It’s a ‘compact’ in all senses: Small in size, flip-phone format and decorated like a fancy makeup compact.

Of course, the mini monochrome LCD status screen on the outside of the top shell kind of blows the ‘Cover Girl’ cover story… But it’s a handy feature usually found only on more expensive phones — which the Lotus is.

Yes, the LG LX600 Lotus is definitely targeted to women, but it’s not just a plain phone painted pink and bedecked with sequins, the way some phone makers do a ‘lady’s model’.

The Lotus has solid features for the gal on the go who demands performance as well as style.

First, there’s a full QWERTY keyboard, as you’d expect on a serious, working mobile. However, the keys are squished into an odd-shaped space and default to a tall-rectangle shape which is difficult to type on with bare fingers but somewhat easier to use (we imagine) with longer nail tips.

Notable features include a large (for the device’s overall size) 2.4 in. main screeen, a 2.0 megapixel camera/camcorder, a built-in MP3 player with external music controls and integrated GPS. The Lotus is also Bluetooth ready, of course.

The Lotus comes in basic black or pretty purple — but not in pink! We like that. Pink is great for kids or teens. But a woman deserves the kind of elegance and sophistication that this unique ‘compact’ phone delivers.

The LG LX660 is currently available exclusively from Sprint/Nextel in the U.S. at (US)$150 with a two-year service contract.