LG Nexus 5X review

Introduction

  Some think that it's time for Google to start making its own hardware, the closest we have today is the Nexus series. The Nexus 5X, co-designed by Google and LG, is the mid-range offering and a respite from the 6" Nexus last year, leaving its sibling to fill the premium, large-screen role.

  As the Android One program fizzled out, it became clear that it can't carry the load of a mid-range Nexus. So the Nexus 5 was reborn as the 5X to give users first-party software experience and Google design ideology at a reasonable price, while the 6P carries on the premium legacy of Moto's Nexus 6.

  This is LG's third Nexus (4, 5 and now 5X). The design has shifted from the LG Nexus 4 and 5 exterior to something that could have come out of Motorola's sketchbooks. Or rather this is a case of Google's design persisting between makers. That the 5X doesn't feel like it belongs in the LG lineup is a clear sign that the 5X is more Google than LG.

  The focus has been placed on enhanced security (fingerprint sensor on the back, the Nexus Imprint) that enables mobile payments (Android Pay) and a push towards a universal connector (USB Type-C). The camera was primed for low-light shooting and the more you shoot, the more you can upload to Google Photos (well, you're not going to store them on a microSD card).

Key features

·5.2" screen with 1080p resolution (424ppi)

·Android 6.0 Marshmallow and you're first in line for updates

·Dual-core Cortex-A57 at 1.82Ghz + quad-core Cortex-A53 at 1.44GHz, 2GB of RAM, Adreno 418 GPU; Snapdragon 808 chipset

·16GB or 32GB of storage

·12.3MP camera with laser autofocus and dual-LED flash; 1.55µm pixels; 5MP selfie camera

·2160p video capture

·Fingerprint reader; Android Pay

·USB Type-C

·2,700mAh Li-Po battery with fast charging (4 hours of use in 10 minutes of charging)

Main disadvantages

·Expensive outside the US

·Chipset and especially RAM not on 2015 flagship level

·No card slot and the storage options are limited

·No OIS for the camera or wireless charging like the 2013 model had

  It's strange to see lack of progress in some areas and even regressions compared to the 2013 Nexus 5. While 2GB of RAM is workable on a modern Android, we kind of expected more. No movement on the storage front either (no 64GB option, really?) Why OIS and wireless charging were dropped we're not sure.

  On the positive side, the improvements are definitely worth it. The fingerprint reader and the camera are the biggest updates. The still resolution was bumped up 50%, though we expect noticeably better quality with the big pixels and there's laser autofocus too. Also, 4K video recording is becoming more prevalent and you get much better selfies with the 5MP shooter.

    

LG Nexus 5X • Carbon color • Quartz color • Ice color

  The LG Nexus 5X boasts a slightly bigger screen, plus 64-bit processing and USB Type-C for future-proofing. The battery is bigger too, which will give the new Doze feature more to work with. Connectivity has been sped up and there's various other upgrades too.

  The Nexus 4 assassinated the idea that only flagships get great specs and the Nexus 5 cemented it. That's great legacy that the Nexus 5X has to live up to, though its goal is slightly different. It wants to revitalize the mid-range market where some of the established makers have been languishing while young companies produce great offerings, but with a heavily-skinned, Google-light software.

Screen

  Back in 2013 when the Nexus 5 came out, LG had the G2 - a phone with a 5.2" 1080p screen. Not that we'd push for QHD resolution at this diagonal, especially at this price and with this GPU. Still, a comparison is inevitable.

  So we're pleased to report that two years of progress in display tech has brought better contrast and colors than the previous model. There are no controls for adjusting the screen colors though.

  The LG Nexus 5X is impressive even at a quick glance, and our test more than proved what our eyes saw. The maximum brightness level (455nits) may not be class leading, but the achieved contrast ratio of 1542:1 is excellent due to the nicely deep blacks.

  Another nice finding is the fact that the screen is calibrated for almost perfect color rendering right out of the box. It’s a rare sight to see a phone with an Avg. DeltaE of only 2.3 (based on the primary colors plus black&white) as anything below a deviation of 4 is considered calibration-grade color output.

  Additionally, the minimum brightness level is only 1.8nits for white content, which means that you should probably be quite comfortable using the Nexus 5X display in dark environment without any eye strain.

  The low reflectivity of Gorilla Glass 3 and high contrast of the screen allow it to remain legible even in bright sunlight. The 5.2" screen of Nexus 5X is well above average in this respect.

Connectivity

  The LG Nexus 5X comes equipped with an LTE Cat. 6 modem for speeds up to 300Mbps down and 50Mbps up. Aside from GSM, the US version of the phone will also have CDMA for compatibility with Verizon and Sprint.

  Besides that you have the usual Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4GHz and 5GHz and Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP. NFC is on board, naturally, to be used with the new Android Pay.

  The USB Type-C cable will transfer speeds at USB 3.1 speeds, but the provided cable is Type-C on both ends which you probably don't have on your computer. You'll either need an adapter or a whole new cable. Also, by default the phone connects to charge-only, so you have to manually enable data transfer. Google really does not want you using wired transfer.

  The USB port can be used to hook up storage and USB periphery (but again, stuff with the C plug is quite rare). As mentioned earlier, there's no TV-out - no SlimPort, MHL or anything. You're stuck with the wireless Cast method.

Battery life

  The LG Nexus 5X comes with a 2,700mAh battery, not big for its size, but a definite improvement over the 2,300mAh battery that the 2013 model got. And it has a new OS feature to make sure the battery is used efficiently.

  Doze detects when you are not using the phone and the longer that goes on, the less and less it allows apps to do work in the background - it's wasted effort that the user won't notice (other than the used up battery charge).

 The standby power draw of the Nexus 5X is pretty good, especially for this capacity. Even so the total standby rating isn't that high, the poor video playback in particular drags down the result.

  Talk time is okay at 17 hours, but the aging LG G2 did 25 hours (it also had a bigger battery though). It's a massive improvement for owners of the 2013 Nexus 5 though. Things get better - the 5 was one of the worst performers in web browsing, the 5X now lasts nearly twice as long in the same test. Still, we've seen better performing mid-rangers.

  Finally, the poor video support (more on that in the video player section) left the Nexus 5X with an unimpressive score of 6 and a half hours. Better than before, but not good for 2015.

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LG V10 review

Introduction

  There's quite a lot to the LG V10 - a flagship, a phablet, a camera phone, a rugged phone, a Hi-Fi phone and the first of the new V-series. It's a feature-packed device and its signature feature is the secondary always-on display and a dual selfie camera.

  Until recently, the LG G4 and the G Flex2 ruled LG's lineup as co-flagships, but now there is only one king. In our preview we described it as "G4 on steroids" and the longer we spend with the LG V10, the more we are convinced this is an apt description.

  The secondary display is essentially one line above the main screen that can be left on 24/7 and serves for notifications and shortcuts. This is to the notification light as email is to Morse code - a much richer way to give you at-a-glance info of what happened since you last checked your phone.

  We've seen secondary screens like this one before, but this is our first dual selfie camera. LG solved the problem of group selfies ('groufies') by adding a super-wide 120° camera, in addition to the standard 80° one. Many more of your friends can now fit into the shot.

  The main camera is very impressive too, it features the most comprehensive set of manual controls we've ever seen on a mobile device. Even PureView Lumias and Samsung's smartphone/camera hybrids didn't have some of the settings available on the LG V10.

  And then there's the fingerprint reader, the 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC and the premium headphones. Here's the short version of it, we'll do a deep dive into the top features of the V10 as soon as we're done with the intro.

Key features

·Main 5.7" Quantum display, QHD resolution (515ppi)

·Secondary 2.1" line display, 1,040 x 160px

·Stainless steel (316L) body and Dura Skin cover; shock-proof (MIL-STD-810G)

·16MP main camera, 1/2.6" sensor, f/1.8 aperture; optical image stabilization and laser autofocus

·2160p video capture, manual mic control

·Dual-selfie cameras: both 5MP, one with 80° lens, one with 120°

·Dual-core Cortex-A57 (1.82GHz) + quad-core Cortex-A53 (1.44GHz), Adreno 418, 4GB of RAM; Snapdragon 808 chipset

·Android 5.1 Lollipop with Optimus UI

·64GB built-in storage plus microSD card slot

·Fingerprint sensor

·3,000mAh battery; Quick Charge 2.0 (50% in 40 min)

Main disadvantages

·More powerful chipsets exist, a flagship should have gotten the best

·Rugged, but not water resistant

·The durable back cover not as premium as G4's leather covers

·Rather heavy, even for its size

  The LG V10 provides a nice antithesis of the Galaxy Note5 and S6 edge+. Their sealed back compartments and glass backs (which double the chance of cracks when dropped) make them seem more vain than practical. Also, the Galaxy S6 edge+ does not use its dual-curved screen as a separate control like last year's Note edge did.

    

LG V10 in Luxe White and Opal Blue

  LG issues a serious challenge to other makers on the camera and audio battlefields with the V10. The phone is also LG's first to feature a fingerprint reader since 2009's GW820 eXpo (not counting the Google-designed Nexus 5X).

  Time to get started since there's a lot of ground to cover. The bodywork on the LG V10 is quite complex, the software section has to explain why you need a secondary screen and the camera section has a couple of new terms to introduce to the world of smartphone photography.

Display

  The LG V10 has a screen unlike anything we've seen. Yes, we've seen second screens before, however, this one is one display panel one corner of which has been cut off. And it has a second display driver and backlight, specifically for that upper portion of the panel that works as a second screen.

  This allows it to show an image and track touch input with minimal power draw, which in turn enables some helpful controls you can access without having to wake the phone (like muting the sound or turning on a flashlight). It also keeps you abreast with any new notifications - instead of color coded messages from a notification light you get to see the app's icon.

  On paper the screen of the LG V10 seems to be powered by the same technology as the one on the LG G4, but it actually has a higher contrast ratio (1490:1). The maximum brightness level is somewhat lower (432nits vs 532nits) but the black levels are much lower resulting in the improved ratio.

  In terms of color accuracy, both screens are pretty much identical with overall good scores (Avg deltaE 4.9 and Max deltaE of 10.7 for the primary colors plus black and white). LG hasn't provided any ways for you to adjust the screen color temperature to their liking otherwise we could have achieved a more color accurate result with a slightly warmer setting.

  The LG V10 screen shares the amazingly low minimum brightness level of only 3.9nits that we first saw on the LG G4, which means it will go quite easy on the eyes when you use the phone in pitch dark settings.

  Going outside of such murky areas, the LG V10 screen offers above average legibility at max brightness. Since the brightness slider is all too eager to reduce the nits you'll want to keep it in the upper half.

Connectivity

  The LG V10 has all the connectivity goodies save for a dual-SIM option. It comes in GSM and CDMA flavors (the latter will happily work on GSM networks if the bands match up). The fastest mobile data option is 300Mbps LTE Cat. 6 and you get 42Mbps on 3G.

  Locally, the situation is pretty familiar with Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac bearing most of the load with Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA add-ons. For low-power connectivity there's Bluetooth 4.1 LE with the apt-X audio codec.

  NFC is on-board so the V10 is compatible with Android Pay (LG is rumored to be working on its own system too). You get the benefit of fingerprint security too.

  Anyway, our unit came with DMB-T TV tuner, though this is a regional thing. All regions will get the IR blaster for TV control though.

  The wired microUSB 2.0 port handles USB storage and TV out (SlimPort, but it seems that not all regional versions support it).

  On the software side you get a DLNA server support and Miracast, plus a number of LG-specific features. One is SmartShare Beam (transferring files between LG devices) and LG AirDrive, which does the same but with a computer (you need an LG account).

Battery life

  The LG G2 with its 5.2" screen had a 3,000mAh battery, then the G3 with a 5.5" screen, the G4 and now the LG V10. The V10 is slightly thinner than the G2 (8.6mm vs. 8.9mm), but not by much. What we're getting at is that the internal volume has gone up while the battery capacity hasn't changed in over two years now.

  LG rates the V10's talk time at 18 hours and about as much, close to 17 hours. Even the G2 did better than this. The web browsing and video playback times are average. Nothing spectacular when you consider the screen was at a modest 100 nits (well below average).

  As a result the endurance rating works out to 56 hours, just over two full days. The standby power draw is fairly low, but that's with the second screen off. Turning it on brings the LG V10 down to 46 hours endurance rating. The impact is fairly small, with or without the second screen you'll get two days of moderate usage and one day of heavier usage.

  Note that we're testing a Korean unit, LG says that international units units will perform better in Europe and the US.

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Android Marshmallow might be coming to the LG G3 and G4 pretty soon

  If you own a vanilla Android Nexus device, you should be getting Marshmallow on October 5. Some other more fast-paced manufacturers like HTC announced a list of its devices that will be getting the OTA and now LG might is joining the Android 6.0 fun.

  The clues were found on the company's Korean support website, where a few flagship models have Android 6.0 listed as an OS version option. Currently, these include the LG G3 F400S, F400K, and F400L, along with the LG G4 F500S, F500K, and F500L.

  The corresponding support pages are still unavailable, but here's to hoping this is some indication that the update itself will follow shortly.

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LG G4 review: Sharp and shooter

Introduction

  Flagships get better with every generation but some of last year's are as good as reborn. The LG G4 improves on the three best features of its predecessor: design, screen, the camera - and does so decisively. It adopts a G Flex curve, but makes it its own with an optional stitched leather back, and has what may as well be the most advanced camera module on a phone yet.

  The camera really is the new phone's key feature. LG picked a new 16MP sensor, improved the optical stabilization, gave it a wider aperture lens, added a handful of new software features (including manual mode) and placed a top-notch selfie camera on the front. A complete overhaul of the imaging department.

  LG designers were hard at work too. They gave the LG G4 a subtle arc that complements the spacious screen and sourced high-quality materials for the back covers. The premium option is made of genuine full grain leather with threads imported from Germany used on the decorative stitching. Even the basic backs are far from plain - the white one has ceramic coating.

  The LG G4 strikes a great balance between tangible quality and intangible class. Here's how the hardware capabilities and the premium exterior balance out, plus what the G4 offers over its predecessor.

Key features

• Subtly curved design with optional leather backs
• 5.5" QHD (1440 x 2560px) Quantum Display IPS LCD, 534ppi, Gorilla Glass 3
• Android 5.1 Lollipop with the latest LG UX v4.0
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset with hex-core processor (dual Cortex-A57 @ 1.82GHz, quad A53 @ 1.44GHz), Adreno 418 GPU and 3GB of RAM
• 16MP camera, phase detection/laser autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, OIS, 2160p video recording
• 8MP front-facing camera, 1080p video recording
• 32GB of built-in storage, expandable via a microSD card slot
• Active noise cancellation with a secondary microphone
• Dolby mobile sound enhancement
• 3,000mAh user-replaceable battery
• microUSB 2.0 with SlimPort 4K
• IR-port and NFC

Main disadvantages

• Chipset isn't top of the range
• No IP-certification for dust or water resistance
• No Quick Charge charger in the box

Compared to LG G3

• Much improved imaging (both front and rear cameras)
• Noticeably faster chipset
• Screen has higher contrast and brightness
• Slightly bigger

  The screen is LG's own creation as none of the top display manufacturers had what the G4 needed. The company calls it a "Quantum Display," not be confused with Sony's quantum dot screens. LG says it's actually better. The new components reduce power usage, while improving brightness and contrast. Better color accuracy is promised as well.

    

LG G4's colorful variety of back covers

  So, should other smartphone makers pack up and go home? Users campaigning for removable batteries and expandable storage are nodding in agreement, but a chipset that's only second-best may be raising a few eyebrows. The thing is, early benchmarks showed that Snapdragon 808 is quite capable of competing with the 810. Either way, the performance of the latest Snapdragons is a sore issue so we'll pay special attention to that.

  Before we delve into the hardware, a quick preview of how the LG G3 compares to its replacement. LG's new screen resolves our complaints about contrast from last year the camera comparison is a cakewalk for the newcomer. The performance gains are not as readily visible though. But benchmark-topper or not, the LG G4 won't have to ask for anyone's attention.

Unboxing the LG G4

  Is the LG G4 a flagship? You'd think "no" just looking at the retail box. It has a clever design with a curve that hints at what's inside, but other than the beautiful phone the box's contents are a disappointment.

   

LG G4's modest retail box

  What little content there is - all you get is a charger and a cable. And it's not a Quick Charger either, you get a regular 5V/2A charger. The phone itself supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, but you'll have to buy a compatible charger yourself. There's no headset in the box either.

Design and build quality

  The LG G4 can easily be mistaken for the LG G Flex2, the two look so much alike and are basically the same size and weight. The Flex2's curve is definitely more prominent though and if that doesn't give it away, snapping on a leather back on the G4 will set these two even further apart.

  While the body of the LG G4 is arced, the G3 forms appear softer, rounder. LG squared off the four corners and the left to right curve of the G3's back is more pronounced. The impression of angles and corners on the LG G4 is furthered by the sides, which are angled inward at the front.

This improves grip as it gives your fingers a ledge besides the screen. However, the way the opposing front and back curvatures work out creates a hard, pointed frame around the phone, which can dig into your palm if you grip harder. And you may have to as the glossy material of the frame is slippery, the smooth plastic on the back doesn't help much either.

  

LG G4 doesn't feel bigger, but is grippier than its predecessor

  The G4 is a large phone, but we got used to it fairly quickly - we forget it's in our pockets and it doesn't feel humongous in the hand (well, the screen does). If you've handled and iPhone 6 Plus, the G4 is smaller than that (though noticeably thicker). It doesn't feel bigger than the LG G3, but like we said more angular and easier to grip.

    

LG G4 and G3 • G4 compared to the iPhone 6 Plus and Galaxy S6

  The phone feels rock solid, which also means it doesn't bend like the G Flex2 (granted, a desired effect there). The weight is well-distributed with the balance shifted slightly towards the bottom. You can hold the G4 low and it won't topple over.

  The LG G4 looks a bit like a TV with no clear indication of up or down, left or right. The G3 had a lighter colored strip at the bottom, which gave it a sense of direction, but the G4's all-dark front looks borderless.

  The glass (Gorilla Glass 3) and screen below it are slightly arced, it's so subtle that you may not see it immediately. You can feel it though, the 5.5" screen is quite large and the concave shape makes the top and bottom parts feel closer to your finger.

  

The body is slightly arced, which makes reaching the top and bottom parts of the screen a bit easier

  As for the back, there are two options, plastic or leather. The plastic covers come in Ceramic White, Metallic Gray and Gold. They have a subtle 3D diamond pattern and the White one is coated with ceramic paint. The Gray one (featured in our photos) is mostly gray, but can have a purplish tint depending on how the light hits it.

  The plastic covers are rather smooth though and while you won't see fingerprints on them their texture is too subtle to notice most of the time. We prefer the plastic cover of the G3 with its brushed metal finish.

    

The Metallic Grey back cover compared to G3's cover and the real metal of HTC One M9

  The G3 never had a leather option though. Motorola made a splash with the leather back of the Moto X, a feature reserved for Vertu and the like. LG one ups Moto by making the covers removable and adding decorative stitching.

  The leather is tanned with vegetable oils, the traditional and more environmentally friendly way of doing it. It's a laborious process though so vegetable-tanned leather is used in pricy luxury items. Same goes for the stitching - LG gets its threads from Gütterman, a household name in the clothing industry.

  The leather comes in three colors - Black, Brown and Red - though more are expected to come later on, while availability will be depending on region. The different colors have different grain, so that's something to consider.

    

    

The leather backs look much better than the plastic options in our opinion

  As for the stitching, it goes down the middle of the back, which matches up with the centrally-placed camera and buttons but is perhaps not the most attractive place for stitches. We would have loved some contrast stitching too, the current light thread blends in with some of the lighter leathers.

  Not much else has changed since last year. The back features the camera module, the volume rocker below it is split in half by the Power key. The way these three are grouped makes them look like a single design element. It goes on the centerline of the back, while dual-LED flash and Laser Autofocus system are placed symmetrically on each side.

  

The new 16MP camera in the traditional G-series arrangement

  The loudspeaker is at the bottom left. The back can be removed to access the battery, the microSIM and microSD slots. The card slots are blocked by the battery. Here you'll notice several pogo pins, two of those are for NFC, the rest for the optional wireless charging covers.

  

The loudspeaker • removing the back cover gives you access to the battery and the card slots

  The face of the phone is pretty plain, but it does have a hidden gem - the 8MP/1080p selfie camera. The earpiece, along with the usual sensors (proximity and ambient light), are also here.

  

An impressive 8MP/1080p selfie camera above the screen • just the LG logo below the screen

  The bottom of the phone holds the mouthpiece, the 3.5mm audio jack and the microUSB 2.0 port. It's SlimPort-enabled and with the right adapter (or compatible TV) the LG G4 has wired 4K video output.

    

Mic, 3.5mm audio jack and SlimPort-enabled microUSB port • noise-cancelling mic and IR blaster

  The top of the phone holds the noise-cancelling mic and an IR blaster if you want to control your TV wirelessly. The sides of the phone are bare, except for a small notch that helps you pop the back open.

  

Nothing around the sides

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