Initially available only via AT&T, the LG X
Venture - a rugged smartphone running Android Nougat - can now be bought
unlocked. The handset is offered by Amazon, comes with US warranty, and is
compatible with most relevant carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile,
and Sprint. The regular price of an unlocked LG X Venture is US$ 349.99, but
Amazon is selling it for US$ 297.05 (that's about US$ 30 less than the price AT&T
is asking for the device).
Sporting a 5.2-inch 1080p display, the LG X Venture
is built around a metal frame and is shock-resistant, in addition to being
IP68-certified for dust- and water-resistance (it can be submerged under water
up to 1.5 meters for half an hour). Other features include an octa-core
Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor, a 16 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing
camera, 2 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of expandable storage space. Moreover, there's a
large 4100 mAh battery (with quick charging) on board.
The X Venture has a fingerprint scanner on the
front, and a Quick button on the side. The Quick button can be pressed to open
Outdoor Essentials (an app featuring barometer, activity counter, compass,
exercise tracker, and weather reports), to toggle Glove Mode (allowing the
screen to recognize gloved fingers), or to open the phone's settings. You can
even customize the button to open other applications.
If you're the outdoorsy type, or you simply need a
tough and relatively affordable new smartphone, the LG X Venture may be for
you.
