Hands-on with the LG Shine

We knew it was here, so we tracked down LG's new GSM variant of the Shine phone and gave it a quick go-around. Straight up, the Shine is one fine slider. We were surprised to find it lacking the same, touch sensitive controls found on the Chocolate. Instead, the Shine is equipped with a spinning thumb wheel across the midriff which scrolls like butter. The feel is solid, not heavy, and the slider springs with a satisfying pop into place to revel that laser etched keypad. We didn't put it though a rigorous suite of tests by any stretch of the imagination. However, it certainly looks like a winner based upon first impressions. Check the gallery for more pics.

Hands-on with the LG Shine

[Matt @ Jan 11th 2007 9:38AM]

That thing looks like my Samsung (or panasonic?)SGH-D807....

[joe @ Jan 11th 2007 10:14AM]

i think it's hot. much better than my t629

[Joe @ Jan 11th 2007 10:26AM]

Does anyone think this is as nice as an iPhone? Not me. It's a ripoff

[TheCount @ Jan 11th 2007 1:05PM]

A rip off of what, exactly? Go back to Trollsville.

[mcepat @ Jan 11th 2007 1:04PM]

@Joe

Does anyone think this is as nice as an iPhone? Not me. It's a ripoff

That funny, who's ripping off who? not LG its the guy that said he invented the phone.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/11/iphone-and-lg-ke850-separated-at-birth/

[Jugomugo @ Jan 11th 2007 10:47AM]

Looks pretty pimpin'. I'd take one if the price is right.

[CowboyGA @ Jan 11th 2007 11:09AM]

It's a beautiful phone. It has my required 2 megapixel camera and mp3 player capabilities, but no SD slot? I'm hoping they've updated the US version from the Korean counterpart. Any word of when it may break in the US market?

[John P. @ Jan 11th 2007 11:15AM]

Yeah, Steve Jobs was right, I'm finding it hard to get excited about any phone now that I've seen how the iPhone works. This thing looks so last year. Sorry LG.

[Denny @ Jan 11th 2007 12:15PM]

I'd love to give credit to Apple for this design, but it's more like the Nokia 8801 than anything else. I actually think the iPhone looks a lot like the top slider portion of the 8801 (down to the glass, stainless steel edges, and even speaker). Don't get me wrong, I'll be replacing my 8801 with an iPhone the second it comes out, but for once I can't give Apple 100% of the credit for their design.

[Taylor @ Jan 11th 2007 12:33PM]

Joe. you're a douche bag. not every phone has to be compared to an Apple product. I am an Apple fan myself, but there are other products out there. Comparing a touchscreen on the iphone and the standard keypad of a slide phone is like comparing spam to filet mignon. Yes, the iphone may be a better product in your mind. But, they aren't supposed to compete with each other? why are you comparing them?

[michael @ Jan 11th 2007 12:46PM]

how can you call it a ripoff joe if the Shine was release 6 months ago? Thats complete ignorance. and second now that they have shown the LG KE850 in december. If anything the iphone is a ripoff of 2 lg's. I hope apple gets sued

[Chris @ Jan 11th 2007 9:40PM]

What a terribly beautiful device.

[chelsey @ Jan 11th 2007 10:09PM]

oh my goodness.
the iPhone totally ripped LG off.

[JR @ Jan 11th 2007 11:23PM]

This thing isn't nearly as cool as the iPhone, but hopefully it will be a reliable cell phone that's reasonably priced. Does anyone know what service this is coming out on? Cingular? When? Thanks.

[jake @ Jan 12th 2007 2:11AM]

anyone else notice the stolen Final Cut Pro movies icon?

[Noah Kravitz @ Jan 12th 2007 1:18PM]

I got some hands-on time with Shine at CES. It'g gorgeous. The OLED display sort of "wakes up" from behind the mirrored front panel, and the GUI is beautiful. The scroll wheel works really nicely, and the phone feels great in the hand - pure luxury. Also, from what LG reps said, the camera is quite high quality for a 2MP shooter. Sure, it's no iPhone ... but it also actually exists (or at least they had a bunch for people to play with, unlike Apple at MacWorld). It'll also be a hell of a lot cheaper when it's available.