The LG G4 is an eye opener and has been a topic of discussion recently. It was hard to imagine that the LG G3 could get any better and soon we heard about LG G4. The anticipation was much expected as we all wanted to see what’s new in the improvised version. The appearance of the phone has not changed much but the camera specs were very attractive even impressive. There are not many changes that are prominent and easily noticeable but the configuration of the phone has certainly improved. The LG G4 is an impressive smart phone though one cannot be certain about anything before having a closer look.
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LG G4 Review: LG G4 Specs
Display: 5.5 inch Quantum 2K IPS (2560 — 1440 resolution 534 PPI) – Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Cameras: 16 Megapixel rear-facing camera (with OIS 2.0) / 8 megapixel front-facing camera
Processor / RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 / 3 GB RAM
Memory: 32GB Internal Memory (with expansion slot )
Battery: 3,000 mAh removable battery /
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1/ Wi-Fi / NFC / USB 2.0 / micro SIM
OS: Android Lollipop 5.1 with LG’s UX 4.0 skin
Features: Leather backs, smart notice, Quick Shot, 100GB of Google Drive
LG G4 Review: Design and Build
As we discovered earlier the LG G4 looks quite familiar to the previous model. The rear button placement is intact in the new model. The body of G4 is somewhat curved though this does not make the phone flexible. The curve of the phone is fixed. The curve goes perfectly with the design and helps this phone to be handy so that it easily fits in the hands of the user. The front comprises of a 5.5 inch screen, speaker grill and the 8 megapixel front facing camera. The back is almost alike to G3 but the camera has been upgraded. It has a 16 megapixel rear camera, flash and laser auto focus. There is nothing on the side borders. The bottom edge has the micro USB charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack. The top edge has the IR blast and the microphone.
The LG G4 smart phone has the Snapdragon 808 chip on the inside; 3 GB RAM and a 3,000 mah removable battery (the part to be noted is that the T-Mobile version has a 2,900 battery). It runs on Android Lollipop version 5.1 with LG’s UX skin over it.
The LG G4 has sharper corners than the predecessor and it’s also a bit bigger and heavier than the G3 though this difference is hardly noticeable. There are two black covers available. One is in a metallic plastic which looks rather less attractive and another is in leather. It is not a very attractive design but it doesn’t look so bad either. To some the G4 might seem very large and difficult to hold but with the leather back it looks better more smooth and yet is not slippery. The leather back comes with another advantage. You don’t have to use a back case with it.
LG G4 Review: Display and Software
The LG G3 was a good phone but the G4 is great and one can easily get used to it because of the improved features. The buttons are better spaced and even better placed now. It is much easier to work with the touch screen now and typing is also easier and quicker. The G4 has a beautiful screen and the colours are not saturated at all with good quality animation which is rather attractive. It is not a pain to look as the phone in sunlight. The display is amazing and does not hurt the eyes at all.
The Snapdragon 808 chip used in the LG G4 might make you a bit cynical but it works perfectly fine. There is no prolonged time taken by the applications to open or to close. The downloading and installation also work perfectly fine with the LG G4.
LG G4 Review: Features
The G4 has been appreciated a lot for some of its features that make using them fun. This smart phone has a more toned down UX 4.0 when considered overall. The best part is that is now not domineering over android like the previous version. It is less congested which makes it’s functioning and transitioning smoother. KnockOn is still the same. The new G4 allows you to put KnockCode even with the screen off.
Smart lock is another attractive feature and one of the favourites. With this you can unlock your phone in places you set up. For instance, when you are alone or at home there is no need to enter the pin again and again therefore you can put your phone to smart lock to keep it unlocked at home. Another feature of smart lock is that you can keep your phone unlocked when it’s paired to your Android Wear watch.
Smart Settings is another feature most loved by users and has a lot of advantages. It can also be understood as a substitute to profiles. You can change it from sound to silent and also on vibration mode depending on your surroundings. It also works when you need to decise what to do when headphones are plugged or which app to open.
Dual Window is another one of the favourite features. It can be very handy sometimes though it might be rarely used. It can be used for both entertainments as well as work which totally depends on your comfort level.
LG G4 Review: Camera
The camera of LG G4 smart phone is the most discussed upgrade of the phone. It still has the splendid laser auto focus we came to love in the G3 and the upgrade is a 16 megapixel shooter with f/1.8 shooter. The best part is that it has the ability to shoot manual. It also has a colour spectrum sensor which is located near the flash and it works on retaining the colour accuracy and sharpness when the pictures are clicked. The OIS 2.0 is also observed to be very effective. The white balance, ISP and shutter speed can be controlled when you are in manual mode and this makes shooting still images more effective. Videos can’t be shot in manual mode with the LG G3. This gives the camera an awesome rating and the front camera which is 8 megapixels is good as well even on paper. It allows you to capture raw mode and you can later edit pictures using software like Adobe Lightroom.
A lot of things can be adjusted in manual mode as mentioned above. The pictures sometimes come over saturated therefore this feature comes in handy and you can always tweak the image. In some cases it is not required because the over saturated texture complements the picture so it is not so bad after all. When it is way too noticeable you can always temper with it.
LG G4 Review: Battery life
LG kept the removable battery intact and maintained their quality. LG G4 has a great reputation with battery life and lasts for long. On a busy day you can work the day out with your LG G4 perfectly fine and you will still have 20% of the battery to spare. On an extremely busy day you can make it by 8 pm to 8:30 by 4%. You can always easily find out the applications that are slowing your device down with the help of smart notices and you can save a lot of battery by turning them off. The power saving mode is also there to help save battery when you are running too short.
LG G4 Review: Pricing and Availability
Pricing and availability will depend a lot on the carrier. For those who are in a hurry of buying this phone, you guys have a great advantage because LG has offered a bundle with the purchase making the deal way more beneficial. This includes an extra battery and a 128GB micro SD card.
On purchasing the leather backs, the cost will rise up $40 more. On a 2 year contract the estimated price is $199.99 and without a contract it will cost to $629.99 i.e. for the metallic or plastic back. For the genuine leather back $239.99 with a 2-year contract and $669.99 without a contract.
Overall
There will be a lot of talk about the LG G4. LG wants the consumers to know there are a lot of options out there. For those who look for a good camera in their phone, the LG G4 is the best choice as both the front and the back cameras are great to work with. The phone might not be the prettiest thing that you have ever seen but it looks a lot better than the G3. It is also a good choice for those who want removable battery and expanded memory as it is not found in most phones these days.
The G4 is a good phone but there is no noticeable upgrade except for the camera which has certainly improved a lot. For those who are still using LG G2, this upgrade is what they need and will love using it.
