LG Motion, Too good to be true? What's the catch?

What I've read here is that Metro used it to bump up their 4G plan-ers by subsidizing the phone. So Metro is "picking up" part of the tab for you.

I AM missing the bigger screen of my DX but this will do til the MoBigga Motion arrives for me to Jump All Over. [1]

My only major gripe so far is I REALLY don't like the power button Only awaken, I don't want to root and I don't want the app to change it that has the proximity sensor sucking juice 24/7.

[1] I'll jump on that new MoBigga Motion faster than Demi Moore on a high school senior.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Cricket uses the same frequencies as Metro so our phones are the same. This is Cricket's Motion here LG Optimus Regard
If you enter a zip code for say 85001 it will show you the price and its $249.99 showing that Metro subsidizes the Motion, more likely then not to get more customers to sign up for 4G LTE plans.
http://www.mycricket.com/cell-phones/details/lg-optimus-regard-lw770

Not only that, but when you break it down, all the new phones that command big dollar amounts, have the big for of features:

1.) Quad-core processor
2.) Big ass screen
3.) HD display
4.) Jellybean

The motion has none of these, but does pack a decent size bang for your buck. In another six months this phone will be obsolete ;-)

What i can't understand is that Metro has another lg phone that is 149 dollars that still runs gingerbread.. Why in the World....

SwoRNLeaDejZ said:

Not only that, but when you break it down, all the new phones that command big dollar amounts, have the big for of features:

1.) Quad-core processor
2.) Big ass screen
3.) HD display
4.) Jellybean

The motion has none of these, but does pack a decent size bang for your buck. In another six months this phone will be obsolete ;-)

What i can't understand is that Metro has another lg phone that is 149 dollars that still runs gingerbread.. Why in the World....

Click to expand...

Dont forget internal memory is huge too!

Diego1593 said:

Dont forget internal memory is huge too!

Click to expand...

Agreed, motion does have plenty of expandable memory though

the catch is a really tightly locked down boot loader. other than that, the motion is an almost angelic piece of hardware.

The only down-side to the LG motion is that the screen resolution is not very good. The DPI (dots per inch) is only 165 and most phones now are around 220. The low resolution contributes to the speed of the phone as it offers less for the CPU to process. So, depending on your outlook it can be a drawback or a benefit.

I love my LG Motion 4G. It is a great phone. A big upgrade from my Optimus V, and exceeded my expectations by a wide margin on a great many things. However, this phone has some annoyances, for sure:

1) Extended batteries do not display the correct amount of available power remaining:
This is a well documented issue. The phone will discharge at the same rate, no matter how big the battery. However, if you turn your phone back on, the battery will still show that it actually has charge left (around 38% in my case). I have never had a phone that didn't accurately show battery life, with no way to fix it.
2) No Jelly Bean:
Call me an extreme phone nerd if you like, but I like my OS to be as up to date as possible. The Motion is still on 4.0.4, which is nothing to sneeze at, but I would be lying if I said I didn't want the latest and greatest...
3) Camera quality is poor:
Forget about megapixels. The actual photo quality on this phone is poor indoors. Flash or not.
4) Lacks a notification blinking light:
I don't know why this was not included. It is a simple LED that costs almost nothing that would add so much functionality (and battery life) to this phone. I would even be happy if the flash would blink or the bottom buttons would blink. But they don't
5) Can't move programs to SD:
Not the biggest deal in the world, due to the 5 gigs of on-board storage, but it would make me much happier if I at least had the OPTION to move my programs to my massive SDXC card.
6) No dedicated instant camera button:
Phone cameras are important to me, as the best camera is the one you have on you at the right moment. I always have my phone on me. However, the camera quality not withstanding, there is no dedicated quick-picture taking/video button.
7) Doesn't have a 'Light Sensor':
While there is a proximity sensor to turn off the screen when it is near your face, it does not have any sort of auto-dimming feature.
8) Low screen resolution:
As previous posters mentioned, the PPI on this phone is pretty horrendous for a 3.5" phone. It isn't much of an improvement over my old Optimus V, and to be honest, in some cases, the 2 year old Optimus V's screen looks better. But, as a consolation prize, your performance and battery life is much improved because of this.
9) Speaker volume is far too low:
The speaker for GPS, music and video is just barely loud enough to be useful in my loud old car. You are best off using some kind of FM transmitter or AUX tuner to use this with GPS and/or streaming audio like Pandora in the car.
10) No quad core chip:
11) Only 1 gig of RAM:
12) Screen could be bigger:
13) The phone is not very popular:
Therefore it has little support from the online community compared to my Optimus V, few good case options, and no extended case options to speak of. Also no docking stations are available.
14) No FM transmitter:
15) No NFC:
16) No HDMI:
However, it does have DNLA. So I just have to get a TV that supports this in the future.
17) No option for alternate Visual Voicemal services like Google Voice or YouMail:
Still better than any other prepaid option which doesn't even have a stock Visual Voicemail feature, and the reason I switched from Virgin Mobile to metroPCS.


I know this is a big laundry list of quirks, but this phone has a much much much longer list of things I absolutely love about it. At this price of $150, this phone is a true value and a joy. I got it for $125 after rebate on a family plan, so I am even happier...

Wow, for someone who loves his motion, you sure have thought long and hard about how much it sucks ;-)

I would argue that the camera, although not the greatest, is definitely better than some of the other cellphone cameras i have had in the past.. Also, they are actually still making cellphone cameras that do not have a flash, and the motion does.

SwoRNLeaDejZ said:

Wow, for someone who loves his motion, you sure have thought long and hard about how much it sucks ;-)

I would argue that the camera, although not the greatest, is definitely better than some of the other cellphone cameras i have had in the past.. Also, they are actually still making cellphone cameras that do not have a flash, and the motion does.

Click to expand...

To be honest, most of those are just that: Quirks. Minor annoyances.

The list of positives for this phone would take me 3 times the page-space, and more time than I have to devote to the subject right now. (Maybe I will write my LG Motion 4G love soliloquy later tonight).

jacobdrj said:

5) Can't move programs to SD:[/B]Due to the 5 gigs of on-board storage, but it would make me much happier if I at least had the OPTION to move my programs to my massive SDXC card.
6) No dedicated instant camera button:
Phone cameras are important to me, as the best camera is the one you have on you at the right moment. I always have my phone on me. However, the camera quality not withstanding, there is no dedicated quick-picture taking/video button.
10) No quad core chip:
11) Only 1 gig of RAM:
12) Screen could be bigger:
13) The phone is not very popular:
Therefore it has little support from the online community compared to my Optimus V, few good case options, and no extended case options to speak of. Also no docking stations are available.
15) No NFC:
16) No HDMI:[/B]
However, it does have DNLA. So I just have to get a TV that supports this in the future.

Click to expand...

5. There are 2 solutions to that problem
6. Use the volume down button
10.11.15. Those aren't common on a budget phone for $150 the specs we have right now aren't even common on a $150 phone
16. There's some cable for that I think it's, MHL to HDMI
13. Probably the best selling phone on metro right now

jacobdrj said:

To be honest, most of those are just that: Quirks. Minor annoyances.

The list of positives for this phone would take me 3 times the page-space, and more time than I have to devote to the subject right now. (Maybe I will write my LG Motion 4G love soliloquy later tonight).

Click to expand...

LOL, ok sounds good ;-)

Gman9831 said:

5. There are 2 solutions to that problem
6. Use the volume down button
10.11.15. Those aren't common on a budget phone for $150 the specs we have right now aren't even common on a $150 phone
16. There's some cable for that I think it's, MHL to HDMI
13. Probably the best selling phone on metro right now

Click to expand...

5) I don't consider it a problem. I haven't run out of space yet, with hundreds of apps. But at the same time, from the research I have done, even rooting the phone will not allow apps to be moved.

6) Volume down button does not take me to the Camera from locked screen. The rocker up or down will take a picture once I am in Camera mode. I simply put a camera icon on my lock screen. Not ideal, but better than my Optimus V, and better than most Android phones I have seen anyways. Again, more of a quirk or a wishlist item than a 'problem'.

10.11.15) Duh. Again, doesn't affect performance. This phone is MORE than fast enough with the stats it has. More of a wishlist than complaints. Wouldn't it be cool if, ya know, this thing had a dual quad core yadda yadda yadda...

16) I can use USB to my computer with LG's On Screen Phone program. Very cool. Ultimately, I think DLNA will be the solution. Wireless is always better when it works. Fewer wires is better in the long run.

13) It sucks when a best selling phone isn't popular enough to get lots of accessories. It is a huge advantage of the uber-selling phones like the iPhone and GS3 that they get these cool accessories. And to be honest, even those phones don't have every accessory in the world when you start adding things like enhanced battery packs... Maybe, just maybe, with T-Mobile purchasing MetroPCS, we will get a bit more support, but I won't count on it...

The OP wanted a list of 'catches' on a $150 dollar phone that looked too good to be true. Well, the phone is too good, and it is true. But it doesn't mean the thing is perfect.

Besides, if you compare this phone to a contract plan, who HEAVILY subsidizes the phone with your MUCH HIGHER data plan pricing, the Motion deceptively looks like an inferior value, when in fact, the amortization of this phone quickly pays itself back with the less expensive plans...

camera quality is not poor, have you seen the pics that you send to someone else? our photos are HD, but due to the poor quality of the screen it looks like crud and a half.

jacobdrj said:

5) I don't consider it a problem. I haven't run out of space yet, with hundreds of apps. But at the same time, from the research I have done, even rooting the phone will not allow apps to be moved.

13) It sucks when a best selling phone isn't popular enough to get lots of accessories. It is a huge advantage of the uber-selling phones like the iPhone and GS3 that they get these cool accessories. And to be honest, even those phones don't have every accessory in the world when you start adding things like enhanced battery packs... Maybe, just maybe, with T-Mobile purchasing MetroPCS, we will get a bit more support, but I won't count on it...

Besides, if you compare this phone to a contract plan, who HEAVILY subsidizes the phone with your MUCH HIGHER data plan pricing, the Motion deceptively looks like an inferior value, when in fact, the amortization of this phone quickly pays itself back with the less expensive plans...

Click to expand...

http://androidforums.com/motion-4g-...r-real-sdcard-mnt-sdcard-v2-lg-motion-4g.html
http://androidforums.com/lg-motion-4g/624910-found-how-move-apps-sd-card.html

All I have to say is look harder I've seen some on eBay & some other sites

I consider this phone to be heavily subsidized. Another carrier has the same phone going for $250 which is still very lightly subsidized. But metros not subsidizing it so a higher priced plan looks nicer they subsidize it because they're wanting to move people onto 4G

This phone is capable of doing anything that a high end phone can do right now. The only thing that this phone is missing that might be of importance is a gyroscope and a larger screen.

Gman9831, we are not disagreeing with each-other at all. The phone is obviously subsidized. However, the average Joe who is used to subsidized phone plans, where a GS3 can go for $50 may not realize that. Once someone sits down for a few minutes to do the math, it is obvious that this phone is actually subsidized versus post-paid plans that just keep sucking extra fees even after the phone (or it's unlocked equivalent price) is completely paid off.

As far as moving data to the SD card, as I have not rooted my LG Motion 4G, and the last time I looked into it was months ago, before a root was found for the phone, I didn't realize that there had been a solution for moving programs to the SD. Not nearly as eloquent of a solution as Link2SD was for my Optimus V, but honestly, with 5 gigs of space, I don't need to move the apps in the 1st place. Coming from a phone with 178 megs of flash, 5 gigs is a whole lot of breathing room.

I have looked plenty for accessories for the Motion. I have some of them. But they are not in the same league, quality or variety as other phones flagship phones (and make no mistake, until the GS3 was released for MetroPCS, the LG Motion 4G was by far MetroPCS' best 'flagship' phone), and took months to be released after the phone was already on the market, unlike some other popular phones. I had to wait a couple months to finally get my extended battery, but I got it eventually. Trusty Hong Kong battery producers wouldn't turn down the opportunity for some profit

Ray305 said:

This phone is capable of doing anything that a high end phone can do right now. The only thing that this phone is missing that might be of importance is a gyroscope and a larger screen.

Click to expand...

What phones have true gyroscopes? Practically speaking, isn't a gyroscope just a fancy word for motion sensor with respect to portable devices?

jacobdrj said:

As far as moving data to the SD card, as I have not rooted my LG Motion 4G, and the last time I looked into it was months ago, before a root was found for the phone, I didn't realize that there had been a solution for moving programs to the SD. Not nearly as eloquent of a solution as Link2SD was for my Optimus V, but honestly, with 5 gigs of space, I don't need to move the apps in the 1st place. Coming from a phone with 178 megs of flash, 5 gigs is a whole lot of breathing room.

Click to expand...

It's actually pretty easy

There is just an issue with the external sd being set up so that it isn't "physical memory" or something like that, it should be fixable. There was another phone that had the same issue, nit sure which, and it got fixed by the good 'ole devs

SwoRNLeaDejZ said:

There is just an issue with the external sd being set up so that it isn't "physical memory" or something like that, it should be fixable. There was another phone that had the same issue, nit sure which, and it got fixed by the good 'ole devs

Click to expand...

That's not it. On ICS & later any phone with a good amount of internal memory has the move to sd option disable since the internal memory is purposely mounted in the sd partition

SwoRNLeaDejZ said:

In another six months this phone will be obsolete ;-).

Click to expand...

That's how all electronic items are though - Couple months go by and there's a bigger, badder kid on the block.

And the facts above are true :l, especially about the resolution; after upgrading from the LG Optimus M+, I feel like I've downgraded instead because It's a smaller phone but even so packs a bigger punch.

All in all; great phone for the price compared to MetroPCS's other phones, no catch to it really.

Gman9831 said:

5. There are 2 solutions to that problem
6. Use the volume down button
10.11.15. Those aren't common on a budget phone for $150 the specs we have right now aren't even common on a $150 phone
16. There's some cable for that I think it's, MHL to HDMI
13. Probably the best selling phone on metro right now

Click to expand...

You can put the Camera Icon on your Lock Screen so you have instant access to your Camera. I have the Camcorder on my Lock Screen along with Phone, Chrome and Hotmail, all of which I can access with a quick finger swipe.

Another good thing about having the Camcorder Icon on my Lock Screen is that if I need an instant source of light, like unlocking my car door in the dark or my front door at home and the porch light isn't on, I can hit the Camcorder Icon and the Flash is on by default, so I have an instant LED mini flashlight to guide me thru the dark.

I stopped by a Metro Store the other day as I am acquainted with the guy that works there and he said that the LG Motion is their best-selling phone.

Too bad they don't carry the LG Intuition, which has similar specs but a 5" screen and 8MP rear camera and costs $149.00 from Wirefly dot com.

I wonder if a Metro PCS SIM would work with the LG Intuition?

I would sell my barely used LG Motion and my iPhone 3G that I no longer use and buy the LG Intuition if it would work with Metro PCS

Edit: It appears the LG Intuition is only available via Verizon and other contract carriers and requires a two-year commitment.

It's a nice phone though. The size is between a phone and a tablet.

I hope Metro starts offering these in the future. If so, I wonder what the price point would be?

That wouldn't work anyways the only other phone you can bring to metro with everything working 100%, 3G or 4G if available is Cricket. On Verizon though the Galaxy Note 10.1 will be able to be flashed to metro with 4G working & most phones from verizon after that may be able to, since they're gonna start using the same spectrum band for lte as us.