The LG LX 290 for Sprint is a low-cost slider cell phone with Bluetooth, GPS, a long battery life and four shortcut keys for quick access to texting, email, a personal calendar and alarm.

The cell phone, which was made available by Sprint beginning on July 12, 2009, also features a 1.3-megapixel camera.

While pitched as compact and sleek, you’d be remiss to find elements of the LG LX 290 that’ll stand out to you as the phone you need.

Rather, this is a handset that for you might just get by just fine.

Price

One perk of the LG LX 290 is its price.

If you’re a new Sprint user or if you’re eligible for a two-year upgrade (i.e. you haven’t upgraded your phone in two years), the LG LX 290 can cost as low as $29.99 with a two-year contract.

That price, though, is after a $50 mail-in rebate. Without satisfying the requirements above, you’d be looking at another $150 tacked onto the $29.99 price after the $50 mail-in rebate. The phone retails for $229.99.

Feature List

1.3-megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom

Bluetooth for short-range wireless communications (i.e. for a wireless headset)

Sprint mobile email

Picture sharing

Instant messaging

Web browsing capable

Display is 1.33 inches by 1.77 inches

Clear, QVGA high-contrast display (240x320 pixels and 262,000 colors)

Slide-out keypad with larger buttons

Four shortcut keys (texting, email, personal calendar and alarm)

Text messaging and picture messaging

GPS (audible and visual turn-by-turn driving directions and location mapping)

Voice-activated dialing

TTY compatible for the deaf and hard of hearing

Hearing aid compatible

2.5-millimeter headset jack

Built-in productivity tools (planner and scheduler, memo pad, world clock, alarm clock, calculator and more)

Battery

One thing LG has done exceptionally right with the LG LX 290 for Sprint is enabled the handset to sport a long-lasting battery.
While many cell phones today promise around 4 hours of continuous talk time, the LG LX 290 exceeds the typical with a rated 6 hours of continuous talk time.

Size, Weight

The phone is 4.1 inches by 1.9 inches by 0.6 of an inch and weighs in at a relatively light 3.61 ounces. These qualities do not make our top slim list or our top light list for weight.

Differentiation in the Marketplace

While the LG LX 290 lacks clear differentiation that would make the handset a must-buy slider, its overall package as a relatively feature-standard cell phone at a low price could prove attractive for everyday users.