Leaked photos of the LG Esteem recently showed up in the LG Partner Portal and they suggest that MetroPCS will be making further moves into the world of Android and LTE 4G connectivity with this particular device.

Some in the blogosphere have reported that you can get your hands on this phone for a mere $350 after a $100 mail-in rebate. And, while there there is no confirmed release date, rumors had suggested that September 23rd would be the day. However, due to the fact that it is September 28th, that guess is out of the picture. However, it leads us to believe that the true date is just around the corner.

The Works

• Android 2.3+ with LG User Interface
• Multiple Language Capability
• HDMI Support
• 720p Video Capture and Playback
• LTE Capable
• 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon
• 5mp Rear Shooter
• Auto Focus and LED Flash
• 1.3mp Front-Facing Camera
• Weight: 6.06oz
• Dimensions: 5.03” (H) x 2.63” (W) x 0.53” (D)
• 4.3″ 800 x 480 Pixel Display
• Battery: 1,500 mAH
• HD Video Streaming
• USB 2.0 Connectivity via Micro USB
• 512mb RAM
• Built-in Image Editor
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Capable

LTE Plans

Now that the LG Esteem is LTE capable, how much can you expect to be paying? Metro PCS has come to the rescue with unlimited LTE data for $60/month. In addition, $40 and $50 plans will be available that offer 100mb/month and 1gb/month respectively. All 3 plans will offer unlimited MetroWEB despite their data limits.

LTE is Good

Metro PCS has finally stepped into the LTE world and in my opinion, they have done so with a big bang.  More specifically, their plans are cheap and bountiful and now they have succeeded in offering great hardware as well. Although the major providers (Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint) still say that they are in the lead by means of coverage, if you live in a major US city, you might want to take a look for yourself here.