LG’s Prada to return in April, Vodafone grabs the exclusive

Before 2011 came to a close, LG gave us a hint that it would be bringing the Prada brand back with a new phone. Well, here we are with news that Vodafone has the exclusive rights to LG’s third Prada phone, heading to Australia later this year.

Originally released in 2007, the LG Prada handset was one of the first fashion partnerships, creating a smartphone that not only had LG’s brains and Prada’s looks, but was also the first touchscreen phone in the world. A second phone was released in 2008, and the world has been without a new LG and Prada model since then.

Heading exclusively to Vodafone in April, the “Prada phone by LG 3.0” will feature a 4.3 inch screen with 800×480 resolution, 8GB storage, 8 megapixel camera, 8.5mm thickness, 1GHz dual-core processor, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to appear later in the year.

A special Android overlay customised specifically for the Prada will be used, featuring a subtle look with black, grey, and white icons.

“The new Prada Phone by LG is a winning collaboration between LG and fashion-house Prada,” said Ross Parker, Vodafone Australia’s General Manager. “This ‘statement’ device is the perfect choice for the discerning eye, and we’re delighted to be confirming its availability exclusively at Vodafone.”

You'll be seeing a lot of actor Edward Norton and model Daria Werbowy in ads soon: they're the faces of the Prada phone.

We can’t help but point out that on paper, much of the technology inside this phone is something we’d expect in a premium phone from 2011. Neither a 1GHz dual-core chip, screen with 800×480 resolution, or Android 2.3 Gingerbread – last year’s version – really suggest top-tier tech for 2012, what with Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus featuring better technology and being released at the end of last year.

That said, Prada and LG are looking at an April release date with an RRP of $799, so we’ll get to see how it stacks up soon enough.