LG Muziq (Music Phones Under $50) Review

LG Muziq Design and Features

The LG Muziq is a very good complement to Sprint’s ample music store. The front of this clamshell has touch-sensitive playback controls and a quick-access button on the right side to launch the player, so you don’t have to open the phone to jam. A microSD slot lets you add up to 4GB to the phone’s paltry 64MB.

The Muziq doesn’t come with headphones, which is odd, but it does have a 2.5mm headphone jack and supports stereo Bluetooth. Plus, this is the only handset on the market with a built-in FM transmitter. That means you can listen to this phone’s tunes through your car stereo.

Quality of Performance

Even on the lowest volume setting, music was awkwardly loud, and we kept checking to see if anyone else in the office could hear us listening to Cake’s “Race Car Ya-Yas.” We enjoyed the Muziq’s stereo Bluetooth playback because it offered the clearest sound and best bass response. Plus, with an external headset, we were better able to adjust the volume.

The Muziq loaded CNN.com in just 11 seconds—faster than other similarly configured and priced phones we tested. It also supports Sprint’s movie-rental service (new releases are $5.99 for 24 hours), but our Pirates of the Caribbean rental was pixelated, and the 1.3-megapixel camera takes blurry pictures. Call quality, on the other hand, was crisp on both ends.

Battery life was solid; we listened to music and made calls for 2 days without needing a charge.

The Verdict

Although it’s getting a bit old, the LG Muziq is a solid choice for kicking back and listening to tracks, watching a movie, or streaming TV.