LG was one of the first companies to announce that they will produce a smartphone with a dual core processor, and the first one to actually demonstrate a working prototype ahead of everyone. At CES 2011 they already had a fully working phone ready to go into mass production – the Optimus 2X.

Tegra 2 delivers twice the performance of any previous platforms

Previously named LG Star, the Optimus 2X is powered by the Tegra 2 platform, which as you may already know is a dual core SoC from NVidia that packs enough processing power to run any apps that the users need. Not only does it have two processor cores running at 1 GHz, but it also features the new GeForce mobile graphics solution that is faster than the PowerVR SGX540 by at least 50% and a dedicated hardware encoder, which makes it possible to film 1080p videos without taxing the processor (the Optimus 2X is the first and only device to actually use the feature).

Slim design, a beautiful 4 inch display and a ton of features

The Optimus 2X is not only powerful, but it also looks great, with its rounded edges and 10.9 mm thickness. It is built of pretty high quality materials – the front is covered by a protective tempered glass, the back has a sturdy plastic cover, while the sides are surrounded by a metallic frame, like the iPhone 4.

The 4 inch screen deserves a separate mention, as well. It is an LCD unit with a resolution of 800×480 pixels, displaying 16 million colors at a very nice contrast and brightness ratios. Users will certainly have no problem discerning the text or images on it and it’s easy to type on the virtual keyboard at this size.

Feature-wise, the Optimus 2X certainly isn’t lacking: it’s got almost anything you can think of. Support for Wifi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, HSDPA and HSUPA speeds of up to 21 Mbps and 5.76 Mbps, respectively, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity and other sensors – you name it, the 2X has got it all covered.
1080p video recording and Android 2.3 complete the package

On the back you’ll find the 8 megapixels camera, which, aside from taking nice pictures, can shoot Full HD 1080p video clips for as long as your memory can hold – a first on smartphones. With this device, you can definitely leave your point-and-shoot or Flip camera at home without worrying that you might not catch a moment on tape. You also have a smaller 1.3 megapixels camera on the front, which is just enough for video calls or taking and sending quick photos/videos of yourself.

Sure enough, the Optimus 2X is powered by the Android operating system, and while it will come with the 2.2 version installed out of the box, an update to 2.3 will be available later, which will give the user better performance on the dual core processor, more features and a more polished interface (although LG has got that covered with their own skin and some unique features).

The LG Optimus 2X is definitely a phone worthy of attention. It’s powerful, it’s stylish and it has all the features you’ll ever need, so if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, you should really take a look at it before deciding what to get.