2011 wasn't the best year that LG's mobile devision has ever seen. It released a couple of decent handsets that didn't quite take off and a tablet that has nearly been forgotten. So, what is a company to do in a situation such as this? Release another lackluster piece of hardware, of course!

Enter the Optimus Pad LTE, the Korean manufacturer's first go at a 4G LTE-enabled tablet. Packed with last year's hardware, this little guy will be nearly outdated by the time it hits retail shelves:

  • 8.9-inch 1280x768 IPS display
  • 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor
  • 8MP rear shooter/2MP 'round front
  • 32GB built-in storage, microSD card slot
  • Android 3.2
  • 6,800mAh battery
  • 497 grams
  • 9.3mm thin

Okay, so maybe the Optimus Pad LTE has a couple of good things going for it - at 497 grams, it enters the arena at 69 grams lighter than the thin-and-sleek Galaxy Tab 10.1, and 32GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot is nothing to scoff at, either. Still, the tablet is rocking Honeycomb at the moment, with no word as to when ICS may be available.

There's no mention of pricing or availability for the OPLTE just, but it will be hitting the Korean market first and branching out from there. With the all of the impending quad-core tablets ready to set sail, is anyone still interested in a tablet with only two cores?

LG TO INTRODUCE ITS FIRST LTE TABLET

Expanding LTE Leadership into Tablets to

Meet the Needs of Consumers’ Faster Lifestyles

SEOUL, Jan. 18, 2012 – LG Electronics (LG) today unveiled its first LTE-capable tablet, the Optimus Pad LTE. Initially launching in Korea, LG has equipped the tablet with both LTE technology and True HD IPS display, the two features that have helped LG differentiate its latest smartphone, Optimus LTE, from the competition.

“With tablets generating five times more traffic than the average smartphone, it’s not a huge jump to assume that tablet users need and want faster connectivity,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “The combination of LG’s LTE technology with the tablet form factor is a clear advantage for consumers who use a tablet as their primary consumption device when on the move.”

Boasting the best-in-class in the tablets, LG Optimus Pad LTE provides the ultimate user environment to enjoy HD multimedia with a 1280 x 720 True HD IPS display and 8 megapixel camera for shooting high definition video. The Optimus Pad LTE is also the world’s first tablet to support an SD memory card expandable to 32GB, recognizing the importance multimedia would play for owners of this device.

Along with these features, the Optimus Pad LTE offers easy-to-use controls and functions such as the Smart Movie Editor for editing pictures and videos more easily. Moreover, Web Duet allows for e-mailing, messaging and SNS sharing with search functions, and On-Screen Phone (OSP) ensures compatibility with LG smartphones.

LG Optimus Pad LTE is extremely portable and aesthetically pleasing, weighing in at a svelte 479g and only 9.34mm thin. Equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor running Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS, LG’s newest tablet guarantees superior performance. It also supports High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).

Key Specifications:

Operating System: Android 3.2 Honeycomb

Memory: User 32GB (Micro SD up to 32GB)

Size: 245 x 151.4 x 9.34 mm

Weight: 497 g

Display: 8.9-inch IPS True HD Display

Resolution: 1280 x 768

Camera: 8MP (Rear) / 2MP (Front)

Processor: Qualcomm 1.5GHz Dual-Core / Dual Channel Processor

Battery: 6,800mAh

Others: HDMI, DLNA