LG Chocolate Touch : The Next Best Thing To Live

When the LG Chocolate first came into the scene with the VX8500 model back in 2006, it was preceded by a ton of hype. And such is the case with its fourth and most recent incarnation, the LG Chocolate Touch. As the name indicates, it is a touch-screen phone with the famous Chocolate branding, and so we were expecting to see a brand new design and upgraded features.

As it turned out, LG actually introduced two Chocolate models with touch screens. The first is the LG Chocolate BL40, which features a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio, multitouch capabilities, a 5-megapixel camera, and a bevy of impressive features. Unfortunately, it's available only in European and Asian markets (you can read our review of the LG Chocolate BL40 at CNET UK), so we had to settle for the LG Chocolate Touch VX8575, which is far less impressive.

Even so, Verizon Wireless's Chocolate Touch remains a decent phone. It's slim and lightweight, with a beautiful touch display that's surprisingly responsive. Like all the other Chocolate handsets, the Touch is a music-centric phone, with features like Dolby Mobile equalizer settings, an FM radio, and even a virtual drum kit. Combined with a 3.2-megapixel camera, EV-DO, and a full HTML browser, the Chocolate Touch VX8575 is a great music phone for Verizon Wireless customers. Just don't expect anything new in terms of design. The LG Chocolate Touch VX8575 is $79.99 with a two-year service agreement from Verizon Wireless.

The sleek, compact and stylish multi-featured touch screen phone has rounded edges and a metallic finish. The phone also boasts an FM radio with 12 presets, integrated Song ID, ‘Join the Band’ feature and ‘Join the Band’ piano function as well as a dedicated key on the side of the device for quick access to music.
The Chocolate Touch has support for HTML web browsing and it will offer support for mobile email, web email, corporate email, instant messenger, chat and My Verizon. The phone’s Dolby Mobile equalizer considerably improves the listeners experience with various attributes. These include sound Space for headphones, natural bass, high-frequency enhancer and sound level controller.

Other features include quick access to social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, EV-DO Rev. 0, Bluetooth connectivity with support for a wide range of profiles, including headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, stereo, phonebook access, basic printing, object push for vCard and vCalendar, file transfer and more and Verizon Wireless features like the VZ Navigator, V Cast Music/Video and Visual Voicemail.

LG Chocolate Touch touchscreen mobile phone

The sleek, compact and stylish multi-featured touchscreen phone from LG has a rounded shape and metallic finish design. The LG Chocolate Touch offers access to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites. A dedicated social networking shortcut key allows users to upload pictures and videos to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other social networks.

LG Chocolate Touch music features

1. FM radio with 12 presets
2. Integrated Song ID
3. Dedicated side key for easy access to favorite songs
4. Bluetooth-capabilities with support for the following profiles: headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, stereo, phonebook access, basic printing, object push for vCard and vCalendar, file transfer, basic imaging and human interface device

LG Chocolate Touch features Join the Band

The “Join the Band” feature on the LG Chocolate Touch allows customers to use their fingers to tap on a full drum kit complete with snare drum, kick drum, floor tom, hi-hat cymbal, ride cymbal, crash cymbal, and even a cowbell. The “Join the Band” piano function allows customers to play along on a full scrolling 88-key keyboard. With the option to press “Pause” to stop the music and show off solo skills, the possibilities of fun are endless

Dolby Mobile equalizer on the LG Chocolate Touch phone

Dolby Mobile equalizer, enhancing the listeners experience with:

1. Sound Space for Headphones - Adds spaciousness to headphone listening from stereo content
2. Natural Bass - Provides a clean, powerful bass extension without artificial side effects
3. High-Frequency Enhancer - Reinforces high frequencies, especially for lower-quality content
4. Sound Level Controller - Maintains a consistent playback level

LG Chocolate Touch digital camera features

The LG Chocolate Touch features a 3.2 megapixel digital camera and camcorder that includes:

1. Five different resolutions
2. Zoom up to 1.6 times
3. Intelligent shot for improved image quality
4. Panorama for three guided sequential shots
5. Facial makeover that removes blemishes and enhances features
6. Image editor with zoom, rotate, crop, added frames and stamps
7. Ability to write over images
8. Customize brightness, white balance, shutter sounds, color effects and use a self-timer

LG Chocolate Touch Price & Availability

The LG Chocolate Touch smartphone is available for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a Nationwide Calling Plan. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.

The good: The LG Chocolate Touch has a great music player, a 3.2-megapixel camera, GPS, EV-DO, a 3.5mm headset jack, and a responsive touch screen.

The bad: The LG Chocolate Touch has a disappointing browser, and the overall look and feel of the phone is nothing we haven't seen before.

The bottom line: Despite our issues with the browser and the uninteresting design, the LG Chocolate Touch is a terrific music phone for Verizon Wireless. LG’s Chocolate Touch isn’t as tasty as the company makes it out to be, but does provide some fun. If music is a must-have feature for your phone, you can’t do much better than this model. Those willing to lock in for two years will get $50 back from Verizon, making the price $79.99 — and a lot more enticing.