Designer Knockoff?

LG's slick new cell has a familiar face

October 15, 2007—Our long national nightmare is finally over: The LG Prada phone is coming to the U.S. Sorry, just kidding, but the company's new Voyager model is the next best thing, with a similarly sleek form factor and an equally elegant touchscreen, a first for an American LG. (So is it the exact same screen as found on the Prada phone? LG's U.S. reps wouldn't say; we'll take that as a "probably.") While the Voyager is heavier than its Italian cousin—4.7 ounces versus three—you get something useful for that extra heft: a foldout keyboard for texting and e-mailing the old-fashioned (and, yes, superior) way. (The Voyager's actually a sequel to LG's popular enV phone, which offered a similar approach, sans touchscreen.) What's under the hood isn't bad either, including Verizon's full suite of speedy V Cast options, a respectable 2.0 megapixel camera, and the VZ Navigator GPS service, which, as with certain other things, gives you a little vibration when you've reached the right spot.

LG VX10000, available in November; price has not yet been set, but expect to pay significantly less than the $500 it costs to import the LG Prada; verizonwireless.com, us.lge.com.