LG G4 first look and hands-on preview
We’re in New York, where LG just introduced the new G4, its flagship device for the first part of 2015! Read on for our LG G4 first look and hands-on impressions!
The Android race is highly competitive this season, with Samsung’s staging a stylish comeback thanks to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. While companies like HTC or Sony have been caught somehow flatfooted, LG seems to be mounting a much better defense with its new G4.
We had the opportunity to spend some time with the G4 ahead of LG’s event today, and we got to play with both the polycarbonate model and the flashy leather-bound version. The upgrades from last year aren’t just cosmetic, but is the G4 what LG needs to get ahead in the smartphone race this year? There are some initial clues in our LG G4 hands-on preview. Let’s check it out!
The LG G4 is available in two options. First up, the “regular” version features a polycarbonate back with a subtle diamond pattern and the same metallic-like texture like on the G3. The plastic rear covers will be available in titanium (gray), gold, and white, and from our time with the titanium model, we enjoyed its feel in hand and general build quality.
The other option is the much ballyhooed leather cover. LG told us that the use of leather has been years in the making and that the process of manufacturing one cover takes up to three months. Available in many colors, including burgundy, brown, tan, and blue, the covers are made of genuine leather tanned using plant-based agents. Not everyone will like the seam running down the middle, but the leather does feel very nice and it improves grip. An added benefit is the fact that the leather should help keep the phone pleasant to touch, regardless of how hot or cold it gets outside.
Regardless if you pick the plastic or the leather model, the back is easily removable, and you get a replaceable 3,000 battery and a microSD card slot. Both features are absent from the G4’s biggest competitor, the S6, so it will be interesting to see if their inclusion does anything for its sales.
LG’s well-known rear-mounted buttons are back, leaving the front for the screen alone. And what a screen this is. The G4 features a Quad HD (2560 x 1440) display of 5.5 inches that is slightly curved, similarly to the LG Magna mid-ranger. The curvature is very subtle and it won’t have a big impact like on the G Flex 2, but it may still help protect the screen in the case of a frontal drop. The slightly raised margins add further protection.
LG touts the use of quantum dot technology to enhance the color range displayed by the G4’s screen. Sony and Amazon, among others, have used quantum dots before: the technology employs nanoparticles to give LCD screens a vibrancy boost, allowing them to compete with AMOLED in this regard. The screen complements the bright colors of the UI rather well, and the G4 is clearly an improvement over the previous generation in this regard.
Moving on to the internals, LG adopted a Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor for the G4, coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. While, on paper, the octa-core Snapdragon 810 is the better choice, thanks to LG’s and Qualcomm’s optimizations, the G4 actually performs better than the G Flex 2 (Snapdragon 810), with minimal episodes of lag and stutter.
| Display | 5.5-inch LCD Quantum Dot 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 (hexa-core: 2xCortex A57+ 4xCortex A53, 64-bit), Adreno 418 GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB DDR3 |
| Storage | 32 GB, expandable via microSD, up to 128GB |
| Camera | Rear camera: 16MP, f/1.8, color spectrum sensor, OIS, laser-assisted focus; front camera: 8MP |
| Connectivity | HSPA, LTE-Advanced Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh, user removable, wireless charging, quick charging |
| Software | Android 5.0 Lollipop, LG UX 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 149.8 x 76.2 x 6.3-9.8 mm, 155 g |
| Colors and finishes | Plastic: Gray, Gold, White Leather: Black / Brown / Red / Sky Blue / Beige / Yellow |
The aforementioned microSD slot and replaceable battery are sure to make many users happy, as are the support for wireless charging and quick charging. A feature that’s not mentioned as often is GPS accuracy: LG says that thanks to its close work with Qualcomm, the G4 should feature better GPS than any other phone. We’ll obviously test that out for ourselves once we get our review unit.
The camera is a big deal on the G4: the f/1.8 aperture lens puts it ahead of the G6, albeit by a small margin, and LG is keen to note that. Coupled with the 16MP sensor, the optical image stabilization, and fast laser-based focus system, this should ensure the G4 takes some all-around great pictures.
A new addition to the feature set is a spectrum sensor that can tell what kind of light (e.g. artificial vs natural) illuminates a scene and adapt the white balance accordingly. There are enhancements on the app front as well, including a mode that lets you capture an image in both RAW and JPEG formats, and a slew of manual options like white balance control, a histogram, and many ISO stops.
Finally, on the software side, we get Android 5.1 Lollipop with a flat and colorful rendition of LG’s UX on top. Everything looks bright and fresh, and there are a couple of noteworthy new features as well, such as the ability to capture information and quickly add it to the calendar or the enhanced gallery.
Overall, the interface feels very snappy and we have to give a shout out to LG’s prominent placement of Google apps throughout the system.
There you have it – our first look at the LG G4. While there weren’t many surprises, we have to give credit to LG for refining an already good recipe, but adding just enough changes to keep it fresh. The design may not be totally new, and many people will probably balk at the showy design accents, but from our time with the G4, we think it’s definitely worth your attention.
Keep it tuned for more coverage of the G G4 and let us know your opinion in the comments!
LG G4 preview: Fashion and firepower collide in a flagship
Between LG and the rest of the leakers running wild these last few weeks, there’s not a whole lot we didn’t know about the G4 before today. Screen details? Leather? Word of that sweet, sweet f/1.8 camera lens? Common knowledge, dear friends. Now that LG’s G4 has crossed the boundary between leak and actual, honest-to-goodness product, though, let’s take a quick first look at how those elements — and quite a few more — have come together in the company’s finest flagship.
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To recap what we already know: You’ll be able to buy a G4 next month with three different rear finishes: the leather we’ve all seen, a white (ceramic-coated) back and a hammered, “Metallic Craft” look that’s actually just textured plastic. Pick up a G4 with that latter, plastic back and it’ll feel instantly familiar, like a very slightly curved G3 (for extra durability, natch), or a flattened-out G Flex2. Trust me, though: If you’re in the market for one of these things, you’re going to want one clad in LG’s vegetable-tanned leather. The company’s event invitation showed off its fashionista ambitions to anyone interested, but it’s even more handsome in person. We spent most of our time pawing a G4 with a deep caramel-colored leather back — it was sturdy and unyielding, with less springiness than the leather you’ll find on the back of the 2014 Moto X. To hear LG’s brass tell the tale, it takes a full three months to convert a cow’s skin into a cover for your phone, and some fetching stitching with Gütermann thread acts as icing on the cake.
There’ll be four colors at launch — beige, black, sky blue and yellow — and LG plans to have more on the market in time to match your jaunty summer outfits. Frankly, they can’t come soon enough. While the bog-standard G4 feels purely all right, the tester units clad in leather felt absolutely phenomenal, not to mention a little thinner than their cousins. I know that’s ridiculous. At 76mm wide, and with its 5.5-inch “Quantum” quad HD display — more on that later — the G4 will completely fill all but the meatiest of palms. Still, the G4’s gently sloping back settles much more comfortably into your hand when it’s decked out in cowhide.
Now, about that screen. LG’s channeling the world of arcane science with its Quantum IPS screen, a 4K panel that plays nice with the film industry’s DCI color standard. To date you’ve had to shell out thousands of dollars for DCI-compliant reference monitors (if you’re in broadcasting, anyway), but LG was eager to bring that sort of accuracy to our pockets. The “quantum” angle is almost prohibitively complex, but no worries — it means the screen has very accurate red, blue and green light sources all the while looking better outside and sipping more conservatively on power. So how does it actually look? At first glance, it wasn’t immediately or necessarily better, just… different. Seeing an image of fresh, ripe strawberries on a G4 and a Galaxy S6 was perhaps the most telling example — they looked purely red on LG’s display, instead of the slightly out-there orange cast they took on thanks to the S6’s super-saturated AMOLED screen. Alas, we reporters were stuck in a not terribly well-lit meeting room with these things, so stay tuned for more impressions to come.
I’ve given LG plenty of props in the past for reining in its once-overwrought interface and shaping it into something more reasonable, but after spending plenty of time using Samsung’s Galaxy S6, I find myself wishing LG had used an even lighter touch this time around. Even with that said, there’s not a whole lot to dwell on here: The version of Android 5.0 Lollipop baked into the G4 is awfully similar to the one I encountered on the Flex2, save for just a few small touches. Remember how you could close your hand in front of the front-facing camera to trigger a selfie? Well, now if you clench your fist twice, the camera will snap four selfies in quick succession to make sure at least one of them looks good. LG has also cozied up to Google more here than it has before, replacing its stock browser with Chrome, preloading Google Office and giving G4 owners 100GB of Google Drive space free for two years. The end result is a bright, light, Material Design-y version of Android to dig into, but one that can still feel a little clumsy. Still, the hexa-core Snapdragon 808 and 3GB of RAM thrumming inside the G4 did a fine job keeping things running smoothly, and app launches and operation were as fast — if not a little faster in some cases — than Samsung’s own flagships.
Sadly, we didn’t get a great handle on some of the G4’s most notable features. Take the camera, for instance — LG built it from the ground up with a 16-megapixel sensor and an f/1.8 lens around the back, which the company gleefully calls the brightest available in a smartphone. Throw in faster laser autofocus, RAW support and a color spectrum sensor that helps Auto mode scan and adjust to the colors and lighting of your subject and you’ve got a pretty powerful pocket camera. Too bad the inside of our meeting room didn’t offer many vistas to shoot; what photos I did snap were crisp and well-exposed, but keep an eye out for some more nuanced impressions when we get our review unit.
LG teamed up with Qualcomm to dramatically boost positioning performance, too, and they claim the system is twice as accurate as phones using a more “conventional platform.” That’s all thanks to how the G4 leans on the gyrometer and other built-in sensors for extra locational context. It sure sounds good, and Google Maps locked onto the hotel we were in quickly, but we’ll see how well this really works soon. I’m also not entirely sure why LG gave up on Qualcomm’s QuickCharge tech after I fell in love with it in the G Flex2. Sure, the G4 has a removable 3,000mAh battery, but I’d still love to juice the thing up in a jiffy, wouldn’t you?
Whew, okay. LG’s done well in crafting a very handsome flagship smartphone that smartly addresses the shortcomings of its direct predecessors, and I suspect a decent chunk of people will take a shine to this thing. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that LG might have played it a little safe this time. The camera improvements were a logical next step; just like the chipset choice was; just like the Flex2-y design was (leather experiments notwithstanding). All told, the G4 is a lovely device — just not an immediately thrilling one. Maybe, like the leather stuck on the thing’s back, this phone will only get better with time. Stay tuned for our full review to find out.
Filed under: Mobile
We’re live from the LG G4 launch event!
Earlier this year, almost every smartphone maker revealed a flagship model at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. But not LG. The South-Korea based company has been relatively quiet since its introduction of the G Flex2, which was back at CES 2015. Today, though, LG is ready to announce the G4 in an event that’s taking place simultaneously across different parts of the globe. For our part, we’re in New York City and we’ll be bringing you the action as it happens, so stay tuned — the keynote’s set to begin at 11:00AM ET.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
LG to announce the G4 simultaneously in New York, Paris and London later today
Today is April 28th, and we all know what that means, that’s right, today is when LG unveils its latest flagship, the G4. There have been so many leaks, both official and unofficial, about the G4 that you could be forgiven for wondering if there is anything left for LG to show.
I guess we will see if LG has held anything back in a few hours time when the G4 is revealed to the world. The media event is being held simultaneously in New York, Paris and London and is scheduled to start at the following times:
- New York – 11am
- London – 4pm
- Johannesburg – 5pm
- Hong Kong – Midnight (Wednesday)
- Sydney – 3am (Wednesday)
Until then, this is what we expect to see from LG’s latest flagship handset that will go head-to-head with the best that HTC (One M9 review) and Samsung (Galaxy S6 review) can offer. Remember to join us closer to the time for more news from the G4’s media event. You can also keep track of when the announcement will begin by keeping an eye on LG’s countdown page.
Come comment on this article: LG to announce the G4 simultaneously in New York, Paris and London later today
Retail packaging of the LG G4 leaks before official announcement
LG may be about to officially unveil its latest flagship, the G4, in just a couple of hours time, but that doesn’t mean that the leaks have stopped. In this latest leak to hit the net, we can see the retail packaging of the LG G4.
As you can see from the main image, the top of the packaging is plain white with a slightly glossy finished and a circular indentation with the model name printed inside. It really doesn’t give much away at all. The bottom part of the packaging is more interesting, showing off some of the handsets specifications that include:
- 16MP F1.8 aperture Main camera
- 8MP Front (Selfie) camera
- a 3,000mAh removable battery
- a 138.8mm IPS Quantum Display (translates to roughly 5.5 inches)
- Quad-Beat 3 earphones
Also mentioned is the expected Qualcomm processor, although no specific model number is shown. It’s pretty much what we’ve been expecting to see, although it remains to be seen if LG has a surprise or two in store for us at the official G4 announcement later.
Source: PhoneArena
Via: UnderKG
Come comment on this article: Retail packaging of the LG G4 leaks before official announcement
This is what the LG G4’s box is going to look like
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Can’t wait for the LG G4 to be announced? Do you need some juicy info to tide you over the next few hours? Well, you’re in luck, because we get to take a sneak peek at what the LG G4’s box is going to look like. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the box is relatively unassuming with only a sticker on the top of it to denote it as a box for LG‘s latest flagship device. If we take a look at the rear of the box, we get a look at some of the hardware that we have been expecting, like a Snapdragon processor, the 8MP front camera, 16MP rear camera and a 3,000mAh battery. Check out the leaked photos below:
As far as leaks go, it’s not all that informative, as we basically know everything there is to know about the LG G4 already, but as its announcement event bears down on us (4 and a half hours and counting), we wouldn’t be surprised to see a few more tidbits before the fireworks start. Make sure you tune in to the livestream here at 15:00 GMT.
What do you think about the LG G4’s box? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: underkg.kr via Phone Arena
The post This is what the LG G4’s box is going to look like appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
The countdown begins: Watch the LG G4 announcement on this livestream
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It’s now just under 5 hours till the LG G4 announcement that many people have been waiting for unveils the LG G4. LG has teased almost everything there is worth teasing about the LG G4, not least of all its brand new camera and option of genuine leather back cover. But the time has almost come when all will be official, and all will be clear. To keep the anticipation going, LG has put a countdown on the G4’s product page, and we’re assuming when the clock strikes zero, a livestream will be available for all to take part in this momentous occasion.
Watch the LG G4 announcement livestream here
For those around the world, the time you’re counting down till is 15:00 GMT. There’s not much we don’t know about the LG G4 thanks to a series of leaks over the last few weeks – we know it’s probably going to have a Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM, 8MP front camera and 16MP rear camera, and 3,000mAh battery. LG has already unveiled its 5.5-inch Quad HD display, which surpasses the LG G3’s display in almost every measurable characteristic, and its UX 4.0 running on top of its Android Lollipop base.
Are you excited for the LG G4 announcement? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: LG via Phone Arena
The post The countdown begins: Watch the LG G4 announcement on this livestream appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
What we should expect spec-wise with tomorrow’s G4 unveiling from LG
With LG geared to announce the G3 successor tomorrow, there has been a wide-variety of leaks regarding the G4. Most of the leaks we’ve seen have been regarding the new leather backing the device is going to have. Others involve the camera. Well thanks to a last minute leak, we finally have an idea of the specs and size of the device.
According to the leak, the device will sit at 5.9 x 3 x 0.4 inches, just a wee bit bigger than that of the G3. The device will sport a slight top-to-bottom curve, much like the G Flex, and will come in at 0.14-ounces heavier than the G3 at 5.5-ounces. The screen itself will continue to pack the same size QHD (2,560×1,440) resolution as the current model, but will feature new display technology to improve image quality.
From what we see, it’s been all but confirmed that LG is using the Snapdragon 808 instead of the 810. It will also sport 3GB of RAM (DDR3 this time) and come with 32GB of onboard storage. Unlike the S6, the G4 will sport a microSD slot and will also have a 3,000mAh battery that’s swappable.
The camera gets a spec bump as well. The OiS, laser-focused camera is now 16MP and will feature a f/1.8 aperture lens. The front shooter will have an 8MP camera, up from 2.1MP. The device will have all the current wireless connectivity features and will come with both wireless charging and quick charging when plugged in.
Pricing and availability are yet to be announced, but we’re hopeful we’ll get an idea of what to expect tomorrow when the device is announced.
source: Mashable
Come comment on this article: What we should expect spec-wise with tomorrow’s G4 unveiling from LG
How much will the LG G4 cost? Signs point to it being more than a Galaxy S6
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Just earlier today, it was revealed to us exactly what the production process is for LG to make those leather back covers for its latest flagship, the LG G4. Among other things, it was revealed that LG is using high-quality cow leather that takes 12 weeks to prepare properly, which really begs the question given all this extra effort to make this device: How much will the LG G4 cost? Well, according to South Korean telco, SK Telecom, the expected price of the LG G4 is going to be $825 USD. If this is true, this would make it 30 dollars more than the Samsung Galaxy S6 ($795), but still less than the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge which costs $908.
Keep in mind that these prices are region specific and that the numbers will not be exactly the same wherever you are in the world. However, it does highlight the relative price difference of the LG G4 compared to the Galaxy S6, which is itself not a cheap device, and puts a big question mark over whether people are going to be won over by LG’s bold strategy. As always, only time will tell.
What do you think about how much the LG G4 will cost? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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The LG G4 uses high-quality cow leather, production process takes 12 weeks
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A lot of smartphone manufacturers have tried to emulate the leather feeling on their devices with an assortment of faux-leather options, however LG has revealed it is going all out to give its customers the genuine leather feeling with its latest flagship, the LG G4. In a blog post detailing the process by which the LG G4’s leather back covers are produced, LG revealed that the LG G4 uses high-quality cow leather which takes 12 weeks to properly process. Only the top most layer of the cow leather is used for the LG G4, which LG says is “among the most luxurious and expensive area in luxury leather goods”.
LG also mentions the curing processes it uses to make its leather more durable and authentic, including the aforementioned vegetable tanning and edge coating. There’s also a surprising amount of handmade work put into these covers, including the leather stitching and the painting and dyeing of the covers. It sounds like a properly, genuine process, and we can only imagine LG will suffer from some supply issues if this gets particularly popular, but we applaud the South Korean outfit for doing something a little different.
What do you think about the fact the LG G4 uses high-quality cow leather in such an extensive production process? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post The LG G4 uses high-quality cow leather, production process takes 12 weeks appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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