LG announces the Optimus Vu 2

LG has announced the Optimus Vu 2, which boasts an upgraded processor, more RAM and the addition of VoLTE too.

The LG Optimus Vu was officially announced back in February, but has only recently reached the US as the LG Intuition, released on Verizon at the beginning of the month. Still, that’s more than many other countries can say, as LG decided not to launch it at all this year in the UK.

Despite the device’s relative newness, the Optimus Vu 2 has been unveiled in Korea, which boasts various performance tweaks, some welcome new features, plus a very odd — but potentially useful — new feature too.

LG has chosen to stick with the unusual 4:3 ratio, 5-inch screen for the Vu 2, and once again it has a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution. The first major change comes with the processor, which may have the same 1.5Ghz clock speed as the Vu, but is now a latest generation MSM8960 dual-core Snapdragon. The RAM has been doubled to 2GB, and the battery expanded to become a 2150mAh cell.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is still the operating system of choice though, with no mention of an upgrade to 4.1 Jelly Bean to be found, plus it comes with LG apps such as the Q Translator and Q Memo, which makes use of the included stylus — or the Rubberdium Pen 2.0 as LG insist on calling it.

VoLTE support

The Optimus Vu 2 supports VoLTE, the accepted industry standard for sending voice calls over a 4G data connection — much like VoIP — instead of using a 2G or 3G connection solely for voice calls and 4G LTE for data as it works now. It’s supposed to be the next big thing, but to use VoLTE requires both your device and network to support it, and due to the changes it will bring, there is reluctance inside the industry to adopt it quickly.

Other features of the Optimus Vu 2 include wireless charging (although the pad is sold separately), Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and a choice of colors such as black, white and pink. An IR transmitter has been fitted so you can use the Vu 2 as a remote control for other electronic devices around your home. The dimensions of the device have slightly altered too, with the Optimus Vu 2 now measuring 132 x 85 x 9.4mm and weighing 159 grams. For reference, the original Optimus Vu weighed 168 grams and measured 139 x 90 x 8.5mm.

Finally, the Vu 2 has a feature called One Key, which requires you to purchase a special keyring, with a button that when pressed, makes the phone beep to help you locate it. Bizarre, very 80s and probably quite useful.

LG’s press release doesn’t provide a release date for Korea, where the Optimus Vu 2 will make its debut, and if the first Vu is anything to go by, we shouldn’t expect an international rollout just yet either.