Top deals on CNET here
- Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 26 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
-
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
1.5 stars
"Can't talk the talk or walk the walk!"
Pros: Voice commands, speaker phone
Cons: Everything else!
Summary: I had read so much about this phone and could not wait to finally get one. I had owned an inexpensive Kyocera KX414 (Phantom), which was a reliable phone with no major problems (I had dropped the phone countless times and it continued to perform). I decided to go with the LG LX5550 because I wanted a "flip phone." I had forgotten to lock the keypad several times with the Kyocera and called people, which was a nuisance. The LX5550 is an attractive phone (which really means nothing) and seems solid built to hold in your hand. The phone has a keypad that is very difficult to use with average size finger or larger, especially when driving. It does have voice activation to bypass the keys, but when driving at interstate speeds are difficult to hear and is time consuming. The reception is 100% awful! I took the phone into my retailer to have it tested and the phone is in perfect working order. They even replaced it with a new one to make certain. It is worthless to call someone from inside a house or building. It drops calls with no warning. The Kyocera, which was free (LX 5550 $279) with my US Cellular agreement, had far superior reception. People who say the LX5550 has good reception are probably new cell phone users that have nothing to compare to. The volume is not loud enough through the phone earpiece at highway driving speed, and the hands free earpiece is worse. The color display is somewhat blurred, and is impossible to read in direct sunlight. There are some neat features the phone offers, but if you are someone like me (just want a phone that is easy to use, has good volume, and is durable) they are very unimportant and rarely used. Unfortunately, I got the information to choose this phone from sites like this one. Things are not always what you expect. My advice: Buy the phone froma retailer that will allow you to try the phone out for a period of time, and will allow you to trade, at no add on fee, until you find a phone that is right for you.
- 2 replies to this review
-
Very solid basic phone. Easy to use keypad with my "above average size fingers". I've owned this phone for about a year (have owned various cell phones for about 10 years) and would buy it again. The features are very user friendly and effective. The volume is totally adjustable and I frequently have to turn it down as other people can hear both sides of conversation when earset volume is too loud. I've dropped t his phone several times and so far, it keeps on ticking. Again, I'd do it again!
-
I have had my lg5550 for almost a year. Within that year it has been repaired once and swapped out for new phones twice. That's THREE phones in ONE year and NONE of them WORK!!! The screen is slow to come on, the earpiece crackles and cuts out completely even with a full signal, flip the phone shut to end a call and it powers off and the keys are loose at times and get stuck at other times. This phone is not worth the money you pay for it. Go with something more durable that will not cut out on you when you really need it.
%20user%20review%20and%20rating%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/lg-lx5550-alltel-wireless/4864-6454_7-30898739-2.html){kind=small}