LG Optimus GJ review: Wild child

Full range of connectivity

The LG Optimus GJ comes with a wide range of connectivity options. It has quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE for global roaming and dual-band 3G with HSPA.

Local connectivity is plenty fast with dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n. The Wi-Fi capabilities also include Miracast wireless display, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct and Hotspot.

SmartShare is an app that lets you control a DLNA network - you can play media from other devices (e.g. NAS) on your phone or play something from the phone onto another device (e.g. a DLNA-enabled TV).

Wi-Fi Direct is a technology, which lets devices connect to each other without the need for a Wi-Fi hotspot. The beauty of it is that only one device has to be Wi-Fi Direct-ready for the magic to happen.

Using this technology up to eight devices can share files in a more advanced, fast and secure way, paving the road to the eventual demise of Bluetooth.

There's also Bluetooth 4.0 for connecting accessories.

The MHL-enabled USB port on the LG Optimus GJ can be used as a wired TV out. You'll need a MHL-to-HDMI dongle (sold separately). The Dual Screen Dual Play feature lets the TV screen and GJ screen display different things, so you can check Facebook while streaming a movie to the TV or hook up a projector to the MHL port to show presentation slides while reading your notes on the smartphone.

The USB port has yet another feature - it enables USB On-The-Go. You'll need an adapter for that too (again, there isn't one in the box).

The last connectivity option worth noting is the 3.5mm audio jack on top of the Optimus GJ.

Excellent web browser

The LG Optimus GJ features the standard Android browser (with some LG modifications on top), but also comes with Chrome preinstalled so you are given a choice right from the start.

The standard browser offers the typical minimalist interface, with the address bar (used both for typing web addresses and initiating web searches) on top and a control bar at the bottom (with options hidden by default).

The default web browser

Scrolling down moves the address bar out of view. The bottom control bar houses the back and forward keys, homepage shortcut as well as new window and bookmarks keys. You can hide that bar by dragging it down.

One change in the GJ browser is the button just to the left of the address bar - it puts the browser into QSlide mode, turning it into a floating mini app. You can't switch between tabs in this mode, but the control bar at the bottom is still available.

Browser in QSlide mode

The web browser comes with Incognito mode, which enables you to surf the web without the browser keeping track of your history or storing cookies. A more minimalist UI is available from the Labs entry of your settings page. It hides most of the browser's user interface and gives you a quick five-button panel when you slide your finger inwards from the side of the screen.

Incognito mode • Quick controls

The browser can save pages for offline reading: they go in the Saved section of your bookmarks, and can be accessed even when you're no longer connected to the internet. The bookmark list shows a thumbnail of the bookmarked page and you also get a history section in addition to the Saved pages list.

Find on page, Always request desktop site and Share page options are available from the advanced menu. If you tap and hold on some text you get the usual markers and select/copy/find/web search/share options.