LG Optimus V vs LG Thrive – compare Virgin Mobile and AT&T Android phones

The two entry-level Android phones, LG Optimus V and LG Thrive have more in common than some would expect. However, the comparison does not end there because very significant role belongs to providers that are offering these Android phones, Virgin Mobile and AT&T. Their role is important since these two phones are part of the prepaid offer and as such, they depend a lot from prepaid plans that these two carriers provide. So lets see how LG Optimus V vs LG Thrive cope as well as how plans from Virgin Mobile and AT&T look when compared.

 

LG Thrive in general is a great feature rich, entry-level Android phone that is 3G, Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi capable as well as capable of some cool features as voice dialing over Bluetooth, app sharing, phonebook integration with Facebook and Twitter contacts. Also, it provides access to email accounts as Gmail, POP, IMAP and Microsoft Exchange as well as access to Google and AT&T services including YouTube as well as AT&T Hot Spots and AT&T Navigator. But the fact that LG Thrive is part of AT&T prepaid lineup, makes a big difference.

Given that AT&T is much more than just prepaid wireless company, they do not try too hard to keep their prepaid consumers or to get new ones. The price of this cheap android cell phone, considering it’s a prepaid device, is $179.99, but the problem lies in GoPhone prepaid plans, since the data packages are required in addition to a regular plan.  First, for unlimited talk and text, you are required to pay $50 per month and that would be great if data is included, but it’s not. So if you want data and why wouldn’t you when this Android phone offers so much good things that call for data, you are forced to choose from $25 for 500MB, $15 for 100MB or $5 for 10MB.

There would be nothing wrong with this if you didn’t know that there is an Android phone out there, very similar feature wise, available at much more affordable price. Not for the handset itself that much, as much as for the monthly rate for using prepaid service. The LG Optimus V available at Virgin Mobile for $149.99 is a handset that runs on Sprint’s network but more importantly, you can have unlimited data and messaging for as low as $35 per month and for everything unlimited, you need to pay $55 per month. With AT&T GoPhone prepaid plans you would end up paying $50 for talk and text and $25 for 500MB of data. Maybe comparing LG Optimus V vs LG Thrive would enforce you to think twice before going for a certain prepaid wireless provider and maybe you should go for ones that are specialized in prepaid service.

So in case of comparing LG Optimus V vs LG Thrive or Virgin Mobile vs. AT&T in prepaid area, LG Optimus V definitely wins, not feature wise but with all aspects taken into account. But if you want to extend your search to other prepaid providers with similar classes of phones, check Samsung Galaxy Prevail that is available for $179.99 at Boost Mobile’s lineup, LG Optimus M for $149 at MetroPCS or even the Huawei Ascend II, the latest Android phone released for Cricket at the price of $179.99. The only thing to consider here is coverage since plans are definitely more affordable than with AT&T GoPhone prepaid plans.