Mid-range Android Gingerbread smartphones 

We like to be ahead of the game, as we were last week when we announced the arrival of the LG Optimus Pro. Well, that smartphone has just had its official launch, along with another new handset, the LG Optimus Net. Both are Android Gingerbread (2.3) smartphones and on their way to the UK pretty soon.

As we mentioned above, we have already detailed the QWERTY-clad Optimus Pro, although the details we have are slightly different to the earlier specification. Not by much though. We’re talking a 2.8-inch 240×320 capacitive TFT display, an 800MHz processor, 256MB of RAM, 150MB of on-board storage (with a 2GB microSD card included), a three-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, AGPS and an FM radio. The big difference is the data speed. It was rumoured not to have 3G, but does actually offer HSDPA as a welcome bonus.

As for the Optimus Net, it uses the same processor (but with double the amount of RAM), but has a 3.2-inch HVGA touch-screen, as well as offering NFC in certain European territories. Here’s hoping we are one of them. Aside from that, there’s a three-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, 3G and the same 150MB of storage inside.

No specific UK dates for these, with LG claiming that both are scheduled for this summer, presumably for rather modest outlays. Confirmation of that when we get it from the networks.