July 19, 2007 - When LG released the VX 9800 (aka the V), it proved itself to be one of the best phones on the market, providing a sleek package with a powerhouse performance. Now we have the next iteration of the V, the EnV (VX 9900). We expected it to be a solid improvement over its predecessor, but ended up being sorely disappointed after finding only a handful of features that were noteworthy in this otherwise unremarkable upgrade. That's not to say that the EnV is a horrible phone, it's simply last year's model in a new package.

For those who had qualms with the bulk of the 9800, LG has addressed the complaint by reducing the overall size and weight of the EnV. The EnV is about the same height and just a bit wider than the 9800, measuring in at 4.64" x 2.08". The 9900 really makes its mark with its thickness and weight - the phone is substantially thinner than its predecessor, with a depth of .78" and a weight of 4.6 oz. Essentially, the EnV is about the size of the qwerty board and half of the V, making it a very pocket friendly replacement. The 9900 is also noticeably lighter than the V, making it something that you can throw in a pocket or a bag and forget about it until it's needed. The only issue with the new size is that it doesn't feel as solid as the 9800. It's far from being a flimsy handset, but it doesn't have that heft that came with the V, which helped instill a reputation of durability.

Once again, the EnV comes with a clamshell design, with one set of features available when it's closed and another when it's open. When closed, you'll be treated to a 65k color LCD screen set at a resolution of 160x128, allowing you to easily navigate the various functions of the phone using six face buttons and a directional pad for navigation in addition to the 12 key number pad for dialing and other functions. When you open the phone, you'll have access to a vibrant 320x240 screen that runs on a 262k color display and, most notably, a full qwerty board that is actually nicer than what was found in the last model.

Where the V's qwerty board used flat buttons that were slightly above the surface of the phone, which could cause some difficulty in use, the EnV uses buttons that are molded and a bit higher than. This makes the keys seem more separate than they actually are and helps with the tactile aspect, making a superior keyboard. However, there is one setback with the new clamshell design - when you open the phone up, the top half flips back and over the side, which obstructs the volume controls that are on the spine of the phone. If you try to adjust the volume while the phone is open you'll find that there simply isn't enough room to access the controls. This isn't a killing point, as you can always open the phone all the way and get to the buttons, but it is rather annoying and it's a step backwards from its predecessor.



The call quality on the 9900 is as good as any phone we've used. If you're looking for something with solid audio quality, you'd be hard pressed to find any better - we've seen a handful that are at the same quality, but none of them have exceeded it. Whether we were inside a shopping mall or outdoors, we suffered no static and maintained a clean signal throughout. Even better is the Bluetooth compatibility; it's as if the handset was optimized for use with Bluetooth headsets. Using a Jawbone headset, the audio was amazingly clean with people on the other end able to hear me without any of the other ambient noises. I've tried using the same headset with several different devices including a BlackBerry 8830 and a PlayStation 3, and the audio quality was easily the best on the EnV.

As expected, text messaging is as easy as ever with the EnV, especially with the updated keyboard, making things that much easier for those obsessed with messaging their friends and family. Though messaging is easy as pie on the EnV, the old problem with email stands. If you're using email service that supports the mobile web (hotmail, yahoo, gmail, etc…), you'll be styling when it comes to checking your messages. However, when it comes to support through corporate services such as Outlook or Lotus Notes, they can be supported, but not without a specialized service that comes with a hefty price tag of $20 every month. Considering the fact that competing handsets offer this sort of thing for free, it seems that it's an oversight on LG's part that really hurts the handset's overall appeal to folks who need to stay connected to their professional lives.