LG puts Nexus 4 behind it with Optimus G

LG, the company behind Google's flagship Nexus 4 Android smartphone, has already announced a follow-up – the Optimus G.

The new Optimus G phone is very similar to the Nexus 4 in some ways – both have 4.7in screens and 1.5GHz quad core processors. However, unlike the Google-branded phone, the Optimus G will be able to connect to 4G LTE networks. The Optimus G uses a plain black plastic design instead of the shinier glass case of the Nexus 4.

Read more: CES 2013 news; smartphone reviews

During our brief hands-on at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we were impressed by the sharp text and vivid colours of the display as well as the responsiveness of the Android interface. The rather plain and anonymous physical appearance of the phone is far from distinctive though. 

The biggest changes lie in software though. LG has made some modifications to the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system. The customised video player app can be made transparent so you can continue watching a video while using another app. An on-screen slider lets you adjust the level of transparency. Sadly this transparency feature doesn't work with other video apps, such as Youtube.

A quick scribble feature lets you use your finger to quickly annotate whatever's on your screen and save it as a picture so it can be sent to a friend or colleague. Alternatively, you can simply jot down a phone number, address or other detail simply by pressing the scribble button in the notifications drawer.

If these two features sound familiar, it's because Samsung already has two very similar features on some of its phones such as the Galaxy Note II. Samsung's video-in-a-window feature on that phone isn't as slick as the transparency effect on the Optimus G though, while the LG's scribble feature doesn't require a stylus as the Note II does.

LG's spokesperson in Las Vegas was unable to confirm either UK pricing or availability for the Optimus G.