Being an Android user is a tricky thing. We have a plethora of handset options and operating system versions available to us, which is both a strength and a weakness. As trade shows happen and announcements are made, it becomes annoyingly difficult to choose the best handset without the fear that it might be rendered obsolete by carrier negligence or a spontaneous new phone launch.

The LG Optimus G is representative of this problem. On the inside, it's everything we've dreamed of in an Android handset. It's supremely fast, responsive, easy to use, and beautiful to look at. At the same time, Google is preparing to launch the Nexus 4 phone, which is also made by LG... and contains the same innards as the Optimus G. Preliminary benchmarks have shown it delivering similar performance numbers to its counterpart. To add insult to injury, the Nexus comes with a stock version of Android 4.2 without carrier bloatware or manufacturer UI skins—a major selling point for Android purists and those who want to receive timely OS updates.

So, what's the point? Why even bother with the Optimus G at all if there's a better version of it on the horizon? This is still a crucial handset for LG, because while it does well with handsets in international markets, it's still working its way up the ladder against major players like Samsung and HTC in the US. Its induction into the Nexus program is sure to give it the exposure it needs, but it's handsets like the Optimus G that will attract Android newcomers and those who may not be interested in a bare-bones Nexus phone.

We should note that LG currently has three versions of the Optimus G out on the market: one for AT&T, one for Sprint, and a white version available only in Korea. The AT&T version—the one featured in this review—comes equipped with an 8MP camera, while Sprint offers the 13MP version.

Look, touch, feel

This phone is, simply put, gorgeous. It has a 4.7-inch True HD IPS Plus display covered by a sheet of Gorilla Glass 2. The screen is framed by a barely-there black bezel, with textured bottom and top panels and rounded corners sealing it all together. The whole package looks sleek, industrial, and business-like. If this is what it looks like living in a world with only Android-powered handsets, then I like it here.

The buttons on either side and the microSD expansion slot are unobtrusive, and there's a microUSB plug on the bottom for charging. The USB port is flanked by two Torx screws, which contribute to the industrial aesthetic. There are also two tiny holes on the top and the bottom of the phone that act as microphones, as well as an inconspicuous sliver on the back of the chassis for the speaker. In a nice design touch, the red notification light is integrated into the power button.

It looks like LG is taking its industrial design very seriously. This is an Android phone you want because it looks really good, unlike the boring black and silver-trimmed chassis that other Android phones are sporting.

LG also managed to get the size right. The Samsung Galaxy S III, for example, is a solid phone, but unless you've got large hands, it feels like it's always about to slip out of your grasp. While it's only about 5mm bigger and 2mm wider than the Optimus G, even that small extra bit can make it too hard to hold comfortably and too big to fit into some pockets. Quality phones like these shouldn't be rattling around in a bag with keys and other pointy objects, and cloaking them in unwieldy holsters or ugly covers isn't always a solution. The Optimus G fits in the hand or the pocket without any issues, and we like that.

Where it does fall short is its weight. The Optimus G is much denser than a lot of other phones, weighing in at about 145 grams, compared to the Galaxy S3's 133 grams and the iPhone 5's 122 grams. This is another area where seemingly small differences in a measurement can have a big subjective difference, because the phone definitely feels heavy.

Display and Camera

The display, though, is an area where the Optimus G excels. Its 1280x768 screen uses a Touch Hybrid Display, produced in part with LG Innotek, a sister company to LG that specializes in LEDs. The display is thinner than most other smartphone touchscreen panels because it's directly bonded to its glass front panel. It can also supposedly withstand more shock than a traditional panel with an air gap, though this is not something we tested. The IPS panel and laminated glass results in a bright display that's easy to use in sunlight and low-light, with colors that are rich and vibrant and appear the same no matter the angle. Reading text won't strain your eyes and the screen is large enough to have the phone playing a video on the counter while working or doing other tasks, even with the glare of a window behind you (though you'll have to turn the brightness all the way up). Its 320 PPI density is a smidge less than that of competing phones, like the iPhone 5's 326 PPI, but the Optimus G still offers immense clarity.

The Optimus G's cameras aren't the best on the market, but they get the job done. The AT&T model is equipped with two: a front-facing 1.3MP and a rear-facing 8MP. The front-facing camera is fine for video chat and taking silly pictures wearing funny hats, but the rear-facing camera has a few kinks to work out. First off, it doesn't do well in low-light situations, and secondly, setting the focal point was occasionally frustrating—it seemed to get fiddly at crucial moments. As exhibited in the picture below, the camera had some issues focusing from inside a car; it tended to lock onto the windshield, resulting in a blurry photo. There was also an issue where the camera would sometimes let light from nearby sources bleed into the picture, resulting in a few unevenly lit, unpleasant looking photos.

The Optimus G's camera application does come with a plethora of options, including HDR and several "scene" modes that set the camera to predetermined settings to help take better photos in particular situations. There are also options for individually tweaking the ISO and white balance, and those with big vistas to share can take a panorama photo, though the panorama feature only works with the phone in portrait orientation and the result isn't great. Compared to the recent iOS panorama features and stock Android 4.2's panorama feature, this was one has a bit of catching up to do.

LG also includes a feature called "Voice Shutter," which can have the camera snap a photo when it hears a certain voice command. Select one of the five commands the phone understands—including words like "cheese," "smile," and "kimchi"—and it will follow through once it hears you or your subject(s) speak it. LG also includes a handy feature for those with active kids or jumpy pets called "Time Catch." Once you press the shutter button, the camera app takes photos at several different intervals, allowing you to pick which part of the "moment" is most crucial for keeping or sharing.