LG G6 preview: Look ma, no bezels

LG may not be enjoying some of the success its Korean competitor Samsung has seen in the modern smartphone era, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to stop trying to do something new and different. With the G5 last year, the company tried the modular approach. This year, LG has started from scratch to create something more beautiful, and visually striking. 

Is the G6 what LG needs to claw back some much needed interest in the consumer market? We went hands on to find out. 

LG G6 Preview: Design and Display

• 5.7-inch QHD 18:9 ratio display
• Dolby Vision and HDR10 support
• Glass and metal design

With the G6, the design and display are intrinsically linked. You couldn’t have one the way it is without the other. It’s not your usual case of just having a display plonked in the middle of some bezels. LG’s primary aim was all centred on the idea that you can have a big screen without having to put up with a big, cumbersome device. And the manufacturer may have cracked it.

The 5.7-inch screen is larger diagonally than most big phones on the market. The trend, of course, is to launch 5.5-inch phones. But the G6 isn’t about going with the trend. It’s about trying to carve out a new one. The Quad HD screen has a resolution of 2,880 x 1,440, meaning its aspect ratio is – unconventionally – 18:9 (or 2:1). And it’s a sight to behold. It also happens to be among the first phones to support both Dolby Vision and HDR10 standards.

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With the screen surrounded by bezel that is far narrower on the top and bottom than virtually every phone out there, there’s less to distract you from the content onscreen. It’s quite remarkable when placed next to other devices, just how little frame there is.

The screen itself also happens to have rounded corners which – while adding a certain aesthetic charm – were designed primarily to make the display less prone to breaking under impact. LG claims that not using right angled corners with slim bezels makes it more pressure resistant. Adding to that strength, the phone body is also IP68 certified against water and dust.

Add all of this together, and you have a phone that fits easily in one hand, and is durable enough to survive the daily grind. The curved glass on the back also ensures that it’s very comfortable to hold.

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The entire phone is glossy on the front and the back, meaning it’s a bit of a fingerprint magnet, but in the right light with reflections shining off all the curves, it looks gorgeous.

LG was keen to point out that there are no pointless protrusions here. The camera unit is completely flush with the body, and sits a finger’s width above the fingerprint sensor which also acts as the power/sleep button. The only other buttons on the device are the two volume buttons on the left edge. For all the headphone traditionalists, you’ll be pleased to know that there is a 3.5mm jack nestled in the top edge, while the Type-C port joins a speaker and microphone on the bottom.

LG G6 Preview: Power and Pixels

• Snapdragon 821 processor
• 3GB RAM/32GB ROM
• 3,300mAh non-removable battery
• Quick Charge 3.0

Apart from the display, the other big talking point with the G6 is its dual camera system on the back. Like the G5, the G6 has one wide angle lens and a regular lens, and lets you switch between them with a quick tap of an icon in the camera app.

Unlike the G5 however, they both use exactly the same image sensor. Both are 13-megapixel sensors, with the aim of helping a smooth transition between them and consistent results from whichever camera you happen to be using. As for the front camera, that’s 5-megapixels, and also has a wide angle lens for more inclusive group selfies.

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Inside the phone’s engine room there’s a Snapdragon 821 processor coupled with 4GB RAM and built into an internal system that includes a heat pipe to help ensure it won’t overheat. There’s also a 3,300mAh battery which – with Android Nougat’s battery smarts – should easily last a full day even with the most active of smartphone users.

If it does drain to worrying levels before the day is up, you’ll be pleased to know that it comes with Quick Charge 3.0 support. That means it can get from 0-50 per cent after being plugged in for just 35 min.

LG G6 Preview: Nougat, stretched out

• Android Nougat
• New Square Camera app

As you’d expect from a flagship phone launching in 2017, the G6 runs Android Nougat. Albeit with a slightly unique look. As with virtually everything on this phone, the software has been optimised to take advantage of the longer screen, and there are new bespoke apps to go along with it.

LG’s new Square Camera app has a number of shooting modes, each using the top half of the screen as the camera viewfinder, and the bottom showing either a recently shot image or a selection of images. The regular camera app now also has a scrollable gallery at the side of the screen, making it easier to see your camera roll.

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Apart from that, it’s the usual smattering of apps from LG. There are the basic default apps like the Clock, Calculator, Tasks, Contacts, Calendar, Music and QuickMemo as well as the Smart Cleaning app that helps get rid of any junk bogging down your phone.

First Impressions

It’s an interesting move from LG. Last year, the company bet on modular smartphones, and that didn’t turn out so well. This year, it’s about giving customers a big screen, without a bulky device. And we’re intrigued to say the least.

It’s an eye-catching display, without doubt, and one that won’t fail to raise eyebrows from anyone who sees it. Will it be enough to see LG mount a serious challenge in the smartphone market this year? Who knows, but it’s great to see the company pushing the boundaries of what is possible.