LG Chocolate 3 Cell Phone Review - Value & Comparisons

Value (6.50)
The Chocolate 3 costs $99.99 after a $50 discount when purchased online or $129.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate when purchased at a store, and requires a 2-year contract.  The previous generation Chocolate was priced similarly and did not include the same amount of internal storage, a USB cable in the box, or the Verizon Navigator software, though it did have an arguably more interesting and unique form factor. The in-store price of the Chocolate 3 puts it just $70 shy of the iPhone 3G, which is a more flexible multi-media phone.  Verizon's own LG Dare is priced at $199 and has a larger screen for better video viewing and a much better camera. We do expect the price of the Chocolate 3 to go down - this sort of pricing re-adjustment is typical a few months after the release of a new phone, so it may be worth it to wait if a lower price point is more palatable to you.

Comparisons

LG Chocolate VX8550 - At the time of this review, the Chocolate 2 can still be purchased from Verizon.  If you're deciding between these two phones, the Chocolate 3 does offer some additional features and improvements, like GPS, Bluetooth 2.1, an included USB cable, and it performs better in imaging and handling multimedia. Unless you really like the slider form factor of the previous Chocolate, the Chocolate 3 will be a better choice.

Apple iPhone 3G - The iPhone is one of the most talked-about cell phones in recent history and is often called a "game-changer" in the cell phone industry because of its ease of use and innovative user interface. But, it's not for everyone and misses some key features many cell phone users are used to, such as video recording and MMS capability.  Compared to the Chocolate 3, its GSM radio makes it more flexible for international travelers, it offers contact and calendar syncing out of the box through iTunes on a PC or Mac, great email capabilities, and it can now load 3rd party applications that extend its functionality a great deal.  Unless you are tied to Verizon or have concerns about AT&T's coverage in your area, the iPhone could be a viable alternative for you at its $199 price point.

Sony Ericsson z750a - The z750a is an entry-level flip phone that operates on AT&T's 3G network.  It doesn't offer nearly as much internal storage as the Chocolate 3 and isn't really meant to be a music-centric phone and replace your dedicated digital music player, but it does operate on GSM networks, offering more flexibility for those who travel outside of the U.S. and it's now being offered for free with AT&T after a mail-in rebate when purchased online.  Free is hard to beat for a phone that is only slightly less capable than the Chocolate 3.

LG enV2 -  Also offered through Verizon, the enV2 has some things in common with the Chocolate 3, including the same CDMA network with EVDO, and the not-free Verizon Navigator software.  The major feature the enV2 adds is a QWERTY keyboard, which may be a boon for frequent texters out there in comparison to the Chocolate 3. Its imaging capabilities are not as good as the Chocolate 3's and it's internal storage is minimal. At the time of this review, it's being sold for less than the Chocolate 3 at $79.99 online and could be a compelling alternative on Verizon's network.

Samsung M520 - The M520 is offered through Sprint, which also operates their network on the CDMA standard in the U.S. and has a great price of $49.99 with a 2-year contract. It doesn't take pictures as well as the Chocolate 3 nor have as much internal memory, but it also offers GPS capability and similar connectivity options.  The Samsung M520 could be a budget-minded alternative to the Chocolate 3.