LG has a new Optimus handset head to the American market. Normally something like the F3Q wouldn’t be worth the comment, especially since the handset isn’t confirmed for launch closer to home, but an image leaked to Twitter account @evleaks shows that this particular Optimus will be arriving with what looks to be a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

The Optimus F3Q is due to launch on America’s T-Mobile operator and the @evleaks leak has given some indication of what the specifications for the device – aside from the rather obvious keyboard – are. The F3Q will have a 4-inch WVGA display (800 x 480), a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 2460mAh battery, LTE, a 5MP camera and Android 4.1.2.

These are the same basic specs seen in the already-launched Optimus F3 handset, the major difference being the keyboard. It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen any smartphone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and it’d be interesting to see how something like the F3Q does if it ever make an appearance in the South African market. It’s… very… retro. Retro is a good word.

Source: Engadget Image: @evleaks