Normally, smartphone sequels are a yearly affair. However, 2011’s LG P505, known as the Phoenix, had to wait just over five years for its proper sequel, the LG Phoenix 2.
Starting on the outside, the Phoenix 2 packs a 5-inch, 1,280 x 720 resolution display, with a 5-megapixel camera sitting right above it. Meanwhile, an 8MP camera sits around back. Specifically referring to the panel, LG ported over its Zero Gap Technology — fancy lingo for eliminating the space between the glass and the actual display — from its higher-tier smartphones. It’s not exactly new technology, seeing how it’s been in use in numerous handsets since 2012, but it’s encouraging to see technology typically reserved for flagship devices make its way to the lower tier.
Taking a peek under the hood only affirms the Phoenix 2’s budget status, with the handset powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 210 processor, backed up by 1.5GB of RAM. 16GB of native storage is offered, though you can add up to an additional 32GB through the MicroSD card slot. Android 6.0 Marshmallow is the star of the show here, with the 2,125mAh battery, hopefully proving sufficient to keep the Phoenix 2 ticking throughout the day. Unfortunately, as typical with most carrier smartphones, the Phoenix 2 will come with some bloatware, including Amazon Kindle, the Amazon shopping app, and Uber, to name a few.
Finally, the handset comes equipped with your normal array of sensors and connectivity options, including Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n.
Overall, the Phoenix 2 isn’t aimed at the power user who expects the world out of their smartphones, but those who don’t use their smartphones as intensively or those looking for a backup phone. Thankfully, the Phoenix 2’s $100 price tag matches its relatively lowly internals. If you’re interested in the Phoenix 2, it’s currently available for purchase as part of AT&T’s prepaid GoPhone lineup.
