There is no denying that LG changed the market with the Chocolate, a phone which proved that stunning looks could get you a lot further than just a great set of specs (true for phones as it is for people)... The second in this flagship line was the LG Shine, a great phone overlooked largely due to focusing on its reflective qualities, not a priority for even the most shallow of people. The third coming, along with a whirlwind of media fanfare and advertising dollars from the Black Label stable is the LG Secret.  

Definitely trying to get by on the initial wow factor, it succeeds by being the kind of handset that instantly starts conversations when nonchalantly placed on a table. The amalgam of that huge screen with metal piping, the gorgeous purple hue of the four-way navpad complete with haptic feedback, and the super-slim frame all make the Secret a real headturner. However, the classic problem of being a major fingerprint magnet all of twenty seconds after picking it up means the phone will often remain sheathed, despite the touted 'tempered-glass' making the screen practically bomb-proof.

Using the phone is pretty standard, until you realize LG haven't really put a foot wrong any step of the way. The metal rim isn't just for show, housing three physical 'send', 'end' and 'cancel' keys. The lovely rippling keys for navigating the Touch Media portion of the phone's UI are not super-sensitive (looking at you Samsung E900!), and the 5MP camera is certainly no slouch, not quite replacing your SLR but is still capable as a video camera also. Online capabilities are easy given the HSDPA connection, allowing for swift downloads as well as quick and easy browsing.

A great surprise is the inclusion of accelerometer-based games, lending a fun and physical air to proceedings as the handset is flicked forward to throw a dart or yoinked upwards to snare a huge fish! Okay, so this is old news to those who were aware of DoCoMo's Japanese handsets doing their take on Wii bowling a year ago, but it's still awesome! Obviously, the motion sensors are in there for much more than games, providing correct orientation for photo taking and the like, but it is an interesting and welcome addition.

It is certainly a great and great looking phone, but there are a couple of little issues that cause it to fall short of greatness. The touchscreen, as good as it is, only activates for navigating through media. Why not make the phone completely touch driven, rather than this part time system? Presumably as it would require a complete overhaul of Samsung's UI, and for the most part it is business as usual on the Secret. There is a flash on the phone, a given with a 5MP camera, but Nokia have begun to spoil consumers by introducing the xenon flash for quality night shots on some N-Series handsets. The flash on the Secret is 'only' LED, but given that this is the slimmest 5MP phone in existence, we should be grateful that it is so fully featured.

The LG Secret is set to be the worst kept in the industry with the handset coming in as cheap as free on some networks, on the right tariff.  That, combined with the wealth of excellent features in a fashion-forward package, makes it the next phone that will get everyone whispering.