LG KF600 Mobile Phone Review – Adding Some ‘Va Va Voom’ to Touchscreen

Overview

Touchscreens have always been one of LGs fortes when it comes to their mobiles and with phones like the LG Prada and Viewty, sporting this technology they’ve certainly sold like hot cakes as soon as they’ve hit the shelves. So it’s no surprise that LG are at it again with their latest offering of the LG KF600 mobile phone, but this time this phone adds some ‘Va Va Voom’ to touchscreen technology with its clever dual screen, called the ‘context specific InteractPad’. Find out below how it scored in the world where mobile phones are born every second!

Review
On the Surface…

Winner of the 2008 iF Product Design Award, this mobile phone definitely deserves it winner's tag in the style department for its sleek and stylish chrome trim and black facia as well as boasting functionality with its back rubber casing so that you don't have any worries it slipping out of your hands!

Little Closer Under the Bonnet…

As you slide open the phone, there are not two (which are found in normal phones) but three panels. The top panel is a 2 inch 262-colour QVGA (240×320 pixels) touchscreen display which is a conventional characteristic on most phones as well as underneath the slide is the number pad which boasts large functional keys for easy texting and dialling.

However, the cool new feature and can be found on the touchscreen just below the top panel, which has a 1.5-inch 262K-colour QVGA and is named the InteractPad, which comprises of short keys to allow you to quickly access key features of the phone without having to use the top panel first. Once you choose one of the functions from the InteractPad, the main top panel shows the sub-function and the InteractPad is used to navigate through the sub menus. The touchscreen navigation works well but can be a little fidgety (you'll always expect some from touchscreen technology). You are given options of 6 sub functions and LG have certainly chosen the right ones. The one which I found most useful was changing the mobile phone's profile, from vibrate to ringing and from ringing to silent effortlessly, especially when I had to quickly switch modes during an important meeting. The only thing which could be improved is the location of the 'OK' key could be better placed traditionally in the middle rather than on the left hand side.

The camera icon on the left hand side of the phone can unlock it, however of course it's main function is to access its three-megapixel camera, in which you will have to press down twice to activate the camera. Take your picture quickly using the shutter key located at the side of the phone or for more sophisticated shots using the InteractPad, allowing you to experience a whole host of fantastic features, shake reduction, self timer and video camera to name just a few. The only thing worth noting is that LG must have forgotten to put the digital zoom on the camera as there isn't one.

Although, the phone is not trying to compete with the iPhone on the MP3 stakes I will have to commend it for its effort. You can create your own playlist, select recent and favourite songs as well as shuffle tracks (so can be surprised what track will be played next) it becomes our very own iPod shuffle. If you have a sizeable amount of music goodies stored on a microSD card, although there is no way of searching for artist and album optionst.

The Gaj-it Verdict

Design: 8/10
Usability: 7/10
Features: 6/10
Value: 8/10

We Say: If you’re looking for a phone which offers standard features, which include a good camera and MP3 functionality and would like to stay with your traditional keypad but would like to try out the new touchscreen revolution, then the KF600 is definitely one for you. However, if you’re wanting more than just your standard mobile phone then I think it’s best for you to get back to your drawing board and look more at the smarter phones out there.

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