Best Virgin Mobile choice: Samsung Intercept or LG Optimus V?

[MrSlim71]

I just became aware of the news that Virgin Mobile will release their 2nd Android-powered phone, the LG Optimus V (aka the Optimus One). This now presents a new option for me, as a Boost Mobile customer (BlackBerry Curve 8330 owner) that is thinking about making the switch back to VM. For a few months now, I have been leaning heavily towards purchasing VM's Samsung Intercept, which is already decently priced and will be updated to the 2.2 (Froyo) software in the spring. However, the Optimus V will be even cheaper and already Froyo-equipped. Which one should I choose?

 

[anon(134792)]

I have the Intercept with Virgin Mobile and I love it! When the Froyo 2.2 update is pushed out it will be even better. The main physical difference between the two phones is that the Intercept has a slide out full QWERTY keyboard and the Optimus only has the on-screen keyboard. That is a big factor for me but may not be as much of a factor for you or others.

 

[g0assasin37]

I personally love the Samsung Intercept! Even though it has many bugs, stability problems, performance issues, and poor battery life, the Android 2.2 (Froyo) update will take care of all of that. Plus, it seems to have a better and faster processor than the Optimus. The physical keyboard is amazing and i'm totally loving the phone overall. I would just say go for the intercept because, in my opinion, has better features, faster processor, physical keyboard and update 2.2 on the way!

 

[takeshi]

Which one should I choose?

As always for these threads, needs/wants? It's impossible to give meaningful recommendations without that info. You'll just find out what others prefer which may or may be relevant to you.

 

[Dave12308]

I will mention one thing about the Optimus V vs. the Intercept that MAY have a bit of influence on app compatibility.

The Optimus V is 320x480 resolution (same as the pre-retina display iPhones)

The Samsung Intercept is 400x240 resolution.

Not only is the Optimus V's screen higher in resolution, it is also a more STANDARD resolution for lower-end Android phones. Thus, alot more apps will likely run on the Optimus. There are very few 400x240 devices, so it's pretty much up to each individual dev as to whether or not they want to support it.

Plus, the Optimus' screen is 0.2" larger.

 

[MrSlim71]

Well, I chose the Optimus V. I just bought today at Target. I have to wait for it to be activated, which should be in 1-3 days.

 

[vote4seth]

2.2 will be better

"Plus, the Optimus' screen is 0.2"

Same size screen... i have an intercept and everything i have ever read about it says that the intercept is a 3.2"...

 

[BobCox#AC]

I personally love the Samsung Intercept! Even though it has many bugs, stability problems, performance issues, and poor battery life, the Android 2.2 (Froyo) update will take care of all of that. Plus, it seems to have a better and faster processor than the Optimus. The physical keyboard is amazing and i'm totally loving the phone overall. I would just say go for the intercept because, in my opinion, has better features, faster processor, physical keyboard and update 2.2 on the way!

I have had my Intercept for about 2.5 months now and I love/hate it. When it works it is great, but it is not very stable or reliable at all. Several times a day it freezes or force-closes, and I have to reset everything by pulling the battery pack about once per day. I get about 18 hours on a charge (mostly standby, but checking messages and Facebook every hour or two). I certainly hope that the promised Froyo update will solve all these problems, but I am not holding my breath.

I have not seen the Optimus, but on paper it has several nice enhancements over the Intercept:
* Better and more standard screen resolution (320x480 vs. 240x400)
* Android 2.2 vs. 2.1
* Typical battery life ~2x better
* Capable of creating a mobile WiFi hotspot (although that may violate Virgin Mobile terms of service)

There are a few things that could be better or worse:
* The Optimus CPU runs at 600 MHz vs. 800 MHz, but it also has a separate graphics chip to free up some load on the main CPU
* No physical keyboard, but the virtual keyboard supports Swype, which is easier and faster for most people.

 

[joshua.worth]

The Optimus is clearly the better phone

 

[BobCox#AC]

My love/hate relationship with my Intercept has been leaning toward the hate column lately. Frequent lock-ups and can't do simple tasks like answering a phone call.

My daughter needed a new phone, so I bought her an Optimus V. We have only had it a few hours, but so far it looks really nice. Thinner and lighter than the Intercept. Supports live wallpaper, which the Intercept cannot. The control seems zippy and more responsive.

Still undecided about the Swype keyboard vs. the physical. Spelling words on the Swype is pretty fast, but passwords are a pain because of the need to switch between letters and numbers/symbols. I don't like the way the numbers are laid out down the center of the symbol page, as opposed to across the top row like the virtual keyboard on the Intercept.

Have not had it long enough to determine what the battery life is like.

If the Optimus continues to perform well, I will probably be ditching my Intercept and picking up an Optimus for myself.

 

[mrsledlow19]

you're and idiot i work at VM and they are the same size and i have both phones and they both have there pros and cons but over all i would have to choose the intercept its just a better phone.We have alot of returns on the optimus v and yes we have are fair share of returns on the intecept but more so on the optimus v

 

[EducateAndinnovate]

It all depends on what you need in your smart phone.

If you are cost concious - then pick up LG Optimus V (USD 150) vs Samsung Intercept (USD 200-250)

If you like physical keyboard and use phone for heavy e-mailing/text - then pick up Samsung Intercept (Slideout physcial keyboard) vs LG Optimus V (only on screen software keyboard)

If one wants more RAM - then pick up Samsung Intercept vs LG Optimus V

If you like better screen resolution, better colors - then pick up LG Optimus V ( 320 x 480 screen 16 Mln colors) vs Samsung Intercept ( 240 x 400 screen and 65 K colors)

If you like real glass touch screen - then pick up Samsung Intercept vs LG Optimus V (fibre glass touch screen)

If you like separate CPU, GPU, Data Processor - Then pick up LG Optimus V (600 Mhz main CPU. Also it has 400 MHz modem processor for data transfers and a 300 MHz graphics chip for video processing) vs Samsung Intercept (800 Mhz CPU - Chipset: Samsung (S3C6410) + Qualcomm (QSC6075))

*** Qualcomm QSC6075 solution integrates baseband modem, multimedia engines, multi-band radio transceiver and power management into a single chip to eliminate the need for many discrete components.

http://www.qualcomm.com/news/releas...ingle-chip-solutions-support-cdma2000-1xev-do


*** The S3C6410 processor features a built-in, state-of-the-art 3D, 4M triangles/sec hardware accelerator with OpenGL ES 1.1/ 2.0 and D3DM API support. Products incorporating this hardware accelerator in the S3C6410 enjoy the following advantages: 3D graphics performance unmatched by software-only implementations
Reduced board space, since no external 3D graphics hardware is required
Better load balancing by relieving the CPU from cycle intensive 3D graphics functions
Lower power consumption due to optimized and dedicated hardware, resulting in longer battery life
High-quality video playback
Built-in hardware and Multi-Format Codec to enhance the multimedia experience
Optimized interface for high memory bandwidth requirements
Software support to reduce application design time
Rich peripherals to reduce total system cost and enhance overall functionality
Memory stacking options for smaller footprints

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...y_id%3D835%26partnum%3DS3C6410&token=OAO3gUmw


If you like better speaker phone - then pick up Samsung Intercept vs LG Optimus V

If you like better battery life - then pick up Samsung Intercept vs LG Optimus V

If you want Android 2.2 (FroYo) - then pick up LG Optimus V vs Samsung Intercept (though Samsung Intercept is scheduled to be upgraded from Android 2.1 Eclair to Android 2.2 in Sprint 2011)

If one wants a phone that heats less - then pick up Samsung Intercept vs LG Optimus V

 

[Xmeatizmurderx]

If one wants more RAM - then pick up Samsung Intercept vs LG Optimus V

Ummm... Actually the optimus has twice the ram of the intercept