Cell Phone Reviews: LG EnV 2

The cell phone market can be a bit of a tricky thing to understand. Even the very best cell phone may only stay the "best" for a couple of weeks. However, even those that do have a relatively long life are eventually destined to be replaced by something new and better. This can be illustrated perfectly by the LG enV. The original phone was one of LG's best selling, and it continues to be held up as a great product, whose quality and features make it one of the bets all around messaging phones that one could get a reduced price. However, recently, the successor to the enV has come up for sale, and that product is known as the enV 2.

What makes the enV 2 so different you may ask? The answer can be seen as soon as one looks at the phone for the first time. Gone is the brick-like shape and feel of the old phone, replaced instead with a smooth, squared off design. The new phone is much slimmer and sleeker than the old, and the overall size has dropped down quite a bit. This, of course, was one of the only major complaints with the older enV, the fact that the phone was far too large to be carried about comfortably in a pocket.

The front of the phone now comes equipped with a very small screen, that just displays the basics, including your battery charge, the current day and time, and the amount of service that is available. The buttons on the front of the phone are a bit strange, and it takes a little getting used to until one is actually able to press the desired keys. However, the enV 2 is much more comfortable to hold, and it still comes equipped with volume keys on the side of the device. There really isn't a whole lot that can be done without flipping the phone open. Numbers can be dialed, recent calls and messaged checked, and a few options can be toggled on and off. There is much less functionality with the front screen than there was with the original enV. However, considering the obvious size differences, and the fact that flipping open the phone is now easier and more convenient (thanks to the smaller size) the loss of front functionality really isn't a big deal.

The enV 2 still has all the same great features that you would come to expect from the Verizon network, including V-Cast and downloadable programs and applications. When the phone is flipped open, the full QWERTY keyboard is much roomier, and has bigger keys than the older enV. The directional pad is a little more user friendly, and the inside screen is bigger and brighter than before. All of these put together make the phone an excellent visual and comfort upgrade from the previous enV.

Overall, battery life is excellent, and even using some of the phones many features will not drain the battery that quickly. The call quality is excellent, and even while traveling about, there was very little static or interference with almost any phone call. The phone is much more comfortable to hold and talk into than the original enV, and this is a definite plus.

The camera is a direct reuse from the old enV, and what took great pictures with the old phone still takes good pictures now, even if they may not have the resolution and clarity of phones such as the Voyager.

The only major complaint to be had with the enV 2 is that there are virtually no new features on it from the previous enV. Of course, there are still all of the options that made the original one great, including the web browser, downloadable music selection, the ability to play MP3's, instant messaging and the ability to sync your e-mail on the go. While these are great, it would have been nice if there were a couple of new options available to justify buying a new phone.

For those looking for an upgrade to something with a lot of function and a fairly low price, and want to avoid the touch screen Voyager and Venus, the enV 2 is a great option. However, for those who already have the original enV, they are best advised to hang on to their phone a little longer, there are no reasons for paying more money, at least at this point. Still though, the enV 2 is a great phone, and one that is sure to be a hit for all those who love to send messages.