LG AKA review
The LG AKA is best suited for someone who needs a backup phone or who is drawn to its compact, colorful design and willing to tolerate sluggish software and limited app compatibility. Anyone looking for a phone that will run modern apps smoothly or keep up with a full day of heavy use should look elsewhere.
This review is written with AI assistance from LG’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the LG AKA, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The LG AKA is a colorful 2015 mid-ranger that prioritizes style and longevity over raw power. It does the basics competently—calls, messaging, light browsing—but feels sluggish by today's standards and lacks the hardware grunt for demanding tasks.
Design & Build
The AKA's real strength is its size and materials. At 135 grams and 10mm thin, it sits comfortably in one hand without feeling cheap or plasticky. The colorway options—white, pink, yellow, navy—were bold for 2015, and the phone carries that playfulness without being gimmicky. The micro-SIM slot and the presence of a removable battery show LG treated durability and user control seriously, something that has become genuinely scarce by 2025. The bezel-to-screen ratio is unremarkable, but the compact footprint makes it practical in ways larger phones aren't.
Display
A 720p IPS panel on a 5-inch screen yields 294 ppi, which is adequate for reading text but unremarkable by 2015 standards, let alone now. Colors are muted, blacks aren't deep, and brightness is modest—fine indoors but weak in direct sunlight. The 16:9 aspect ratio feels stretched by modern standards, but for 2015, it was routine. This isn't a display that makes you want to watch video; it's a display that does what it's asked without complaint or character.
Performance
The Snapdragon 400 quad-core and Adreno 305 GPU are entry-level for their time, and age has not been kind. With 1.5GB RAM, expect visible stutter when switching between apps, hesitation in web browsing, and occasional freezes during heavier tasks. Games and video editing are not realistic. That said, for basic communication—calls, SMS, emails, light social media—it muddles through acceptably. Basemark OS II scored 177, which tells you this is a phone from the budget shelf, not the feature shelf. By 2015, this was already the floor, not the ceiling.
Software
Android 4.4.2 KitKat feels dated and slow. It lacks many of the conveniences baked into modern Android, and security patches have long since stopped. The 16GB internal storage is cutting it fine once the OS claims its share and bloatware accumulates; the dedicated microSD slot is therefore not optional but necessary. The phone will not run modern apps well, if at all. If you're buying this in 2025 or later, understand you are stepping back in time deliberately.
Camera
The 8MP rear sensor with laser autofocus and LED flash was respectable in 2015, and the inclusion of laser AF shows LG paid attention to user experience. In good light, it captures serviceable photos with snappy focus. The 1080p video is a nice touch. The 2.1MP front camera is forgettable, as was typical then. In low light, the 8MP sensor noise becomes obvious and detail dissolves. This is not a camera for Instagram; it is a camera for documentation.
Battery & Charging
The 2610 mAh removable battery is the AKA's hidden lifeline. Endurance rating of 73 hours is respectable for an entry-level phone, but real-world use rarely stretches that long. A day of normal use will empty the tank, though talk time hits a respectable 8 hours 20 minutes on 3G. The removable design means you can carry a spare, which was a genuine convenience before fast charging became standard. MicroUSB 2.0 will trickle charge slowly by today's standards, but on a 2610 mAh cell, that is less of a pain point than on larger batteries.
Value & Verdict
At 220 EUR in 2015, the AKA competed with phones that offered more grunt for similar money. Today, it is a discontinued curio. The removable battery and expandable storage are now so rare they almost feel precious, but those features cannot overcome the fundamental slowness of the hardware or the obsolescence of the software. If you are shopping for a working phone in the global south where 4G is available and prices for newer used phones remain high, there are better bets at similar prices—even a few years newer model will feel dramatically faster. The AKA suits someone who specifically values a compact form factor and the ability to swap batteries, and who is willing to accept clunkiness and limited app support in exchange.
Verdict
The LG AKA is best suited for someone who needs a backup phone or who is drawn to its compact, colorful design and willing to tolerate sluggish software and limited app compatibility. Anyone looking for a phone that will run modern apps smoothly or keep up with a full day of heavy use should look elsewhere.
- Removable battery and dedicated microSD slot, both now rare—genuine perks for swapping power on the go or expanding storage
- Solid build at 135g and 10mm thick feels purposeful in hand; compact 5-inch screen is genuinely easier to pocket and grip than larger flagships
- Laser autofocus on the 8MP rear camera and NFC hardware show LG thought about real-world convenience, not just spec sheets
- Entry-level Snapdragon 400 and 1.5GB RAM mean stuttering through Android 4.4.2, especially with multiple apps open or heavier tasks
- 720p IPS display at 5 inches is functional but dim and narrow in color range compared to even mid-range rivals of 2015
- 2610 mAh battery struggles to push through a full day of real use, though the removable design helps
LG AKA Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2015, March. Released 2015, May |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.1% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 16GB 1.5GB RAM |
| Main camera | 8 MP |
| Selfie camera | 2.1 MP |
| Battery | 2610 mAh |
| Software | Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) |
| Dimensions | 138.7 x 71.9 x 10 mm (5.46 x 2.83 x 0.39 in) |
| Weight | 135 g (4.76 oz) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 |
LG AKA FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the AKA support 5G?
No. The AKA tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the AKA use?
The AKA runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (28 nm).
What display does the AKA have?
A 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.1% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density).
How big is the AKA battery?
The AKA has a 2610 mAh battery.
Does the AKA have NFC?
Yes, the AKA has NFC.
Does the AKA support a microSD card?
Yes, the AKA supports expandable storage (microSDHC (dedicated slot)).