We are starting to learn more and more about the upcoming LG Optimus G Pro 5.5-inch smartphone, including the fact it will be one of the first Snapdragon 600-based devices. We also now know that it is in fact coming to North America.

For those that don’t already know, the Snapdragon 600 one of the latest Qaulcomm processors out there. The 600 isn’t as beefy as the upcoming Snapdragon 800, but the 1.7GHz quad-core chip is certainly a bit ahead of the existing S4 Pro.

Other specs for the Pro include a 3000mAh battery, 2GB of RAM, a 13MP rear cam, microSDXC and LTE. There is also a front cam on the device for video conferencing and recording.

Outside of the improved hardware, we’ve also learned that new software tweaks will arrive with the Optimus G Pro that include the ability to record from both camera at the same time and the use a VR Panorama mode that it supposed to be similar to Google’s Photo Sphere.

So when is the North American launch for the LG Optimus G Pro coming? The phone is expected to arrive in the North American market sometime in Q2, alongside its release in Japan. Final details (including a more exact launch window) will likely be revealed at MWC.

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Thankfully for those of us who keep getting the “out of stock” sign in Google Play, a clever team of developers over at XDA-Developers have created a “rough hack” to convert your LG Optimus G in to a Nexus 4.

As the Optimus G and Nexus for are almost identical in hardware the developers decided it made sense for the phone to be able to run the Nexus 4 vanilla Android build, and it does. The process is reported as being “very dangerous” and not recommended for those with little to no knowledge of flashing Android devices, as there is the real risk of bricking your phone.

If you do manage to get it all working though, you will be able to enjoy Android the Nexus way, and will even be able to make use of Nexus only tweaks, and even official Nexus updates, unfortunately you will also loose LTE connectivity and your internal storage will be capped at 8GB. Hopefully in the not too distant future they will find some kind of mod around those limitations, though.

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The custom ROM is based on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean build that is found on the Nexus 4. It strips away that LG Optimus UI and gives you the free CM experience that you’ve come to expect from previous CyanogenMOD builds. This is an early build, though, so there are problems. The WiFi, NFC and capacitive keys don’t work yet, for example, but they’re hopeful it’ll all be fully functional by year’s end.

Remember that the Optimus G ships with just ICS under the hood, so this is likely a much faster way to get to Android 4.2 than waiting for an official update skinned by LG. Getting to load these custom ROMs is easier too, as there is a $1 app in the Google Play Store called FreeGee that allows you to unlock your bootloader and remove LG security. You could still bootload the old school way, but the app is easier.

Should you want to brave the early build on your LG Optimus G, you can find the CM 10.1 download on XDA. As with all these kinds of mods, proceed at your own risk and discretion.

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While LG doesn’t build bad hardware, it is generally far from “cutting edge”. This is probably why the LG Optimus G is such refreshing change. The Optimus G has great specs and a reasonable $199.99 price tag with a two-year contract via AT&T.

As for the power under the hood? The device has a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, a 4.7-inch TrueHD IPS+ display with 1280 x768 resolution, a 15:9 aspect ratio, 32GB storage, 2GB of RAM, microSD, 8MP rear cam, 1.3MP front cam, 4G LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and 2100mAh battery power for starters.

This smartphone is no pushover, and is quite attractive as well. The bad news is that it isn’t running Jelly Bean and instead gives us with Android ICS and a custom LG Skin. That being said, the custom skin isn’t all that bad.

Should you get the LG Optimus G? That’s a hard question. It is a solid phone that really pushes the boundaries of what LG is capable. That said, many other great devices including the LG Nexus (which may be based on the Optimus G) are just around the corner. For those curious about Windows Phone 8, the Nokia Lumia 920 is also on its way to AT&T soon. Now is clearly a great time for consumers when it comes to options. From the iPhone 5 to Android or Windows Phone 8, the choices are near-limitless.

Interested in the Optimus G or holding off for another smartphone this holiday season?

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There has been a lot of rumors about the next-gen Nexus smartphone of late. One camp claims that the rumored HTC phablet is going to be the next Nexus device. The other camp says that the super-powered LG Optimus LG could be the Nexus device. What’s the right answer? Both, perhaps. It sounds more than possible that there will be several Nexus devices rolled out this time around.

The rumor of LG building a member of the Nexus family is now supposedly confirmed through Spanish site Movilzona. The site claims its source is somehow connected with Vodafone and has come out with additional information about the LG Nexus device.

The LG Nexus device will feature a 4.7-inch display and a display that is of similar quality and detail to Apple’s Retina Display. From what we know of the Optimus G, this seems to fit the bill- the G has a 1280×768 resolution and a 4.7-inch display.

Keep in mind that this is all speculation and rumor, so take it with a grain of salt. If multiple Nexus devices are going to be simultaneously released, which interests you more? A high-end LG Nexus or a phablet-sized HTC model? Conversely, would you rather see a Nexus device from Google’s own Motorola Mobility?

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Last week saw the beginning of rumors about a new quad-core beast of a phone by LG, the Optimus G. Fast-forward to today and confirmation has finally landed. The Optimus G is expected to first get shown off at IFA, though LG officially announced it via a press conference.

The Optimus G weighs in at just 145 grams and is 8.455mm thick, but the true claim to fame is the impressive specs onboard. This includes a 1280×768 resolution 4.7-inch diagonal display, a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 PRO APQ8064 CPU, the new Adreno 320 GPU, and a massive 2GB of RAM.

Other goodies on the Optimus G include a 2100mAh battery, 13MP back camera, 1.3MP front, Android 4.0 ICS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC DLNA, WIFI and 4G LTE.

Unfortunately, Jelly Bean doesn’t seem to be on the table for now, but otherwise the specs on this phone are rather impressive.

The Optimus G is expected to hit Korea next month, Japan shortly after and it is believed that European and U.S. Markets will likely see the device in the next few months as well- though no specific date has been revealed.

What do you think of the Optimus G so far? It certainly looks to be the most impressive handset from LG so far.

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Qualcomm has announced an upcoming partnership with LG involving the use of the Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor. At the moment, LG is keeping quite about its part in the the development, but rumors already have leaked about a phone that more than likely is going to be the fruits of this partnership.

While most of LG’s Optimus line is low-to-mid range quality devices, the Optimus G is a bit of a powerhouse and looks to be LG’s attempts at going after the high-end market in a big way. What all is aboard the Optimus G, if we believe the rumors? Besides a quad-core processor, the phone is said to have 2GB of RAM, a 13MP camera and a 4.7-inch 720p IPS display. The G is also said to utilize 4G LTE technology.

As you can see, it looks to be a monster, especially compared with many of LG’s other devices. LG is know for quality products, but generally has targeted more modest specs on its devices. Could this be the beginning of a bigger shift for the company’s handsets? I personally am quite curious to see how this one turns out, what about you?

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