be the best cameraphone available from any US carrier right now, as well. Though the touchscreen is smaller than those of its competitors (iPhone, Instinct, and Vu come to mind), it’s bright, clear, and relatively responsive. If you don’t need QWERTY or VCAST TV, Dare is the best feature phone on VZW, and arguably the best media-rich handset currently available on a US carrier.

Specs:
Make/Model: LG Dare
Network: CDMA 850 / 1900
Data: 1x EV-DO Rev. A (3G)
Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Size: 104 x 56 x 13 mm
Weight: 107 g
Form Factor: Candybar with Full Touchscreen
Display: 3.0” Color LCD, 240 x 400 resolution, 262,000 Colors
Memory: 200MB Internal Memory, microSD card slot
Notable Features: Full touchscreen; Virtual QWERTY/T9 and handwriting recognition; 3.2MP camera with flash; VGA video capture with slo-mo up to 120 fps; HTML Web browser; VCAST Video and Music Support; Rhapsody streaming music support; GPS with VZ Navigator software

Next: Introduction »

About our in-depth cell phone reviews

We take great pride to ensure that the our reviews are thorough and accurate. In no way are our editors directed or influenced by any manufacturers, advertisers, or partners; we believe that honest, opinionated reviews -positive or negative - are the only way to maintain credibility and serve our users.

Reviews by company

Apple, BenQ, BlackBerry, Eten, HTC, LG, Motorola, Nokia, o2, Palm, Pantech, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony Ericsson

zacky2cool @ Today at 8:25 AM

im getting the LG DARE on july 26th thats my birthday im so excited i think that phone is soo sickkkk and i love its touch screen
its always nice to have a phone that fits into your hand and is not a little bit bigger its perfect size

Reply to this comment

leanna100 @ Jun 20 8:15 PM

DARE RULES!

Reply to this comment

nokialover101 @ Jun 23 6:29 PM

dear noha
im a big fan of phonedog but wen i want to buy a phone off of ur web site i dont noe were to go

love

nokialover101

bond523 @ Jun 15 10:14 AM

yo everyone whos hating on the dare really it just isn't the right phone for you. i've had the dare for about a month now and I love it. the camera rocks, the touch screen works just fine for me and better than my voyager. I could have waited for the Env touch but i wanted the full touch screen experience without the hassle of a mandatory expenxive internet plan. My dare works just fine for me even though it may not be the right phone for one of u. And the touch screen keyboard takes one day to get use to after that I was flying on the keyboard and internet isnt the best but it works well and I love the favorites and moveable shortcuts. Really an all round cool phone and no complaints.

Reply to this comment

Jimmy Eusebio @ Jun 10 4:09 AM

I GOt The Dare Its A Good Phone I have It Its Down

Reply to this comment

12shorty12 @ May 26 6:47 PM

which is better the LG Dare or the Samsung Omnia?

Reply to this comment

jgvillan74 @ May 28 8:28 PM

This is what you should be asking.....Windows (Omnia) or non-Windows (Dare).

cossackpride @ Jun 3 2:41 AM

omnia of course but the there is a mandatory data plan for it

leanna100 @ Jun 15 7:24 PM

the omnia hands down.. but the touch screen kinda sucks on the omnia so idk.

bdowdell147 @ May 15 9:10 PM

THE DARE ROKKSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUTT I THINK THE LG VERSA IS BUTTERR

Reply to this comment

NIGHTZEBRA @ Apr 23 7:45 PM

IM THINKIN OF GETTING THE DARE IN JULY BECAUSE THATS WHEN MY CONTRACT END IS IT SLIMMER THAN THE LG VU COMMENT BACK

Reply to this comment

Cheryl513 @ Apr 27 7:37 AM

Whatever you don't don't waste your money on the LG Dare. It truly is a pain to use and very unresponsive to the touch!!!

12shorty12 @ Apr 14 7:13 PM

I AM THINKING ABOUT GETTING THE DARE IN JULY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAEN MY CONTRACT EXPIRES. IS THE DARE GOOD FOR TEXT IF YOU HAVE SMALL HANDS LIKE A LITTLE KID?

Reply to this comment

Rob0943 @ Apr 27 7:42 AM

At all cost...DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE!!!! It's difficult to get it to accept your touch, the virtual keyboard sucks, if you lock the phone somehow it will still manage to unlock itself and dial numbers when it's in a purse or a pocket. The entire phone is just bad any way you look at it!!

kelimandya @ Jun 2 11:35 PM

My hands are quite small, yet i have grown accustomed to it. Having had an LG dare for about a year now it only took me a fraction of that time for it to feel like an extension of my body. After calibration with a stylus it is a snap to text with.

vash003 @ Apr 10 1:11 PM

this phone is def worth evry pennny. i wouldnt want anything else and the cam is dope plus the touchscreen is relle good qualityyy

Reply to this comment

SiimplyEmz @ Mar 9 6:12 PM

The dare is a hot fone, camera is pretty cool but somestimes pictures come out blue ish
keyboard yeah itll take time to get use to

love the fone dow

Reply to this comment

rhs1022r @ Mar 8 11:31 AM

I just had the Dare and I hated it!! The virtual qwerty was impossble to type on and i had to always find a pen. The letters are too small. LG needs to comeout with another Dare with a bigger screen.

Reply to this comment