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LG enV VX9900The LG enV offers a wider keyboard, sharper camera, and stereo Bluetooth, plus the power of V CAST in a sleeker design than its predecessor. By Grace Aquino 
The LG enV VX9900 has shed some of the fat that weighed down the VX9800 and become a much more feature-rich handset. This horizontal flip phone, complete with QWERTY keyboard and geared for serious text and instant messagers, brings a two-megapixel camera, EV-DO, and the V CAST suite of services to hipsters looking for something a little more versatile than the Sidekick.
Though it looks like a standard candy bar phone, the enV opens on the right side. Turn it 90 degrees to use the keyboard and the 2.3-inch screen, which is flanked by speakers on each side. Although we appreciate the speakers' adequate volume (they sounded best when the phone was open), we would have preferred a larger screen. Thumb-typing on the keyboard was comfortable, but the awkward placement of the Clear key and the lack of a right Shift key were inconveniences. On the bright side, you get dedicated buttons for Send, End (which also works for power on/off), speakerphone, and e-mail, which takes you directly to the e-mail client you set up to sync with this phone. E-mail setup using Wireless Sync requires a PC, which generally isn't a bad thing, but it didn't work well enough to make up for the enV's lack of attachment support. If you want a slightly more user-friendly app, consider downloading Verizon's Vemail for POP3 and IMAP e-mail. With the phone open, you can access all the handset's capabilities, such as instant messaging (AIM, MSN, or Yahoo) and VZ Navigator for turn-by-turn directions and local business searches. We wish you could use the latter application with the phone closed, however. In general, navigating the multilevel menus and apps can be time-consuming, and we sometimes experienced a one- to two-second lag when launching apps. Instant messaging generally worked fine. It took two to four seconds (or longer if the network connection was weak) to send or receive a message. Verizon has no unlimited text-messaging plans for the enV, unfortunately; the plan maxes out at 2,500 text messages. We liked the 2-MP cam, which produced generally good-looking pictures. Both indoor and outdoor shots were bright and clear, though colors looked faded on some images. The ability to take 1600 x 1200-pixel resolution images is a nice perk, but to avoid clogging up the EV-DO network, Verizon prevents you from sending pictures and videos at the highest resolutions. Verizon's video playback was impressive when we were within EV-DO range, although our connection flaked out a couple times. Generally, content loaded and buffered within two to three seconds, and videos were smooth and pleasant to watch, even on the small screen. Audio quality was also good. Like most high-end handsets, the enV lets you listen to music on Bluetooth headphones. The phone also offers a music-only mode, which lets you listen to tunes while the cellular signal is switched off, making it okay to use on a plane. Calls were generally loud enough with the speakerphone and handset, and our callers reported that they could hear us well. In our experience around the San Francisco Bay Area, call and signal quality was satisfactory. LG's estimated 4.5-hour talk time was on a par with our usage, and the handset lasted for three days with regular use before needing a charge. If you're a messaging junkie, stick with the bigger but easier-to-use Sidekick II. However, if you want a phone that takes pretty good photos, plays music, streams video, and is good enough for casual text messaging, the enV is a strong contender. Compare Prices | LG enV VX9900 Specifications
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