Lg g4

[poofyhairguy]

To be fair, first party (Google) also has plenty of bugs

Very true. My Android Wear watch (which was PERFECTLY stable on the KitKat version of Wear) has been a crashfest after the first Lollipop update. I am finally installing the newest update tonight, I hope it helps with that.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Oh well the performance looks last gen (so current gen mid-range) as we expected. In some of those benchmarks the LG G4 trails the S6 by 80-100% and is barely as fast as the LG G3. Shockingly, it's even slower than the G3 in 1 bench.
http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_hands_on-review-1245p3.php

Yup, this is a rough year in Androidland for pretty much everyone that doesn't have their own SoC in-house. It was a long time coming and the inevitable meh-ness of future 2015 devices is why I picked up a cheap M8 at the end of last year. Maybe Qualcomm's lack of vision will open up the market a little going forward.

Right now I am very interested in Huawei and their 16nm Kirin SoCs. If they can deliver true battery life savings for cheap then maybe everyone will look past the last gen GPU. Or maybe we get a Kirin 940 with a modern GPU and the S6 has a challenger sooner than Q4. I am very interested in seeing how those custom cores perform.

I do see the G4 getting a heavy discount early, and then maybe being a value hunter device for the camera. They are counting on customization winning the day, but I don't know if that will keep up their value this year. The G2 is still probably the best phone value on the second hand market, maybe this is the new G2.

 

[RossMAN]

Removable battery + microSD = win but I'd like a more vanilla Android experience.

Waiting for Nexus 5 2015, Moto X 2015 or whatever the models will be called.

 

[Omar F1]

Removable battery + microSD = win but I'd like a more vanilla Android experience.

Waiting for Nexus 5 2015, Moto X 2015 or whatever the models will be called.

In the same boat here, upgrading from Nexus 5 to LG G4 (mainly because bad battery and some hiccups). However, it won't be easy for me to get used over any other Android UI.

 

[Anubis]

the thickness is a non issue, the iphone is too thin

performance wise we have gotten to the point where it is also a non issue for 99% of the phone buying population. posters here are the 1% its actually prob .1%. any phone released in the past year or 2 has been fast enough for the every day idiot who just wants a phone that does phone things

 

[dawheat]

I think it sounds like a great phone overall, with some big caveats. For a normal user, it should be an excellent phone with a great display and camera. Build quality probably isn't quite up to 2015 standards, even with the leather back, but it's certainly good enough for most people.

- If you game on your phone, there are probably better choices. 2K screen + GPU slower than the S805 isn't a good sell for a flagship price today.
- Lack of touch biometrics IMO is an increasing issue for many Android flagships. When done right like the iPhone, it genuinely improves the user experience and security.
- If it holds with past LG phones, the bootloader won't be locked, but 3rd party support for LG phones has always been pretty light.
- Their version of Lollipop IMO isn't the best - behind even the newest TW, much less Sense.

 

[mnewsham]

This is honestly what I expected, there just isnt a good SoC for LG to use at the moment, this is a stop gap device until the G5 I think.


I am due for an upgrade around October, hopefully the Note 5 this fall looks more promising, though I might just wait for 2016 releases.

 

[blankslate]

found a video that has a preview of the LG G4 that showcases the camera capabilities of the new upcoming phone.

It is very impressive and while it may not get into camera mode as fast as other flagships (this wasn't mentioned in particular) the capabilities of the the camera in the phone look to be very competitive. Especially if you would like some manual control features... such as setting shutter speed. There is a 6 axis movable lens for exceptional optical image stabilization. The lens also has a wide aperture for good low light performance.


You can if you want to replace a point and shoot that has some good options for controlling the way the picture is taken.

http://twit.cachefly.net/video/aaa/aaa0211/aaa0211_h264b_640x368_256.mp4

Based on the above video this phone's camera could sway those who rate the camera as one of the most important features in their phones.

the preview starts at about 50 minutes into the video



If you want weird back covers they have leather and ceramic(huh?) as options...

If the Note 5 does away with the micro SD memory expansion and removable battery this phone will replace it on the short list when it's time to upgrade.


....

 

[openwheel]

I will be trying this phone (at bargain bin price as every other LGs).

 

[blankslate]

I will be trying this phone (at bargain bin price as every other LGs).

If a flagship phone (at the time it comes out) has a removable battery feature this is a valid purchasing strategy because the hardware is still viable and the price is lower (sometimes by a lot) after a year or so.



.....

 

[darkswordsman17]

This is honestly what I expected, there just isnt a good SoC for LG to use at the moment, this is a stop gap device until the G5 I think.


I am due for an upgrade around October, hopefully the Note 5 this fall looks more promising, though I might just wait for 2016 releases.

That's true, but that's also the problem in general for the whole market. All phones are just stop-gaps until the next one, some more than others. LG seems to be especially bad though. The G2 was good hardware in a compact cheap plastic shell. The G3 was just a stop-gap as well as it's display really was not ready for flagship beyond the pixel count and it didn't evolve much (didn't they also give up the display refresh?) over the G2. With the G4 we see LG trying to make inroads in the feel of the phone, the display, and other factors but they just don't seem to quite "get it" for what people want in premium phones. Kinda reminds me of Samsung with the S4/S5.

I think LG should look into updating the G2 and selling it as a mid-range phone in the $250-350 range (depending on features, performance). If possible, keep the display (and resolution), give it some better plastic, go with a 6xx series SoC, see if they can squeeze in an sd slot and they'd have a popular phone I think. Maybe they could even update the camera to have the newer focusing, optics, and OIS like the G4.

found a video that has a preview of the LG G4 that showcases the camera capabilities of the new upcoming phone.

It is very impressive and while it may not get into camera mode as fast as other flagships (this wasn't mentioned in particular) the capabilities of the the camera in the phone look to be very competitive. Especially if you would like some manual control features... such as setting shutter speed. There is a 6 axis movable lens for exceptional optical image stabilization. The lens also has a wide aperture for good low light performance.


You can if you want to replace a point and shoot that has some good options for controlling the way the picture is taken.

http://twit.cachefly.net/video/aaa/aaa0211/aaa0211_h264b_640x368_256.mp4

Based on the above video this phone's camera could sway those who rate the camera as one of the most important features in their phones.

the preview starts at about 50 minutes into the video



If you want weird back covers they have leather and ceramic(huh?) as options...

If the Note 5 does away with the micro SD memory expansion and removable battery this phone will replace it on the short list when it's time to upgrade.


....

I might be getting it confused with another phone, but I thought there were demos showing it's even quicker in taking pics than the S6 and iPhone 6 are. I think it even has a mode where you can press one of the back buttons and it'll take a picture automatically (meaning no waiting for it to load the camera, although you lose the ability to preview it to know if you're getting a proper pic).

I think the manual settings are actually due to Android, Google has added some of that to Android itself, and OEMs are free to make use of those or not, and unfortunately some are still doing weird things with it (or don't have hardware to really take advantage of it).

 

[RussianSensation]

the thickness is a non issue, the iphone is too thin

performance wise we have gotten to the point where it is also a non issue for 99% of the phone buying population. posters here are the 1% its actually prob .1%. any phone released in the past year or 2 has been fast enough for the every day idiot who just wants a phone that does phone things

Using this logic, why pay $600 for a G4 over a $350-375 S5, $480-500 Note 4. Specs are good enough and both of those have removable batteries and SD card slots too. Current prices on Sony Z2/Z3 are also more attractive than the new price of LG G4. Even G3 has been on sale for $350-375 too. So if it's not about the specs, what is it about then? The specs contribute to the experience whether you agree or not. How snappy a phone is, its ability to take fast and high quality pictures, its screen IQ, being able to get 4 hours of battery life after 10 min of charging, or 50% after 30 min, built-in wireless charging that doesn't require buying an after-market case/back cover -- are those not specs that benefit user experience?

If a flagship phone (at the time it comes out) has a removable battery feature this is a valid purchasing strategy because the hardware is still viable and the price is lower (sometimes by a lot) after a year or so.

But that's kinda the problem, LG G4 doesn't have flagship specs. Neither of you are making any strong case why anyone would buy a nearly $600 G4 over a brand new $350-375 Samsung S5. This is not anything against you guys but LG isn't convincing the consumers here what exactly they are offering that warrants a $600 price over discounted phones like the Sony Xperia Z2/3, Samsung S5, Note 4, OnePlus One, etc.

I think LG dropped the ball as I don't see how this phone stands up against the UFS 2.0 flash and uber fast SOC s6 that's very thin and is beautifully built OR the refreshed iPhone 6 that will improve the battery, SoC, etc. The LG G4 might look OK right now but come fall time when iPhone 6S is out, next gen flagship Sony phone is out, it might not look that hot. Also, imo, it doesn't even topple the S6 to start with in terms of overall features. Will wait until a head-to-head of G4 vs. S6 though for a more objective view.

That's true, but that's also the problem in general for the whole market. All phones are just stop-gaps until the next one, some more than others. LG seems to be especially bad though.

That's true. After we get a new phone on a contract renewal, might as well sell the old phone. Used LG phones go for peanuts in 2 years time. Working in UAE and Central Asia, LG flagships are not very popular at all. It's really viewed as a mid-range brand but that's LG's fault since they never deliver a flagship that's good enough to beat Samsung's or Apple's or Sony's best. I think they made big improvements with the cameras, the screen and the premium leather look of the G4 but with that come major compromises like a phone ~40% thicker than the leading phones (this doesn't really show amazing engineering design), a mid-range SoC, and software that hasn't really been revised much from what they had on the G3. Also, the Android OS version updates on LG phones seem to be lacking compared to other firms from what I've seen.

The big thing for me is other than the 2560x1440 screen, I am having a really hard time justifying how this phone is worth 70-80% more than the current rate of $350-375 for the S5. I guess for those on contracts this doesn't matter since their new phone is $200-300 on a new contract.

 

[blankslate]

I might be getting it confused with another phone, but I thought there were demos showing it's even quicker in taking pics than the S6 and iPhone 6 are.

I was going off of the camera demo from the video I linked... I haven't seen many others focusing on the camer... they went over the excellence of the photo quality and the manual options for the camera in the LG G4. While it very well may have quick access to the auto mode and an easy to access camera shortcut from the lock screen I don't recall that being talked about in any demos I have seen.

But that's kinda the problem, LG G4 doesn't have flagship specs. Neither of you are making any strong case why anyone would buy a nearly $600 G4 over a brand new $350-375 Samsung S5.

It has an excellent camera a good CPU and every model will have 3 gigs of memory (the same as a Note 4 btw) regardless of what geographical area it is sold in.

Yes it is missing a fingerprint reader and maybe the gpu isn't as good as others but there are trade offs and some people (maybe not you) value the removable battery option and microSD memory expansion option more than an "elegant" design.

In one demo the person was handling a G4 preview model and an S6 and they seemed pretty close in in the screen and in the general responsiveness of the phones.

As soon as Samsung gave up on the battery and microSD for the Galaxy S models it fell of of my list of devices to consider.

the Note 4 (and hopefully the Note 5) and the LG G4 are still on that list.

....

 

[Skurge]

I was going off of the camera demo from the video I linked... I haven't seen many others focusing on the camer... they went over the excellence of the photo quality and the manual options for the camera in the LG G4. While it very well may have quick access to the auto mode and an easy to access camera shortcut from the lock screen I don't recall that being talked about in any demos I have seen.



It has an excellent camera a good CPU and every model will have 3 gigs of memory (the same as a Note 4 btw) regardless of what geographical area it is sold in.

Yes it is missing a fingerprint reader and maybe the gpu isn't as good as others but there are trade offs and some people (maybe not you) value the removable battery option and microSD memory expansion option more than an "elegant" design.

In one demo the person was handling a G4 preview model and an S6 and they seemed pretty close in in the screen and in the general responsiveness of the phones.

As soon as Samsung gave up on the battery and microSD for the Galaxy S models it fell of of my list of devices to consider.

the Note 4 (and hopefully the Note 5) and the LG G4 are still on that list.

....

Why would you consider the G4 when when note 4 is significantly cheaper and probably faster.

 

[dawheat]

Why would you consider the G4 when when note 4 is significantly cheaper and probably faster.

One great things about LG phones has been how quickly they go on sale. It should be a couple hundred cheaper than the iPhone or S6 3 months after it goes on sale.

For value, 6 month old LG flagships have been amazing.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Why would you consider the G4 when when note 4 is significantly cheaper and probably faster.

IPS display vs. AMOLED, a (potentially) better camera on the G4, wireless charging, Snapdragon 808 vs 805 (will have to see the difference in speed & battery life in reviews), a less sluggish interface with LG UX 4.0 potentially being less slow and clunky compared to TouchWiz...


The G4 is the first Android phone that I find a really intriguing upgrade from my Nexus 5. If there's a new Nexus phone based on the G4, I would be even happier. I'm basically waiting to see the final reviews on the G4 to see the final say on the camera and battery life.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Phonearena has their G4 review out...battery life not looking good...

http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/LG-G4-Review_id3995

 

[ControlD]

The lack of rapid charging and Qi compatibility is pretty disappointing for a flagship phone in 2015.

I hope this leather back thing on phones is a temporary fad that dies quickly.

 

[kpkp]

The lack of rapid charging and Qi compatibility is pretty disappointing for a flagship phone in 2015.

I hope this leather back thing on phones is a temporary fad that dies quickly.

Why would you want choice to die quickly?

 

[ControlD]

Why would you want choice to die quickly?

I'm OK with it as long as it's a choice I suppose. I had to read the review a second time to see that was optional.

 

[Phokus]

One great things about LG phones has been how quickly they go on sale. It should be a couple hundred cheaper than the iPhone or S6 3 months after it goes on sale.

For value, 6 month old LG flagships have been amazing.

Who has them on sale usually, the carrier stores or elsewhere? I'm on prepaid (cricket, AT&T MVNO) and i might want to pick one up when the price drops.

 

[openwheel]

LG G2 and G3 are relatively cheap compared to other flagships in the used market.

I believe you can still get a brand new LG G2 from Bestbuy for $180 after coupon. Brand new!!!

 

[lopri]

It is difficult to say whether this phone is worth buying at this point without knowing what really matters, such as quality of display, battery performance, camera performance, and UI performance.

At least the S808 is a lot more consistent than the S810 in Geekbench, and its single-threaded performance (1100+) is beyond the reach of Krait cores.

http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/search?page=1&q=MSM8992&utf8=✓

 

[RussianSensation]

IPS display vs. AMOLED,

Using PhoneArena review, the IPS display in G4 is worse than Note 4's. The Note 4 had class leading display out of all smartphones before S6/Edge launched.

G4:
"Colors are purposefully overblown and saturated. It’s nowhere close to being the most color accurate screen, but it has that drawing factor with its saturated tones. Sure, we can argue about its inaccuracies, but some folks won’t mind it as much, especially when it’s a drawing factor with its glow. In addition, the G4’s color temperature is a stark contrast to the G3, as it reaches a very cold color temperature of ~8000K – giving whites that noticeably bluish tone. And finally, LG ever so slightly improves the brightness with this model, since it reaches 454 nits in our testing, which is shy of the 500 nits LG mentioned it would deliver."
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/LG-G4-Review_id3995

The Note 4 is more accurate, has superior contrast ratio, deeper blacks and is also brighter, despite a larger screen. I suppose it comes down to user preference as some people prefer vibrant and over-saturated colours to more accurate representation.

a (potentially) better camera on the G4, wireless charging, Snapdragon 808 vs 805 (will have to see the difference in speed & battery life in reviews), a less sluggish interface with LG UX 4.0 potentially being less slow and clunky compared to TouchWiz...

Performance wise, it does look faster than the Note 4 and I agree with you that it'll probably feel more snappy too.
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/LG-G4-Review_id3995/page/2

Camera - looks like you are correct too.

"True to its claim, the LG G4 roars loudly when it comes to snapping photos, composing shots that won’t disappoint. To tell you the truth, it’s definitely one of the best around right now, since it’s great at handling a wide array of shooting conditions. In particular, it’s strongest with its outdoor, macro, and HDR shots – where compositions provide ample crisp details, good handling of dynamic range, and colors that are naturally toned. Quite frankly, its quality rivals that of the Galaxy S6, which most purists would agree to be one of the best out there. However, we sometimes notice that it has trouble when it’s snapping photos with sunlight going against the camera.

We’re particularly impressed with its HDR quality, even though it’s quite noticeable that post processing effects are done to give it that artificial look and boosted color saturation. Regardless of that, high contrast areas are adjusted accordingly so that the entire image offers an evenly balanced exposure, which works really well for some nighttime scenes. In addition, you’ll be astounded by the panoramic photos it’s able to stitch together, rivaling and even eclipsing the quality produced by the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6. "

G4 also seems to have a louder speaker than the M9 and S6, but is not as good as the Note 4's.
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/LG-G4-Review_id3995/page/3

On battery life it gets killed by the Note 4, or even the S6. We'll have to check other reviews but battery life is not improved over the G3.
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/LG-G4-Review_id3995/page/4

Overall, it's definitely better than the G3 and is a worthy successor. I will say that in phone size comparisons side-by-side, the 5.5" G4 screen does look mighty nice compared to the smaller 4.7-5" screens if you are OK with the larger size. I think once the G4 goes on sale in 6 months, it'll be very hard to beat the value here. :thumbsup:

 

[WelshBloke]

On battery life it gets killed by the Note 4, or even the S6. We'll have to check other reviews but battery life is not improved over the G3.
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/LG-G4-Review_id3995/page/4

That's disappointing, I was expecting it to do better than that.

That tan leather back does look good though.