LG Optimus G Pro Just Got revealed at KSA

Today at an event in Dammam we got a chance to spend some hands on time with the new LG Optimus G Pro . We can say that the 5.5-inch, quad-core superphone feels just as quick, nimble, and powerful as the international model. Our experience makes us even more eager for the device's launch date of May 10. The handset will cost 751.418 with a two-year contract, but AT&T will begin taking preorders of the phone starting May 3.

Due to its name, however, this phone should be more closely associated with LG's flagship from last year, the Optimus G.

In addition, the Pro is one of the first phones to feature the 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, and it runs on Android Jelly Bean.

DesignThe handset flaunts a glossy construction with fishnet-like design on the battery door. On the left, you have a flush volume rocker that's situated quite low on the edge -- almost right in the middle of the body -- and the QuickMemo shortcut key that sits right above it. Up top are a 3.5mm headphone jack, while on the right is a sleep/power button. At the very bottom is a Micro-USB port for charging.We also like the faux metallic stripe that rings the Optimus G Pro. And though the handset is large, its extreme thinnest really helps the device avoid feeling unwieldy.

Of course, what's most noticeable about the G Pro is that 5.5-inch full-HD IPS screen. It has a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution and 400ppi. It sports a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the display edges contour down toward the bezel. Indeed when we viewed the screen in person we definitely found it to be bright, colorful, and very big. It's an eye-catching number for sure.

Above the display is a 2-megapixel camera and below it are two hot keys that light up when in use (back and menu), and a physical home button. This home key is a flush, narrow oval that can also light up.

Software features and UI

The back of the device houses a 13-megapixel camera with flash. A small strip of chrome encircles the lens, which bubbles up ever so slightly out of the back plate. To the left is a small audio speaker. Inside the device, you'll find a 3,140mAh battery and both the Micro-SIM and microSD card slots. The latter of which is expandable up to 64GB. Lastly, the handset is capable of wireless charging using the Qi wireless standard right out of the box.

The phone includes 2GB of RAM and runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. You'll find a bunch of standard Google apps like Messenger, Maps with Navigation, Local, Voice Search, Talk, Chrome, Gmail, Search, Plus, YouTube, and access to Play Movies and TV, Books, and Store. Because it's running Jelly Bean, you'll also get Google Now, which is search-based digital "assistant" tied into Google Search and Voice Search. To access Google Now, hold down the home key and press the Google logo that pops up at the bottom of the screen.Other task management apps include a native browser and e-mail client, music and video players, a calculator, a weather app, two video editors, a notebook, a memo pad, a to-do list, an alarm clock, a voice recorder, a dictionary, and a calendar. There's also the mobile office suite, Polaris Office 4, LG's app and game portal called SmartWorld, and SmartShare, which lets you share multimedia between DLNA-certified devices.

You'll also get the note-taking feature, QuickMemo, which lets you jot down notes and doodles either directly onto whatever your screen is displaying at the moment, or a memo pad. This is one productivity app for which a stylus would be especially handy.--> There's also QSlide, LG's multitasking window that was introduced with the last Optimus G. Back then, QSlide only let you overlay a video while you browsed through your phone and accessed other apps. Now however, you can view other apps, like the browser, simultaneously, and you can resize your QSlide window, too.

Additional features include Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and 32GB of on-board memory.

Camera and video

The 13-megapixel camera is capable of shooting 1080p HD video. In addition to taking photos while recording, it also has dual recording enabled. This lets you record with both cameras simultaneously. On the front is a 2.1-megapixel camera that can also recording in full HD.

There are also six shooting modes, including HDR, beauty shot, panorama, and VR panorama. The last one is similar to the Nexus 4's "Photo Sphere" feature, which patches together several pictures from one viewing angle. However, instead of rendering it into a 360-degree spherical image like the Nexus does, a VR panorama photo ends up resembling what a 360-degree photo would look like if someone laid it out flat. Meaning, it looks like several long panoramic photos stitched together to make one wavy, wonky super-panoramic photo.

It comes with loads of options, such as: four photo sizes (from 1,280x960 to 4,160x3,120 pixels); a 15x digital zoom; a flash; geotagging; a timer; four color effects; five white balances; five ISO options (from 100 to 800); six scene modes; three focuses; a brightness meter; a voice-activated shutter; and a time-machine option that enables the camera to take shots even before you press the shutter.

The front-facing 2.1-megapixel camera includes three photo sizes (from 1,280x960 to 1,920x1,088 pixels); two scene modes; and the same white balances and color effects. You'll also get geotagging, a timer, the option to save a picture's mirror image, voice shutter, and beauty shot.

Video recording options with the rear camera include five video sizes (from 176x144 to 1,920x1,080 pixels); antishaking; a brightness meter; the same white balances and color effects; and geotagging. There are four shooting modes, one of which is dual recording. This lets you record with both cameras simultaneously. The front-facing camera has all of the same video options except for the ability to record video at different exposure levels called WDR recording (think of it like HDR photos, but for video).

Outlook
In addition to the fact that the supersize smartphone market is already niche enough, the Optimus G Pro faces stiff competition against the reigning phablet king, the Galaxy Note II.

Based on our review of the global unit, the G Pro is, in and of itself, an excellent device. For now, however, it may be best to wait until fall to see what the Note III has in store. (From what we can assume, it'll include a lot of the features seen in the , but with additional S Pen-specific options.) Check back soon, as we plan to update this hands-on once we get our hands on the Optimus G Pro .