Verizon has just beefed up its LG smartphone lineup with the unveiling of the LG Stylo 2 V. It is the latest mid-range phone for the carrier, and it will begin rolling out Oct. 20.
Should you buy it?
Well, the smartphone has pretty nice tricks up its sleeve, which should be able to cover very specific requirements especially for those in the market for a big and reasonably priced handset.
The branding is a huge giveaway about LG Stylo 2 V. Like the Samsung Galaxy Note line, it will ship with a stylus. Now, make no mistake — it will not be as cutting-edge as the S Pen. However, a decent stylus can offer additional value for a device with the sheer real estate of a 5.7-inch HD IPS display. LG said that the latest accessory now has a nano-coated tip, which is a significant departure to the rubber tip of previous models to guarantee accuracy. LG underscored the stylus' utility by tweaking its version of Android Marshmallow to accommodate new stylus-focused features.
For example, the device has a screen-off memo mode, which allows users to scribble notes even when the display is turned off. The device will also issue an alert if the stylus has not been returned to its slot, diminishing the chance of it getting lost.
The numbers under the Stylo 2 V's hood are also quite impressive considering its $240 price tag. It will run with a still unnamed Qualcomm 1.8 GHz octa-core processor. The 2 GB of RAM is a bit disappointing given the sheer display to be covered. The battery, however, should please power users because it is not only 3,000 mAh, but it is also removable.
Verizon states that LG Stylo 2 V will have an HD IPS display.
LG Stylo 2 V has 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5-megapixel selfie shooter. The main camera is capable of 1080p HD video recording, but this is severely hampered by the fact that there is only 16 GB onboard memory and a little more than half of it is available for actual use. Fortunately, the handset supports up to 128 GB expandable storage.
The handset's mostly polycarbonate body looks quite handsome. The design is a bit bland, but it will not feel cheap in your hands.
The LG Stylo 2 V appears to be a solid handset overall, offering some premium features available in LG's flagship devices at a very low price point.
Verizon is offering consumers who do not want to pay the full retail price a $10 monthly installment scheme.
