LG enV Touch gets our Editors' Choice

LG enV Touch photos

The recently released LG enV Touch is no smartphone like the iPhone or Palm Pre, but it certainly impresses as a high-end feature phone. For starters, it has not one, but two 3-inch displays. The one on the outside has a touch-screen interface similar to those of other LG touch screen handsets like the LG Dare and the LG Versa. Both displays support 1.6 million colors, which really helps when viewing images and video. We also like its slim form factor and spacious QWERTY keyboard that makes thumb-typing a pleasurable experience.

We were similarly impressed with the features on the enV Touch. They include a 3.2-megapixel camera (with a few special shots, like "Facial Makeover" that removes blemishes from the face, plus a name card reader that's programmed to capture the name and address information on business cards), a full HTML Web browser with the capability to tab between pages, and EV-DO Rev. A. The latter is noticeably faster than just regular EV-DO; downloading a 1.5MB song took only 20 or so seconds, while a normal EV-DO connection downloaded it in around 50 seconds.

Perhaps our only gripes had to do with the responsiveness of the touch screen interface and the Web browser. For example, we would sometimes launch an application accidentally when scrolling through a menu, and it can be difficult to tap on a link on a crowded Web page. The lack of Wi-Fi is also disappointing on such a full-featured phone. We also had problems with the monthly cost of Visual Voice Mail and corporate e-mail support, but that's more to do with the Verizon service than the phone.

Overall, we really like the LG enV Touch. It has a great design and excellent features, making it one of the top messaging phones in Verizon's stable. It's available for $149.99 after a $70 rebate and a two-year service agreement.

Read our full review of the LG enV Touch.

[Someone-else]

It looks good, bu I still can't get why 2 displays if you can't use both at once, it's just waste of space. LG should make it a slider phone, instead.

[Jon-R]

The benifit is that you can use it like a Touch screen phone (Like the Dare or Versa) or like the othe enVs. Some things don't work right on a touch screen, and texting is much faster with a physical keyboard.

[mikey533]

I thought that at first, but after using it, I love the two screens. I decided on this vice waiting for the new Strom, because I thought the wife would like the real keyboard vice a touchscreen keyboard. I was right about that, but when it is time to type a text, I find that I don't even waste my time with the touchscreen..... it is so easy to flip it open and type, why bother!!

[kyler138]

I test drove the EnV touch based on the 300+ mostly glowing reviews on Verizon's website. Frustrating is the best word to describe using this phone. The displays are brilliant and larger than other LG phones and the keyboard is nice, but the touch screen isn't much improved over previous generation LG touchscreens IMO. I suppose this phone is fine for texting or emailing, but the front touchscreen is really only useful for dialing or navigating phone menus. A good value at $50 with new every 2, but you get what you pay for.

[verizonphones]

good

[verizonphones]

LG env touch free apps/software download: http://www.verizon-phones.org/verizon-lg-env3-and-env-touch-software-updater-apps-download.html
Lg env touch manual download:
http://www.verizon-phones.org/verizon-lg-env-touch-user-manual-download-2.html

[Maloso13]

This phone is not that great. Ihave had it for three days and I am about to send it back. My Moto Q was much better. There is no room for any apps. You can not transfer anything besides MP3 music. This is a kids phone shined up to sell at adult price.

[carm01]

I think that it is important to point out is that ALL of the new LG VZW phones have a major flaw. You can't add words to the T9 dictionary permanently. LG has refused comment on this issue on their own forums. In addition this ' bug ' was introduced in 2008 for the chocolate 2 v4 firmware. VZW made LG aware of this in December 2008, and a fix came out that was never released to the public.

LG has had this great feature on their phones for years and the public enjoyed it, and then they come around and CRIPPLE it, and refusing comment on it.

Everyone should research these phones ( Howard Forums ) before getting anyone of these phones since there are a lot of issues ( took mine back )

[Punxnv]

I must say I just bought this phone and I personally love it, very responsive and sleek, only wish battery would last a little longer and speaker would play a little louder when closed.

[kingrah1]

The "facial makeover" function crashes my phone :(

[gadflygeo]

Yesterday I returned my second LG enV Touch to the Verizon store. I had the first one for about fifteen days and after struggling with the Voice Command feature the whole time I convinced Verizon to exchange the phone for another LG enV Touch. I had the same problems with the second phonewhich I tried to use for about a week. I tested both phones with four different bluetooth devices (1) The New Jawbone (2) a Jawbone Prime (3) a Garmin Nuvii and a Jawbone Prime wich Verizon gave me as an exchange to see if perhaps the Jawbone they sell is specially designed to work better with Veizon offered phone models. I also tried to use the Voice Command feature in hand-held mode and in speaker mode. Voice Command just doesn't work. I spent hours in the Verizon retail store, hours on the phone with Verizon technical support and nobody could solve the Voice command problems. It doesn't recognize contact names, it frequently finds contacts whose name doen't sound remotely like the one you in-put, it goes into command prompt loops, it doesn't recognize the "exit" command, so you have to manually hang-up or use the back key to get out of the prompt loop. I liked several of the features the phone claims to have, but I spent so much time struggling with Voice Command I never got a chance to use any of the other features.

[thomasde]

I have had the enV touch for about 2 and a half weeks and have had absolutely no problems. Once you calibrate the touch screen to your touch and learn how to use you fingers correctly on the touch screen (like using the tips of your fingers instead of your whole finger) it is very easy. Theres only one issue which isn't really that big. My battery lasts about a day and some change on heavy use and on standby about 2 or 3 days. But i just bought an extended battery pack for 40 $ and the damn thing lasts like a week for me with descent to heavy use.
ps: And by the way a lot of people who have it shipped tend to get damaged phones because of the shipping your best bet is to get it at the verizon store brand new. Also most of the people who comment give you a jaded opinion on the phone. There are so many more people that have this phone and have absolutely no problems at all ( my brother also has this phone and has no problems) . I would recommend this phone to any big texter.

[Lumispawn]

I just ordered the enV touch and should get it in thursday. I am upgrading from a xv6800 phone which is by far the worst phone i've ever had. I mainly use my phone for mobile tethering and the occasional picture. I also went ahead and ordered the extended life battery after seeing the one common complaint about the phone being it's battery life. Which isn't a shock considering all the features the phone has with a low capacity (950 mAh) battery. Does anyone have any opinions on how this phone will compare to my old XV6800?

[attcellphones]

Hi, folk. I gues you may need them:
Verizon Lg Env Touch Driver Download:
http://www.verizon-phones.org/verizon-lg-env-touch-usb-driver-download.html
Verizon lg Env touch free softwarer-Outlook Sync Software update download :
http://www.verizon-phones.org/verizon-lg-env3-and-env-touch-outlook-sync-software-update-download.html
Verizon Lg Env Touch Manual Download:
http://www.verizon-phones.org/verizon-lg-env-touch-user-manual-download-2.html

[nikontom1]

This is a great phone. It takes a short while to learn the features and interface; however, the touch exterior screen with vibrating feedback, coupled with the keyboard inside is a joy to work with. The controls are well placed and convenient. It took me one evening to become comfortable with the controls and features. BitPim now has this phone on its list and you can interface your PC using the free program. The program will allow you to add ringtones from the net. Adding a microSD card (up to 16gb) will allow you to add lots of MP3 files. The sound using decent earbuds is as good as my 3g iPod. This phone will not disappoint.

[cellman48]

way overrated phone still doesnt have espn mvp and several more application i like