LG Optimus 2X finally announced

The LG Optimus 2X has finally been announced by the Korean company, and has been confirmed for a UK release.

Offering up a dual core 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor (the first phone to be released with such tech inside) the Android 2.2-toting monster is also packing a 4-inch WVGA screen.

Another first for the phone is the inclusion of 1080p video recording – previously handsets could only handle 720p capture, but presumably the upgraded processor has made it easier for the Optimus 2X to handle the procedure without bringing the phone to a grinding halt.

Mirror, mirror, on the phone

Other specs include HDMI mirroring (where you can repeat your phone display on a larger screen) and DLNA compatibility, so the Optimus 2X can interact with other connected devices, either streaming to or from the phone.

A front facing camera is included as Google’s Android push to match the iPhone 4’s FaceTime service gathers pace, as well as 8GB of onboard memory (with a microSD card slot – screw you, Nexus S).

A 1500mAh battery and an 8MP camera with a single LED flash on the back round out the spec list.

We’re still yet to get a UK release date, but it should land in Q1 2011 after the Korean launch. It’s rocking Android 2.2 still, but the 2.3 Gingerbread update will be coming soon, with the update schedule to be announced shortly.

The LG Optimus 2X is the latest to hit pre-order on Play.com, with UK pricing of £469.99.

That figure exactly the same as that of a Swedish retailer which popped the LG Optimus 2X up for pre-order just before Christmas, which means the Brits aren’t losing out in the exchange rate cross-over, for a change.

The much-lusted-after Android handset is also listed with a UK release date of 18 March.

Dual-core

As the world’s first dual-core smartphone, the LG Optimus 2X is rocking an Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, promising full HD playback and supersonic speed operation.

The price puts it in the same bracket as the Google Nexus S, although there’s not yet any confirmation on whether the Optimus 2X will be running Android 2.3 like the Google-branded handset.

The March release date will also see the LG Optimus 2X competing against the promise of all the newly announced super-phones from Mobile World Congress 2011.

LG Optimus 2X owners may be stuck with malfunctioning handsets for the foreseeable future as LG struggles to fix a bug with the handset.

Despite intentions to offer a patch to fix the ‘black screen of death’ issue that sees handsets randomly freezing and rebooting, LG has admitted that it’s struggling to make the problem go away.

Although the company originally stated that it would have a software update to fix the problem by the end of May, the latest communiqué from LG posted on its Italian blog warns of a wait of “several weeks”.

No fix ’til Brooklyn

“We regret having to announce that the software version expected by the end of the month – in order to solve the instability problems alleged by some customers – has been postponed for several weeks,” says the company’s statement, translated by an XDA Developers forum member.

“Troubleshooting is taking longer than expected because of the systematic nature of the anomalies reported, involving only a part of owners of LG Dual Optimus [2X].

“However, we are aware of the hardships that some of you are [having] with our product.

“All resources are stretched to the limit of LG to release a best software [update] as soon as possible, but at present we have to move the deadline for issuing [to] the second half of June.