Now that the successor to
LG's Chocolate line has been available to
Verizon Wireless customers, we thought it would only be fitting to put the latest addition through the paces and see if the
VX8550 is a worthy successor. From a quick glimpse, both the LG
VX8500 and the VX8550 both share the slide up form factor both sporting a hidden keypad. LG has kept the camera on the back of the slide on the VX8550. This allows for safe storage of the camera when not being used while also decreasing the amount of fingerprints, smudges, and scratches on the lens.
There have also been improvements in the keypad including dedicated Send / End keys and a camera button. Like its predecessor, the keys are still mashed together making text messaging somewhat difficult for those with moderately sized fingers. Our sausage-shaped pointers often misspelled words with the cramped styling.
Next, the center navigation button has been replaced with an
iPod-like click wheel that rotates both forward and reverse along with doubling as a 5-way navigation. We noticed very few accidental key presses while the phone was up to our face. This could be the single greatest improvement on the VX8550 which makes navigation and phone use a breeze. The slide mechanism seems as strong as the previous model with solid open and close motions. LG seems to have one of the best slide mechanisms on a mobile phone (
Samsung, you're a close second).
LG has changed the speaker placement from the VX8500 which was located on the bottom to being located near the bottom to the very top of the VX8550. The speaker itself seems to have been changed with a better quality one allowing less distortion while at higher volumes.
Along with an updated navigation button, LG added multi-colored lighting around the clickwheel that changes color based on the phones operation.
Call quality was on par for newer LG phones with great sound for both incoming and outgoing calls. None of the people we talked with could tell that we were on a mobile phone even with moderate signal strength. We even managed to stay connected in low signal areas where the VX8500 dropped the call. The VX8550 supports
Bluetooth for voice calls and also for stereo music listening. We paired both the
Motorola H9 and a
Jabra JX10 with this phone. Both headsets performed as expected in close range, however at distances greater than 15 ft. there was both audio dropouts and fading.
All in all, there are several enhancements that gives the VX8550 clear advantage over its predecessor including the center navigation, updates to the keypad, and overall styling of the phone. But with a cramped keypad and smaller form factor - it might be passed up by those power users looking for a roomier layout.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cody @ Aug 10th 2007 8:47AM
Are you kidding me? Where's the rest of this article? You didn't mention anything about the new flashing lights around the scroll wheel. Have you ever owned the 8500? The camera's in the exact same place. You didn't mention the speaker on the top of the back of the phone, which isn't on the 8500. Are there new themes?
Ian @ Aug 10th 2007 12:37PM
1. "Along with an updated navigation button, LG added multi-colored lighting around the clickwheel that changes color based on the phones operation."
2. "LG has kept the camera on the back of the slide on the VX8550."
3. "LG has changed the speaker placement from the VX8500 which was located on the bottom to being located near the bottom to the very top of the VX8550."
**Read the article before commenting.**
Cody @ Aug 10th 2007 12:40PM
Umm how about they edited this to answer those questions after I made that post. I read the entire article, and they botched the placement of the camera the first time around. So, next time, read the article when it's posted, then respond. thanks.
stevenodor @ Aug 10th 2007 9:28AM
chocolate looks sweet
Fibonacci @ Aug 10th 2007 11:04AM
There is nothing "up-close" or "personal" about this review. How's the call quality? Speakerphone? Camera? Build quality? Battery life? Navigation? Bluetooth functionality? Etc... etc... etc...
goato @ Aug 10th 2007 11:05AM
Eh, the slider is very strong... but you may have to try again to get a working one. I returned mine the first day because they shipped me a broken slider. They switched my number over, and then checked the slider on the new one... same thing. So, I got 3 of these in the first 24 hours of owning one, and I still don't think it's 100% what it's supposed to be.
reese @ Aug 10th 2007 12:09PM
I've had the black version for about 3 days and I am pretty satisfied. I havn't really used the 8500 so don't depend on me for a direct comparison... but i think one of the big complaints of the 8500 was accidently hitting the touch sensitive buttons in your pocket; the 8550 has a sliding lock key on the side to disable the touch buttons (you can either hit the slide button again or the middle "ok" button twice to activate the touch buttons).
It also supports high capacity microSD (I just ordered a 4gb card for ~$80 shipped from Amazon and the Moto S9 bluetooth headphones for ~$80 as well from Amazon). The nice thing about the scroll wheel is that it actually moves, rather than being touch sensitive. The phone also sports 60MB dedicated for internal music storage and 60MB dedicated for other phone storage.
I have tested the phone using the 1.01 beta of BitPim via bluetooth and it works flawlessly (a 5MB mp3 takes about 40 seconds to transfer - not blazing speeds, but acceptable [saved $30 by not purchasing the USB cable]) and ringtones are eaily added with BitPim as well as picture and phonebook backup.
I do agree with the awkwardness of text messaging with my larger thumbs, but its tollerable. It is also a little awkward to hold the phone up to your ear while the slider is open - I wish you could close the slider without hanging up the phone... the only way you can have a conversation with the phone closed is by taking an incoming call or by making a phone call through the contacts menu. Another peeve of mine is that while the phone is closed, you can access recent calls, but you can't dial them (I am a fan of the quick SND-SND button sequence to call someone back real quick - you can only do that with the phone open).
As far as the music player goes:
It seems to work nicely so far (I only have 7 songs on it now while I wait for the 4gb card). The external speaker is pretty impressive (I have my mp3's regulated at 96-98 dB and they play loud enough to fill a den with sound).
Just FYI - hitting '##program8550 SND' and then all 0's gets you to the service menu: I put my phone in 1X only mode to disable EV-DO since I have no intention of usign V-Cast and it will save battery life.
I guess thats about it... hit the reply button if you have any questions.
Goato @ Aug 10th 2007 12:50PM
In call settings> End Call Options you can change it so that it doesn't hang up when you slide the phone down.
ToddZ @ Aug 27th 2007 10:32PM
Reese - could you describe how you got BitPim to work over Bluetooth with the 8550? I have followed all the various half-baked instructions in forums around the web with no success.
Norbert H @ Sep 4th 2007 8:26PM
Can't you just use your computer, create a "My Music" folder in the micro SD card and copy songs from your HDrive to the card?
Thx
Chels @ Sep 14th 2007 6:39PM
i asume youve got your SD card by now, i formatted the card, then putt the card in my card reader hooked to my computer so it has the premade folders.. i drop Mp3s into the specific folder.. and i go to put it on my phone
the song shows up as being there, but when i go to play, it plays the first half second over and over again.. and freezes up
what do i do???
i want music so BAD!!
reese @ Aug 10th 2007 12:12PM
Oh yea... I thought the blue phone was going to look really cool (which it does) but I expected that "electric blue" that some Acura's and Audi's have... it's more of an indigo-purple and fits more for females. The dark red is definitely girly.
Dav-O @ Aug 16th 2007 6:50PM
Anyone know where I can download more themes? Thx.
melanie @ Aug 18th 2007 12:35PM
does anyone know if the chocolate phone is compatable with cingular ?
dustin @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:54AM
i just got my blue chocolate 8550 2 days ago and i must say, i am very satisfied with it, i have been a long time Motorola fan and was always afraid of going to lg after my last lg had a terrible interface and its best key feature was being an overpriced paperweight. but with the 8550 lg has came a long way, better features nice design and a very user friendly interface. navigation through the phone is fast and is better than any phone i have owned up to date, although i am afraid to take the factory vynal cover off since the plastic screen looks like it would be easy to scratch. but i find it great for web browsing because when you use the back key or erase something the phone will vibrate slightly to notify you (comes in handy when your not paying attention).
the phone is defiantly worth the 150$. plus the phone isnt as bulky as a standard flip phone, thats a problem i have had with keeping phones in my pockets, the phone is relatively thin and with the rounded edges it is less of an eye soar and less noticeable if you are the kind of person who prefers keeping there phone in there pocket instead of on there belt.
i havent tried the mp3 player yet since i still cant figure out how to manage music on vista and do everything on vista as i could on xp (thanks for nothing but a pain windows) but from the ringtones that i have downloaded the sound clarity of the built in speakers is pretty decent, clear and crisp. not as loud as i would prefer but it does get loud enough for listening to music over a crowd. currently im 17 and this phone is perfect, i would give the phone a 9 outa 10
Kim @ Aug 28th 2007 11:34AM
one thing i really dislike is the keypad along the navigation is too sensitive. :(
Any one know how to transfer picture via bluetooth to other mobile?
and how to set the MP3 as ringtone? Can anyone tell me? Many thanks.
chocolate @ Sep 8th 2007 3:22AM
I just got the VX8500 today but I just read all the reviews for that phone, and i think it's gonna suck.. I wanted the VX 8550 but they only had black, blue, or dark read. Does anyone know if verizon's gonna come up with either a white or a pink for the 8550 anytime soon??
GaryBB @ Oct 7th 2007 4:52PM
I just bought the 8500 and can tell you from having the first chocolate that the new on the light years better overall. Build quality is far better, screen brighter, camera, even tho it is 1.3 megapixel is incredibly good...bright sharp saturated pics. Did you know that your pics can be edited IN the phone? resize, crop, rotate and saved as a new pic. I have had the enV (vx9900) and 8700, 8600 and can say from experience that the new chocolate is right up there at the top of the list of wonderfully designed phones that are cool, very easy to use and very good quality.
GaryBB @ Oct 16th 2007 2:27PM
I've read a number of posts where people say they are sorta on the fence about getting the new VX8550. Some had bad luck with the original chocolate and are hesitant (as I was) to try it, others flat out bash it, others seem to want the phone but have been told or read that it is not a big improvement over the original, etc. etc. So, I thought I'd offer my 3-cents worth for those considering this phone.
I have had the V, the enV, the stainless 8700 (which, by the way, has the absolute best video quality of any phone out there but has other problems) and, I had the orig. Chocolate, as did my daughter.
We liked it but the placement of the send/end keys was irritating as well as the over-sensitive touch pads which lowering the sensitivity didnt seem to change. The navigation wheel was not well designed in my opinion and the hard keys made texting more of a chore than it should have been. The mechanics of the slider were also not the best. The camera was average, the screen was bright but not truly brilliant which it now is on the new version.
I looked over the new chocolate and after seeing just how much better this version actually is, I got one. The changes LG made to the Chocolate are not just, as a few people said, cosmetic with a few minor updates ...there are significant improvements all around. Among the most important, in my opinion, is that the build quality is much better the phone is now slimmer, sleeker and far superior to the original. The keypad is now larger and LG incorporated soft keys. A big improvement for texting!
There is just about zero lag time when scrolling or clicking within the menus. The options will change as fast as you can spin that nifty little metal wheel. Im amazed (yep, this is bordering on dorky) that no matter how fast you spin it, the menus will keep up. Those who had the original chocolate found the lag irritating. Well, thats a thing of the past. The instant you touch the right upper red pad your contacts pop up. Scrolling is also now probably 100% faster.
The camera has been vastly improved. Considering it is not a 2 megapixel, the pics are surprisingly crisp, detailed and well saturated. They can be edited in the phone and saved as a new image. You can rotate, resize and crop and unless you go extreme in magnification, there is no loss of quality after editing....as a photographer for 28 years, I'm aware of the limitations of cell phone cameras and am impressed with the improved lens and image processing.
Color balance has been improved too and it takes pics in lower light than the 8500 (and most other cell cameras) with minimal noise (that sandy look that appears in low light pics). The shutter response time is another major improvement. In daylight you will get almost no blurred pics because the subject moved just as you pushed the shutter. It is now quite fast.
Video is average but it does not blur and page like many cell videos do. The increase in speaker size and better placement has helped considerably with the sound quality & the speaker is now less prone to distortion.
I think LG made the right move by adding the vibration response and a metal scrolling iPod-like wheel. This is a huge plus for the new chocolate. Also, sensitivity settings now do make a difference.
As a music phone, I doubt anything in it's price range can touch it. LG improved the player significantly. The amp is quite powerful and there is no way anyone could listen to music with the level much above halfway, unless the songs were recorded extremely low and not normalized. The playlist still lists songs in alpha order. There are 12 different EQ settings on the phone as well as a 3D effect option which can greatly improve certain kinds of music.
With good earphones, its fair to say you get iPod quality....remember that much of the sound quality is dependent on earphones (obviously aside from the quality of the mp3). The Jabras, for all the hype, seem to lack good bass response. Oddly, the $15 Veriz earphones are the very best I've yet found.
As for the oodles of comments ref compatibility with Bitpim and the 8550, the latest version has no conflicts. It is version 102-test. The screen size for wallpapers is exactly 240 x 274believe it or not, changing it by one number will leave a white border. The old chocolate wallpaper size is 240 x 275 so if you use the same pics, decrease to 274 and it should fit perfectly.
Considering all that this phone can doand do very well, and considering how truly compact this phone is, it is a wonder of technological engineering. IMO, few phones can touch the quality of the new chocolate....and as for the black cherry color it is beautiful, a burgundy with metal flakes that only show up in sunlight. That said, like the mint blue, neither are as bright in person as sample pics make them appear. In room light or in shade both colors look rather flat. Like many people, I prefer the classic black. For whatever reason, the shine and gloss shows up better.
Fingerprint hint everyone knows these phones are fingerprint magnets but that problem can be greatly reduced by using good ol common Pledge spray wax. Dampen a soft cloth, wipe the phone, let it sit a min or so, wipe off then repeat. Do this a couple times a week and you will have almost no fingerprints and it keeps the phone glossy and shining. Waxing takes just a min or so.
The side lock is a good improvement, but I wish there was a way to simply lock the phone period, not just lock the keys from being used accidentally. That is the only negative Ive yet found with the new chocolate.
The 8550 is a winner....I use my phone heavily and have no problems of any kind.
I would be interested in feedback from those who have the new chocolate and those considering buying it.
GaryBB @ Oct 16th 2007 2:29PM
I've read a number of posts where people say they are sorta on the fence about getting the new VX8550. Some had bad luck with the original chocolate and are hesitant (as I was) to try it, others flat out bash it, others seem to want the phone but have been told or read that it is not a big improvement over the original, etc. etc. So, I thought I'd offer my 3-cents worth for those considering this phone.
I have had the V, the enV, the stainless 8700 (which, by the way, has the absolute best video quality of any phone out there but has other problems) and, I had the orig. Chocolate, as did my daughter.
We liked it but the placement of the send/end keys was irritating as well as the over-sensitive touch pads which lowering the sensitivity didnt seem to change. The navigation wheel was not well designed in my opinion and the hard keys made texting more of a chore than it should have been. The mechanics of the slider were also not the best. The camera was average, the screen was bright but not truly brilliant which it now is on the new version.
I looked over the new chocolate and after seeing just how much better this version actually is, I got one. The changes LG made to the Chocolate are not just, as a few people said, cosmetic with a few minor updates ...there are significant improvements all around. Among the most important, in my opinion, is that the build quality is much better the phone is now slimmer, sleeker and far superior to the original. The keypad is now larger and LG incorporated soft keys. A big improvement for texting!
There is just about zero lag time when scrolling or clicking within the menus. The options will change as fast as you can spin that nifty little metal wheel. Im amazed (yep, this is bordering on dorky) that no matter how fast you spin it, the menus will keep up. Those who had the original chocolate found the lag irritating. Well, thats a thing of the past. The instant you touch the right upper red pad your contacts pop up. Scrolling is also now probably 100% faster.
The camera has been vastly improved. Considering it is not a 2 megapixel, the pics are surprisingly crisp, detailed and well saturated. They can be edited in the phone and saved as a new image. You can rotate, resize and crop and unless you go extreme in magnification, there is no loss of quality after editing....as a photographer for 28 years, I'm aware of the limitations of cell phone cameras and am impressed with the improved lens and image processing.
Color balance has been improved too and it takes pics in lower light than the 8500 (and most other cell cameras) with minimal noise (that sandy look that appears in low light pics). The shutter response time is another major improvement. In daylight you will get almost no blurred pics because the subject moved just as you pushed the shutter. It is now quite fast.
Video is average but it does not blur and page like many cell videos do. The increase in speaker size and better placement has helped considerably with the sound quality & the speaker is now less prone to distortion.
I think LG made the right move by adding the vibration response and a metal scrolling iPod-like wheel. This is a huge plus for the new chocolate. Also, sensitivity settings now do make a difference.
As a music phone, I doubt anything in it's price range can touch it. LG improved the player significantly. The amp is quite powerful and there is no way anyone could listen to music with the level much above halfway, unless the songs were recorded extremely low and not normalized. The playlist still lists songs in alpha order. There are 12 different EQ settings on the phone as well as a 3D effect option which can greatly improve certain kinds of music.
With good earphones, its fair to say you get iPod quality....remember that much of the sound quality is dependent on earphones (obviously aside from the quality of the mp3). The Jabras, for all the hype, seem to lack good bass response. Oddly, the $15 Veriz earphones are the very best I've yet found.
As for the oodles of comments ref compatibility with Bitpim and the 8550, the latest version has no conflicts. It is version 102-test. The screen size for wallpapers is exactly 240 x 274believe it or not, changing it by one number will leave a white border. The old chocolate wallpaper size is 240 x 275 so if you use the same pics, decrease to 274 and it should fit perfectly.
Considering all that this phone can doand do very well, and considering how truly compact this phone is, it is a wonder of technological engineering. IMO, few phones can touch the quality of the new chocolate....and as for the black cherry color it is beautiful, a burgundy with metal flakes that only show up in sunlight. That said, like the mint blue, neither are as bright in person as sample pics make them appear. In room light or in shade both colors look rather flat. Like many people, I prefer the classic black. For whatever reason, the shine and gloss shows up better.
Fingerprint hint everyone knows these phones are fingerprint magnets but that problem can be greatly reduced by using good ol common Pledge spray wax. Dampen a soft cloth, wipe the phone, let it sit a min or so, wipe off then repeat. Do this a couple times a week and you will have almost no fingerprints and it keeps the phone glossy and shining. Waxing takes just a min or so.
The side lock is a good improvement, but I wish there was a way to simply lock the phone period, not just lock the keys from being used accidentally. That is the only negative Ive yet found with the new chocolate.
The 8550 is a winner....I use my phone heavily and have no problems of any kind.
I would be interested in feedback from those who have the new chocolate and those considering buying it.
mtc @ Oct 19th 2007 2:18PM
Exchanged the KRZR k1m for the vx 8550. Much happier.
NKelly @ Nov 14th 2007 8:56AM
The VX8550 I purchased several months ago will not hold a charge. Initially, I liked the phone despite the touch sensitive pad, mastered the music download and bluetooth devices. I am a very light phone user but have found the battery will not hold a charge while sitting idle for more than 24 hours. Last month I exchanged the battery at the Verizon store. Last week I exchanged the phone (same model) at the Verizon store and am still not able to keep it charged. If I can't depend on the phone to be charged and available when I need it, then all the nice features in the world are pretty much worthless.