Geeky Fashionista

Within the mobile phone realm, LG has definitely made a name for itself by launching a successful line-up of beautiful and stunning phones that surpasses most other devices in design, just by following the most basic rule of thumb: simplicity. Establishing a demand for products that incorporate both beauty and brains, LG unveils their latest flagship Windows Mobile 6.0 device, the LG KS20.

Simply Functional

Much like their Prada line, the KS20 follows its simplistic classy design, cloaked in high gloss black with a silver border running along the sides. Without a doubt, the KS20 was built with the fashionista in mind, if one can ignore the obvious fingerprint magnet it represents. Measuring at 58 x 99.8 x 12.8mm, the KS20 is a perfect fit, and definitely light on the hands.

However, we were slightly bemused to discover the location of the stylus at the bottom left corner, making it an inconvenience to extract. Furthermore, the stylus is telescopic in nature, with a catch in the slot that extends it when you pull it out. This makes the removal procedure less smooth, as a light tug is required. The good news is that stylus usage can be kept to a bare minimum due to an excellent implementation of its touch screen interface, a fully flushed 2.8-inch LCD that is highly responsive even with fingers.

There is also an integrated control bar with a 5-way joystick accompanied by Call and End buttons positioned well at the bottom, making it unobtrusive, and integrating seamlessly with the device. Like the Prada and Viewty devices, the KS20 features LG's proprietary navigation shortcuts as well. Located below the Today screen, it includes a Main Menu that categorizes your various programs according to Communications, Multimedia, Programs and Settings.

Black is Power

Light and compact as it may be, the KS20 packs significant processing power with its Qualcomm MSM 7200 400MHz processor, supported by an impressive amount of memory with 256MB ROM and 128MB RAM built in. Normal multitasking runs silky smooth without hitches, but we still won't recommend heavy usage of resource-hogging applications as even the KS20's memory can be quickly depleted when not paying attention.

In line with most other Windows Mobile devices, the KS20 is packed with a full connectivity suite that includes WiFi, HSDPA, and Bluetooth 2.0, though we wish it has GPS functionality to complete the set. USB 2.0 is used as the main connectivity port, but here lies another baffling design choice. LG uses a proprietary USB port instead of the more common mini USB. These little hitches aside, the KS20 performed well under moderate usage of Bluetooth, WiFi and voice calls, lasting up to two days with its 1050 mAh battery.

Style Redefined

Though the LG KS20 has not the fanciful moniker of the LG Prada, it definitely has the fashion sense, putting it a step above the competition in class. With the added bonus of being powered by Windows Mobile 6, the KS20 opens multiple doors for application support and is juiced with a bevy of connectivity options. For those who wish to look good and feel empowered at the same time, the LG KS20 has all the qualities you need. Hot off the oven, the KS20 carries a recommended retail price of S$888 (~US$643).

Product Specifications

Network: HSDPA/UMTS/GSM/GPRS/EDGE: Tri-band 900, 1800 and 1900MHz
Processor: Qualcomm MSM 7200, 400MHz
Operating System: Windows Mobile 6 Professional
Display: 2.8 inch TFT LCD
Camera: 2.0 megapixel CMOS with autofocus, LED flash
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, USB 2.0, WLAN 802.11g/b
Memory: 256MB ROM; 128MB SD RAM, microSD expandability
Weight: 92.5g (with battery)
Dimensions: 99.8mm x 58mm x 12.8mm