So, the VX9900 (aka the enV), has been out for a couple of weeks now (at least).  From  following forums and such, it's the obvious next step up from the aging LG VX9800.  However, I'm not yet convinced that it really is a large enough jump.  As you may have guessed, I haven't made the jump yet and I'm not sure if I will or not.

First, let's look at the physical form factor.  It's basically the same as the VX9800 while being ever so slightly thinner.  It still opens to reveal a keyboard.  Instead of being uniformly thick, though, it bulges for the camera so it doesn't lay flat.  I only ever open my 9800 to the half-way point (much like you'd have a laptop open).  On the 9900, however, this blocks the sides keys because the hinge is on the bottom of the VX9900 rather than on the top, like the VX9800.  This means it's most useful state is fully open.  The front buttons on the VX9800 appear to be superior in size and feel to the front buttons on the VX9900.  On the inside, the Function button that I frequently used has been replaced with an email button, apparently good to just launch the wireless sync email client which I don't use and likely would never pay for.

Comparing the size and weight, we find that "The V" is 4.57" high and 1.97" wide where "The enV" is 4.64" high and 2.08" wide.  Yes, in these dimensions the VX9900 is actually a bigger phone.  However, the VX9900 is only 0.78" thick while the VX9800 is 1.00" thick.  That said, I don't think this includes the camera lens sticking out.  In volume, assuming both of these founds are squared off boxes, "The V" is 9 cubic inches where "The enV" is 7.5 cubic inches (again, likely not counting the camera lens).  That is, if you slim the 9800 down by 16% you'll be at about the size of the 9900.  Noticeable?  Yes, but what you'll actually feel is the extra width on the 9900.  The 9900 weighs in at 4.6 ounces while the 9800 is 5.19 ounces, an even smaller difference than the volume, but noticeable.

Winner for physical form factor?  The 9800 actually wins this round because it sits flat, doesn't have a mostly wasted button (for me) and is easier to blind-dial. (The screen resolution is actually a tad higher on the 9800 than the 9900, too, but whose counting 16 pixels?)

Software wise, the phones are very similar.  The versions of various things are up a rev and the 9900 doesn't exclusively have the new style Verizon menus all of the phones have had lately.  However, these are not things most people will notice.

People will notice, however, that the 9900 seems to have a superset of Bluetooth profiles supported, including Audio/Visual Remote Control (AVRC) and Human Input Device (HID).  I had a chance to try out a Bluetooth keyboard, but with no luck.  I haven't seen anyone anywhere talk about trying to use AVRC.  I'd like to find out if it can pair with a laptop (my laptop supports the AVRC target profile) and control media apps, such as iTunes, that support the regular media controls (think multimedia keyboard). 

The other big profile that was added was A2DP, the stereo audio profile. Since I have a pair of Macally Bluewave Bluetooth headphones, this interests me.  However, I don't think a phone is going to be replacing my 80GB iPod anytime soon.

The winner for software?  This goes to the VX9900, but only by a small margin since mostly they are identical but the VX9900 has a few nice features that the VX9800 doesn't have.  However, couldn't they have added these to the 9800 via a firmware upgrade?

On the hardware side, the biggest improvement and only improvement, from what I can tell, is the camera.  The resolution has been bumped up from 1.3  (1280x1024) Megapixel to 2.0 MP (1600x1200).  In addition, the swivel for macro mode versus normal mode has been replaced with a lens cover swivel and an auto-focus lens that improves picture quality dramatically.

The other big hardware change was the switch from using mini SD cards (you know, those little ones you just bought for your other new phone, the 9800) to the micro SD card format (formerly known as TransFlash -- you probably sold those when you got rid of your V710 or E815).  Although a physically smaller format, the phone is big enough to hold either and switching that out just means replacing cards -- again.

The AC adapter plug has changed again, too.  It's smaller on the VX9900 but like the card size change, it didn't help make the phone that much smaller.

The winner here?  Clearly, "The enV" gets the win here for a much better camera. 

After all of that, the end results is that if I want a couple of new Bluetooth features that I'll probably rarely use and a 2.0MP camera that still can't beat a normal point and shoot 10.0MP then I'd upgrade.  Otherwise, I think I'll wait for the next phone with this form factor.  Maybe the next one will have something truly compelling.  Or maybe I'm just dreaming and I should upgrade now because my VX9800 is dusty, old, and is getting a couple of cracks...

Read "The enV" manual here, from LG.

What do you think?  Have you done this upgrade?  Will you?  Will you wait?

Posted by Shane on December 13, 2006 9:48 AM | Permalink