Editor markup for LG Optimus G for AT&T photos. This is only visible in the story editor.

The LG Optimus G is a "black slab" in every important sense of the term. Although the dimensions vary slightly between AT&T's and Sprint's versions, both are centered around a 4.7-inch screen that's ever-so-slightly shorter and wider than what you will find on either the One X or the Galaxy S III. That makes for a relatively squat phone, you might say, but in practice it's not much different from other large Android phones.

LG has opted for a fully sealed design with the Optimus G. There's no removable battery, but that tradeoff means LG can make a fairly thin phone. However the rear surface is completely flat instead of curved, which adds to the "slab" feel. Overall, I think it's worth the tradeoff for a thinner, more solid-feeling device.

On every Optimus G model, the flat rear panel features something LG calls "Crystal Reflection." The perfectly flat surface (reports differ as to whether it's glass or polycarbonate, but it feels more like polycarbonate to me) is actually a clear, polarized panel overlaying a reflective pattern underneath. The net effect is something that looks black at an angle but reveals a shiny pattern at the right angle and in the right light. It's thankfully not too ostentatious, but I think I'd prefer a simple matte finish myself.

Like Samsung, LG has opted to locate the sleep/wake button on the right-hand side instead of on the top, with the volume buttons on the left. The speaker is a single vertical slit on the lower right of the phone, which unfortunately can get quite muffled if it's sitting on a soft surface.

Editor markup for LG Optimus G for Sprint photos. This is only visible in the story editor.

The AT&T and Sprint models do differ slightly. The Sprint model is very close to the global version — and in fact there's no Sprint branding whatsoever on it, a move that will likely help get it on Sprint's various pre-paid brands should the carrier opt for that. The edges of the phone are at right angles to the front with a curve to the back, and as previously mentioned it's completely sealed. That means you can't expand the 32GB of internal storage, replace the battery, or even get at the Micro SIM card for Sprint's nascent LTE network.

The AT&T model, on the other hand, is ever-so-slightly wider, no doubt to accomodate the slots for the Micro SIM card and microSD card (it comes with 16GB on board and a 16GB card out of the box). The right and left edges consist of a curved chrome rail which also flanks textured areas on the top and bottom. One nice element on the AT&T version is the notification light, which surrounds the power button instead of being inset on the front.

The other major hardware difference between the two versions is the camera: Sprint has a US-exclusive on the 13-megapixel version, while AT&T opted for an 8-megapixel sensor. I'll get into those differences more below, but for now I'll just note that the AT&T model is completely flush on the back while the lens on the Sprint version sticks out a millimeter or two.

Overall I'm impressed, but not wowed, with the hardware on both phones. Without a doubt both are the highest quality phones I've seen LG produce, though some might say that's damning the Optimus G with faint praise. Even so, it's worth noting that when it comes to industrial design, LG is beginning to find its own aesthetic.