Though LG has no current plans to bring the Optimus Vu to the United States, it's always interesting to review phones from other countries. I like the idea of the Vu--a smartphone large enough to use as a digital notepad--but I wanted more. The phone's performance is top-notch (though I can't speak for its call quality), and the Rubberdium stylus worked well enough that I would like to see other styli employ similar technology. Yes, the camera is mediocre, but it's usable for taking pictures for Instagram or Facebook, and the video quality wasn't half bad. Unfortunately it all comes back to the Vu's awkward, difficult-to-hold design.

So how does the Vu compare to the Galaxy Note? While I favor the Vu in overall performance, the Note is still the better phone--largely because it doesn't feel like a big phone. The boxy nature of the Vu makes it feel huge--something that you really don't want in a smartphone. I want to see more phablets in the future (I'm a fan of styli), but I hope future large-screen phones won't require Hulk-sized hands.