LG Optimus 3D preview: First look, in stereo

Getting around the device

Now that we’ve taken the 3D screen out of the way, we can continue our tour of the LG Optimus 3D externals. Just above the display, you can notice a video-call camera, right next to the proximity sensor and the earpiece.

The earpiece, the video-call camera and the proximity sensor are all on top

The four capacitive keys are on the opposite end of the front. The Menu, Home, Back and Search keys are haptic enabled and brilliantly backlit, and have the usual Android functionality upon a long press.

LG went with capacitive keys for the Optimus 3D

The left-hand side of the LG Optimus 3D hosts the HDMI and microUSB ports, neatly covered by plastic caps. The lids might get in the way a bit, but it's a price you have to pay for keeping dust and moist away.

The two ports on the left are hidden under small plastic covers

The dedicated 3D key is on the opposite side of the smartphone, exactly on the spot usually reserved for a shutter key. The volume rocker is on that same side too. Both keys are a bit too flat and placed on the sloping rear half of the phone so pressing them is a bit tricky, but you do get used to it eventually.

There's a dedicated 3D key on the right • The volume rocker is here too

The 3D key launches the 3D interface that LG cooked up for their latest smartphone. It also makes a point in a way that this particular part of the UI is quite important to LG (you know, like a mini-banner).

We move on to the top of the LG Optimus 3D, where the power/screen lock key is located. There's also a microphone (the smartphone records videos with stereo sound) and a 3.5mm audio jack there. The power key has the same problem as the volume rocker and the 3D knob.

The power key, the 3.5mm audio jack and a microphone pinhole is what you get on top

The other microphone is located at the bottom of the device. Naturally, this is the one that is used when you make phone calls.

The main microphone is at the bottom

Finally, we turn the LG Optimus 3D around to meet the dual 5 megapixel camera lens combo with a tiny LED flash squeezed in between. The loudspeaker grill is here too.

There are two camera lenses on the back this time

The general build quality of the Optimus 3D seems pretty great. The smartphone seems sturdy and its exterior durable enough to last for quite some time without losing much of its appeal. A big and heavy phone, not particularly slim either, it does look impressive and handles reasonably well.