LG unveils the G4 display
Today, LG has announced a QHD display to be used in a “forthcoming flagship smartphone to be unveiled at the end of the month,” which probably will be the G4.
The 5.5-inch display has a 120 percent, sRGB color gamut and a 1,440 x 2,560 resolution with 538 PPI.
Advanced-in-Cell Touch (AIT) technology delivers sensitivity that is responsive to touch even when water drops are on the screen. Instead of putting the touch panel on top of the LCD, the sensor is embedded within the LCD itself, resulting in a slimmer design.
LG claims the display has 50 percent higher contrast ratio than other QHD LCD displays, and it was able to increase the overall brightness by 30 percent without increasing power consumption.
Intertek has given LG a certification for the screen’s color gamut, brightness, and contrast ratio.
The company explains that they were able to achieve this extremely high color gamut by combining a blue LED chip with red and green phosphors instead of with yellow phosphors.
Photo-alignment technology uses UV light to form a liquid crystal alignment layer in the panel in order to achieve a higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks and brighter colors.
With less than four weeks left until LG’s international events, we’ll know soon enough if the G4 is the flagship that will use the display. Look forward to April 28th and 29th.
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LG G4 Display Unveiled Early
LG’s 2015 flagship smartphone is due to excite both critics and consumers this year, but just in case you’re not already eager to see what the Korean tech giant has up its sleeve for this year, LG has revealed something about the device to up the hype.
LG showcased a 5.5″ QHD display this weekend with a pixel count of 538, amongst other neat features. There’s a 120% color gamut and 30% increase in brightness and 50% increase in contrast as well. No names were released for any devices sporting this mysterious screen, but it seems obvious that it will be found in LG’s G4, which is due to be released on April 28th.
Source: Technobuffalo
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My G Flex 2 impressions: falling short of expectations
Despite the fact that the LG G Flex 2 has only been released in key markets (such as the USA), one might be forgiven for forgetting the device is technically new. Released at the end of January in LG’s home country of South Korea, it’s about two months old and yet its relevance is almost non-existent save for the novelty-seeking, tech savvy crowd who avoided importing it weeks ago. The device, by all accounts, should be a fantastic piece of kit given the outstanding hardware inside, and yet — for me at least — it fell far short of expectations.
I’ll be perfectly honest here: the original LG G Flex was my favorite phone of 2014. I had openly wished for a follow-up on many occasions, and when the first real leak showed up just prior to MWC, my heart nearly skipped a beat. Unfortunately, once I saw the device, any possible arrhythmia was instantly cured, and by the time I actually got it and started using the Korean model at the start of February, the only cardiac arrest in play was the flat-lining of my purchase’s pulse.
Let me break the bad news down, bit-by-bit, although note that these are only my post-purchase impressions. For the full review, please click here.
Blase about the battery
By-and-large, the biggest disappointment I experienced with my time using the G Flex 2 was the poor battery life. While I have read some reports that claim the lifespan is good, either my device had faults or else it depends on the network. Whereas the original G Flex had such an impressive battery life that I actually selected it as my device of 2014, the followup is an embarrassment that had me questioning its ability to get through most of the day from the second it was unplugged from A/C.
The problem was especially troublesome in that, when the screen was off, the battery drain wasn’t actually worth mentioning. Perhaps a few percentage points would decrease within the span of a few hours or, at most, overnight. The problem was, the second I started using the thing, I could see the numbers drop, something I haven’t experienced since using the Galaxy Nexus years ago. Even if I was on a WiFi connection with the cellular radio on Airplane Mode, the drain was still horrible.
Assuming my device wasn’t faulty, the question of why the battery life is so poor is a mystery. Could it be the heavy UI that LG put on Android Lollipop? Is it the screen? Could the extra 500mAh the original’s battery had really make that much of a difference? I suspect it’s actually a combination of all the above, but nonetheless, it remains shocking just how poorly the battery performed when compared to the original model.
NOTE: It’s worth pointing out that, when I tested a Hong Kong model, the battery life seemed a bit better than the Korean model I was originally working with. While the device sadly crept under 40% before the clock even hit 2pm, admittedly this was from heavy use. The drain overall was less noticeable, so either LG changed things up with a software update in the past two months, or else the Korean model itself just had poor battery life (something that might have to do with the Broadband LTE-A connection perhaps).
Suppose there is a screen
Does the original G Flex really look like that much of a monster compared to the Flex 2?
Another element of the G Flex 2 that disappointed me was the screen. Mind you, it’s not that the display wasn’t significantly better than the original. Full HD looks wonderful and the plastic panel itself did without the grainy elements the original had. The problem, for me at least, was the screen size. I fully understand that most people don’t like phablets over 5,7 inches, but the 6-inch screen on the original Flex was one of its strong points. Outside of the larger Galaxy Mega (6.3 inches), HTC One Max, or the Xperia Z Ultra, the G Flex was the only mainstream big phablet from an established player.
By reducing the screen size, the Flex 2 is lost in a sea of similarly, notwithstanding the company’s own LG G3, and quite possibly the upcoming G4 as well, though word has it that said device will feature a smaller — yet curved — display.
Crafting the creation
I also call into question the lack of a removable battery. The first device had such good battery life that it didn’t matter if we couldn’t remove it. The follow-up has atrocious battery life and yet actually has a removable back cover! Was that really necessary just to fit the SIM card and microSD? I don’t even understand why LG needed to make use of the self-healing rear given that you can just change rear covers. It seems to be little more than a marketing point.
Aesthetically speaking, the phone also proved a let down, in my opinion. Plus, the hard angular sides meant that the device was less comfortable to use or put in a pocket than the softer curves its predecessor employed.
The original G Flex had less bottom-bezel, and much more rounded corners.
Furthermore there’s the curve itself. LG had previously stated it could produce a much more dramatic one than the original had, however restrained itself from doing so. This time, the company indicated that an even slighter curve was used. I’m sorry, but what’s the point of having these niche devices if they don’t use their potential to the max? Given how early leaks of the G4 look, the Flex 2 need not have been curved (or exist) at all.
I’m not suggesting the device should have looked like a dried fruit peel, mind you, but if the entire purpose of a product’s form factor is the bent display, then bend it!
Software skin
It’s ironic that despite the heavy skinning LG layered into the G2, G Flex, and G3, I actually liked them all the more for it. The ability to customize even the on-screen navigational items was fantastic. This time, however, the only word I can use to describe the skin is “repulsive”. I can’t stand the large Lollipop “PlayStation” navigation menu buttons for starters. There is no option to alter their width or height, and even lowering the text size didn’t seem to work. They are too big, and too close together, neither of which is true of the Nexus 6 or Nexus 9.
I found this to be an almost ironic statement considering just how far LG went to (de-)Materal(ize the) Design.
Lollipop itself looks quite trendy (as to if people like the motif or not is another story) and thus to bear witness to the mess LG has made of it really disappointed me. There is an odd combination of circular and squared icons. The settings menu has been altered, the lock screen, the drop down menu (complete with the smallest “Dismiss” button I’ve ever seen and which also gets obscured more often than not). Sadly not even throwing on the Google Now launcher (or any other for that matter) can truly purify this bastard hybrid from the hell LG has wrought onto it. You can’t help but imagine Matias Duarte cringing, silently shedding tears.
The problem wasn’t made any better by the fact that the phone only has 2GB of RAM and I frequently experienced lag. This mystified me in-and-of-itself, for if there is one thing Korean phone versions are, it’s superlative. Yet, lo and behold, the 3GB variant hasn’t been released there. Given how obtuse LG’s Lollipop skin is, I really would have preferred the extra GB of RAM to smooth things over. Applications take time to open, even the Recent Apps listing took time to open and clear.
As a final gripe, I detest the fact that LG has once again opted not to include a system option to deactivate the “Knock On” feature. The double tap issue means that while carrying the device in your hand, it will randomly turn on because your movement has triggered the wake. This doesn’t help battery life either. At the very least give owners the ability to turn it off like they can the Knock Code element.
On a positive note
1. The screen is 1080p. Again I had absolutely no problem with the 720p resolution on the original device, but the higher resolution did make things look that much sharper (also a result of the decision to reduce the screen size). Especially when set to Vivid Mode and with the right background, it’s probable that, sooner or later, you might end up gawking at the beauty of the screen for such nice color saturation.
2. Compact build. Don’t get me wrong here, the 5.5-inch display was a negative for me, but that being said, the phone felt far smaller than it really was. LG did a very good job keeping the bezels thin, and in the end I often found myself looking at the thing wondering how the display size could possibly be accurate.
3. Color Choice. Interestingly enough, the Japanese version of the G Flex had a different color scheme than the rest of the world, being a dark shade of black. The international models all featured a grey finish, at least as far as I know. While I did in fact buy the red Flex 2 and ultimately didn’t care for the color choice, kudos to LG for opting to make the device in a second color, and all the more so for actually making some components match. Far too often companies will simply swap the back cover and call the product a new shade (the Galaxy S5 comes to mind save for the white and gold variants).
Wrap up
All in all, it’s just another brick in the… you get the picture.
All-in-all, I am sorely disappointed with the G Flex 2, and were it to be in a contest for “biggest disappointment of 2015″, it would be neck-and-neck with the HTC One M9 in my book. Granted some of my gripes might be of a far more personal level (the “small” size for example) and your own impressions may differ.
Regardless of my own personal points, this device has lost momentum at a momentous meter, in no small thanks to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Samsung has knocked the ball out of the park with the premium design factor, and meanwhile this plastic-plated piece comes across as being a pricey proposition.
The LG G4 will feature a “Dual Mode” OS
We’ve known for a while now that LG is planning to unveil its upcoming flagship smartphone, the G4, simultaneously in New York, Seoul, London, Paris, Singapore, and Istanbul on April 29. However, up until now, any additional software optimizations that the manufacturer is planning to load onto the device have been a little shady.
If a report published earlier today by Business Korea is any indication, it looks like LG has developed its own Dual Mode Operating System for the G4, which appears to be tailored to two consumer groups — “experts” and “general” users.
The expert mode is set to have more advanced functions on board, not only in the camera application, but elsewhere too. Whereas general mode will be focused on simplicity, eliminating all functionality that would confuse those who are not familiar with a smartphone.
It all sounds good, but we hope LG can develop it without making the device a pain to use, much like Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface is.
Source: Business Korea
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LG invitations may signal April 28 arrival of G4
LG has sent out invitations to events being held on April 28th and April 29th in New York, London, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, and Istanbul. The invite reads “See the great, feel the great,” with each “G” stylized as the logo of the LG G lineup. Likely, this will be the G4.
9to5Google explains that, earlier this month, a report claimed that LG willingly planned to delay the launch of this years flagship to April in order to avoid competition from Samsung and HTC. Additionally, LG released similar looking invites last year for events that became the launch for the G3. Together, these details suggest that the G4 indeed will be unveiled near the end of next month.
We will, of course, have more information on April 28th and April 29th. Be sure to check back in on those dates.
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Get A Free VR Headset with the Purchase of an LG G3
Demonstrating heretofore unheralded altruism and generosity in an era of digital spartanism, LG has announced that while supplies last, customers who purchase a new G3 phone will also receive an aptly-named VR for G3 virtual reality headset.
The VR for G3 is built on Google Cardboard technology, but because the South Korean giant clearly loves trees, it has opted to construct its own inexpensive Cardboard-based device out of plastic, a material that is decidedly not the eponymous cardboard.
In addition to the free VR headset, customers will receive an in-box QR code that unlocks free VR gaming content and also proves that QR codes are still a thing.
Consumers are also “encouraged” to enter to win a VR headset on its own without the mess of obtaining the smartphone that powers it, thus saving you pennies in expenses on the cardboard it takes to build your own.
Note that the VR for G3 is not called the “VR for All Smartphones;” it’ll only work with a G3.
The VR set is compatible with all Google Cardboard-related apps, which should make settling in with it pretty effortless for Cardboard devotees. And with the lauded Quad HD screen on the G3, users will be treated to a robust visual experience.
Source: LG
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LG G4 to use a Snapdragon 808?
According to an unnamed source from Korea, the upcoming LG G4 flagship will come equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC, rather than the expected Snapdragon 810. The source also claims that Qualcomm won’t be able to fix the overheating issues that have plagued the chip’s reputation until the second half of this year.
As well as local sources, a recent GFXBench listing for an LG G4 (F500x) also points to a Snapdragon 808 processing package. The database also lists a 5.5-inch QHD display, 3GB of RAM and Android 5.1 on board.
In case you missed the announcement, the 20nm Snapdragon 808 is a hexa-core SoC. It features four low power Cortex-A53 CPU cores pair up with a dual-core high performance Cortex-A57 configuration. The GPU is an Adreno 418 and the memory configuration is paired back to 933MHz dual-channel LPDDR3 rather than LPDDR4 found in the 810.
Apparently, this all comes back to the Snapdragon 810 overheating issue, but there is mixed evidence as to whether this is actually a major problem or not.
After a period of denial, LG eventually conceded that an initial batch of chips had suffered from some problems, but that the issue would not affect the G Flex 2 or G4. While the G Flex 2’s UI may be a little sluggish in places, we didn’t have the same complains about the new HTC One M9, suggesting that LG’s performance problems may have more to do with software than hardware. Some sources state that Qualcomm fixed the issue for production commencing Q1 2015, while others say the fix won’t be applied until Q2.
Above: HTC apparently patched some One M9 overheating issues with an update.
It’s tough to know exactly what to make of the Snapdragon 810’s apparent issues, but LG dropping back to an 808, having earlier used the 810, would be a damning concession. The other possibility is that LG is reserving the Snapdragon 810, or waiting for fixed chips, until it launches its even more high-end device later this year, although that theory may leave the G4 disadvantaged against the competition.
As for performance, six cores, two high-performance and four energy-efficient, would be more than good enough for most tasks, providing that the OS is kept lean, but the loss of two cores would definitely be felt in heavy multi-tasking scenarios. The switch to a mid-range Adreno 418 GPU would result in inferior graphics performance compared with many last generation Snapdragon 805 handsets, which pack an Adreno 420 GPU. This could be particularly concerning for gamers, if the LG G4 retains a QHD display resolution.
Although this rumor may sound negative, switching to a cooler, more energy efficient chip has benefits for battery and product life-spans. If it side-steps rumored throttling issues with the 810, the performance gap may not even be that pronounced either. Of course, this would leave Samsung’s Galaxy S6 in a secure position as the performance leader.
Qualcomm declined to comment on the issue and LG stated that its release plan is subject to the development of Qualcomm chips, which doesn’t tell us very much. With the LG G4 launch date right around the corner, we’ll know soon enough if this latest rumor comes to pass.
LG skipping Snapdragon 810 for the G4, using Snapdragon 808 instead
The Snapdragon 810 chipset has been plagued by overheating issues as we all know. While LG denied these reports after using the chip on the G Flex 2 handset, HTC’s One M9 was seen to be getting overheating warnings while on demonstration during the MWC event, so this is a known issue.
A new report suggests that the Korean manufacturer has finally decided to ditch the controversial silicon in favor of the Snapdragon 808 SoC. Benchmark results have shown the LG G4 to be running the Snapdragon 808, so this is not the first time we’re coming across such a report.
LG has already sent out invites for its April 28 unveiling of the LG G4, so it makes sense that the company has taken this decision now. It was said that Qualcomm will have a fixed version of the Snapdragon 810 SoC by mid-Q2 2015, which is close to May. Clearly, this wouldn’t go well with LG’s plans as it plans to unveil the G4 by late April and possibly have the device in shelves by May.
The Snapdragon 808 uses a hexa-core (6) CPU architecture and is powered by the Adreno 418 GPU. It uses a mixture of ARM Cortex-A57 and Cortex-A53 cores, so the performance will not be hindered compared to the Snapdragon 810.
Source: Korea Times
Via: G For Games
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LG will unveil its next flagship phone on April 28th
LG is scheduled to drop something big on April 28th. And if the “G’s” in the save the date invites (above) it sent out to the press is any indication, we can most likely expect its next G-series flagship phone. Besides, several Korean publications already revealed that LG will launch the G4 by the end of April. Some of those publications also claimed that the phone will have a 5-inch curved Quad HD display, but there’s probably no use speculating if that’s true or not when we’re this near to seeing the real thing. The South Korean company will hold an event in New York and other locations around the globe (New York, London, Seoul, Singapore and Istanbul), and we’ll be there to cover it, so stay tuned!
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
LG G4 coming April 28th, official invites begin rolling out
With the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 official and on their way to the market in the near future, many folks are already turning their attention to what’s next — the LG G4. Up until now, LG hadn’t officially cemented a date for its big unveil, but now invites are going out for a special event on April 28th in New York, London, Paris, and on April 29th in Seoul, Singapore, and Istanbul.
The invite shows off what appears to be a notebook and bears the tagline: See the Great. Feel the Great.
The invite shows off what appears to be a notebook and bears the tagline “See the Great. Feel the Great”, with a “G” in the same font as LG’s G series logo. So what’s the tagline hinting at? It seems pretty likely they are planning some kind of visual change. One might think that the notebook might be hinting at some kind of faux leather, though it’s just as possible it could symbolize the company opening up a “new chapter”, whether that’s a metallic design, or the rumor of a more premium G4 “Note” device. Honestly, it could mean just about anything.
Turning to the rumor mill, while some rumors suggest LG will go with a premium metallic build, at least one rumor suggests LG will stick with plastic, saving metal for its rumored LG “G4 Note”. It’s still unclear if the “more upscale” flagship will debut next month alongside the G4, though LG has hinted that such a device is really in the works. Another possibility is that LG’s tagline could be referencing a switch to a curved design (as rumored by Korea Times), which would certainly make it feel and look differently than the G4’s predecessor.
Regardless of whatever LG brings to the table, we’ll be here to bring you all the latest news as it happens next month. What would you like to see from LG? Excited about the possibility of an even higher-end LG handset, possibly as direct competitor to the Galaxy Note series?
AIVAnet 