dbrand’s skins make my Nexus 5X look awesome and unique
I’m not one who normally uses cases or skins on my phones, but I recently came across MKBHD’s(Marques Brownlee) line of skins from dbrand on Twitter, and thought his stuff looked pretty sweet. It’s been awhile since I have even looked into skins for smartphones – if I was ever looking to cover my phone I would typically choose a case over a skin. I HATE putting on skins. But since dbrand’s skins looked so cool, I really had to try a set out for myself for my Nexus 5x.
Design
With dbrand’s custom ordering website, you can literally make hundreds of different combinations of custom skins for your devices. dbrand offers complete coverage by offering back, front, frame and camera skin coverage. At dbrand, they only use authentic 3M vinyl on LG Nexus 5X skins and will guarantee no adhesive residue will ever be left on your device if you ever decide to remove it.
“What does that mean for you? It means that whenever you decide to take off your Nexus 5X wrap, there won’t be any adhesive residue left on your device. Guaranteed. We’re committed to providing our customers with uncompromising quality. You can relax, we only use the highest grade materials on the planet.” – dbrand customer service.
I even saw a customer on reddit who had a rare experience with a skin pulling off some of the paint on his Nexus 5, but the user was beyond satisfied with dbrand’s best in class customer service. They sent him a new Nexus 5 cover in addition to 15 sets of skins of his choosing. That’s pretty awesome.
From carbon fiber, to leather, metal, colors and wood(our own Henry Wigyul love’s wood) dbrand has just about every person’s taste covered with their multitude of options.
Installation
This is one area I dread with skins. I used to try putting skins on my devices a couple of years ago, in addition to screen protectors, but I am really impatient with detailed work like this. It’s the main reason why I stopped looking into skins altogether. Skins and screen protectors usually end up as one massive fail.
Since dbrand sent me the latest skins, I figured it was worth a try since the new skins look really awesome.
I went to dbrand’s website and looked up how to install the skin and luckily they had the best instructional video you could ask for. It literally walks you through installation step-by-step, and within ten minutes you will have your entire skin installed. I’ve got the images to prove just how easy the dbrand skin was to apply to my Nexus 5X.
1. Wipe down the device with the included cloth
2. Align the flash, laser sensor and fingerprint reader.
3. Flip the device around and align the 3.5mm headphone jack. Remove the backing and use a hair dryer to heat the adhesive and make it stick to the device.
4. Remove each individual letter and use the backing to align each insert.
5. I found tweezers to be much easier.
6. Once everything is in place, I used a heat gun(I do not own a hair dryer) to warm the skin and smoothed it out.
Completed installation in less than ten minutes.
Summary
As you can see in the pictures, dbrand’s skins look awesome. The skins turned my drab Nexus 5X, in Frost White, into a slick carbon fiber device with a properly Google colored X in the center of the Nexus logo. I happened to put my own touch on the layout by using the silver S instead of the white one, to show you really can do whatever you want with customization.
dbrand did not provide me with the side skin pieces, nor the front skin. It doesn’t really matter as I think the back carbon fiber skin looks fantastic. The skin kit for the back, Nexus logo, limited edition colored X, and camera costs less than $15 which is an incredible value considering the kit dramatically improves the look of your device. I highly recommend dbrand’s skins as they offer complete customization, super easy installation, high-quality materials, and excellent durability. They’ll keep your phone protected against scratches while giving you a whole new look.
dbrand makes skins for a wide variety of devices. If you want to learn more head on over to their website by clicking here.
dbrand.com
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A defective screen component led to the cancellation of the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE
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The LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE was announced at the start of October and was a significant announcement because it was the first Android Wear smartwatch to feature cellular capabilities. The watch was expected to be available for purchase in November in the U.S. and Korea, and shortly after in Europe. However, in a strange turn of events, the launch of the Urbane 2nd edition was canceled indefinitely. The reason given in November for the device’s cancellation was an “unspecified hardware issue.” However, last week, LG said the reason for withdrawing sales for the watch was not because of safety issues, but over the component’s potential to take away from the user experience over time. LG says this faulty component has never been used in any of its wearable devices before.
In a statement to Telegraph, LG stated: “For competitive and supplier relations reasons we are not in a position to communicate the specifics of the issue that led to this decision. However, what we can share is that the hardware issue was related to a new advanced component that we had incorporated in the device that had never been used in an LG wearable device before. During aggressive testing over thousands of hours under severe conditions, it was revealed that this component failed to meet LG’s quality standards and could potentially impact our image quality over the life of the device.”
I was not a fan of the original LG Watch Urbane’s chunky design, and much prefered the alluring sleekness of the Moto 360. However, I was still excited about the Urbane 2nd edition because, of course, its cellular capabilities and high resolution display. The Urbane 2nd edition was set to feature a 480×480 P-OLED display, meaning it would have been the most pixel-dense Android Wear smartwatch to ever have been released. Its cellular capabilities were also rather exciting, because users could make calls and texts directly from the watch itself, rather than through a Bluetooth-paired smartphone. This would’ve been great for runs and workouts, in which carrying a phone around is highly impractical.
LG did not specify whether or not a fixed model would be available soon. Were you excited to pick up the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE? Would you still want one if a revised model came out? Let us know in the comments below!
Via: Telegraph
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Camera Shootout (Round 2): LG V10 vs Sony RX100
Last time we did a camera showdown, we took the Galaxy S6 and pitted its well-received shooter against a renowned dedicated camera – the Sony RX100 (Mark II). The overall comparison showed a very interesting result – smartphone cameras aren’t as far off from real cameras as one might suspect.
Well, now it’s time we take the RX100 up against another contender. LG has been right on Samsung’s tail since the debut of its new 16MP f/1.8 camera on the G4 this year. The sensor is essentially a Sony IMX234 module, modified with LG’s own lens, laser auto-focus, and white balance sensor. And of course, it made sense to carry the stellar camera over to the V10.
So now it’s time to see if LG’s work paid off and and can hold a candle to a dedicated camera. The Sony RX100 has gained a large fan base for the superb image quality from a compact body. In my opinion, the RX100 is the highest reasonable level to compare to a smartphone camera, because past this point you’re in DSLR territory.
We’ll have three categories in this comparison: Backyard, Indoors, and Town. I’ve dropped the RX100’s capture down to 16:9 and 17MP (close enough to the V10’s 16MP resolution), and I used Auto Mode on both cameras. Also, I’ve implemented a side-by-side image preview this time, for easier comparing. The LG V10 images will be on the left and Sony RX100 on the right (you can pop up the full images via the links below each image pair). Let’s begin!
Backyard
I have a forest in my backyard, so this gives me lots of opportunity for foliage shots. I picked the most interesting ones out of my set to show you guys.
I caught this forest shot early in the morning and wanted to see how well both cameras responded to the sun’s light. I felt like the V10 did an overall better job – the RX100’s image looks slightly faded due to the light (and a blueish tint). The V10’s colors are deeper.
My dogs were nice enough to help with the shootout. Here, I prefer the RX100’s image. If you zoom in on Ian’s fur, detail was captured better on the RX100. The V10’s image came out slightly brighter and less contrasted.
I loved this shot, for both the artistry and the complexity that the sun adds. There was a pretty drastic difference between the cameras. One important note is that the RX100 focused on the pot while the V10 appeared to focus on the concrete ledge (not sure on why LG’s camera wouldn’t focus on the object directly in front). You can also see the sun’s rays cut into the V10’s image more. But that slight blueish tint makes a return on the RX100 image (I like the contrast in the V10 image better).
The detail in both of these images are the same as far as I’m concerned, but overall coloring is definitely different. I would say that the coloring on the RX100 was most true to the actual of that scene.
This was another early morning shot – a cold, frosty morning actually. Again, these images are very close in detail to me. The big different I see is that the RX100 is more aggressive with depth of field (de-focusing of the surrounding), which makes for a more dramatic image.
I noticed a good opportunity to catch differing detail as the sun melted the frost that morning. Both cameras reproduced the moisture detail on the lounge chair fantastically. What’s interesting is that the RX100 captured a vertical rainbow effect. If you look at the de-focused area on the back, the contrast and colors of the RX100 is much better.
I did a close-up on a leaf that had frost on it. I prefer the RX100’s shot here. If you zoom in, the frost detail is definitely resolved better. Also, the color on the rock is more accurate.
Stepping away from the close-ups, this patio shot shows the sunlight dominating the V10’s image a bit too much. It looks slightly hazy and not as contrasted as the RX100 image.
I got the cameras to focus at about the same spot in this image. You can see again that the overall coloring is slightly different. A common occurrence I’m seeing is that the V10’s camera prefers to produce a brighter image at the cost of some color accuracy. We’ll see if that behavior continues in the next set.
Indoors
Indoor shots tell a lot about a camera’s abilities – lighting is different at every angle. Let’s check out how the V10 fares in varying conditions.
Got my wife some Fall flowers for our anniversary and saw a picture opportunity. Going along with my previous observation, the V10’s image is brighter. It may come down to preference, but I just like the RX100’s image better. The extra brightness makes the V10’s image bland in comparison.
I brought in my little orange Android to help out. The color on the RX100 image is so much better to me (the V10’s image looks pale in comparison). But the Android’s detail on the V10 image is clearer (maybe because the RX100 focused on the table).
Mmmm, ham and cheese croissant. The detail on both images are great, but I like the contrast and color accuracy on the RX100 image better.
Here, I tried to focus both cameras on Intel logo on my XPS 13 (the device I’m a slave to when pumping out these posts). Something I really notice is the dominant yellowness of the V10’s image (probably due to both the table’s color and lighting). The RX100 wasn’t deterred by the surroundings.
Now for some shadows! I caught this drama happening on my dining room floor. The floor color with the V10 is pale, while the RX100’s image was truer to real life.
This is my other dog. His name is Beau and he’s a Great Pyrenees. Fortunately, he was nice enough to pose for me (this time). We again get a brighter image with the V10, somewhat countering the shadowing in the scene. If you zoom in on his face, the RX100 image is more detailed.
Interestingly, the results are reversed in this comparison. The RX100’s image now has a yellow-ish tint. To me, the V10 wins here.
Tea time! Again, the V10’s image is brighter (and a bit paler) in comparison. But both are good.
For this last one, I wanted to address the low-light struggle of the cameras. The V10 did a fantastic job pulling light in, look at how comparable these images are. May I remind you that the RX100 has a 1-inch sensor. But with that said, the Androids on the V10 image are slightly grainier. Still, I’m impressed.
Town
For variability of outdoor images, I went out to my local town and got a few good shots.
I like how the V10 handled this scene. The RX100 blew out the lighting on the top left area, resulting in an overall paler image.
These two images are very close. I prefer the V10 here, again. The lighting on the RX100’s image is ever so slightly overdone from the top.
It’s Christmas time, so why not compare a tree? To me, the RX100 wins here. The V10’s reproduction isn’t as clear and slightly yellowy.
These images are super close in quality. I would say that the V10’s image is slightly paler but negligible.
Same deal here as far as I’m concerned. To my eyes, the V10’s image is still slightly paler. I can see it being up to preference.
I have a hard time choosing which image I like more here, I see elements in both that are good. The lighting of the RX100 image looks overshot on the top left, but it looks more crisp than the V10 image.
These are close in detail, but to my eyes the colors of the building and cars look richer on the RX100’s image.
This pair is once again difficult to choose from. I would give a slight edge to the RX100 because I see it as more colorful.
The sunlight (and HDR processing) largely determines the reaction in this last image. It’s hard to choose one, but I side with the V10’s image. To my eyes, the sunlight causes a slight haze on the RX100’s capture.
Final Thoughts
This was a very interesting battle. I would call the RX100 the winner, but there were times when the V10’s camera stepped forward. The repeated offenses I noticed was that the tone of the V10’s images could sometimes be thrown off into a slight yellowish tint and paler colors in some instances. But the capture of detail was consistently fantastic. And LG’s f/1.8 aperture is no joke, this thing can catch a great amount of light.
One last note. After having done the same comparison with top-end smartphone cameras from both Samsung and LG, you may be wondering which fared better against the RX100? I would say that Samsung’s camera did. I felt like that battle was closer. But nonetheless, smartphone cameras are amazing these days.
Despite my commentary, you of course be the judge. What did you think about this camera shootout? We want to know, so sound off below!
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Android phones and tablets on sale at Expansys this weekend (December 5)
Save big on LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sony, and HTC
Shopping around for a smartphone this holiday season? Have you ever considered picking up something that’s unlocked right out of the box? Yes, this freedom means you can take your phone to other carriers without having to give up your favorite device. Unlocked phones are a big deal and they’re only going to get bigger over time.
We’ve looked through Expansys to put together a number of deals that you ought to check out. Some of what you’ll find is pretty significant stuff; most of these prices are for a limited time only. Nevertheless, we figured you’d be interested in learning about the discounts. In addition to phones, you’ll find some tablet sales, too.
- Motorola Moto X Style (32GB) Black – $429.99 (Save $70)
- Motorola Moto X Style (32GB) White – $429.99 (Save $70)
- LG Nexus 5 (32GB) White – $199.99 (Save $150)
- LG Nexus 5 (32GB) w/ Refurb LG Tone+ Bluetooth headphones) – $219.99 (Save $160)
- Samsung Galaxy S6 (32GB) Black – $469.99 (Save $50)
- HTC Nexus 9 LTE (32GB) Black – $349.99 (Save $50)
- Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (16GB) Black – $319.99 (Save $70)
- Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (16GB) White – $319.99 (Save $70)
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LG’s K7, which should debut early next year, is a low-end phone
In the coming months, LG will release a low-end phone to be known as the K7.
Here are the alleged specifications:
- 5-inch FWVGA (854×480) display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 quad-core processor
- 1.5GB of RAM
- 8GB of internal storage
- 5MP / 5MP cameras
Blass, writing for VentureBeat, specifically named T-Mobile as a carrier to be selling the K7, but others are expected to be doing so as well. Based on the specifications mentioned above, don’t be surprised if the K7 is around $150 off-contract. The handset should debut in early 2016 with a likely same-day release. Obviously LG won’t be hosting a splashy launch event for a device of this caliber. The company reserves that for major devices like the G4 or V10.
Source: VentureBeat
Come comment on this article: LG’s K7, which should debut early next year, is a low-end phone
10 Android phones you should consider for Sprint (December 2015)
Are you in the market for a new smartphone? Is Sprint the service provider you’re considering? You’re in luck! We’re here to help you pick out that next handset. If you’re an existing smartphone owner, picking out an upgrade won’t be too much of a challenge. But, for others, particularly first-time buyers, the idea of buying an Android might make them nervous.
Which is the newest phone? What is the best phone? Which is the one that’s going to give me exactly what I need? We’re here to help you dig mine through the muck and pull out a few gems.
We’ve put together a list of the top 10 Android smartphones you should consider for Sprint this December. Here, in no particular order, are ten Android handsets that you should consider for Sprint if you’re currently contemplating a new device.
LG G Flex 2
Introduced early in the year, this phone was among the first to boast a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. It’s powerful enough to contend with most Androids and features a 13-megapixel rear camera with laser focus and optical image stabilization. What it also offers, is a self-healing protective coating, which means your keys and general wear won’t ruin the finish. Also, the phone is curved in multiple ways and allows for one of the most comfortable experiences around.
LG G Stylo
LG Stylo
A low-cost alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Note line, the LG G Stylo gives users plenty of screen space and a stylus for which to write. Running a still-recent version of Android (5.1 Lollipop), this one comes with 8GB internal storage and 1GB RAM. The quad-core processor isn’t gonna set any benchmarks but the total package is affordable and worth the money. First-time buyers looking for a big screen should consider the 5.7-incher.
HTC One E8
Although the HTC One E8 is powered by an older version of Android (5.0 Lollipop), it’s a powerful experience that’s enough for most average users. Don’t let the plastic body fool you; there’s a fair amount of hardware under the hood. Specs include a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, and 16GB storage. Toss in a microSD card for up to 128GB extra storage and satisfy your media needs.
LG Tribute 2
You might ask why we have a phone with these specs listed as a recommended buy. The answer is simple: the price is more than fair considering the package. We like what LG has been doing these last few years and this is a great starting point for smartphone newbies. The 4.5-inch screen, is among the smallest you’ll find in today’s smartphones but it feels really good in most hands.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
The fifth generation of Samsung’s plus-sized smartphone experience boasts a gorgeous metal and glass design. The S Pen digital stylus is smarter than ever and works without even powering on the display. Up from previous models, storage options are now 32GB and 64GB. The battery, which comes in at a commendable 3000mAh capacity, allows for fast charging, wireless charging, and even fast wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 at Sprint
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 at Amazon
Google Nexus 6
Running an untouched version of Android Lollipop, the Nexus 6 is among the first to receive an update to the 6.0 Marshmallow build. The 6-inch screen might be a little bigger than you’re familiar with but the reviews and feedback have been solid. Internal storage is tapped at 32GB with no microSD expansion card slot but it should be enough for those who live in the cloud.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
An almost identical sibling to the aforementioned Galaxy Note 5, this one trades out the stylus for the dual curved display. If you don’t need to jot down notes or mark up documents, consider grabbing the more sexy counterpart.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ at Sprint
Samsung Galaxy S6
Announced in the spring, it’s hard to beat the annual Samsung flagship smartphone. The 5.1-inch Quad HD screen is a stunner and feels oh-so-right in our hands and the premium design includes glass and metal. It’s the first Galaxy S model we’ve wanted to coddle and protect in a long time. It doesn’t hurt that it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop (with an expected 6.0 update), comes with at least 32GB storage, and has 3GB RAM to boost performance.
LG G4
LG continues to impress with a steady stream of flagship models that demand attention. We long ago fell in love with the rear button layout and this year’s version has one of the best camera experiences we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. The specs are top-notch and the screen is a real looker.
HTC One A9
As the only HTC model on this list, we’re big fans of the new design cues and direction. It’s not necessarily a powerful smartphone, but it’s more than enough for first time buyers with plenty left over. It’s the first non-Nexus handset to run Android 6.0 Marshmallow and enjoys features such as Doze, Android Pay, and Android on Tap. For the first time in a few years we are excited about HTC again and can’t recommend this phone enough for its target demographic. The 5-inch screen feels terrific in hand and the fingerprint scanner is highly responsive. Check out our review of the HTC One A9.
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Cricket Wireless discounts ZTE, LG, and Samsung budget smartphones for this holiday season
Cricket Wireless today announced discounts on budget Android smartphones from ZTE, LG, and Samsung for the holiday season. The AT&T pre-paid subsidiary will run these discounts through January 7, 2016.
The subsidiary traditionally offers its discounts through mail-in rebates, but this time around, any price cuts will be applied instantaneously. The three smartphones Cricket Wireless is discounting are as follows:
These budget Android smartphones have an original price tag of $29.99, $99.99, and $149.99, respectively, but are discounted at $9.99, $29.99, and $49.99, in that order.
Once again, keep in mind that these deals start today and will last through January 7, 2016, so you have a little over a month to take advantage of this new promotion from Cricket Wireless.
Anyone interested?
source: Cricket Wireless
Come comment on this article: Cricket Wireless discounts ZTE, LG, and Samsung budget smartphones for this holiday season
Researchers claim they’ve built the first 3D color hologram
Princess Leia was apparently indisposed, but Korean researchers are laying claim to the world’s first 360-degree color hologram — a floating Rubik’s cube. A 16-company consortium called ETRI, led by LG Display division, has created “tabletop holographic display” that can be viewed from all angles. According to ET News, it’s a true hologram and not a “pseudo hologram that make[s] 3D effects through 2D images.” In other words, it’s not a “Pepper’s Ghost” illusion famously used for the Tupac hologram. Since the view changes when you move around it — as if it were a real object — it also differs from “floating 3D-movie” type holograms.
Via: Pocket Lint
Source: ET News
Deal: Refurbished LG G Watch going for only $50
The LG G Watch was one of the very first Android Wear device to hit the market back in 2014. We’ve come a long way with smartwatches in the intervening time, so technophiles used to skating the cutting edge of wearable hardware might see this thing as a dusty old fossil. For the rest of us who still just think it’s a pretty neat idea to have a computer strapped to your wrist, you’ll want to check out a new deal that’s made its way to A4C. Right now you can purchase your own refurbished G Watch for only $50!
Sure, the LG G Watch might not be the sexiest thing around. Its boxy, toyish face makes it look more like a novelty than a tool or fashion statement, but its solid specs have kept it functional and usable. Owners of the LG G Watch tend to stand by their devices, claiming it still gets the job done. Having voice recognition and touch screen literally at hand all the time can really revolutionize the way you interact with your smartphone. If you’ve never had an Android Wear product before, this might be a good opportunity to get your feet wet.
We aren’t sure how long this deal will last, so you should jump on it sooner rather than later. Head to the link below for more details. Will you be picking one up? If you’re an LG G Watch owner, how would you rate your experience? Do you recommend springing for this deal? Let us know in the comments.
LG V10 review: What the LG G4 should’ve been
LG recently released the V10 during the time of the year when we’d normally see the G Pro series get refreshed. It’s safe to say that the V10 is going to replace that line of smartphones, if it does well, considering it’s a larger, more advanced version of the earlier G4.
Unfortunately for the V10, the bigger screen and newer features aren’t that much more advanced than what’s available on the G4. The two biggest additions that are immediately apparent with the newer, more premium design, and the longer screen that extends into a low-power, always-on display to show shortcuts and notifications. Are those additions worth the upgrade over a G4? We’ll find out.
Design
2015 is the year of “premium” smartphones, with more manufacturers than ever adopting higher end materials for their smartphones, and it shows with LG’s latest; the design of the V10 is great. It feels nice, and weighty enough to actually feel like you’re holding an expensive piece of electronics, but not too heavy that it’s cumbersome to hold. The texture on the back of the device has enough of a grip without being uncomfortable, making what I personally think is one of the best designed LG phones to date, even without the leather back that was so popular on the G4.
The front of the device looks nearly identical to the G4, with a slight difference at the top of the phone. On the right side, you’ll find that the front screen extends into the top bezel, creating an always-on ticker display for several different things. It blends seamlessly into the border around the screen, and actually looks really nice and unobtrusive.
On the left side of the top of the device, you’ll find two front-facing cameras that are for the wide-angle selfies that the V10 can take. I’m not sure why LG didn’t do this with software like Samsung does with their 2015 flagships, but it is what it is.
Other than the screen, everything else is typical LG. You’ll find the power button and volume rocker on the back of the device, and the bottom houses the headphone jack and charging port, as well as a speaker.
Hardware
LG didn’t skimp on the specs here, as the V10 features a 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) IPS LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor, Adreno 418, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot for up to an additional 2TB, a 16MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, a 3000mAh battery, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, and Bluetooth 4.1.
Performance
The V10 uses a Snapdragon 808 CPU with 4 GB of RAM, which you can probably guess runs really, really well. Multitasking is a breeze, and there aren’t any games or combinations of apps you can throw at this thing to slow it down. Apps rarely needed to reload unless I was playing games or doing anything particularly RAM intensive, but even then they were pushed back into memory pretty quickly thanks to Qualcomm’s zippy Snapdragon 808.
For most users, you’re looking at a top notch performer. Web browsing and emails aren’t an obstacle for the V10, and even some of the hungrier apps like Facebook still perform extremely well here.
The screen is one of the best on the market, and while it isn’t quite as stunning to look at as some of Samsung’s AMOLED displays, the V10 offers an extremely accurate viewing experience. Colors are very natural, never too warm or too cold. Some people prefer the pop of other colorful devices, but anyone looking for something natural will be happy with the V10. I’m personally a little biased towards Samsung screens, and I was even extremely happy using the V10 day-to-day. Videos and pictures look phenomenal, and you’ll have a hard time finding anything to complain about.
The fingerprint scanner for the V10 is located in the power button on the rear of the phone. For the most part, it works well. Android natively supports fingerprint ID now, and as long as you get your finger on the button, it should quickly recognize your print and unlock your device. Unfortunately, I’m not at all a fan of LG’s power button and volume rocker placements. I also don’t like rear-mounted fingerprint scanners. You can probably guess, this made for a pretty combination for me while using the V10. That’s all personal opinion, and as long as you like LG’s unorthodox button placement and you don’t mind the current trend of fingerprint scanners that aren’t on the face of the device, you should have no complaints using LG’s implementation.
The speakers, like every other device that isn’t an HTC One with BoomSound, are okay. They’re loud, they don’t sound bad, and for casual listening and YouTube videos, you’ll be happy. LG uses a 32-bit hifi DAC in the V10 that offers a better listening experience, but in my testing it seemed like it only worked with LG’s stock music player app. That didn’t help much with videos or streaming from Google Play Music, but if you store your files locally, listen to music through headphones, and like LG’s stock music player, the V10 should give you a clearer sound than the competition.
Battery Life
As efficient as the 808 is, it can’t quite deliver amazing battery life when it has to power two screens, one of which has more pixels than most of our living room televisions. The V10 doesn’t get poor battery life by any stretch, but you’ll probably need to charge it just about every night. My typical heavy usage got me home with around 10% left in the tank, but even backing off a bit and trying to stay off the phone throughout the day couldn’t ever keep it over 50% by bedtime. You won’t need to worry about battery life if you don’t mind charging things every night (and I don’t think most people do), but it’d be nice to squeeze a little more out of that massive 3,000 mAh battery. Fortunately, you can swap the V10’s battery out thanks to its removable back, and it actually charges surprisingly quickly, so even if it dies mid-day you’ll be able to juice it back up in record time.
Software
There’s not much to say about LG’s software if you’ve used a G4 this year. Everything is pretty much identical to the G4, including LG’s blocky, colorful themes and design. Features like Qslide and QuickMemo are all here, as well as LG’s system-level tweaks like being able to change icons on your home screen and rearranging your navigation buttons.
Some of these features are very welcome additions, like the one-handed mode and the notification drawer shortcut to take a screenshot (since pressing the rear power button and volume down button simultaneously is the most unintuitive thing I’ve ever done), and dual-screen modes are always welcome on phones of this size.
Otherwise, LG hasn’t done anything to win over anyone that didn’t like its previous iterations of smartphone software. Icons are big and kind of ugly, half of your notification drawer is eaten up with quick toggles and a screen brightness slider, and most of LG’s apps are bloated with stuff and things. Samsung at least tried to make an effort to curb back some software this year, following HTC and Motorola’s lead, but LG hasn’t taken the hint yet. You can sort of see Material Design shine through on some apps, but overall the apps just aren’t attractive or compelling enough to use over some of the fantastic alternatives you’ll get on the Play Store. Things like Event Pocket in the calendar app, or the needlessly complex and categorized settings menu just don’t do the V10 any favors.
Second Screen
The second screen at the top of the V10’s display is the most compelling argument for picking the device, and it really does offer an experience that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. We’ve seen other OEMs dabble in curved screens that show information on the sides of the device, but the V10 puts its screen where you’ll actually see it.
There are a few different things you can do with it, allowing it to display shortcuts to certain apps or recently used apps. Moving around between sections is as simple as swiping between them, and there’s a media control screen, a calendar view, and you can even set it up to show up to five of your favorite contacts. There’s also a screen that will allow you to display a “signature” at the top of your screen, which is basically just a word or phrase that’s always sitting above your notification bar. Why anyone would want or need that is beyond me, but it’s there if that’s your thing.
While the primary display is off, that secondary screen goes into a low-power, no color mode, showing the time and your notifications. You can swipe it to display shortcuts for changing the volume of your device, turning WiFi on or off, turning a flashlight on or off, or jumping into the camera.
While actually using the phone, the best thing the secondary screen does is display notifications. If you get a text message or a phone call, it shows up on that screen instead of your main display, which keeps from distracting whatever it is you’re doing at the moment. It’s easy to dismiss calls or ignore notifications if they’re not particularly important, and they don’t intrude on the rest of the screen. It’s one of the best things about using the V10, even if it does create some usability problems from how large it makes the phone.
Camera
As far as camera performance goes, you’re going to find the same rear camera on both the V10 and the G4. That’s a good thing, as LG makes one of the best cameras on the market that pretty consistently takes good photos. There’s also the entire manual mode that LG heavily promoted with the G4, so if you actually know what you’re doing with a camera you can get the V10 to take some pretty amazing shots. The biggest real drawback to the camera is that it tends to struggle in low light compared to some other flagships, but the manual mode can take care of that almost every time.
LG’s camera interface can be as simple or complicated as you’d like it to be. The manual mode gives you fine-tuned control over just about everything, but the simple mode strips away nearly everything from the screen and lets you snap photos with a single tap. Both options have their place, but I feel like most users are going to like the simple mode more than being bombarded with all kinds of technical options to take pictures. LG takes advantage of the V10’s second screen with some camera options, putting settings and tuning on the extra space above the main interface instead of using up screen real estate, which is nice.
Indoor shots really are the V10’s Achilles’ heel. It loses detail pretty quickly compared to some other high end phones, although someone with a background in photography can work around with this thanks to LG’s manual mode. For the rest of us, though, low-light shots are just okay.
Outdoor shots were fairly accurate, and colors didn’t seem too washed out or too saturated.
Action shots were hit or miss. Moving subjects, like a dog, can be tough to capture without any blur. It’s obviously something that most smartphone cameras struggle with, but I’d hoped LG’s OIS would’ve helped more.
It’s quick to focus otherwise, and pretty consistently turned out great images.
Black levels are very accurate, and the high megapixel count means the V10 captures a ton of detail in its shots.
Closing
Should you buy LG’s V10? If you have a G4 (or even a G3, for that matter) then probably not. There isn’t much difference aside from the premium materials and that extra screen. Buying a new back for your G4 takes care of the first problem, and the extra screen at the top of the device doesn’t add too much to the experience as a whole to make it worth dropping the cash on this meager upgrade.
Even if you’re not coming from a newer LG device, it’s hard to recommend the V10 over some of LG’s other available devices, like the G4, simply because a G4 can be found so cheaply now that it isn’t worth spending the extra money here. The battery life is good, and the screen and camera are top notch, but it’s hard to recommend the V10 for anyone that’s not already a huge fan of LG that doesn’t mind an enormous device. If big screens are your thing, and you have to have that removable battery and SD card, though, then the V10 is an extremely compelling option. It’s fast, and the hardware is likely going to stand up to most devices in the next two or three years, assuming LG keeps the software up to date.
If you need a high-end Android phone, you can’t go wrong with the V10. It’s an all around amazing device, checking off almost every box that most people look for in a smartphone. Just make sure the negatives don’t outweigh the positives for you before making a decision.
Come comment on this article: LG V10 review: What the LG G4 should’ve been
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