Review: LG KC550 Orsay

LG KC550 Orsay Review

Phone rating:

In a nutshell: The LG Orsay is the first mid-range phone to feature a 5 megapixel camera. In addition to outstanding photo and video capabilities, it also has a music player, FM radio, Wii-style games and Bluetooth. However, some may find it too large and heavy, and its internal memory is small, although it does support memory cards up to 4 GB.
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Although at first glance it looks like one of the new generation of touchscreen phones from LG, the Orsay is in fact a standard slide phone, with a conventional keypad. Although it hasn't attracted the same kind of attention as some phones, the Orsay is an interesting phone, as its the cheapest 5 megapixel phone currently available - in fact it's the first 5 megapixel phone that we would classify as "mid-range". In the £200+ price range, 5 megapixels has become the standard, but we're very impressed that LG have been able to deliver such a high quality camera in a phone that's priced at much less than £200. The camera features a Schneider-Kreuznach lens, autofocus, image stabiliser and a macro feature for close-ups. Although it lacks a xenon flash, it does have a powerful LED flash. The video recording capabilities of the camera are impressive too, with a DVD-like resolution of 720 x 480 pixels.

The display is outstanding too. The resolution of 240 x 320 pixels is standard, however at 2.4 inches across, the Orsay's screen is significantly larger than most slide phones. Physically the phone is quite large and heavy - probably too large and heavy for some people. The keypad works very well, although we have to say that we don't like the joystick. Navigation keys would have been a less clumsy solution, and we are worried about the durability of the joystick.

The Orsay is also equipped with a music player and FM radio. Its memory is very limited however, at just 12 Mbytes, so you won't be able to store more than a handful of music tracks in memory. For that, you'll have to buy a microSD memory card, and fortunately the Orsay can take cards up to 4 Gbytes capacity, giving enough room to store around 1,000 songs. You can use MP3 tracks as ringtones too.

The Orsay features an auto-rotate function, so it will automatically rotate photos from portrait to landscape mode when you turn the phone. The motion sensor also lets you play Wii-style games, such as fishing or moving through a maze.

Connectivity is good, with both Bluetooth and USB available. The Orsay isn't a 3G phone, but you can still browse the web using GPRS or EDGE, and the large screen makes for a decent mobile internet experience.

Battery life seems to be excellent, and frankly you'd hope that it would be, given the size and weight of the phone.

In summary, the Orsay is a well specified mid-range phone with an outstanding camera. On the negative side it's rather large and heavy, we dislike the joystick, and the memory is very small.

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Features of the LG KC550 Orsay include:

• 5 megapixel camera with Schneider-Kreuznach lens, autofocus, image stabiliser and Power LED flash
• Video recording (MPEG4, 720 x 480 pixels, 30 frames/second)
• Display: TFT LCD, 262k colours, 240 x 320 pixels (2.4 inches)
• Music player (MP3/AAC/AAC+/AAC++/WMA formats)
• FM radio
• Speakerphone
• Voice recording
• Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
• T9 predictive text
• Document viewer (TXT, PDF, DOC, PPT, XLS)
• Ringtones: 64 voice polyphonic ringtones / MP3 ringtones
• Wallpaper
• Java 2.0 games with motion sensor controls
• Internet: WAP 2.0, GPRS Class 10, EDGE, Google search
• Connectivity: USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.0
• Memory: 12 Mbytes plus microSD memory card slot (up to 4 Gbytes)
• Vibration alert
• Triband (GSM 900/1800/1900)
• Size: 97 x 51 x 15 mm
• Weight: 110g
• Talktime: 6 hours
• Battery standby: 450 hours

LG KC550 Orsay Consumer Reviews

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Average rating from 30 reviews:

Reviewed by George from UK on 26th Aug 2008
I've had this phone for over 2 weeks now on PAYG T-Mobile, and I'm pretty impressed! I agree with some other reviewers here though - it feels flimsy and solid at the same time. I don't have a problem with the size/weight (because I like watching movies on it), but the keypad and build quality on the front feels a bit tacky compared to the rest of the phone. Fortunately, it looks fantastic, just make sure you don't use it under direct sunlight, you won't be able to see much! As for the battery life, I managed 4-5 days with moderate use (calls, texts, and taking occasional pictures at 40% brightness). So this phone does have a very good battery especially considering how large the screen is. You will need to buy a microSD card but these are so cheap at places like Play.com that you need not to worry. One thing I don't understand Mobile Phones UK review is that they said the Orsay can take up to 4GB capacity, but in the manual it states support up to 2GB only. I played safe and bought a 2GB memory card, but could someone please verify that 4GB works as well? [Editor's reply: The LG website confirms that 4GB cards will work: uk.lge.com/products/model/detail/mobilephones_kc550.jhtml. Can any users verify this?] Basically if you're looking for a phone with no touch screen gizmos, a decent camera for prints, and a surprisingly good MP3 player (although you will have to use the headset provided - it's a particularly bad one mind), and an all-round easy-to-use mobile in the £100 range, this is the mobile for you. P.S Someone earlier on said about having a problem with the auto-rotating feature for pictures/videos. As for picutes, you can edit them in My stuff and rotate them, but for some reason it makes the pictures smaller. As for videos, I'm not sure, but I hope this helps anyway.
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Reviewed by Andy from UK on 25th Aug 2008
Amazing, best phone I have ever had. I love everything about it. It deserves way more than 4 stars. It charges my phone fully in under 2 hours. Games and camera are great. The only downside (yes I know everyone is talking about it), is the memory. But thats fine because I have my old micro sd card from my old phone. Slide does not feel flimsy just well built and sturdy. Altogether if your looking for a great phone for a great price choose this one!!!
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Reviewed by John Anderson from UK on 22nd Aug 2008
Well to be honest i wasn't expecting much as it was on a cheap contract from virgin £18 a month 200 minutes 500 texts not bad eh! so after not really expecting much as the silver version can be picked up for less than £100 now but was pleasently surprised. OK the camera isn't absolutely top notch compared to camera's on say a 200-300 phone but it's good enough to get that moment in when you need it. All my mates love the interactive games the darts mazes baseball pretty fun only problem is you kinda look like a plonker moving the phone about so much. The sound on the phone is pretty loud not much distortion but it is there to be heard but for less than £100 what can you expect. One big major floor is the internal memory definatly need a card for this phone
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Reviewed by Henrik from England on 19th Aug 2008
I just got this phone. The camera impresses me alot. The video is not all it is cracked up to be, but is probably better than your average mobile's video capture. Nice interface, excellent games (M-toy uses accelerometer, similar to the iphone) Feels a bit flimsy when open, but at the same time nice and solid. (don't know if that is possible.) Verdict- excellent screen, great camera, but could use a little improvement in the body itself. 5 *****
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Reviewed by jack from england on 17th Aug 2008
this phone is very good. the camera is excelent and the size of the screen is also an added bonus.
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Reviewed by alex from near north wales.. on 15th Aug 2008
im giving 5 stars to counterbalance the guy who decided he didnt like this phone and was waiting for the viewtyII. But as a note, the phone has a d-pad, not a joystick
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Reviewed by zhao from liverpool on 13th Aug 2008
good phone
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Reviewed by Laura from England on 12th Aug 2008
I bought this phone today and have to say that its fantastic! Its quite to use and has a brilliant camera. Its design is brilliant too. Buy it if your looking for a cheaper opption to the LG Secret.
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Reviewed by Ayeshaa;xo from UK on 12th Aug 2008
Ive had this phone for nearly a month. Its fantastic! the motion-sensing games are so enjoyable, the outstanding 5-mp camera; its just a really good phone. The only negative side for me is the auto-rotating function with the pictures. To get rid of that problem, you just need to take photos/shoot videos horizontally (was that spelt right?) 'coz if take them vertically, the pic/video you took will be viewed the other way and so you rotate the phone but then theproblem starts - the pic/video rotaes aswell!! So i just need to learn to take pics/videos horizantly. i'd give this a 4-stars. (: - Ciaoo xo
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Reviewed by Person from UK on 11th Aug 2008
It's a truly amazing buy, because the camera is outstanding, the games are not a gimic, they are actually really fun and the music player is really good, because it sorts the music into a lot of different categories (artist, genre, etc.) rather than putting it into one big list, which I think is very useful. Also the quality of the music player is really good and the phone itself looks very stylish and has a nice big screen. However, you have to buy a micro SD card in order to be able to store a lot of files, because otherwise there is only space for about 3 songs. Overall, brilliant!
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Reviewed by declan from england on 11th Aug 2008
well i dont like this phone but i have to say the fact that lg are making 5megapixel mid range means that they have something planned for the viewty2 when they release it , i just hope they pull it off , but again this phone is quite terrible
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Reviewed by bob from england on 7th Aug 2008
nice phone but it would of been better if it were touchc screen still camera and design is good
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Reviewed by jac from wales on 6th Aug 2008
great get it
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Reviewed by Khurram from UK on 6th Aug 2008
I love the style, Look and basic functions. Sorry forgot to mention the best camera I have seen so far!!!! Now one of the draw back, FM only without RDS plus you can't do anything while you are listening to radio. M-toy is cool but very limited games and it sucks battery very fast. Dust and fingerprints are everywhere visible on set, looks like 100 days old. I am in mixed state should I return it? or keep it...I am thinking on getting SE C902? What you think guys?
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Reviewed by Just passing by from UK on 2nd Aug 2008
Good phone but do not install too much. when the sysem memory gets to 100% the phone bricks.
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Reviewed by mowmita from england on 1st Aug 2008
i absolutly adore this phone, i thought it was fat at first but then i got used to it. i would definetly recommend it, so what if it dosn't have 3G.I just looooooove the camera, come on it's only £100 not including top-up, i think it's much cheaper then LG Secret or Lg Viewty
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Reviewed by thomas from england on 29th Jul 2008
best phone ever better then any phone inn the market
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Reviewed by Azazin from UK on 28th Jul 2008
Awesome phone had it for almost a month like others said the slide feels a little wobbly but I don't mind it awesome phone good looks good features thats the only problem thats the reason why am giving it a 4 star. Good phone overall
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Reviewed by Al Kuklenko from England on 25th Jul 2008
I bought this phone on a contract and I have to say that I am very impressed. I chose it over a sliding Nokia that was around a year old and I don't regret one thing. The camera is a brilliant 5 megabites and it also has a tilt function built in. The only slight down fall is the lack of memory, but you can easily buy a memory card and luckily I have one from my old phone, get this phone and you will like it!!!
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Reviewed by Bob from UK on 23rd Jul 2008
Have found this phone really good so far. mostly. I like the way it feels in the hand, it looks good and feels well made. The camera is amazing, though it seems the only viable function for the motion sensor is to go to landscape when looking at photo's. I havnt had a problem with a smudge'e screan as the screen is so good + big. I also like the mp3 player and the easily accesible Sd card slot yay. I also like the way the camera function keys light up inside the selection pad when using the camera. I have also put opera mini on my phone and this has provided really good and supisingly fast (for EDGE) web browsing. I also installed google maps - however as of yet the locacte me beta on google maps stil doesnt work for this phone. HOWEVER i think i may have received a dodgy unit as i get ternible reception, if it is in pocket or i am downstairs in my house i get emergency only or no network mesages!!! this is so annying that on such a great phone the only bit i am not happy with is the PHONE bit, this is especially bad when i compare it to my old nokia 6300 which got amazing signle everywhere in my house and IN my POCKET!!!! Hopefully if i return my phone and get another one then this will be much improved. otherwise i will be forced to change and that would be a shame as otherwise this is a great phone, i will have to go to my second choice of a nokia 6500 slide and leave the briliant 5mp camera behind. hope it was just unlucky and cause i like the rest of the phone i will give it another chance but if it is just a flaw in the desing then i will have to change phone as it is very annoying when someone cant phonr you cause your phone is in your pocket with no signal!!!
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Reviewed by Shaun from UK on 18th Jul 2008
Bought this phone yesterday and liked it immediately.. (seeing as i had the v360 previously) The phone is easy to use, not too many options though. Good camera and video/mp3 player Games got boring really quickly.. but you can install your own so no problems. the memory for applications and messages and stuff ran out quite quickly. not too good. The design was nice and to me it felt stable. It does attract finger prints really easily on the keys, screen and a bit on the back. I had problems with the phone.. on the first day though.. after a charge, it ceased to switch on and didnt charge but kept switching on and off (automatically) Took it back to the store and got a replacement.. have to see how this one goes.
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Reviewed by Deccyb from UK on 16th Jul 2008
Agree with Rob. Slide feels wobbly when open and if it feels like that when brand new how will it be 18 months later? Games gimicky and fun - but limited in appeal - bored of fishing before end of 1st day. Texting ok once realise how to use it - as 1st time LG user handbook was woefully inadequate. Verdict - good looking handset, but not for me - have sent it back!
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Reviewed by alex from near north wales.. on 15th Jul 2008
Already done a 'review' on gsmarena... [ www.gsmarena.com/lg_kc550-reviews-2388.php , look for violent pacifist ] but i can say this phone is excellent so far! Those who say it is bulky are over exaggerating; its alot thinner than phones used to be, and even after moving on from my d900, i didnt find it particularly fat. Word of advise, look at pics of the phone in someones hand/3d model/try it in the shop before you buy it. The metal round the outside and the weight only help make the phone feel more high quality. Reception has been good enough, some places i've struggled to get signal where certain sony erricson phones have faired better, but can pick up more than d900. Camera and video are GREAT, for such a budget phone it more than stands its ground with its more expensive rivals(ive compared to n95 and k850. Multimedia wise, the autorotate works a dream when you figure it out(the phone needs to greater than about 60 degrees parallel to the ground to work, the video support is excellent, the mtoy games are gimicky but fun-and there is support for infinite java games(can be played through memory card)- and the mp3 is fine, except for the fact that one cant browse music(eg change artist) while playing music. Havent used internet, so cant give you any say on that, but otherwise ive found next to no problems with the phone, and my biggest problem has been the difficulties in getting lg suite to work on my laptop. And to the poster who found he was getting the screen covered in finger prints,try opening the screen with your thumb resting on the 'c' button, i think thats why its raised!
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Reviewed by keith from scotland on 14th Jul 2008
got this phone a week ago. excellent camera and the motion sensor is good when lookind at pics. the phone does get a few finger prints on it but its worth it because of the very good 5 megapixel camera and the large bright screen. it is a bit bulky but not that big. also it does seem a bit heavy cmpared to the lg viewty which you woulg expect to be heavier. the m-toy games are a bit boring but it is a good aditional feature to boast to your friends. it has a good quality speaker and good springy buttons. its a very good phone and it will do me untill the iphone comes out on pay as you go
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Reviewed by John O'Leary from England on 14th Jul 2008
GREAT
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Reviewed by milo kelly from england on 13th Jul 2008
excellent phone
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Reviewed by Rob from UK on 12th Jul 2008
I got this phone last week but have already returned it. I was expecting a more of a slimline phone, but this phone is bulky. Not only that it doesn't seem very sturdy when open and seems as if it might break after a few months. Not easy to hold and trying to text with a bulky phone is annoying. Even after touching it for a few seconds it's covered in fingerprints, and makes it look dirty. The wii style games are a gimic and not really that fun. What is the point in a motion game if you can't see the screen as you're moving the phone. Regular games are boring and look dated. Camera was good though!
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Reviewed by ben from england on 9th Jul 2008
The phone is awsome motion sensor games make it like a portable wii , exelent buttons , and very easy to use.
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Reviewed by Trudie from England on 8th Jul 2008
Great Phone Got Mine Last Night Good Camera But Doesnt Have Much Memory Without A Memory Card :( Gonna Get One In A Bit :D XX
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Reviewed by tazza from america on 5th Jul 2008
its good it looks divine
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