Interested in getting the LG Optimus Vu in the UK without signing a two year contract? Online retailer Expansys is offering an unlocked SIM-free white or black model of the Vu right now for £349.99.

The Optimus Vu is LG's attempt to jump in and compete against the Samsung Galaxy Note and Note 2. Instead of directly copying the design of the Note, the company went with an approach that was quite different.Unfortunately, many of these differences might turn-off some consumers, such as the strange 4:3 aspect ratio. Design decisions also make the stylus less functional than the S-Pen since it isn't pressure sensitive and has no holder built into the smartphone hardware.

Looking at the specs, it is actually a reasonably capable device. The model being sold by Expansys has an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 2,100mAh battery and a 8MP camera. The LG Vu comes standard with Android 4.0 ICS.

These specs might not be quite as good as the Galaxy Note 2, but it is also cheaper to purchase the LG Optimus Vu. If you absolutely would rather get the Note 2, Expansys carries a SIM-Free 16GB model for £529.