Introduction
LG G4 takes the manufacturer's smartphone game up a notch. In addition to being the hardware powerhouse we've come to expect from an LG flagship smartphone, the gently curved device adds a touch of bona fide luxury to its arsenal via optional genuine leather back covers.
With LG G4, the Korean giant has focused on three key aspects - design, display, and camera, and the last two could as well be the best available on a smartphone at the moment. The 5.5" Quantum IPS has pro-grade color accuracy, while the 16MP f/1.8 camera offers an array of manual controls to take photography to the next level.
In a bid to stay away from the controversial Snapdragon 810 chipset, LG has instead chosen to use the Snapdragon 808. This chipset was announced along with the Snapdragon 810 as its more affordable alternative. Instead of a total of 8 cores, it comes with only 6. The choice of chipset, the only slight curvature and the lack of a self-healing will certainly put under strain the sibling relations as in some respects the recently released LG G Flex2 is even better equipped than the flagship.
Key features
- 5.5" QHD Quantum IPS display (2560 x 1440 pixels); 538ppi; Gorilla Glass 3
- Android 5.1 Lollipop with LG UX 4.0
- 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 MSM8992 chipset; Dual-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A57 & quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, 3GB RAM
- 32GB of built-in memory; microSD card slot; 100GB of Google Drive for 2 years
- 16MP main camera with f/1.8 lens; 1/2.6" sensor; 3-axis OIS; 104MP panoramas; full manual controls; 4K video recording @ 30 fps
- 8MP front-facing camera with 1080p video capture
- Cat. 6 LTE (up to 300Mbps); Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; Wi-Fi Direct; Bluetooth 4.1 with A2DP; apt-X, GPS/GLONASS receiver, Stereo FM with RDS
- microUSB v2.0 port with SlimPort 4K support; USB Host
- 3,000mAh removable battery
- Optional genuine leather back covers
Main disadvantages
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 doesn't offer flagship performance
- No water or dust resistance
At a quick glance, the LG G4 shapes up to be a dream come true for Android power users. Its removable battery and memory card slot are a rare sight in a flagship smartphone these days - most major players in the field have skipped one of the two, or both features altogether.
Developed in-house by LG, the 16MP main camera and the 5.5" QHD Quantum IPS display of the G4 are poised to take on the heavyweights in the segment. Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box on the other hand, is pleasant surprise - the build is reserved mostly for Nexus hardware for the time being.
Most importantly, LG has spent a great deal of time boosting the luxury appeal of its flagship smartphone. The leather backs feel as great as they look, so it will certainly draw the interest of a whole new crowd of potential customers.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 is the biggest question mark in the LG G4 - it's not clear whether the six-core chipset delivers the right tradeoff between performance and heating and early benchmarks show it certainly doesn't deliver top-tier flagship performance.
Following next is an unboxing of the LG G4, followed later by a closer look at its design and build quality.
Retail package
LG G4 ships in a rather understated retail box, which hints at the device's slightly curved design. Inside it, we found a charger and a USB cable.
The retail package
It is worth noting that the unit we tested out for this preview is meant for the South Korean market. We are almost certain that the retail box in certain markets will feature a stereo headset and/or protective case.
Design and build quality
In term of design, LG G4 continues to evolve the looks of its predecessors - LG G2 and LG G3. This time around however, the newcomer has also borrowed cues from the LG G Flex and G Flex 2 - it is slightly curved in a bid to deliver distinctive looks and improved ergonomics.
LG G4 in the flesh
When it comes to looks, the slightly curved body of LG G4 tells only half the story. It is the device's various back covers and their materials and textures, which truly set it apart from its predecessors and the competition.
The genuine leather which adorns the optional back covers for the LG G4 is commonly used in the luxury industry, and looks great in person. Available in several different colors and finishes, the hide is stitched with high-end Guttermann's threads and takes a whopping twelve weeks to produce.
The plastic covers of the handset has gotten special treatment too. They are have "hammered pattern" with three available finishes - ceramic white, titanium gray, and gold. The white option looks particularly stunning in person, as it has been treated with actual ceramic paint.
Build quality of the smartphone is top notch. LG G4 feels solidly put together and ready to match the needs of an Android power user.
Allegedly, the gently curved body of the LG G4 will allow it to handle casual drops better than competing devices.
Just like last year's model, the LG G4 has an amazingly small footprint for a 5.5" smartphone - it measures 148.9 x 76.1 x 9.8 mm, while its weight tips the scale at 155 grams. For comparison, an iPhone 6 Plus with the same size display measures 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm, and weighs 172 grams.
LG G4 sized up against Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Thanks to its relatively compact and also curved body, it is easy to handle the LG G4. The smartphone feels pleasant in hand, especially in leather guise.
Handling LG G4
Removing the battery cover reveals the user-replaceable 3,000mAh battery and a microSD card slot. Both features should be a boon for power users.
Display
One of the biggest highlights in LG G4, its 5.5" QHD Quantum IPS display could well be the best unit available on a smartphone at the moment. The screen boasts pro-grade color accuracy and improved contrast over the QHD unit found in LG G3.
The 5.5" QHD Quantum IPS display is gorgeous
LG is keen to point out the screen is superior to the LCD unit found on the iPhone 6 Plus, but we will reserve our final verdict for the full review, after we test the device in our lab.
[via GSMARENA]
