The Optimus Black is a compact, nicely designed, no-nonsense Android phone that might work well for users who don't need a top-of-the-line model or who would rather not buy their phone from a wireless carrier.

LG announced the Optimus Black at the CES show in Las Vegas last January, saying that the phone would be coming in the first half of 2011. That means it will be showing up online and possibly at a few big box tech retailers very soon. As of now, we know no pricing details beyond the fact that the phone won't be sold (subsidized) through a carrier.