LG Optimus Net: Successor of the Optimus One?

LG has unveiled a new phone which might hit the market as early as this month, the LG Optimus Net. The Optimus Net has the same 3.2-inch HVGA (320 x 480) screen as the Optimus One, but is comes with a faster 800MHz processor  on a MSM727T  chipset (the same unit found in the Samsung Galaxy Ace). The Optimus Net has the same 512MB of RAM and 3.2 mega pixel auto focus camera. If the Optimus Net is the successor of the Optimus One, the only upgrade is the faster processor. The case of  the Optimus Net, is also a bit thinner, a bit more than 1mm thinner, but nothing anyone is likely to notice. The Optimus Net still has the same physical buttons found on the Optimus One, and not the capacitative buttons which are getting more common these days.

On the software front, the Optimus Net will comes with Android 2.3, Gingerbread, installed out of the box, but we expect that to be released for the Optimus One.

On the other hand, there are signs that the Optimus Net has gone through some cost cutting. It is rated a 3.6 Mbps on the 3G radio, instead of the 7.2 Mbps unit on the Optimus One. Instead of a Document Editor and Viewer found on the Optimus One, we are promised only a document viewer. I suspect we will notice some cost cutting in the case design.

In the end, the Optimus Net looks like a replacement of the Optimus One with a lower production cost. Hopefully those savings are passed to the consumer, and after the initial launch premium, it will hopefully be available for 10-11K.