LG has been a leader in the touchscreen non-smart phone market since 2007 with their introduction of the PRADA GSM model in Europe. Since then, they have developed and released additional touchscreen phones, such as the Voyager, Glimmer, Vu, and Viewty; each with their own unique features. The newest device to be released is the Dare, which is available through Verizon Wireless.

The Dare isn’t necessarily an upgrade to the Voyager, as both are targeted to different consumers. Unlike the Voyager, which has a large clamshell design with dual displays, mechanical QWERTY keyboard, 2MP Camera, and Mobile TV service, the Dare is much sleeker and sexier, with only one display, more robust user interface, multitasking, and 3.2MP Camera. It also comes on the heals of the release of the Samsung Glyde, which didn’t do so well under our testing last month. Not only is the Dare competing against those devices, but also with the Samsung Instinct for Sprint and Apple’s upcoming iPhone 3G for AT&T. The true winner here is the consumer, as they now have several options to choose from, with each new device trying to out-do the other.

The Retail Package includes the LG Dare phone, 1100mAh battery with cover, music management CD, and user manual. Instead of a standard wall charger, now included a new modular unit that plugs into the wall, but the cord can be disconnected, which turns it into a USB cable for PC connectivity. This is an interesting concept, but if you lose the USB cable, you can no longer use the wall plug unless you buy a new cable.

The Dare is a slim and attractive candybar style phone, as it does not flip or slide open in any way, and is constructed mostly out of black plastic with chrome accents. The front is a fingerprint magnet, as one would expect, but the back features the same soft-touch coating that is used on the Voyager. Overall, the device it seems durable, with the exception of the rear battery cover, which is feels flimsy once removed. When holding onto the phone, it feels smaller and less cumbersome than the Voyager, and is also less noticeable and brick-like when placed in your pant’s pocket. This is a welcome change.

The front is dominated by the largest touch-sensitive display offered on a non-smartphone byVerizon, measuring 3” diagonal with a resolution of 240x400 pixels and supports up to 262K colors. When pressing on it, it is harder to the touch and better quality plastic than the display used on the Voyager, but still not as firm as the screens used on the Glyde or iPhone. Thanks to an intergraded light sensor, the display will automatically adjust its brightness based on the surrounding light levels. While in a dark room, it will dim down, thus using less battery power, but when outside in the sun, the display will become brighter for better viewing. This works rather well and allows it to be visible under varying lighting conditions. Images and text both look excellent, due to the high pixel count and color depth. There is also a proximity sensory that will turn the display off if the phone is next to your face while you’re on a call.

The only physical buttons located on the front are for Send, Clear/VoiceCommand, and End/Power. They have a classy look to them, with shiny chrome and white backlighting. Along the left side are the lock and speakerphone buttons, microSDHC memory card slot and microUSB data port, and on the right side are the volume rocker and camera button. There is a 3.5mm headset jack on the top, and the 3.2MP camera and flash are on the back.
 

gizmoto.com review:

"Dare to be different," the saying goes, but the LG Dare is really Verizon Wireless's attempt to fit in, to offer a phone that's more like the AT&T LG Vu and Sprint Samsung Instinct, not to mention Apple's similarly priced iPhone 3G. The truth is, the Dare may not be as glamorous or well-priced as the Instinct, but it has a better browser, a motion sensor and some cool software tricks that make it a fine phone for people who choose to remain in Verizon's walled garden. And it puts Verizon's previous iClone attempts, the LG Voyager and the Samsung Glyde, to lowdown dirty shame.