Review: LG U8380 3G Phone

LG U8380 Review

Phone rating:

Review: February 2006.

The LG U8380 is a 3G clamshell phone that is available on the 3 network and supports all of 3's video mobile services including video calling. The U8380 has two fixed cameras instead of the single rotating camera found on previous LG models, and has a number of enhancements over previous phones.

The U8380 is evolutionary and looks very similar to previous generations of LG 3G phones. It's an attractive silver clamshell phone which is stylish (apart from the external aerial) but rather heavy. It has the usual features that you'd expect from a high-end 3G phone: a 1.3 megapixel camera, a high-quality video camera (0.3 megapixels), video calling, a music player, expandable memory and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. In addition the U8380 has 3D sound from stereo speakers, which is a welcome improvement over previous models, and it also has an improved external display using a bright TFT screen which can be viewed much more clearly in bright light. These are nice additions, making the U8380 one of the best of LG's phones. There's little to complain about apart from the high weight of the device.

Features of the LG U8380 include:

• Supports all 3's video mobile services: video calling, video messaging & downloading video clips
• Internal display: TFT, 262,000 colours, 220 x 176 pixels
• External display: TFT, 65,000 colours, 128 x 160 pixels
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• Video camera (VGA resolution - 640 x 480 pixels)
• Windows Media Player (MP3/video playback)
• 3D sound with stereo speakers
• Speakerphone
• 64-voice polyphonic ringtones
• Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
• Java games
• Memory: 32 Mbytes with expandable TransFlash memory card
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB
• WAP 2.0 browser
• Triband + 3G
• Talktime: 200 minutes
• Video calling: 140 minutes
• Battery standby: 175 hours
• Weight: 139g

LG U8380 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 73 reviews:

Reviewed by Stephen from Nigeria on 3rd Aug 2009
Been using this phone since 2years.The only disadvantage is scarcity of the parts in my country.eg earphones,skin parts,AND no radio.In need of silver or red colour skin,please.djm2d@yahoo.com the phone is strong n tight.
Rating:

Reviewed by m.ahmed from u.k. on 24th Jun 2009
i have got two lg u8380.i liked this set very much but after one year's usage they both developed same fault.the screen started playing i.e overlaping,streaking and sometimes going blank...so disappointed.
Rating:

Reviewed by Christine from Birmingham UK on 14th Jan 2009
Phones is great, I upgraded from U8138. Trouble is I need to know exact download driver link for transfering numbers to my pc. can someone please type it out on this site form. Thanks.
Rating:

Reviewed by toshineon from Sweden on 16th Dec 2008
I have one of these, I bought it about 1,5 year ago and I got the problem that the screen likes to go all black and then it sits like that for about 10 seconds before going back to standby mode. Other than that it's a great phone and won't dissapoint you when it works properly.
Rating:

Reviewed by ranjit kumar from India on 19th Nov 2008
i have an LG U 8380 mobile.it was nice working but now I am facing a problim with same. My problem is when I switch on this phone its front display once on and shows 3 but just after 2 second it goes to blank.during this condition i can not do nothing execpt only incoming call can listen.i show it to mechanic for repair they changed the wiring patta but in wain.after checking they told me that the problem is in software. now what can i do? what is the solution? my e mail id is naikkr@yahoo.co.in
Rating:

Reviewed by kulsuma from uk on 17th Aug 2008
i had this fone since 2006, after dat fone i had many other fone but i happen to still use the U8380 even thow its quite a old fone, but i Love the u8380, the functions on it are sick, its easy to use, plus its got everything a fone has, including memory card slot, internet, bluetooth.. sick fone!!
Rating:

Reviewed by margie from usa on 31st Jul 2008
i bought this LG U8380 model last feb.2008 but it gives me HEADACHE.the battery only lasts not even the day. and i was trying to find a battery but i'm having hard time finding it and aside it seems that this model can't be found mostly compare to other LG brands. Until now (july) still can't find where to buy the battery , even the store agent where i purchase is having hard time to look around new york area. i suggest this is the good if not the best.
Rating:

Reviewed by Rimsa from uk on 11th Apr 2008
this is the best mobile ever
Rating:

Reviewed by THILINA CHAMAL RATHNAYAKA from SRI LANKA on 8th Jan 2008
MY PHONE IS VERY EXCELENT.CAMERA IS VERY POWERFUL.VIDEO CAMERA IS VERY WELL.I LOVE MY LG U8380 fhone.
Rating:

Reviewed by akay from nigeria on 22nd Dec 2007
a good phone. Only shortcoming is not having a radio.
Rating:

Reviewed by chris from u.k on 11th Nov 2007
cant stand it no java bluetooth enablement does not support most jar files and files disapear never to be found again
Rating:

Reviewed by LAKAL CHAMARA from SRI LANKA on 2nd Oct 2007
I LOVE THIS PHONE. BECAUSE LAST 4 YEARS I USED LOT OF PHONES. THEN I GOT THIS PHONE I NEVER CHANGE MY PHONE LAST 2 YEARS. IT'S NEVER GIVE ME PROBLEM.
Rating:

Reviewed by CHRIS from ENGLAND on 23rd Aug 2007
This phone is great for me as I have large hands. These new tiny phones with micro buttons drive me crazy. This is a solid phone, with large keypads and a large screen. Very easy to use menu.
Rating:

Reviewed by gurjit singh from India on 5th Aug 2007
well the phone has many advanced features like improve ound quality unlike other LG sets but set is very heavy n having poor camera!!!!!!!
Rating:

Reviewed by xgvxzvbx from 3nglish on 28th Jul 2007
This is a rubbish phone don't buy it the battery dosen't work so be carefully do not buy them off ebay because over fannys try and give you a dummy one for a phone & don't tell you
Rating:

Reviewed by Danish Mumtaz from Pakistan on 8th Jul 2007
This Phone Is The Best,,, Specially Its Sound Is Very Goooood.... And Fast Bluetooth Speed ,,, Just One Thing Which Is Not In This Phone That Is Infra'red Port.....
Rating:

Reviewed by Rohma kazi from america on 24th Jun 2007
Heyyyyyyyyyyyy!! im in love with this phone!!!
Rating:

Reviewed by Danish from Pakistan on 24th Jun 2007
This Is Good Phone. But Message Typing Is Very Slow...
Rating:

Reviewed by omario1978 from morocco on 2nd Jun 2007
it'excellent good phone and lg is the mark
Rating:

Reviewed by vivek from india on 28th May 2007
THEphone is fine. its mp3,speakers,camera. but it is heavy in wieght and a thick phone which is hard to keep in pockets. but overall the phone is nice.
Rating:

Reviewed by Brad from England on 21st May 2007
the phone is brilliant apart from the HUGE aerial i just wish it had a radio this really sounds silly but can u get a radio on it
Rating:

Reviewed by sonu from india on 20th May 2007
i love your mobile
Rating:

Reviewed by Jim from Australia on 25th Apr 2007
I've had this phone for quite some time and am very disappointed with it. The bluetooth rarely works, i'm not always able to recieve/send calls let alone text messages. The system that runs it regularly freezes. PATHETIC PHONE - Don't get it.
Rating:

Reviewed by naishesh from india on 12th Apr 2007
this phone is a very nise and this phone stereo system is very powerful
Rating:

Reviewed by Davor from Macedonia on 21st Mar 2007
I have U8380. I am very happy with my phone. I even have downloaded 50 games from www.getjar.com . Even in my country there isn't 3G network, my phone is AWSOM
Rating:

Reviewed by ahmad from pakistan on 17th Mar 2007
this phone is a really stylish and gorgeous to be held.but the only main thing which makes it cheap is the ariel which it have..iam using this set and i think it is the best one...
Rating:

Reviewed by Fahad Raja from Maryland,USA on 1st Mar 2007
Has alot of features which is quite impressive but the signal strength is really bad specially on cingular. i got this phone free in England. I brought it to America and now i use it as a secound phone. It has cheap body, and the camera resolution is not good even though its 1.3 MP.
Rating:

Reviewed by HAMID MAHMOOD from PAKISTAN on 7th Feb 2007
BEST MOBILE IN ALL MOBILES
Rating:

Reviewed by KK from UK on 19th Dec 2006
Good phone,cracking features,almost exactly the same as u880/u890 but a lot sturdier, reliable,durable little machine..trouble free,both cameras are ok,Bluetooth works nicely,sms,mms,email all perfect,this is a typically LG phone but it actually beats the rest of LG phones easily,best i have had for a while,could look better but when it is so efficient who cares.
Rating:

Reviewed by RAMESH from LONDON on 7th Dec 2006
GOOD FEATURES. PROBLEM IS WITH BLUETOOTH ITS IS NOT COMPATABLE WITH ALL PHONES AND PHOTO(LIKE:KODAK) MACHINES. GOOD FOR RECORDING BUT PROBLEM IS RECORDING TIME IS ONLY 1 MINUTE.
Rating:

Reviewed by Romeo Wood from Ghana on 8th Oct 2006
This phone is superb and easy to use.I realy like most of its features,but my problem is that,it receives through bluetooth but can't send to other phones via bluetooth. The phone would have been one of the world's greatest phone but it does not have a radio.
Rating:

Reviewed by Baz from England on 9th Jul 2006
I don't know why people complain... It's free... It has video, 3G, UMTS data download at 384 kbs, Bluetooth, Transflash expandable memory, etc, etc. Yeah ok so the messaging isn't quite up to scratch (My fingers work to quick for it), and yeah its very cheap plastic. BUT IT'S FREE ON THREE. I liked it very nice in blue and silver. I say stop being picky what more could you ask for from a free phone.....
Rating:

Reviewed by Oli from England on 27th Jun 2006
Absolutely fantastic phone, crammed with features you just couldn't get altogether with another phone. One slight problem, is the small amount of internal memory given, easily solved by using a Trans-flash card. Other than that, a phone well worth buying
Rating:

Reviewed by Marvin from Espanyol on 22nd Jun 2006
Hello, the LG is a nice phone, RONNIE get back to me and lets see how u can make d best use of the phone marvin_kanye@yahoo.com
Rating:

Reviewed by r.a from u.k on 13th Jun 2006
this phone is amaizing it takes lots of hits to brake idont mean to but now i broke the outside screen i still would prefer it from a huge selection of 3g phones the signal is never out of order and the sound is better than the sony ericsson w800i and i wont to get a nw one cause its great before everyone said that th signal ws shit but i dissagrea if u want a 3g phone then get this one cannot get better! nealy all my family got it.
Rating:

Reviewed by lasio from England on 3rd Jun 2006
Never, never, never go near this phone, it is a disgrace to humanity, i felt like throwing in the garbage as soon as the second day because the battery rate was absolutely pathetic. got a Nokia N91 now, now that's wat i call a phone not junk like the U8380
Rating:

Reviewed by Daniel from London on 23rd May 2006
For a start it can do video calls and it has a 'turn over' camera which means you can roll it backwards and see what is in front of you and roll it forwards to see yourself. It is also useful for the amazing colour video calls.
Rating:

Reviewed by Jane Goodman from UK on 15th May 2006
The phone is brill but I wondered if you help me with down load of the images and vidio onto a PC. I have the cable and the soft ware I can down load contacts and messages but not images please can you help me with it thanks Jane my email address jane@goodman2917.freeserve.co.uk
Rating:

Reviewed by RONNIE from UK on 12th May 2006
HAVING MADE THE MISTAKE, OF TAKING THIS PHONE, EVEN AS A FREEBIE AND SUPPLEMENT TO MY UPGRADED MOTOROLA, IVE SINCE STUCK WITH USING THE MOTOROLA, TO WHICH IM USED TO. I FIND SENDING A TEXT ON THE LG U8380 A BLEEDIN NIGHTMARE. ITS SINCE STAYED IN THE DRAWER. THE CAMERA IS OK, BUT, AGAIN, MMS MESSAGES ARE MORE TROUBLE THAN THERE WORTH. THANK GOD THIS THINGS A FREEBIE. NO WONDER !!!
Rating:

Reviewed by chandu from india on 27th Apr 2006
hai.this is chandu.this mobile phone is simply superb,outstanding.it has video and integrated camera in it.its amazing.
Rating:

Reviewed by MM from AUSTRALIA on 24th Apr 2006
good phone, shame about reception on 3. i cantget reception even in the sydney cbd let alone where i live.
Rating:

Reviewed by ibrahim from TÜRKİYE on 12th Mar 2006
THIS PHONE IS GREAT.IT HAS ALL FEATURES THAT I NEED.I RECOMMEND IT EVERYONE.
Rating:

Reviewed by letcher from UK on 9th Mar 2006
I got this phone and took it bk within the 14 days retern policy. i had it for 2 days and already there was a scratch on it, just from bein in my pocket. IT SCRATCHES WEL 2 EASY ! on top of that its very slow and hard to work. AND DONT GET 3!
Rating:

Reviewed by DAVY MC. from SCOTLAND on 2nd Mar 2006
outstanding phone. everything you need. video calling. great camera.bluetooth. mp3 realtones. one of the best phones i have ever had.........
Rating:

Reviewed by Hamid from UK on 26th Feb 2006
Got this on 3. The phone was reasonable but 3 are dreadful. Reception is shocking and calls fail and crash all the time. Taken back under 14 day returns policy. Steer well clear.
Rating:

Reviewed by rex from Uk on 24th Feb 2006
this phone is cool, i bought it the other day it is so good has tones of great features
Rating:

Reviewed by jo from australia on 23rd Feb 2006
i love this phone its so great
Rating:

Reviewed by chris from UK on 22nd Feb 2006
This phone is so great, everything on it is the highest quality and has all the features u need ( 1.3 mp camera, video recorder, mp3 with expandable memory, bluetooth, email, and so so much more) its a really great phone!
Rating:

Reviewed by roy from UK on 21st Feb 2006
This phone is the best! it has so many good features, and the camera is great!!! a very good buy
Rating:

Reviewed by ramsey from UK on 20th Feb 2006
Geez this phone is So good its the best it rocks!!!
Rating:

Reviewed by andrew from USA on 18th Feb 2006
This phone has everything you need ( 256K screen, 65K external screen the biggest of any other phone, 1.3 MP camera, video recorder, bluetooth, mp3 player with expandable memory) so many features and all are top quality this is the BEST phone!!!!!
Rating:

Reviewed by deano from australia on 18th Feb 2006
this is this best phone ever!!!! i got it 2day and its the best!!!
Rating:

Reviewed by pokey from usa on 13th Feb 2006
THIS PHONE IS AWESOME EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!!!!!GET THIS PHONE
Rating:

Reviewed by georga from Uk on 12th Feb 2006
This phone is the best if i say all the things i love about it id be writing 4 eva.......ITS A GREAT PHONE
Rating:

Reviewed by phil from Australia on 12th Feb 2006
I bought this phone today........and it is awesome, it has one of the best cameras ive seen!!! and the phone isnt expensive 1.3 megapixels!!!! with video!!! this is the best phone eva!!!!!! LG rocks
Rating:

Reviewed by err from australia on 8th Feb 2006
This phone is the best, i love it !!!!! 5 stars
Rating:

Reviewed by Chris from Australia on 5th Feb 2006
I got this phone today in blue.....IT IS THE BEST PHONE!!! great camera, has MP3 video bluetooth and so much more HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Rating:

Reviewed by zoya badshah from uk on 5th Feb 2006
this is a great phone, by far the best from LG you can do so much with it, it is really easy to use, and the camera quality is great. 5 stars
Rating:

Reviewed by Quentin from Australia on 1st Feb 2006
I have had this phone for almost two months and am pretty happy overall with it. Would have preferred reminders in the calendar like in the Nokias, and especially would have liked the alarm to work even when phone is turned off - but no huge issue. Re the battery life - I was told to let it run down, place it into a plastic bag and into freezer for about 4 hours. Wait awhile, recharge and it works much better - as this apparently resets the battery memory
Rating:

Reviewed by Pradosh from london on 30th Jan 2006
Its small n nice phone battery stand up2 more than 1 day i would like 2 recommended this phone 2 people
Rating:

Reviewed by jack from australia on 30th Jan 2006
sucks
Rating:

Reviewed by Rod from Australia on 21st Jan 2006
Nice phone with excellent sound quality. Battery life approx 2 days whick is just Ok.Built quality not as good of other popular brands.Nice display but software take a while to decide what it is doing.Needs to have a decent ring tone built in.
Rating:

Reviewed by Ade Carr from England on 15th Jan 2006
Absolute rubbish, had 1 for a day and got shot of it along with the contract I took out on 3, the thing is more like a kid's toy and if I was you I wouldn't touch the thing with a big stick!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:

Reviewed by STEVE WARD from UK on 11th Jan 2006
GOOD PHONE NICE STYLE NO PROBLEMS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Rating:

Reviewed by Joshua King-Smith from Australia on 10th Jan 2006
Great phone, camera is brilliant, great sound quality, battery life lasts about 2 days with normal use, woudl reccomend to anyone after a flip-camera phone.
Rating:

Reviewed by n/a from uk on 26th Dec 2005
very good phone but slow
Rating:

Reviewed by IS from england on 26th Dec 2005
decent phone,a bit heavy but has a lot of features.
Rating:

Reviewed by med from tunisia on 25th Dec 2005
too much big, ugly antenna, only good when navigating, sound is great, camera is poor. better try sony ericcson k750i
Rating:

Reviewed by ahmed from afganistan on 24th Dec 2005
video calling atrousious, battery life awful. deffenately recomend it to everyone!
Rating:

Reviewed by Heal from UK on 23rd Dec 2005
Wicked video camera.Great Interface and the stereo sound really works. Only gripe is that when you switch it on it can take a while for the messages and the phonebook options to kick in.
Rating:

Reviewed by Dorin from Moldova on 11th Dec 2005
EXcrllrnt phine, great LCD screen , super colors, and the sound is GREAT!!!!!
Rating:

Reviewed by jOE SMITH from UK on 5th Dec 2005
Batery sucks It's as slow as a snail an keeps crashing even when it's a day old!it's your last choice)
Rating:

Reviewed by Chloe from Australia on 30th Nov 2005
This fone is the best very thing about it is great. I would recomend this fone to anyone!!
Rating: