LG Octane

The LG Octane is probably one of the best examples of a "feature" phone still on the market, and is a good fit for someone who doesn't need or want a smart phone or the pricey data plans that come with them. The downside to this phone is quite obvious: it is not a smart phone. There is very little software to speak of available. What is available for it is limited to the carrier's online marketplace, Verizon in the case of this particular model. However, if all you are looking for is a phone that makes and receives calls and texts (including picture and sound files) without the bells and whistles; feature phones are still a good choice. The LG Octane forgoes the touch screen approach for a front ten-key panel and nav buttons. The phone flips open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard for texting, a 2.6" screen for viewing pictures and video, and speakers for speakerphone functionality and MP3 or WMA playback. The 3.2 Megapixel built-in camera takes passable photos and video; but the video quality pales in comparison to some of the more expensive counterparts. The phone has pretty much all the features you would expect from a non-smart phone. Bluetooth 2.1 means connecting to your car or headset should be no problem, but it also includes a headset jack. The external MicroSD slot (always a bonus) means that your photos and songs can be easily transferred to your computer and back without installing the Verizon software. The phone uses a standard USB cable for data transfer and charging, and includes a wall charger. There's also some nice features you might not expect. The phone has a web browser built-in, but don't expect Flash to work. The contact list lets you attach pictures to contacts, giving you a photo caller-id. Voice commands are available, but I've never been able to get them to work quite right, having the standard problem of the recognition software confusing names, especially homophones and unique spellings. As for the phone itself; at 4 ounces, it's light enough to carry in a jeans pocket without dragging down your pants, and at 4 1/4 by 2 1/4 inches when folded, it should be an easy fit. The face buttons feature an auto-lock that works most of the time; though holding the 0 key can cause the phone to unlock accidentally. After about 18 months of use, the outer screen is a bit scuffed up, but still visible; and if you do a lot of texting, you'll probably be using the protected inner screen more anyway. The battery life of the Octane is good, but will depend on your use case. Turning on the Bluetooth radio will sap the battery more quickly; but you should still be getting a full 18+ hours of standby time. This particular model has been phased out of Verizon's lineup. If you can get a hold of one for around the $50 range, I'd thoroughly recommend picking it up over the more recent Cosmos 2 unless you prefer the slide-out keyboard to a clam-shell. Overall, the LG Octane remains a solid entry in the dwindling feature phone market.