LG third-generation L series unlocked

LG L40 is a super-basic smart phone, but could impress with Android KitKat

The latest version of Android -- version 4.4 KitKat -- promised to run smoothly on mobiles with only a meagre amount of memory, in theory bringing a cutting-edge edition of Google's mobile operating system to the masses. Now smart phones are arriving that will put those claims to the test, and among them is LG's L40, visible on the far-right in the image above.

The L40 is the most basic of LG's third-generation L Series phones -- a series that offers more modest hardware than the high-flying G Series. Specifically, the L40 gets you a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 512GB of RAM, plus a 3-megapixel camera on the back.

Don't expect to take any prize-winning snaps with a camera of that meagre resolution, and the display isn't much to write home about either, measuring 3.5 inches on the diagonal (the size of the iPhone's screen prior to 2012's iPhone 5), and offering up a measly 480x320 pixel resolution.

While the L40 is almost guaranteed to be very cheap, that low-resolution display is worrying. These days a smart phone with a stunning display can be had for $349 (enter the gorgeousNexus 5), so the L40 will need to prove that it's good value with an extremely low price tag.

Running the latest version of Android without any slowdown or stuttering would also impress us, but we won't know exactly how smooth it is until we go hands-on, at Mobile World Congress next week. Stay tuned then for photos, video and hands-on video, and let me know what you think about the L40 in the comments below.

LG L70 has modest hardware, cutting-edge Android

Ahead of Mobile World Congress, LG is announcing some of the new mobiles that we'll get to grips with at the world's largest mobile-centric trade show, when it all kicks off at the start of next week. One such device is the new LG L70 -- a mid-range mobile with cutting-edge software. Read on for all the details.

The L70 (the middle-sized phone in the picture above) won't be blowing our minds when it comes to hardware. It's powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and features a 4.5-inch display with an ordinary 800x400 pixel resolution. You get 1GB of RAM and -- depending on where you are in the world, either an 8 or 5-megapixel rear-facing camera.

The L70 has two potentially redeeming features, however. The first is price -- with unspectacular hardware, we're not expecting the L70 will set you back much in terms of cash. Secondly, it runs Android 4.4 KitKat, which is the very latest version of Google's mobile operating system.

We're yet to go hands-on with the L70, so we're not sure yet how well it will handle this cutting-edge software, but we've reason to be optimistic. KitKat was designed to work on mobiles with more modest memory, so it should (in theory at least) run smoothly on LG's newest toy.

Whether or not the L70 feels slick and responsive to use will tell us a lot about whether Google's low-memory ploy has worked. Stay tuned for more info on the L70, including photos, video and hands-on impressions, and in the meantime let us know what you think. As always, the comments is the place to have your say.

LG L90 packs quad-core and Android KitKat

LG's phone-crafting factories have cranked out yet another smart phone -- this one's a mid-range, mid-size mobile running the latest version of Android.

The L90 is the fanciest of LG's third-generation L Series mobiles, and can be seen on the far-left in the image above. L Series phones aren't quite as bleeding-edge as the high-end G Series mobiles, but should have a more reasonable price tag to match.

The L90 doesn't skimp on power, with a 1.2GHz quad-core chip humming away under the bonnet. As the only of LG's new L Series mobiles to feature a four-core processor, this should make the L90 feel speedy to use, and capable of the odd graphically-intensive game. Fingers crossed.

The display measures 4.7 inches on the diagonal, and sports a reasonable 960x540 pixel resolution. If you're not a fan of palm-filling 5-inch-plus mobiles, this more modestly-sized phone could appeal.

LG has packed in 1GB of RAM, as well as an 8-megapixel rear camera. A camera's megapixel-count is rarely an indicator of photo quality though, so stay tuned until we can give the L90's snapper the full review treatment.

Android 4.4 KitKat

Often mid-range phones don't get treated to the latest version of Android, so we're happy to see the L90 is running Android 4.4 KiKat right from the outset. KitKat is the most advanced edition of Google's operating system, and is designed to run well on phones with less memory, so it should be well placed to run smoothly on the L90.

We'll be getting our mitts on the L90 next week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, so stay tuned for more photos, video and hands-on impressions. Are you tempted? Let me know in the comments below.