IT Pro Verdict
The LG P940 Prada 3.0 is a stylish Android smartphone, but it’s overpriced for what it delivers, not least when it comes to the underwhelming battery life. The mere promise of an Android 4 upgrade at some point isn’t particularly compelling either, so there’s little here to make this smartphone stand out beyond the Prada label.
Selling a smartphone under the auspices of a fashion label might seem like a superficial way to attract choosy buyers, but it seems to be working for LG. The P940 is LG's third Prada smartphone in five years, but the first to run Android the earlier KE850 and KF900 both used a proprietary operating system.
In addition to the discreet silver logos front and back, the most apparent implication of the P940's Prada branding is the label's trademark Saffiano textured finish on the back panel.
Sadly, this is mere moulded plastic rather than leather, but the cover does snap snugly to the case and feels very solid. Prising it off again to access the battery and microSD card slot risks breaking a fingernail though, which is something that well-manicured Prada connoisseurs may not appreciate.
Prada connection aside, the P940 is still a stylishly understated smartphone and the slab-like design with sharp corners is a refreshing change from the current trend towards organic curves. It feels substantial in the hand too, despite being just 8.5mm thick and weighing 138g.
A dark metal band runs around the perimeter of the case, with two buttons on the left for volume control and two on the top for power and the camera shutter.
The placement of the latter is very odd, since it means pressing the bottom left side of the case to take a photo with the phone held in landscape orientation. This is so awkward as to make the button more or less useless, but the Android camera app does at least have a large on-screen alternative.
