LG Optimus Black (P970) vs Samsung Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)

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Side by side comparison between LG Optimus Black vs Samsung Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520) phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?

12/18/2012 5:53 PM, updated: 6/19/2025 8:26 AM

Compare Samsung Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520) X LG Optimus Black (P970) 10Points

Specifications Compare Models Pictures

4"
IPS

480x800

5
MP

2mp

512MB
RAM

Single-core

1500
mAh

(Removable)

07Points Samsung Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520) Compare LG Optimus Black X

Specifications Compare Models Pictures

3.7"
AMOLED

480x800

8
MP

0.3mp

384MB
RAM

Single-core

1800
mAh

(Removable)

What's the better phone? LG Optimus Black (P970)

The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!

10 Advantages LG Optimus Black (P970)	vs	7 Advantages Samsung Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
+1GHz 32bit Single-core (45nm)53% More powerful processor, you can open your applications faster	vs	720MHz 32bit Single-core (65nm)
+512MB LPDDR33% More RAM memory. Typically more responsive and better for multitasking.	vs	384MB LPDDR
+109 grams (3.82 ounces)43% Lighter	vs	156 grams (5.46 ounces)
+9.2 millimeters (0.36 inches)62% Thinner	vs	14.9 millimeters (0.59 inches)
+4"8% Larger screen	vs	3.7"
+EIS: Digital stabilizationAdvantage Image stabilization prevents blurry photos and helps in recording motion video	vs	Not supported
+(front) 2MP5 times Higher resolution secondary camera to take pictures and selfies	vs	(front) 0.3MP
+Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich ICSAdvantage Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich ICS is newer and safer	vs	Android 2.1 Eclair
+Ambient light sensorAdvantage Sensors help you use the device	vs	Not supported
+CompassAdvantage Sensors help you use the device	vs	Not supported
2GB (1GB available)	vs	+16GB (13GB available)12 times More internal storage for applications and files
TFT NOVA IPS	vs	+Super AMOLEDAdvantage Super AMOLED display is brighter and more vivid
233 PPI	vs	+252 PPI8% Crisper display of text, images and videos because it has more pixels per inch (ppi)
(back) 5MP	vs	+(back) 8MP59% Higher resolution main camera
1500 mAh	vs	+1800 mAh20% Battery - higher amperage (mAh) allows more device usage time, but it also depends on the hardware and use
Mono sound (not stereo)	vs	+Stereo soundAdvantage Better sound quality for listening to music or clearer hands-free calls
2.1 + A2DP	vs	+3.0 + A2DPAdvantage Bluetooth 3.0 + A2DP is newer and faster

28 Common items in both devices

Until 32GB microSD, microSDHC

Plastic body, glass front

60Hz

16 million

480x800 pixels

LED flash

Only digital zoom

+21 specs and more in the table below

Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.

Highlight differences

📱 Model features
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Change model
Model	Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Other model names	LG Optimus P970H, LG Ignite, LG Schwarz	Samsung i8520 Galaxy Beam 1, Samsung Galaxy Beam i8520 M16
Country or region available	(Global, International), Germany, USA	(Global, International), Singapore
Brand	LG	Samsung
Release date	5/9/2011	7/8/2010
Depth	9.2 millimeters (0.36 inches)	14.9 millimeters (0.59 inches)
Size (width x height)	64 x 122 millimeters (2.52 x 4.8 in)	59.8 x 123 millimeters (2.35 x 4.84 in)
Weight	109 grams (3.82 ounces)	156 grams (5.46 ounces)
Build, materials	Plastic body, glass front	Plastic body, glass front
Protection against water and others	Not supported	Not supported
📲 Display
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Display type	TFT NOVA IPS	Super AMOLED
Screen size	4" inches	3.7" inches
Screen-to-body ratio	~58.3% (screen-to-body ratio)	~53% (screen-to-body ratio)
Display resolution	480x800 pixels	480x800 pixels
Touchscreen	Capacitive Multitouch	Capacitive Multitouch
Pixel density (dot pitch)	233 PPI	252 PPI
Colors	16 million	16 million
Scratch-resistant glass	Gorilla Glass	Gorilla Glass
Refresh rate	60Hz	60Hz
Display features	Not supported	Not supported
🤖 Operating System
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
System version	Android 2.2.1 Froyo	Android 2.1 Eclair
Firmware update	Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich ICS	feature not registered
User Interface	Optimus 2.0 Gesture UI	TouchWiz UI
⚙️ Processor
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Chipset	32bit: Texas Instruments OMAP 3630 (45nm)	32bit: Texas Instruments OMAP 3440 (65nm)
CPU	Single-core, 1 processor: 1x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 (Single-core)	Single-core, 1 processor: 1x 720MHz ARM Cortex-A8 (Single-core)
GPU graphical controller	PowerVR SGX530 MP1	PowerVR SGX530 MP1
Performance (benchmark)	feature not registered	feature not registered
💽 Memory and storage
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
RAM memory	512MB LPDDR	384MB LPDDR
Internal storage	2GB (1GB available)	16GB (13GB available) eMMC
External storage	Until 32GB microSD, microSDHC (dedicated slot)	Until 32GB microSD, microSDHC (dedicated slot)
📶 Mobile networks
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Dual-SIM	Not supported	Not supported
SIM card	1 slot (Single-SIM) Standard mini-SIM (2FF)	1 slot (Single-SIM) Standard mini-SIM (2FF)
Maximum Download / Upload	7.2/5.76 Mbps	7.2/5.76 Mbps
Network technology	2G	2G, 3G
Frequency, bands	Expand band details Collapse details
GSM MHz band	Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900	Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900
Primary 2G network	GSM 850/900/1800/1900	GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Primary 3G network	Not supported	UMTS 900/1900/2100
Primary 4G network	Not supported	Not supported
Primary 5G network	Not supported	Not supported
Primary data network	GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA	CSD, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA
Secondary 2G network	Not supported	Not supported
Secondary 3G network	Not supported	Not supported
Secondary 4G network	Not supported	Not supported
Secondary data network	Not supported	Not supported
📷 Camera
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Back camera (main camera)	5 megapixels	8 megapixels
Main camera resolution	2592x1944 pixels	3264x2448 pixels
Video recording (primary)	HD (1280x720) 24 fps	HD (1280x720) 30 fps
Flash	LED flash	LED flash
Focal aperture	feature not registered	feature not registered
Focal length	feature not registered	feature not registered
Sensor size	feature not registered	feature not registered
Pixel size	feature not registered	feature not registered
Autofocus	Autofocus	Autofocus
Touch focus	Supported	Not supported
Image stabilization	EIS: Digital stabilization	Not supported
Zoom	Only digital zoom	Only digital zoom
Face/smile detection	Face detection	Face detection
BSI sensor	Not supported	Not supported
HDR	Not supported	Not supported
Camera extras	feature not registered	feature not registered
📸 Front camera
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Front camera (secondary)	2 megapixels	0.3 megapixels
Front camera resolution	1600x1200 pixels	640x480 pixels
Video recording (secondary)	Not supported	VGA (640x480)
Front flash	Not supported	Not supported
Focal aperture	feature not registered	feature not registered
Focal length	feature not registered	feature not registered
Sensor size	feature not registered	feature not registered
Pixel size	feature not registered	feature not registered
🔉 Sound and multimedia
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Loudspeaker	Mono sound (not stereo)	Stereo sound
Active noise cancellation	1 microphone	1 microphone
Radio	FM (RDS)	FM (RDS)
TV	Not supported	Not supported
Video formats	MP4, DivX, Xvid, H.264, H.263, WMV	MP4, H.264, H.263, DivX, XviD, WMV
Audio formats	MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+	MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+
🔌 Connectivity
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
USB	MicroUSB 2.0	MicroUSB 2.0
Audio output	3.5mm jack	3.5mm jack
TV output	Not supported	Not supported
Bluetooth	2.1 + A2DP	3.0 + A2DP
WiFi	802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz) WiFi hotspot	802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz) WiFi hotspot
DLNA	Supported	Supported
GPS	A-GPS, GeoTagging	A-GPS, GeoTagging
NFC	Not supported	Not supported
Infrared port	Not supported	Not supported
🧭 Sensors
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Sensors	Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Proximity sensor	Accelerometer Proximity sensor
Vibrating alert	Supported	Supported
🔋 Battery
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Battery type	Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Removable) BL-44JN	Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Removable)
Battery capacity	1500 mAh	1800 mAh
Charger, watts	Wired charging	5W Wired charging
Inductive / wireless charging	Not supported	Not supported
Talk time autonomy	6 hours	7.4 hours
Standby	350 hours (14.6 days)	530 hours (22.1 days)
➕ Other features
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
Call control	Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands	Voice recorder
Messaging	SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail	SMS (Swype), MMS, E-mail, Push mail
Hands-free calling	Supported	Supported
Video calling	Supported	Supported
Ringtones	Polyphonic and customized	Polyphonic and customized
Web browser	HTML, XHTML, Flash player	HTML, XHTML, Flash player
Antenna	Internal antenna	Internal antenna
Qwerty physical keyboard	Not supported	Not supported
Miscellaneous	• Colors: Black, Pink, Silver, White, Brown Java framework	• Colors: Black • Built-in WVGA DLP Pico projector DNSe 2.0 • Samsung Kies Java framework
☢️ Radiation rate
	LG Optimus Black (P970)	Galaxy Beam (GT-i8520)
SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.)	feature not registered	feature not registered
SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.)	1.27W/kg (head), 1.43W/kg (body)	0.62W/kg (head)