The LG U8138 is an enhanced version of the LG
U8130 3G clamshell. Most of the comments for the U8130 apply
to the U8138 too. The U8138 supports all of 3's video mobile services
including video calling. You can also record video clips to send
to another phone, and download video from 3, for example news, music
and sports clips. The camera is of VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
which is average for a camera phone these days. The internal display
is a high quality TFT LCD with 65,536 colours and a good resolution.
The U8138 is pysically the same size as the 8130
and is 2g lighter at 124g. It's very similar in appearance but with
a smart two-tone silver and blue design.
Minor
improvements in the 8138 compared to the 8130 include an upgraded
external screen. The 8138 has a 88 x 100 pixel screen with 65,536
colours, in contrast to the smaller black and white screen on the
U8130. The MP3 player has been upgraded and now supports WMA format
files. The battery life has also been improved, giving better performance
when using the 3G functions.
The U8138 is no longer available, but a suitable
alternative is the LG U880.
Features
of the LG U8138 include:
Supports all 3's video mobile services: video
calling, video messaging & downloading video clips
Internal display: 65,536 colours, 220 x 176
pixels
External display: black & white, 96 x 64
pixels
Built-in VGA camera (640 x 480 resolution) with
2x digital zoom and light
MP3 player (supports MP3, AAC & WMA formats)
Voice recorder / video recorder
Speakerphone
64-voice polyphonic ringtones
Multimedia messaging
E-mail
Java games
Avatar address book – create cartoons of friends
and family that pop-up on screen every time they call
Infrared and USB connectivity
Calendar, To Do List, Memos, Clock, Alarm, Calculator,
Currency Converter
Memory: 32 Mbytes internal memory
Vibration alert
Weight: 126g
Size: 50 x 96 x 23 mm
Talktime: 3.5 hours
Battery standby: 5 days
LG U8138 Consumer
Reviews
Love
your mobile? Hate it? Please share your experiences to help other
people choose the phone that's best for them. Please do not review
this phone if you have not used it. This is a review site, not a
forum, so please don't just ask questions. Please do not use swear
words or offensive language, and please, no advertising!
Average
rating from 61 reviews:
Reviewed by Earthlingmind from England
on 5th Oct 2009
The browser part of it is just awful, but you can use it to download
Opera Mini from Opera.com... That will make all the difference! Rating:
Reviewed by Lianne Williams from Australia
on 25th Feb 2008
Hi guys, Donot get this mobile phone u are wasting ur money. it
has a shocking camera and video.They stuff up .the micro phone breaks
in the phone and when people ring u they can hear like a scrunching
paper sound in the background and u cannot hear them. decide for
your self but its not a goo mobile phone. Rating:
Reviewed by Joey from Cole on
29th Jul 2007
Well i bought this phone about 2 years ago, the phone itself is
not bad, and reception and camera are good but as it has not got
bluetooth i got rid of it. people may prefer the lg u880 instead
of this. Rating:
Reviewed by mike from uk on 19th
Jul 2007
i think its lack of bluetooth makes it a waste of time Rating:
Reviewed by Paraic from IE on
10th Jul 2007
This phone is quite good apart from the front screen that went blank
twice. However 3 fixed the phone within a week and it has worked
fine ever since. Rating:
Reviewed by Andrew from Australia on
3rd Jul 2007
This phone is cool..the only proplem is the fact the data trasfer
doesnt work..And ive thrown it around and it hasnt broken!!! im
happy Rating:
Reviewed by customer from IL on
29th May 2007
The worst nightmare I ever had lasts since i bought the phone. Cracking
noises all the time, people don't hear me, changed mic, but no improvement.
Reception ubelievable - people call me and as they hear ringing,
my phone plays dumb. Heats, even just sitting on cold table. Had
to replace software, due to freezing screen symptoms - lost all
data. Alarm clock absolutely not to be trusted, ask my boss. All
that others here descibe... and more! Battery is OK, and it serves
well as long as you just receive SMS's. there is no 0 stars here???!!! Rating:
Reviewed by mikey from australia on
29th May 2007
15 years old i hate this phone it doesnt have blue tooth or infa
red doesnt work wont let me get ringtones that are those real ringtones
this phone suks balls Rating:
Reviewed by MEBARKI Boumediene from
algerie on 13th May 2007
its very good phon for me and the mark LG Rating:
Reviewed by Rhiannon from England on
16th Apr 2007
its a good phone ive had mine a year now and although i am now looking
to upgrade it i have loved having its a good fun phone great first
phone :> xx Rating:
Reviewed by Tom Illing from England
on 12th Apr 2007
I got this phone from my Korean student on my 14th birthday. It
took me quite a while to get used to it, probably because i couldn't
find the menu button eventhough it was staring me straight in the
face! But as i got used to it, i really got quite attached to my
little phone. Yes, it is quite bulky, but the advantage of that
is so you get a big screen, which i really prefer to some poxy ones
you get on other phones. I looooove all the little extras, like
the swivel camera (though i broke it within the first couple of
weeks of getting it!) Also i love the fact that you can access 3
and that it is compatable because 3 has LOADS to offer. My only
bad point is that it doesn't have games already on the phone itself
and that you have to pay quite a bit to download them from 3 games.
But hey, i think overall that this is a great phone, and recommend
it to anyone that likes big screens and the 3 network. Have fun!
:-) Rating:
Reviewed by tyson from australia on
13th Mar 2007
it is so stupid Rating:
Reviewed by msafifi from egypt on
4th Mar 2007
its very good for any 1 want good looking phone and more time of
talking and ... any way I'm gonna change it soon Rating:
Reviewed by tavares from australia on
15th Jan 2007
my grandson gave me his phone. well first i couldnt hear the other
party on the other end .i got that fixed and now the language has
turned to german so now i cant read that and where do i buy a simple
little USER MANUAL but otherwise its good Rating:
Reviewed by Dave from UK on 2nd
Nov 2006
This phone was a really good phone for me until 6 months ago or
so. The signal would cut off whilst trying to make a call in an
area where the signal would usually be 100%. People would call me
and it wouldn't ring, highly annoying. I thought it might've just
been me until I read the reviews on it just now to see others have
come across the same problems. On the face of it a good phone, with
good features, easy to use handset but has technical problems with
it, so do avoid as it will screw up eventually. Rating:
Reviewed by Penny from Australia on
31st Oct 2006
I got this phone at the start of 2005, it was okay then, but now
it freezes, the buttons won't work properly, the camera is useless,
it blacks out on me, its absolutely JUNK. I regret getting this
phone, it was a waste of good money [$460]. DO NOT BUY. Rating:
Reviewed by Pirzada Afridi from Peshawar(PAK)
on 6th Aug 2006
i used this mobile set from the last 5 months. its very good and
soft.its sounds are very nice clear display. all vedios are very
good and too long have very huge memory.really i love it .. Rating:
Reviewed by joe oughton from england
on 28th Jun 2006
this is good if you like playing around, which i do Rating:
Reviewed by Mr.Mohabbat Khan from Lahore
on 1st Jun 2006
All i want to say is i upgraded to this phone from the u8120 and
the u8110 and this phone is great.the outer screen is very clear
and i must complement on the beutiful design. 5 stars all the way
for this one. however the fetures are the same as the u8120, but
looks wize its great. Rating:
Reviewed by Hannah from England ! =D
on 10th Mar 2006
I got this phone in the summer holz (2005) n it was alrite but i'm
now having problems with it . . . lyk the buttons dont work , it
freezes and it started to play dixie horn non stop and i didnt kno
why ! ! + i need help i got the cabel n everyfink but how do you
get your photos from your phone to your computer ? it would b so
cool if u could help! chrz xoxhannahxox! Rating:
Reviewed by PAUL from UK on 21st
Feb 2006
If you are having problems hearing the other party or vice-versa,
it is most likely a software problem. If the phone is under warrenty
return it for a software upgrade. I think the lastest is V1.06 could
be 1.07 Rating:
Reviewed by Marty from Ireland on
15th Feb 2006
Have had this phone for a full year now. Have upgraded to a different
phone manufacturer and I now realise how fantastic a phone the u8138
actually is! The only major downside is lack of bluetooth, but it
makes up for this through its tons of other features. 1. It has
a converter for currency, length (inches:centimetres), weights (lbs:grams),
capacity, etc. I found this extremely useful 2. Loads more info
can be put into the handset memory for each contact and its groupings
are much better and easier to use. 3. A Calendar AND memo AND 'to
do' section for reminders that allow large amount of text be put
into each reminder and option for exactly when during the correct
day to remind you. It also has a 'datulator' to count down days
to a particular event. Obviously not necessary on phones, but is
actually quite addictive for birthdays, holidays, etc. 4. Large
selection of very good ringtones and text/MMS tones and alarm tones
inbuilt. 5. Although there looks to be many buttons, they are actually
laid out quite well and logically so your thumbs and fingers don't
have to move too far when doing messages, setting alartms, etc.
All in all, this is a great phone even more than one year on. Still
looks good. Only bad things I find are already listed below: Camera
is NOT good - colours are terrible. Lack of bluetooth. Build quality
not the best. However, its not the worst either. Mine got dropped
outside on average once a week, and nothing ever failed or dropped
off. Well done to LG for a good looking phone with great software
and loads of features. This was a phone before its time. Would other
manufacturers PLEASE look at this phone and include some of its
features in their own phones????? Rating:
Reviewed by pradeep.k from india on
15th Feb 2006
my lg u 8138 has derveloped a strange problem: some times i am able
to hear the other party and some times vice versa.what could be
the reason? Rating:
Reviewed by alok from india on
30th Jan 2006
it's too cool set foe each and everything but it's weak piont is
not availaibilty of bluetooth. Rating:
Reviewed by anonymous from england on
29th Jan 2006
i got this phone about 2 months ago and i think its !!!GREAT!!!
the mp3 player is great the camera is great i have had no problems
with phone and have had other phones but none even compare to this
one but the one bad thing is not enough memory for mp3s and no expandable
memory so i would realy recomend ths phone but if you want alot
of songs dont buy and the 3 network are too expensive Rating:
Reviewed by Rebecca from Australia on
27th Dec 2005
its an exellent mobile fone except it dosent have bluetooth with
is pretty bad but otherwise its awesome i would highly recomment
this mobile phone Rating:
Reviewed by Daniel K. from Ireland on
22nd Dec 2005
The phone is fine. There is one problem which might sound strange
but the phone or the glass covering for the main screen is grabbing
my beard hair! The glass edgy may be too sharp or it could be getting
caught in the gap between the screen cover and the frame. Rating:
Reviewed by Mike from England UK on
23rd Nov 2005
Nice little phone with a few annoying traits. Noticed someones comment
about the '3' network being the worst, this is far from true (unless
using their pay-and-go system which in all honesty is poo). '3'
isnt a bad network, problem is they are new unlike orange voda etc
who have funds to use the bigger names in the industry. '3' are
a complicated network with very advanced software which many of
their phone simply cannot handle. I own the 8138 and like i said
its a nice little phone but limited. Irritating traits are: Frozen
screen, poor battery life, limited functions, vibrate mode freezing
(so it freezes when u get an alert and wont stop till u rip battery
out. which might be good for the ladies!!!!!) I also have the nokia
6680 on '3' (and i hate nokia phones) and the LG just cannot compete.
Was a good early phone for the network but has served its due, move
over for the premium handsets now, lets stop dwelling on this old
phone now eh? thanks! :0) Rating:
Reviewed by Josh from UK on 21st
Nov 2005
I got this phone a while back and I've had major problems with it,
all credit to the model, its a great phone my my picraphone on it
went all screwy and no one oculd hear me when they rang me..! but
hey it was second hand, I'm taking it to be fixed and unlocked to
virgin very soon (next friday) and this networks better than 3 in
my opinion, 3's too expencive! but this slim clamshel design is
very stylish, and suitable for all ages from teens to adults! its
reception is genuraly very good also! cameras excellent especially
with its 2x zoom and flash! my fave bit is the video recording!
anyway c'ya! Josh Rating:
Reviewed by Lady Lou-Lou! from England
on 15th Nov 2005
I'm getting the LG U8138 for xmas and I can't wait! Even though
it's going to be second hand, I think its a great phone. 2 of my
friends have got this phone, and say that it is a brick, but it's
not! I think it's stylish and very easy to use. Its got a big screen
which I think is exellent and the lettering and numbering is nice
and bold. I also like the fact that you can change the colour of
the screen to either; orange, green, blue or violet, and the numbers
can be changed to any colour. I really can't wait to get this phone,
I just know I'm going to using it all the time. I'm giving this
phone 4 stars at the moment because I dont actually have it yet,
but hopefully when I do, i'll be able to give it 5 stars! I think
this is a great design and I would advise people to take a look
at this phone coz it's quite good! :-D Rating:
Reviewed by james from uk on
27th Oct 2005
This phone has a nice desing good mp3 decent camera and loveable
avtar images.But it does not have bluetooth so i will not give it
a a five its not 2 expensive and quite strong so if u drop it not
to much damaged done the only other thing 3 are da worst network. Rating:
Reviewed by Rachel.C from England on
17th Oct 2005
I've had nokias, panasonics, ericcsons and motorolas and this phone
is the best yet. It may not look fantastic but it has everything
except bluetooth and a radio. It's easy to use and the camera is
excellent. But one warning- three are the worst network! Rating:
Reviewed by Big Dave from UK on
16th Oct 2005
Best phone I've ever had. Far Superior to any nokia or motorola.
Very easy to use, excellent camera. I would highly recommend this
handset. Rating:
Reviewed by iran from england on
11th Oct 2005
this fone is da worst fone ever i've still got it and keeps switching
off and the screen goes mest it says it cums with a mp3 player and
infared there woz no point in ever putin them on da fone they dnt
work da mp3 player works but u cnt conenct it to da computer and
who wants to pay £3 to but 1 song or £5 to buy a game this fone
hasnt even got gd memory i could ave waisted dat sort of memory
i 1 day it hasnt even gt a memory card or bluetooth as sn as ma
contracts over im gettin a gd fon like da sony ericcson k750i, sony
ericcson w800i or da samsung d600 trust me u dnt want dis fone is
shit and if any1 buys it they'll regret it. Rating:
Reviewed by Jono from UK on 6th
Oct 2005
Excellent Handset. I've had other 3G handsets before and this is
by far the best. The camera is amazing (no like the older phones
such as the NEC that was RUBBISH). I would highly recommend this
handset.. Rating:
Reviewed by cj from uk on 17th
Sep 2005
this phone is awsome freat camera and video the usb installing i
havent worked out yet but its so good the phone ;) ive had alot
of phones but this one tops them all by far!! i like how the swivel
camera makes it secretive so ppl dont know if you are taking photos
of them or not :D 100% awsome value!! Rating:
Reviewed by ang from uk on 11th
Sep 2005
Wouldn't recommend this phone or the 3 network, like previously
mentioned my phone will switch to video at anytime including sitting
on the table and wipe out the battery leaving me without a phone
to use till charged back up, also couldn't ever get a good signal
and if on the rare occasions i did it would lose the signal as soon
as i dialled a number or ring be answered then lose the signal despite
the signal strength where i live supposingly to be 100%. Have managed
to use less than 10% of monthly price plan due to a non-existent
connection or a flat battery, also having really bad difficulties
contacting 3 and having no replies from complaints, and having trouble
being understood by the call centre in India, now contacting Watchdog
and Otelo to have this contract voided. Now have had to take out
another contract to get back to a normal network provider and a
phone that i can rely on. Rating:
Reviewed by Riad from Scotland on
30th Aug 2005
Well i have had this phone over a month now and i must admit it
is a good phone. First of to navigate through the menus is fast,
to scroll through the contacts list is pretty fast and best of all
the t9-text input is brilliant. Even without the predictive text,
messaging is easy as the buttons are a good size and do not require
jabs to type with. The quality of the camera is good but i am sure
you can get better at a lower price (i.e O2 X4), the video recording
function is great however and the quality of the sound from the
speaker is very impressive for a phone. Unfortunatly though there
is a few downsides, that being, no bluetooth connectivity and the
phone itself is a bit bulky for the features that it. has. Also
i would recommend that if you do not like the three network you
try getting the phone unlocked over a dealer in Ebay or somewhere
nearby in a local phone shop as it can be done (my LG U8138 is unlcoked
and i use it on O2). Overall though if you are looking for a phone
that has all the latest features (bar bluetooth) and is stylish
and fun to use, the LG U8138 is a very good choice. Rating:
Reviewed by monty from australia on
25th Jul 2005
this phone is so anoying but is also good at the same time. for
starters this particular modle is the only one out of all the LG
U8*** that does not play music when it is closed and not even when
you go into prfiles. i like the colour screens all round thats great
but the music factor really anoys me...... the new one (LG U8180)
is the best apart from the new navigation keys are smaller. Rating:
Reviewed by Sukaina from United Kingdom
on 13th Jul 2005
This phone is quite good with the things it has to offer. its camera
is good and games .Even though i don't have it . Rating:
Reviewed by Rob from UK on 12th
Jul 2005
=In my opinion, this phone has teething problems= STAY WELL CLEAR,
until LG come up with an updated model, at least. I feel shame to
even give this phone 2*'s. I've had this for over a month now, and
not a single day has it functioned properly. I previously had the
8120, which I can honestly say I had no major problems with, in
the 8 months that I had it (other than the usual heating up, and
once in every blue moon freezing!) - then the earpiece started crackling,
and Three kindly offered to upgrade it to the 8138. And that's when
the problems began! To make calls: I'd have to try at least 2 or
3 times before it actually decided to START dialling. To receive
calls: People would call me, and it would either go straight to
voicemail, or the caller would hear it ring, but the phone would
not!!! (that was when I had full bars on the coverage-meter). After
repairing it twice, and replacing it once, Three still couldn't
fix it. Now they've offered to replace it for a different handset
altogether. As far as functions go, this phone is average. I'd like
to see more memory (or expandable memory) on it. Also Bluetooth
would obviously would be good. Battery life is ok (if it doesn't
overheat for no reason!!). The only pro over the 8120 (other than
the full colour exterior screen) is that there's no longer a limit
to how long you can record movies on it using the camera (other
than how much space you have left on it). Rating:
Reviewed by Leeya DABEST from UK on
6th Jul 2005
This phone is ok the only thing that I don't like about it is the
battery life. by the way the Nokia 1100 is the worst phone eva and
the Motorola E398 is da best fone eva. Rating:
Reviewed by ashley bissell from england
on 28th Jun 2005
this is an incredible phone.i will advise anyone who wants to get
one to do so.at the moment i have a samsung d500 but the lg 8138
is an absolute incredible phone!GET ONE YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED
I PROMISE Rating:
Reviewed by Simon Peaty from UK on
28th Jun 2005
Avoid like the plague! I cannot stress how much I hate this phone,
and “3” to boot! I have had no end of problems with
Battery life, connections, service I could go on. 3 were absolutely
useless and couldn’t organise a p*ss up in a brewery. You
can only speak to their Indian call centre, all of the employees
are as much use as a chocolate tea pot. If you even consider going
with this provider or manufacturer of phones you need your head
examined Rating:
Reviewed by Dino from ENGLAND on
22nd Jun 2005
This is a fairly good phone, difficult to unlock as it needs software.
Plus points are nice bright clear screen, good signal, trendy and
compact, easy to navigate menu. More reliable than the U8120 (we
get loads of 8120's for repair mainly due to bodged unlocking).
Bad side, bluetooth is for headset only, camera not as good as on
8120...yes that's right..it is the same camera but the wiring on
the colour front screen interferes very slightly with the camera,
only noticeable when directly making a comparison with a 8120. Limited
to 32mb memory with no memory slot for a card. Not very PC friendly.
My son uses one of these and he loves it. for the moment I'll stay
with my sony P900 and Motorola A1000 Rating:
Reviewed by Kjay from England on
21st Jun 2005
Well i would have to say this fone is pretty good, the camera and
videoing is brilliant and all the features are good too! I especially
like the fact you can put on as many good games on the phone as
you want (if you have the right software - Gthing) However the only
reason why i gave the LG U8138 4 stars instead of 5 is because it
is rather on the large side and also it doesnt have bluetooth which
is included in many new phones! But on the whole if u are considering
getting this phone and not bothered about bluetooth and having a
large flip phone then get it its BRILLIANT!!! Rating:
Reviewed by Kiran from England on
18th Jun 2005
I bought this phone 2 weeks ago, and i found out it was excellent
for about a week, then it kept crashing and turning itself off all
the time, even when it was ringing, it doesnt even have bluetooth.
i would recommend the motorola a1000, that phone it excellent with
a 5 star rating. thank you :-) Rating:
Reviewed by FC from England on
6th Jun 2005
Thoughtfully put together - apart from video button on outside of
case (may resulting in unwanted videos of inside of trouser pocket.
Only things misisng are bluetooth and memory expansion option, although
32 MB is pretty generous to start with. Really nice size and design
(aerial can be replaced with something shorter) with "surprise and
delight" menu structure. Well priced now too at some 3G outlets. Rating:
Reviewed by Amanda Simmons from London,
England on 4th Jun 2005
My LG8120 died (along with countless others - don't get one if you
want to have a hope of keeping videos, pics or your own phone address
book) and I was promised by Three that the LG8138 was the top of
the range LG phone and would have no such software issues. When
it arrived, the internal screen displayed backwards and then the
phone kept freezing (the latter being just like the original LG8120
problem)Trying to get another replacement from Three has been a
two week nightmare. I would suggest steering well clear of any LG
phones. (Shame as their features are really quite good) Rating:
Reviewed by puttu from uk on
20th May 2005
stupid phone... dosent have all the features that other nice 3g
phones have... poor colour.. unfriendly to use.. go back to good
nokia.. thats the best.. Rating:
Reviewed by Tim from Australia on
7th May 2005
My problem with this phone is that every now and again it will flip
into video camera mode while in my pocket and suck up the battery
life. Has anyone else had this problem? Rating:
Reviewed by Mark from Australia on
17th Apr 2005
Overall a good phone. It's main fault is that playing audio through
the headphones is very faint, yet ordinary phone calls are crystal
clear. Rating:
Reviewed by Caomhan OConnor from Belfast
on 12th Apr 2005
tis is a beill phone it has to be the best phone i have ever had
i would suggest it to any one looking for a phone Rating:
Reviewed by Richard from UK on
12th Apr 2005
very nice phone, but would be beter with blue tooth. camra very
good but vidio clip is only 5 sec. could not nind ring tones Sent
the phone back. Rating:
Reviewed by Ormo from NORTHERN IRELAND
on 11th Apr 2005
WAT A MAD DOG PHONE LIKE! ONLY DISAPPOINTING IS THAT BOTH SCREEN
GET DIRTY VERY EASILY, A SLIGHT FINGER PRINT MAKES IT DIRTY AND
HARD TO CLEAN! OTHER THAN THAT, WAT CAN I SAY THE CAMERA IS MADNES!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Rating:
Reviewed by Little Boo from England
on 3rd Apr 2005
I have had this phone for three days now and found it excellent.
There are a few problems with it though. They are, on my old u8120
every now and again the screen would go blank. I put this down to
the phone saving battery life but when i pushed a button i found
that the phone had switched off. I tried taking the battery out
of the phone and putting it back in but when i did the phones screen
went white and then went of again. I took it back to the shop were
i got it from and they said that they could give me another one
but i am worried that it might happen again and my warrenty is running
out fast. I got the LG U8138 because i thought that LG would have
solved the problem by now but it doesnt look like they have because
some of my friends say that it has happened to there U8138. But
overall i find the phone great and like the colour screen on the
front of the phone. I would rate this phone as a 4 star phone (Excellent). Rating:
Reviewed by tupac from uk on
30th Mar 2005
this is a good phone but the only thing i hate about it is the reception
of this phone Rating:
Reviewed by Jamie Horton from United
Kingdom on 26th Mar 2005
An excellent phone in my opinion. The only thing missing is the
blue tooth and transfering video content in Windows media form to
the phone seems impossible using the CD Rom software that comes
with the phone. Apart from no bluetooth I think this is an excellent
phone. Rating:
Reviewed by tracy westwood from england
on 12th Mar 2005
most of the phones functions are good but only had a week and the
screen froze while making a call.hope doesnt keep happening otherwise
good phone Rating:
Reviewed by Gillian from u.k on
9th Mar 2005
this is a good phone for a 3g phone. its not too big and heavy.
it has some good features on it but the only thing missing is bluetooth,
but i can live without it!!. its the best phone to get on three
network. i would recommend this phone. Rating:
