With Android phones now flooding the market, a budget option is not too difficult to find. LG's Optimus One P500 is a sturdy offering that now comes with Android's Froyo update pre-installed, but does it make it a good enough deal to compete with the likes of HTC's Wildfire?

Easy to use; Full range of Android features; Tidy design; Large battery

Soft plastic screen; Can be a bit slow at times; Lowish resolution screen

The LG Optimus One is described by LG as a great choice for first-time smartphone users. In this writer's opinion, the Optimus One deserves a better lead than that. Let's break it down.

A budget smartphone that offers some great features, the LG Optimus One P500 is well worth a second look. Unlike some other cheap handsets, it runs Android 2.2 Froyo rather than 2.1 Eclair.

Android devices are becoming really affordable these days and the choices are getting harder to make all the time. But a low price tag doesn't mean you'll always get the best functionality for your buck.

LG is known for many things, but making really awesome mobile phones definitely isn't one of them. At least, it wasn't until recently, as almost all of its cellphones were unremarkable. With Android, LG is trying to become a smartphone maker again, but it hasn't seen much success even in that.

Smartphones no longer require a fat wad of cash in exchange for snazzy email, web and app features. LG has always been one of the most prolific purveyors of budget to mid-range smartphones, and the Android-powered Optimus One is one of its most capable – and it clocks in at free from ￡20 per month,...

Great lineup of sat-nav features including voice control and directions; excellent email and especially Gmail; good value for money

Low-res screen makes webpages look worse than other Android devices; some clunky software; design is pretty average veering on low-rent

I got this phone free through signing up for a 24 month contract with 3 about 10 months ago so I was keen to pick a phone which would last that long. I have a 3G internet plan and I am a frequent user of my phone for calling and texting throughout the day.

I am extremely pleased with my LG P500 - and here's why: Well built and designed unit - there's nothing funky-ass or trendy about the design. Everything is exactly where it should be and made of the right kind of material.

this phone is easy to use and has the ability to access the internet to find applications etc which will make it even better. You have easy access icons to all public media sites. The Camera takes great pictures and with music sounding great this phone is a great purchase for me and i believe anyone...

LG's been putting out touch screen phones for a long time, but has yet to pull off a proper success in the amazingly competitive machine view. Its Optimus GT540 was a poor attempt at making a stylish and original phone, and ultimately ruined by a terrible resistive touch screen.