LG LX550

You'd be forgiven if at first glance you thought the LG LX550 were an iPod. To be fair, with its boxy shape, square external display, and round music controls, the new Sprint cell phone does look like Apple's wildly successful music player. It even comes with a selection of faceplates in iPod-like colors such as blue, pink, and green. Perhaps these similarities are the point, however, because beyond making calls, the LX550 boasts solid music capabilities, including the first FM transmitter in a cell phone. The remaining feature offerings are plentiful; you'll find Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera, 3G support for streaming video, and an expandable memory slot--all in an appealing, compact design. And it makes good calls too. Sprint has dubbed the LX550 with the bizarre name of Fusic, and it's available for a sky-high $329, or a more reasonable $179 with service.
Design of LG LX550 (Fusic)
As we mentioned earlier, it's clear where LG got its inspiration for the LX550. And though we were skeptical initially of any cell phone's attempt at mimicking the iPod, we were pleased with the overall result. Although it's a tad boxy, the phone has a clean, minimalist design that doesn't put on airs. At 3.78 by 1.89 by 0.78 inches, it has overtones of the current slim phones. It's not nearly as thin as the hot Motorola Razr, but it slips easily into a pocket or a bag. It also benefits from solid construction (4.23 ounces), and the flip opens and shuts with authority. The LX550 comes in blue in the box, and you'll find changeable faceplates in green, pink, and black.

The most distinctive feature on the front flap of the LG LX550 are the round music controls that let you access the music player and Sprint's music store when the phone is closed. Once music is playing, you can then use the control to pause your tracks and scroll through your playlists. Although there's no Click Wheel, as on the iPod, the controls are still tactile and intuitive. Just below the controls is a small speaker for music and speakerphone calls, while above them is the square, 1.25-inch-diagonal external display. With support for 65,000 colors (96x96 pixels), it's one of the better external screens we've seen on a cell phone. You can't alter the backlighting time, but you can change the wallpaper and use the display as a viewfinder for self-portraits. It also shows photos for caller ID. Above the display is a small light that blinks when the phone is in standby mode and when you're on a call. It glows only in green, but you can turn it off if you like.