Preface:

It is really difficult to get a branded smartphone loaded with some great features at an affordable price. However, the two dual-core Android smartphones, Samsung Galaxy R and LG Optimus 2X are the best example of affordable smartphones. While LG Optimus 2X is honoured to be the first dual-core smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy R runs on the NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip which performs with the first mobile dual-core CPU. Thus, the two phones fall in the same segment with some significant differences in each, making them highly comparable. These two are competitive enough to take on each other and therefore, we decided to have one-on-one comparison of the two.

Design:

With 9.5mm thickness and 135g of weight, the Samsung Galaxy R is thinner and lighter in weight to the LG Optimus 2X that is 10.9mm thick and weighs 139g. However, Galaxy R has 4.2” wide screen as compared to 4” display screen of the Optimus 2X when measured diagonally. Although there is around 10% difference in the size of the display screen, the two phones share the same resolution.

The Optimus 2X wins over the Galaxy R in terms of sharpness with a pixel density of 233ppi as against the pixel density of 222ppi, respectively. The LG Optimus 2X and the Samsung Galaxy R use LCD screens, albeit the Optimus 2X displays better blacks and the Galaxy R displays brighter images with slightly better viewing angles.

Features & Usability:

Both the smartphones run Android 2.3 Gingerbread and have plans to upgrade it with an Ice Cream Sandwich. The user interface used by the Samsung is TouchWiz, while the user interface of the LG is customised one. Only difference of the aesthetics can be observed between the user interfaces of the two phones.

The videos with 1080p can be very well played on the LG Optimus 2X. On the other hand, the Galaxy R plays full HD videos. The common thing observed while watching the videos in the two phones was the intervention of the problems in playing videos with MP4 format. Although Optimus 2X is incapable of playing full HD videos, it has a microHDMI port which allows it to play full HD videos on an HDTV. The Optimus 2X also has DLNA for connecting to the TVs, which is the only component that comes as TV connector with the Galaxy R. Apart from DLNA, the Galaxy R has USB on-the- go connectivity which is not there in Optimus 2X.

Leaving all these differences aside, the two has similar software features like the Flash-capable web browsers, Office document editors and they also offer social network integration. Thus, the user interface of the two phones is very similar and equally convenient in use too.

Multimedia:

With the 8MP camera, the LG Optimus 2X definitely has an upper hand over the Galaxy R with 5MP camera. This is clearly evident by the still image clicked from the LG Optimus 2X and the Galaxy R and so, Optimus 2X is better in all the aspects when it comes to still photography. This trend is followed with the video recording also as the Optimus 2X has 1080p shooter in comparison to 720p shooter of the Galaxy R. The Galaxy R also misses on some of the features like auto focussing and isn’t good enough when compared to Optimus 2X.

Performance:

In terms of performance, there is very slight difference as they are powered by the same Tegra 2 chipset. The Galaxy R has 1GB RAM compared to 512MB RAM of the Optimus 2X. The Galaxy R offers better graphics even though it uses the same NVIDIA-made GPU like that of Optimus 2X.

However, the LG Optimus 2X leads in the browsing when compared to Galaxy R. The browsing is very smooth and has sufficient speed. Despite being good in browsing, the Optimus 2X loses to Galaxy R in overall performance. As due to 1GB of RAM, the Galaxy performed slightly better in calculating, graphics and 3D rendering.

The call quality and the audio output of the two smartphones is the same. The Samsung Galaxy R has slightly better battery life compared to LG Optimus 2X.

Editor’s view:

Both the phones are equally well to serve your need and can perform extremely well with hardly any difference, which is negligible. The Galaxy R is priced at Rs. 20950, while the LG Optimus 2X is priced at Rs. 18990. So, with respect to pricing, the Optimus 2X holds upper hand including all the other factors we have analysed in this comparison.