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Review LG E460 Optimus L5 II Smartphone

The mainstream "L". LG not only delivers high-end smartphones like the LG Optimus G or the Google nexus 4, the Korean company also produces smartphones for the medium price range. We have a closer look at the new 4-inch mainstream device, the Optimus L5 II.
In Review: LG Optimus L5 II. Courtesy of LG.

For the original German review, see here.

The designation already indicates it: The LG E460 Optimus L5 II is the second generation of LG's mainstream smartphone. The L5 has two siblings in this series: The LG Optimus L3 II and the Optimus L7 II; the 4.0-inch L5 is right in the middle in terms of size. According to LG the first generation of the three smartphones sold over 10 million units world-wide within 10 months - an impressive result and a challenge for the successor.

LG completely redesigned the case of the Optimus L5 II, noticeably increased the resolution of the display to 800x480 pixels, integrated a larger battery, reduced the weight by over 10 grams and integrated HSUPA for faster web browsing on the road.

The price of the LG Optimus L5 II is clearly below 200 Euros (~$263) and competes with the more inexpensive mainstream devices. For example, the Chinese Huawei Ascend Y300, which is even cheaper or the more price-confident Sony Xperia J. Or do you prefer a larger display? Then you could consider the Amoi N828, the Jiayu G3 or the Alcatel OneTouch Ultra, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Young is more compact. If you are willing to spend more money the Google Nexus 4 or the Samsung Galaxy Express are interesting alternatives; the latter even comes with LTE. It is a competitive environment for LG's new smartphones. We have a closer look at the LG Optimus L5 II and how it wants to stand out from the competition.

Case

The case of the predecessor was almost a designer piece with its color contrasts and the rounded edges; the LG Optimus L5 II seems quite simple by comparison. The only small highlights at the front are the trapezoidal speaker and the rounded "Home" button. This button can also be illuminated in different colors, for instance when the device is charging or when you get a call. The back of our review unit has a brushed aluminum look, white and black devices are also available. The buttons at the side are slightly roughened and can be easily felt.

The whole case is made of plastic, the back is quite catchy and does not attract fingerprints. The front is similarly catchy, which does not really favor the touchscreen operation; the front is also sensitive to fingerprints. The stability of the case is very good despite the fact that the whole back can be removed. It cannot be twisted and pressure on the back does not result in distortions on the touchscreen - very good. 

LG managed to reduce the weight by 12 grams compared to the predecessor and the LG Optimus L5 II is even more compact in all dimensions despite the larger display. Compared to the rivals it is one of the lightest smartphones but leaves a high-quality impression and rests comfortably in the hand.

Connectivity

The majority of smartphones only have two ports: micro USB at the bottom and a stereo jack at the top. The LG Optimus L5 II is no exception, however, there is one additional button at the side. This button can be assigned according to your needs, for example open the notifications or trigger the camera.

Voice Quality

Calling with the LG Optimus L5 II is a pleasure: Both the caller and the recipient understand each other very clearly and with sufficient volume, the voice is very clear on both sides. However, voices sound a bit tinny when you use the built-in hands free feature.

Software

The LG Optimus L5 II comes with Android 4.1.2, not the latest version of Google's operating system but a very stable one. The operating system has been slightly adjusted by LG, which is evident on the home screen with the integrated emergency call feature and the menus that look different and include more features.

The Koreans did not include too much additional software: LG Smart World is a shop that shows apps from the Google Play Store and hardly provides any added value, you also need your own LG account. Quick Memo enables notes on the screen, you can write or paint and then save it as a picture. Safety Care offers several features to inform contacts when you are in an emergency situation.

The reception is good outdoors.
The reception is good outdoors.
Indoors it is not very stable.
Indoors it is not very stable.

Communication & GPS

NFC, Near Field Communication, was one of the advertised features of the first generation LG Optimus L5. By now it is mandatory and obviously integrated into the Optimus L5 II as well. Thanks to quad-band GSM you can also use the smartphone in almost all networks worldwide; dual-band UMTS, HSDPA and HSUPA provide fast internet. LTE is not available but there is also WLAN that supports the common standards. Transmitting power and reception of the device were good: With a distance of 10 meters and through two walls three out of four bars were indicated. Another wall and additional two meters between the device and the router reduced the reception to 50%.

A GPS module is integrated but it took some time to find the satellites and get a location, the accuracy was okay with 7 meters. The connection is not very stable indoors compared to other devices.

Cameras & Multimedia

LG only equips the Optimus L5 II with one camera at the back; it has a resolution of 5 megapixels and is supported by an LED flash. The camera has problems with bright areas; the picture loses details. They also appear too soft and colors are unnatural. The LED flash is used in dark environments but the auto focus does not always work properly and the pictures are overexposed. All in all, not the best camera performance.

Camera at the back, 5 MP
Camera at the back, 5 MP
Reference: Canon EOS 450D, 12 MP
Reference: Canon EOS 450D, 12 MP
In the dark: Blurry, overexposed and with picture noise.
In the dark: Blurry, overexposed and with picture noise.
Interesting accessory: the LG Pocket Photo Printer.
Interesting accessory: the LG Pocket Photo Printer.

Accessories

You should not expect too many accessories in the box of the LG Optimus L5 II, at least there is a headset and a Quick Start Guide besides the mandatory charger and data cable. Some manufacturers waive them nowadays.

Nevertheless, LG offers interesting accessories: for instance the mobile photo printer with special photo paper that does not require ink. You can send pictures with an app via NFC or Bluetooth to the printer and print them on the road. Unfortunately the printer is not yet available and there is no information about the quality. The price is around 200 Euros (~$263) but you will have to buy the special paper, which is not quite inexpensive.

Apart from that you can buy additional batteries and a Bluetooth headset that has a unique design - a collar with headphones you can put around your neck - not everybody will like that.

Warranty

The warranty period is 24 months for the device and 6 months for accessories like the battery, the charger and so on. Warranty cases are either handled directly by LG or the retailer where you bought the device. If LG repairs the device you will have to pay for the shipping. Attention: LG only offers the 24-month warranty for a maximum period of 27 months after the production date. If you get a device that was on the shelf for quite some time the actual warranty period might be shorter.

Input Devices & Handling

The touchscreen recognizes up to five fingers simultaneously.
The touchscreen recognizes up to five fingers simultaneously.

You can easily operate the touchscreen of the LG Optimus L5 II with the fingers, it reacts very precisely and accurately. It even recognizes inputs when we wear light gloves but you will most likely have to take them off in the winter. The display recognizes up to five fingers simultaneously, unfortunately the surface is quite sticky and produces an unpleasant resistance; it also attracts dirt and fingerprints.

LG improved the standard Android keyboard and replaced it with its own version, although it only differs in the color and some minor details. When you start the browser you get a keyboard that has been adjusted for web browsing. Sounds quite useful but the keyboard is a bit crowded and the space bar, admittedly not the most frequently used key during web browsing, is very small. If you do not like the LG version you can always use one from the Google Play Store since other keyboards are not preinstalled; you can try numerous keyboards in the store.

Display

The display is often a problem with inexpensive smartphones: Brightness and viewing angle stability are usually not convincing. The LG Optimus L5 II seems to be the praiseworthy exception: an average brightness of 416.1 cd/m², which is not reduced on battery and a reasonably even brightness distribution combined with an IPS display, which promises high viewing angle stability, speak for itself. The only drawback is the resolution: 800x480 pixels is just okay for a 4.0-inch display. However, we are spoiled by Full HD displays and the picture of the LG Optimus L5 II is subjectively not as sharp.

443
cd/m²
419
cd/m²
385
cd/m²
446
cd/m²
435
cd/m²
387
cd/m²
428
cd/m²
408
cd/m²
394
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 446 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 416.1 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 435 cd/m²
Contrast: 777:1 (Black: 0.56 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.79 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 7.35 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.34

Contrast and black value are still okay but fall behind the competition. The high black value especially prevents a decent contrast despite the high brightness, the result is a gloomy picture.

Our color analysis with the colorimeter and the CalMAN software shows that the colors show a distinct red cast but the human eye can hardly see any deviations compared to the defined colors of the sRGB color space. Cyan and magenta show the biggest deviations; white colors are also quite inaccurate, this is also evident in the grayscale presentation. Additionally the colors are slightly oversaturated.

CalMAN - CMS Calibration
CalMAN - CMS Calibration
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps
You can still see the content thanks to the high brightness.
You can still see the content thanks to the high brightness.
However, the shade is much more eye-friendly.
However, the shade is much more eye-friendly.

Although it is exhausting for the eyes the display content is still visible even under direct sunlight thanks to the high brightness. A better contrast ratio would certainly improve the visibility and streaks on the dirt sensitive display also have a negative effect. There are no problems in the shade or in bright indoor environments.

Good visibility from all angles.
Good visibility from all angles.

The IPS display of the LG Optimus L5 II has no problems with extreme viewing angles. The result is a Very Good rating for the viewing angle stability.

Performance

Our review unit is based on a one-chip system from MediaTek with the designation MT6575. The processor is a Cortex-A9 CPU with a clock of 1 GHz. The graphics chip is provided by PowerVR; the SGX531 also contains a processor and is clocked at 200 MHz. The SoC supports up to two SIM cards and an 8 megapixels camera but LG decided to save some money. 512 MB RAM and 4 GB flash storage are also not very generous.

The LG Optimus L5 II is always in the bottom of the charts when it comes to CPU and system performance and comparable to the Sony Xperia J and the Samsung Galaxy Young. Similarly priced smartphones from China, for example the Jiayu G3 or the Amoi N828, offer considerably more performance. Subjectively, the performance is not bad and we could not determine any delays navigating through the operating system; all the applications we tested ran smoothly.

Linpack Android / IOS
Single Thread (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
31.61 MFLOPS
Sony Xperia J
38.88 MFLOPS +23%
Jiayu G3
35.03 MFLOPS +11%
Amoi N828
36.37 MFLOPS +15%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
39.16 MFLOPS +24%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
144.3 MFLOPS +357%
Google Nexus 4
76.8 MFLOPS +143%
Multi Thread (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
34.76 MFLOPS
Sony Xperia J
37.38 MFLOPS +8%
Jiayu G3
57.6 MFLOPS +66%
Amoi N828
88.2 MFLOPS +154%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
37.47 MFLOPS +8%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
211.6 MFLOPS +509%
Google Nexus 4
221.6 MFLOPS +538%
AnTuTu v3 - Total Score (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
4812 Points
Sony Xperia J
4075 Points -15%
Jiayu G3
5405 Points +12%
Amoi N828
12855 Points +167%
Huawei Ascend Y300
6068 Points +26%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
6212 Points +29%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
4294 Points -11%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
11326 Points +135%
Google Nexus 4
17555 Points +265%
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Total Score (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
582 Points
Sony Xperia J
465 Points -20%
Jiayu G3
840 Points +44%
Huawei Ascend Y300
489 Points -16%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
862 Points +48%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
346 Points -41%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
1248 Points +114%
Google Nexus 4
2054 Points +253%
Smartbench 2012 - Productivity Index (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
1158 points
Sony Xperia J
1054 points -9%
Jiayu G3
1986 points +72%
Amoi N828
3610 points +212%
Huawei Ascend Y300
2117 points +83%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
1184 points +2%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
2697 points +133%
Google Nexus 4
3178 points +174%

Legend

 
LG E460 Optimus L5 II MediaTek MT6575, PowerVR SGX531, 4 GB Flash
 
Sony Xperia J Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 MSM7227A, Qualcomm Adreno 200, 4 GB Flash
 
Jiayu G3 MediaTek MT6577, PowerVR SGX531,
 
Amoi N828 Mediatek MT6589, PowerVR SGX544, 4 GB Flash
 
Huawei Ascend Y300 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8225, Qualcomm Adreno 203, 4 GB Flash
 
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D MediaTek MT6577, PowerVR SGX531, 4 GB Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312 Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 MSM7227A, Qualcomm Adreno 200, 4 GB Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8930, Qualcomm Adreno 305, 8 GB SSD
 
Google Nexus 4 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064A, Qualcomm Adreno 320, 16 GB SSD

The graphics performance of the LG smartphone is better and it gets good mainstream results in almost all the benchmarks. Obviously it cannot compete with higher class devices like the Samsung Galaxy Express or the Google Nexus 4, but it is at least on the same level with the Alcatel OneTouch Ultra or the Huawei Ascend Y300. Most of the 3D applications or games should run smoothly.

AnTuTu 3DRating
--- (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
2074 Points
Sony Xperia J
1826 Points -12%
Amoi N828
3714 Points +79%
Huawei Ascend Y300
2139 Points +3%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
2265 Points +9%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
4216 Points +103%
Google Nexus 4
5731 Points +176%
1024x2048 Off-screen (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
841 Points
Sony Xperia J
362 Points -57%
Jiayu G3
732 Points -13%
Amoi N828
1912 Points +127%
Huawei Ascend Y300
1184 Points +41%
Google Nexus 4
1702 Points +102%
NenaMark2 - --- (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
23.4 fps
Sony Xperia J
19.6 fps -16%
Jiayu G3
17 fps -27%
Amoi N828
54 fps +131%
Huawei Ascend Y300
31 fps +32%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
23.8 fps +2%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
16.2 fps -31%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
60.8 fps +160%
Google Nexus 4
59 fps +152%
3DMark - 1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
663 Points
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
552 Points -17%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
4463 Points +573%
Google Nexus 4
11396 Points +1619%
Basemark ES 2.0 - Taiji Free (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
9.22 fps
Sony Xperia J
5.8 fps -37%
Jiayu G3
4.88 fps -47%
Amoi N828
20.6 fps +123%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
9.19 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
6.34 fps -31%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
39.44 fps +328%
Google Nexus 4
53.5 fps +480%
GLBenchmark 2.5
Egypt HD Fixed Time (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
2.9 fps
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
3.4 fps +17%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
25 fps +762%
Google Nexus 4
35 fps +1107%
1920x1080 Egypt HD Offscreen Fixed Time (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
1.9 fps
Google Nexus 4
27 fps +1321%
Epic Citadel
High Quality (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
25.7 fps
Jiayu G3
20.6 fps -20%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
17.3 fps -33%
Google Nexus 4
54.3 fps +111%
High Performance (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
31.5 fps
Jiayu G3
24.1 fps -23%
Huawei Ascend Y300
24.2 fps -23%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
29 fps -8%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
19.1 fps -39%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
54.1 fps +72%
Google Nexus 4
54.9 fps +74%

Browsing the web should be a pleasure with the Optimus L5 II, at least according to the specifications: The device is clearly ahead of its direct competitors and can even keep up with the Google Nexus 4. This impression was supported in our real world test: mobile internet is smooth and fast on the LG Optimus L5 II.

Google V8 Ver. 7 - Google V8 Ver. 7 Score (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
1174 Points
Sony Xperia J
704 Points -40%
Jiayu G3
988 Points -16%
Amoi N828
1012 Points -14%
Huawei Ascend Y300
802 Points -32%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
1055 Points -10%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
767 Points -35%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
1169 Points 0%
Google Nexus 4
1381 Points +18%
Octane V1 - Total Score (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
1254 Points
Sony Xperia J
845 Points -33%
Jiayu G3
930 Points -26%
Amoi N828
1161 Points -7%
Huawei Ascend Y300
727 Points -42%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
824 Points -34%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
1170 Points -7%
Google Nexus 4
1248 Points 0%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
443 Points
Sony Xperia J
287 Points -35%
Jiayu G3
415 Points -6%
Amoi N828
531 Points +20%
Huawei Ascend Y300
325 Points -27%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
465 Points +5%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
325 Points -27%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
405 Points -9%
Google Nexus 4
236 Points -47%
Sunspider - 0.9.1 Total Score (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
1727 ms *
Sony Xperia J
3014 ms * -75%
Jiayu G3
2266 ms * -31%
Amoi N828
1563 ms * +9%
Huawei Ascend Y300
2319 ms * -34%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
2182 ms * -26%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
2552 ms * -48%
Google Nexus 4
1895 ms * -10%

* ... smaller is better

Our review unit also shows a decent performance in regard to the 4 GB internal storage for data and applications. However, you can only use 1.4 GB, the rest is occupied by the Android operating system. You can expand the storage with up to 32 GB via micro SD card.

The performance in the synthetic AndroBench is very good and can beat the Samsung Galaxy Express in the random read test and the random write test but cannot keep up with the Google Nexus 4.

All in all, the LG Optimus L5 II does not have the fastest processor but can convince with a decent 3D performance and is able to handle most standard applications without problems.

AndroBench 3-5
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
0.5 MB/s
Sony Xperia J
0.25 MB/s -50%
Jiayu G3
0.65 MB/s +30%
Amoi N828
0.27 MB/s -46%
Huawei Ascend Y300
0.19 MB/s -62%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
0.27 MB/s -46%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
0.61 MB/s +22%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
0.42 MB/s -16%
Google Nexus 4
1.07 MB/s +114%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
10.12 MB/s
Sony Xperia J
6.49 MB/s -36%
Jiayu G3
8.54 MB/s -16%
Amoi N828
11.02 MB/s +9%
Huawei Ascend Y300
4.68 MB/s -54%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
9.54 MB/s -6%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
7.75 MB/s -23%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
8.42 MB/s -17%
Google Nexus 4
12.14 MB/s +20%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
7.63 MB/s
Sony Xperia J
5.3 MB/s -31%
Jiayu G3
5.77 MB/s -24%
Amoi N828
5.53 MB/s -28%
Huawei Ascend Y300
4.26 MB/s -44%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
5.18 MB/s -32%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
6.94 MB/s -9%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
9.32 MB/s +22%
Google Nexus 4
13.97 MB/s +83%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
LG E460 Optimus L5 II
35.69 MB/s
Sony Xperia J
29.64 MB/s -17%
Jiayu G3
23.51 MB/s -34%
Amoi N828
41.05 MB/s +15%
Huawei Ascend Y300
12.07 MB/s -66%
Alcatel OneTouch Ultra 997D
26.62 MB/s -25%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
34.9 MB/s -2%
Samsung Galaxy Express GT-I8730
52.8 MB/s +48%
Google Nexus 4
49.7 MB/s +39%

Gaming

Despite the sticky touchscreen the LG Optimus L5 II is well suited for games. The inputs of the position sensor, for instance in racing games, are well executed without delays and the performance of the graphics chip is also sufficient for more demanding 3D games like Real Racing 3 or ShadowGun: Dead Zone. Storage capacity might the biggest problem: Iron Man 3, for example, occupies more than half of it with 800 MB and cannot even be started because the game has to load additional data and there is no more space left.

More demanding 3D games like Real Racing 3 and ShadowGun: Dead Zone run smoothly.
More demanding 3D games like Real Racing 3 and ShadowGun: Dead Zone run smoothly.
However, the storage is limited.
However, the storage is limited.

Temperature

The temperature development of the LG Optimus L5 II is modest and similar to the rivals: The maximum temperature is 36.6 °C at the front - the warming can be felt but is never uncomfortable. You also have to push the device for a longer period to reach this value. Otherwise the temperatures are around 30 °C so it is usually cool.

Max. Load
 34.3 °C
94 F
31.1 °C
88 F
29.8 °C
86 F
 
 36.5 °C
98 F
32.1 °C
90 F
30.2 °C
86 F
 
 36.6 °C
98 F
32.7 °C
91 F
29.9 °C
86 F
 
Maximum: 36.6 °C = 98 F
Average: 32.6 °C = 91 F
29.2 °C
85 F
30.1 °C
86 F
32.4 °C
90 F
30.7 °C
87 F
31.4 °C
89 F
34.1 °C
93 F
29.4 °C
85 F
32.3 °C
90 F
36.5 °C
98 F
Maximum: 36.5 °C = 98 F
Average: 31.8 °C = 89 F
Power Supply (max.)  33.8 °C = 93 F | Room Temperature 21.8 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 32.6 °C / 91 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.6 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 36.5 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.5 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speaker

The mono speaker on the back sits behind two slots and the sound is mainly directed backwards. The sound is not muffled when the device lies on a table but it is quieter when you put it on a soft surface.

The speaker is primarily focused on high and medium tones. Some violins, for instance, are very loud while you can hardly hear any deeper tones. The maximum volume is remarkable but the sound lacks details on the highest setting, especially with orchestral music, and produces distortions. All in all, the speaker is decent but movie and music enthusiasts should favor external speakers or headphones.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The energy consumption of the LG Optimus L5 II is pretty much average but the high maximum consumption values attract our attention: 1.8 Watts during idle and 3.5 Watts under load is more than some of the more powerful smartphones. The consumption during standby and when the device is turned off is excellent with 0.1 and 0.01 Watts respectively. The rival Jiayu G3 with its very high consumption values especially left a negative impression in this category.

 

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.01 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.7 / 1.2 / 1.8 Watt
Load midlight 2.5 / 3.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

The battery runtimes of the LG Optimus L5 II are not really overwhelming. The smartphone didn't even manage six hours in the more practical WLAN scenario. With continuous but not too demanding usage you should be able to get through the day. Although the battery is average with 1,700 mAh and 6.5 Wh most of the competitors have better battery runtimes.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
8h 56min
WiFi Surfing
5h 46min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 44min

Verdict

The LG Optimus L5 II meets the requirements of a mainstream smartphone: It does not really stand out in one category. Inside the pretty simple case is a SoC with a weak processor and limited memory equipment. The internal storage is just too small and the quality of the camera is tolerable at best. The touchscreen with the sticky surface attracts dirt, at least it does not affect the functionality.

Fortunately, the LG Optimus L5 II has some highlights: The display is very bright and has excellent viewing angles thanks to IPS technology but there is also a drawback: The black value and contrast could be better, it would certainly improve the picture quality. The adjustable button on the left side of the case is a nice feature and the voice quality convinces us; there is also NFC and fast HSUPA.

The smartphone is quite inconspicuous in the other categories: Battery runtimes, gaming performance, heat development and software are okay but nothing more. Overall, inconspicuous is perhaps the best adjective to describe the LG Optimus L5 II: You won't get any jealous looks and you won't have any problems either. The device has no critical drawbacks but if you are looking for something special you will have to continue your search.

In Review: LG Optimus L5 II. Courtesy of LG.
In Review: LG Optimus L5 II. Courtesy of LG.
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In Review: LG Optimus L5 II. Review unit courtesy of LG.
In Review: LG Optimus L5 II. Review unit courtesy of LG.

Specifications

LG E460 Optimus L5 II (Optimus L Series)
Processor
MediaTek MT6575 1 x 1 GHz, Cortex-A9
Graphics adapter
Memory
512 MB 
Display
4.00 inch, 800 x 480 pixel, capacitive Touchscreen, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
4 GB Flash, 4 GB 
, 1.4 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm stereo jack, Card Reader: micro SD cards up to 32 GByte, Sensors: GPS, position sensor, compass
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 3.0, Quadband GSM, Dualband UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9.28 x 62.2 x 117.5 ( = 0.37 x 2.45 x 4.63 in)
Battery
7 Wh Lithium-Ion, 3.8 Volt, 1,700 mAh, Talk time 2G (according to manufacturer): 10 h, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 9 h
Operating System
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Camera
Webcam: 5 Megapixel (2560 x 1920 Pixel) with LED flash
Additional features
Speakers: Mono, Keyboard: virtual, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
113 g ( = 3.99 oz / 0.25 pounds), Power Supply: 50 g ( = 1.76 oz / 0.11 pounds)
Price
189 Euro

 

LG also supplies the mainstream market.
LG also supplies the mainstream market.
Family picture: LG's new smartphone series.
Family picture: LG's new smartphone series.
Our review unit with a titan gray back and brushed metal look.
Our review unit with a titan gray back and brushed metal look.
The siblings show the other available colors: Black and white.
The siblings show the other available colors: Black and white.
All models have a detachable back cover.
All models have a detachable back cover.
Compared to the predecessor the Optimus L5 II has been improved...
Compared to the predecessor the Optimus L5 II has been improved...
...for example with a higher resolution display and smaller case.
...for example with a higher resolution display and smaller case.
The front of the smartphone is pretty simple.
The front of the smartphone is pretty simple.
The style factor of the predecessor was bigger.
The style factor of the predecessor was bigger.
The trapezoidal speaker is the only visual highlight.
The trapezoidal speaker is the only visual highlight.
The titan gray back is nice and sturdy.
The titan gray back is nice and sturdy.
The buttons are also well designed but can be hardly felt.
The buttons are also well designed but can be hardly felt.
Another highlight: The LED inside the Home button, which can be illuminated in different colors.
Another highlight: The LED inside the Home button, which can be illuminated in different colors.
It shows calls, appointments and much more.
It shows calls, appointments and much more.
The smartphone is very light...
The smartphone is very light...
..but is almost a bit bulky.
..but is almost a bit bulky.
Android was slightly adjusted by LG.
Android was slightly adjusted by LG.
The adjustments are small.
The adjustments are small.
The most useful software is Quick Memo...
The most useful software is Quick Memo...
...even phone numbers can be entered.
...even phone numbers can be entered.
The menus have more features and look nice.
The menus have more features and look nice.
A nice feature is the quick start button on the upper left side.
A nice feature is the quick start button on the upper left side.
It can be customized and launches the according applications.
It can be customized and launches the according applications.
It also works as a camera trigger.
It also works as a camera trigger.
The connectivity is versatile with NFC and Bluetooth.
The connectivity is versatile with NFC and Bluetooth.
The camera gets no recommendation: Weak pictures without details.
The camera gets no recommendation: Weak pictures without details.
The touchscreen is sticky and attracts dirt.
The touchscreen is sticky and attracts dirt.
At least the box contains a headset.
At least the box contains a headset.
The LG Optimus L5 II is quite inconspicuous.
The LG Optimus L5 II is quite inconspicuous.
A few highlights would have been nice.
A few highlights would have been nice.

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Links

Price Comparison

Pros

+Bright display with good viewing angle stability
+Decent gaming performance
+Good voice quality
+NFC and HSUPA
+Very light
+Sturdy case
 

Cons

-Weak contrast and black value
-Camera performance
-Weak processor
-Limited memory
-Limited storage
-Quite boring design

Shortcut

What we like

The bright display with an excellent viewing angle stability.

What we miss

A real highlight to differ from the competition.

What surprises us

That the nicely designed predecessor gets such a boring successor.

The competition

Huawei Ascend Y300, Sony Xperia J, Amoi N828, Jiayu G3, Alcatel OneTouch Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Young, Google Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy Express.

Rating

LG E460 Optimus L5 II - 08/05/2013 v3(old)
Florian Wimmer

Chassis
77%
Keyboard
46%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
43%
Weight
100%
Battery
91%
Display
84%
Games Performance
25%
Application Performance
34%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Add Points
75%
Average
70%
83%
Smartphone - Weighted Average
Florian Wimmer, 2013-06- 4 (Update: 2018-05-15)