Camera

Sliding open the Chocolate reveals the built-in 1.3-megapixel camera. Positioned on the back side, the lens is covered to protect it from accidental scratches that may occur. A mirror nearby allows users to view where the lens is aiming during self-portraits or group shots. While not as impressive as the 2.0- and 3.2-megapixel devices pushing mobile imaging technology, the Chocolate is nonetheless better than VGA (0.3-megapixel) cameras still being sold today.

Snapping photos up to 1024 x 960 px in resolution, the Chocolate's camera is mediocre among camera phones on the market today. Over 1000 photos can be stored on the Chocolate's internal memory, encoded in JPG file format, each approximately 150 KB in size. Lower resolutions include 640 x 480 px, 320 x 240 px, 176 x 144 px, and 160 x 120 px.

The navigation pad adjusts Brightness Level (-9 to +9) and 2x Digital Zoom (not supported at 1280 x 960 px resolution). Other bundled features including Self-Timer (Off, 3 Sec, 5 Sec, and 10 Sec), White Balance (Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent), Shutter Sounds (Shutter, Silent, Say Cheese, and Ready 123), and Color Effects (Normal, Sepia, Black and White, Negative, and Solari).

Unfortunately low light situations are a bit problematic for the Chocolate. While it does offer Night Mode, enhancing the photo via software is a poor substitute for a built-in Flash. In bright environments, photo quality is fairly good with resolution high enough to make prints.

Switching to Camcorder Mode, the Chocolate takes 3G2 videos up to 176 x 144 px in resolution. Recorded at 15 frames per second, clips can last up to 15 seconds (FLIX Message Mode) or up to an amazing hour long (General Mode). Camera functions such as White Balance and Brightness can also be applied to videos.

While still photo capture is excellent, unfortunately recorded video is rather grainy and too low in resolution for much use; something mobile video technology has yet to progress beyond.

Basic Features

The dual-band (CDMA 800 / 1900) Chocolate operates on Verizon Wireless' digital networks nationwide, so rural areas where digital coverage may be lacking may be a concern for customers who rely on analog frequencies.

Unlike the still and simplified Verizon-branded menu of past phones, the Chocolate is luckily one of the first phones (along with the LG VX8300) to feature a Flash-based user interface.

Developed in conjunction with Adobe, the Chocolate allows consumers to change not only the menu colors, but also adjust the entire home screen and menu layout with themes. Arranging the menu in a circular format, the Chocolate's new interface gives the much needed customizability customers have been requesting for years.

Almost commonplace among handhelds today, from entry-level to high-end, strangely the Chocolate lacks speakerphone functionality for calls; although it is present for music and navigation. Miscellaneous features include Music Only Mode (RF Off except Bluetooth) and Standalone Mode (RF Off) for operation in airplanes, TTY/TDD support, and English and Spanish language support.

LG rated the Chocolate's 800 mAh Li-Ion battery at an impressive 3.50 and 384 hours (16 days) of talk and standby times respectively. However, these times are under optimal conditions. Handset manufacturers and carriers often list talk and standby time ratings with disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Actual times will vary.

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