For a smartphone brearing the Prada title, the Prada 3.0 is a pretty unassuming device in the hand. Cut from the same cloth as so many monoblocks before it, the Prada 3.0 is a glossy-black touchscreen smartphone, almost indistinguishable from other LGs, Samsungs or even the iPhone from a distance.

Slick monochrome UI design; Good everyday performance; Decent camera; NFC

Cheap, plastic body; No 850MHz network support; Bright screen punishes the battery

For a smartphone brearing the Prada title, the Prada 3.0 is a pretty unassuming device in the hand. Cut from the same cloth as so many monoblocks before it, the Prada 3.0 is a glossy-black touchscreen smartphone, almost indistinguishable from other LGs, Samsungs or even the iPhone from a distance. This is less true when you look at it from behind, where LG uses the signature Prada "Saffiano" texture across the plastic battery cover, which looks nice but feels rough to touch. Though it would have pushed the price up, we think a softer feeling with, maybe, leather would have sold the idea of luxury better.

The Prada 3.0 is unlikely to appeal to the fashion-conscious with its cheap, plastic build and is equally unlikely to speak to the tech savvy with its middling specs and performance.

Slick monochrome UI design; Good everyday performance; Decent camera; NFC.

Cheap, plastic body; No 850MHz network support; Bright screen punishes the battery.

The original Prada Phone, LG would have us believe, was the inspiration for the iPhone. Just four months after LG won the iF Design award for its groundbreaking design, Steve Jobs took to the stage at Macworld and turned the entire industry on its head.

Looks gorgeous; Great call quality; Decent battery life; Fluid performance

Low-resolution display; Inconsistent UI; Design / build quality issues; Stock browser is painfully bad

Are you a trend-setter, a dedicated follower, or a fashion disaster? That's the question we've been asking of the PRADA Phone 3.0 by LG , the phone company's third attempt at a handset suitable for the catwalk, and the first to legitimately fall under the smartphone banner.

You don't slap "Prada" on any slab of phone, darling, so while this one is no slouch, it's got its work cut out.

I was looking for a smart phone for under ￡200;saw one for ￡150 inc shipping (open box but as new) Now a 1 year old design, it first retailed around ￡400 or more. As of Dec '12 new prices are approx ￡180-220.

I bought it for my wife and she likes it, at least she did not see the same phone around, like exclusive thing. I thought she may like "mirror" button , but she doesn't use it at all, because front camera distort real picture, some kind of "fish eye" lens.

The original Prada phone, which came out in December 2006, was the first mobile with a capacitive touchscreen, and was a huge hit for LG. It wasn't a smartphone, though, and neither was its successor, the keyboard-equipped Prada II.

Prada and LG unveil a new smartphone. The Prada Phone by LG 3.0 boasts a package of desirable features

+ Premium design; + Unique monochrome UI; + NFC-ready

- Monochrome UI drowned out by colourful icons from installed apps

LG's Prada Phone 3.0 is the third smartphone the company has developed in conjunction with Italian fashion label Prada following the LG Prada (KE850) and the LG Prada (KF900). Described by LG as a smartphone that combines "style and substance", the Prada Phone 3.0 has a nice design and some handy software but has too many flaws to recommend amongst excellent competition.

LG's Prada Phone certainly looks the part thanks to a classy design that blends well with the company's unique, monochrome user interface. Unfortunately, this interface is also the cause of much inconsistency. When combined with only average performance, poor battery life and no real class leading features, the Prada Phone is quickly lost among better competitors.

Classy looking design; Bright screen; Monochrome UI;

Poor battery life; Low screen resolution; Inconsistent interface;