LG officially announces its mid-range LG G4 Beat smartphone
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It was inevitable that LG was going to announce a mid-range version of its flagship LG G4, and that device has been made official today as the LG G4 Beat. If you can imagine a slightly smaller, slightly less powerful version of the LG G4, and you’ve pretty much got the LG G4 Beat – headlining specs for the device include an octacore Snapdragon 615 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display and a 8MP rear camera that inherits LG’s nifty camera features like Color Spectrum Sensor and Laser Auto Focus.
Of course, the device was never meant to turn too many heads, but it is a decent offering at the mid-range, and it does have the added incentive of sharing the LG G4’s unique looks and design. Unfortunately, LG Beat devices of old have often been just a tad too expensive to truly be competitive with the likes of the Moto G, but we’ll see what the pricing is like when the device is actually available. LG says to expect the LG G4 Beat in Europe and Latin America this month with Canada, India, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and others to join at a later date.
The full list of specifications for the LG G4 Beat are:
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 615 Processor
- Display: 5.2-inch Full HD IPS LCD (1920 x 1080, 423ppi)
- Memory: 8GB eMMC ROM / 1.5GB RAM
- Camera: Rear 8MP LDAF (13MP in Latin America) / Front 5MP
- Battery: 2,300mAh (removable)
- Operating System: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
- Size: 142.7 x 72.6 x 9.85mm
- Weight: 139g
- Network: 4G LTE / HSPA+ 42.2Mbps (3G)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFC / A-GPS / Glonass / USB 2.0
- Colors: Metallic Silver / Ceramic White / Shiny Gold
- Other: In-Cell Touch / Color Spectrum Sensor / Gesture Interval Shot / Full HD 1080p Video
What do you think about the LG G4 Beat? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Press Release
LG G4 BEAT DELIVERS PREMIUM DESIGN,
SUPERIOR FEATURES IN A MID-TIER PACKAGE
Advanced Display, Advanced Camera and Striking Design Come
Together to Create an Exceptional Phone Without the Exceptional PriceSEOUL, July 9, 2015 ― LG Electronics (LG) officially unveiled its newest variant of its widely praised LG G4 flagship smartphone. The LG G4 Beat1 retains the best features and functions of the LG G4, delivering value without compromising performance or usability. The LG G4 Beat will make its debut this month in key markets in Europe and Latin America, including France, Germany and Brazil before rolling out globally in markets such as Canada, India, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and Turkey, among others.
The LG G4 Beat comes with a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS Display, which is clearer, sharper and more responsive than anything offered by LG before in this category. A powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 615 processor running eight cores at 1.5GHz with integrated 4G LTE delivers an optimal balance of power, performance and battery life.
LG G4 Beat’s camera features are equally as impressive as the hardware. On the back is a 8MP camera 2, supported by LG’s exclusive Color Spectrum Sensor and Laser Auto Focus. Manual Mode, one of the most acclaimed features in the G4, allows full creative control over every detail in each shot. LG also enhanced the 5MP front-facing shooter with Gesture Interval Shot to allow users to take four consecutive selfies with a single hand gesture, increasing the odds of capturing that perfect shot.
“Too often, mid-tier phones sacrifice overall usability in order to include that one killer feature,” said Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our goal with the LG G4 Beat was to create a phone that was not only well- balanced in terms of display, camera, performance and design but delivered terrific value and satisfaction.”
Highlights and Features of the LG G4 Beat are:
- High Performance Multimedia made possible by a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 615 Processor with Octa-Core performance and speed, which can handle Full HD 1080p playback at 60fps and capture at 30fps.
- Color Spectrum Sensor to measure the exact RGB and infrared values of ambient light and objects, resulting in colors that are truer to nature.
- Manual Mode to give users fine control over every detail of a shot, including shutter speed, ISO, exposure and white balance.
- Gesture Interval Shot improves on the original Gesture Shot by increasing the chance of getting that perfect shot even under challenging conditions.
Prices and details of availability will be announced locally at the time of launch.
The post LG officially announces its mid-range LG G4 Beat smartphone appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Who’s who in the smartphone camera business
Camera technology has always been an important feature in smartphones but this generation of flagships have been putting particular emphasis on the quality of their camera modules. So it seems worthwhile to dive on into the world of camera sensors and take a look at who is building the best and most popular products.
Sony
We’ll start with one of the biggest and that is Sony. The company has a long legacy in the image sensor market and has been at the forefront of mobile camera technology for a number of years. The company accounted for roughly 40 percent of all smartphone image sensors in 2014.
Sony’s image sensors have found their way into numerous smartphones and tablets, even if the company doesn’t provide the whole module. If you’re curious, the difference is that image sensors are responsible for converting the light into digital information, which determines the number of megapixels, pixel size and density, recording frame rates, etc. The broader camera module determines focus, aperture and other attributes.
Sony’s Exmor image sensors are behind a number of high-end smartphone cameras.
Sony’s high-end image sensors fall under the Exmor RS brand name. Its latest model is the Back Side Illuminated (BSI) 21 megapixel IMX230, which has started to find its way into the latest smartphones. It’s IMX240 powers the Galaxy Note 4 and some S6 models, while the IMX234 forms the basis of the LG G4’s camera.
The company isn’t just catering to the very high-end market, Sony’s 8MP and 13MP mid-range sensors have been in high demand from Chinese smartphone manufacturers looking to decent cameras at a reasonable cost. The 13 megapixel IMX214 has proven particularly popular with manufacturers like Huawei and Oppo over the past twelve months.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Handsets examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMX 135 | 13 MP (4224 x 3176) | 1/3.06″ | 1.12 um | LG G3, Note 3, Moto X |
| IMX 214 | 13 MP (4224 x 3176) | 1/3.06″ | 1.12 um | Find 7, Honor 6, OnePlus One |
| IMX 220 | 20.7 MP (5344 х 4016) | 1/2.3″ | 1.2 um | Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, Meizu MX4 |
| IMX 234 | 16 MP (5312 x 2988) | 1/2.6″ | 1.12 um | LG G4, ZTE Nubia Z9 |
| IMX 240 | 16 MP (5312 x 2988) | 1/2.6″ | 1.2 um | Galaxy S6, Note 4 |
As well as basic sensor hardware, Sony has also developed Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) technology, in-sensor HDR, and high speed shooting modes for its sensors, which is helping to keep the company at the forefront of the market.
So important is its image sensor business that Sony is willing to invest billions into additional production capacity by issuing new shares for the first time since 1989, just in order to keep up with demand.
OmniVision
OmniVision is another big name in the smartphone image sensor business, but you’re more likely to find its products in the low and mid-tier markets, rather than high-end smartphones.
The company’s typical sensor selling price is just $1.79, compared with upwards of $7 from Sony. As a result, OmniVision is expected to capitalize on the new demand for lower cost CMOS sensors from the growing Chinese and Indian smartphone markets.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Full Video Capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OV5640 | 5 MP | 1/4″ | 1.4 um | 15 fps |
| OV8825 | 8 MP | 1/3.2″ | 1.4 um | 24 fps |
| OV13860 | 13 MP | 1/2.6″ | 1.3 um | 30 fps |
| OV16825 | 16 MP | 1/2.3″ | 1.34 um | 30 fps |
| OV23850 | 23.8 MP | 1/2.3″ | 1.12 um | 24 fps |
That said, the company’s hardware has occasionally cropped up in high-end devices, including the last generation HTC One M8. The company also used to supply image sensors to Apple before Sony took the contract.
Not too long ago OmniVision announced its 23.8 megapixel OV23850 image sensor for smartphones, which comes with PDAF, video binning, and 4K video recording.
In a separate bid to cater to the high end market, OmniVision has been pushing its 13MP PureCel design. This is a slightly larger image sensor with bigger 1.3um pixels to capture more light for better looking images. You’ll probably recognise this idea from HTC’s Ultrapixel idea, which OmniVision was involved with.
Toshiba
Toshiba is another large company with a strong legacy in the mobile camera business. The company’s sensor may not be appearing many high-end smartphones these days, but it was behind the impressive 41 megapixel sensor that powered the Nokia 808 PureView’s camera.
The company has most recently been working on further reducing the size and power consumption of its smartphone image sensors. The company also launched a 240fps slow motion capable T4K82 sensor back in March of this year.
Typically, Toshiba produces 13 and 8 megapixel sensors for smartphones and also has a 20 megapixel sensor for the high-end market. The Toshiba’s BSI T4KA7 is apparently powering the HTC One M9’s rear camera. Like Sony, Toshiba has integrated PDAF into its sensors and has its own 3D depth mapping technology and bright mode technology for improving the visibility of slow motion videos.
Toshiba camera modules developed for Project Ara
At last check in, Toshiba was looking to focus on providing sensors to Chinese smartphone manufacturers and had turned to automotive and medical markets for further growth. Although it did show off some neat modular prototypes for Project Ara as well.
SK Hynix
SK Hynix, a South Korean semiconductor supplier, is also a key player in the low cost smartphone camera market. Much like its competitors, the company produces a range of sensors and its 8 and 13 megapixel option are moving popular in mainstream handsets and it is focusing its operations in the growing Chinese market. SK Hynix had also previously provided low end cameras for Samsung’s budget smartphones.
Last year the company announced that it had a high-end 21 megapixel sensor in development. SK Hynix isn’t really doing much that hasn’t already been done by the competition, instead it appeals to manufacturers based on its low price point.
Samsung
Samsung has tried its hand at producing many key smartphone technologies itself and is also in the image sensor game. Although not as large of an operation as Sony, Samsung has been attempting to grow its image sensor and camera module businesses.
Besides hardware, Samsung has been working on software features, like picture re-focusing using depth information.
Samsung has quite a large catalog of sensors, including Front Side (FSI) and Back Side Illuminated (BSI) sensors. Its high-end technology uses the company’s own ISOCELL pixel type, which aims to reduce noise compared with its traditional BSI sensors by reducing interference between different color pixels.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Pixel Type | Full Video Capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S5K3H5 | 8 MP | 1/3.2 | 1.4 um | BSI | 30 fps |
| S5K4H5YB | 8 MP | 1/4 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
| S5K3L2 | 13 MP | 1/3.06 | 1.12 um | BSI | 30 fps |
| S5K3M2 | 13 MP | 1/3.06 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
| S5K2P8 | 16 MP | 1/2.6 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
Although we may typically associate Samsung with high-end products, the company’s average sensor selling price is only $1.93. You can find a range of products from small 1.3MP sensors for the low end market, up to 16MP sensors found in the flagship Galaxy S6. Samsung also develops complete modules for its sensors.
Most recently, Samsung’s own image sensors have found their way into the Galaxy S5 and S6 smartphones. However, due to its limited production capabilities, Samsung has to mix its own and Sony image sensors in the Galaxy S6. Closer inspection revealed some noticeable differences between the two, but without a side by side comparison you would probably struggle to notice any major differences in quality, suggesting that Samsung is managing to keep up with Sony.
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LG
Much like Samsung, LG is both a component and product manufacturer and is making strides with its camera components. LG Innotek is the division of the company that focuses on components and designed the impressive camera inside the company’s latest G4 flagship.
However, unlike Samsung, LG doesn’t make its own image sensor components, but designs the wider camera module instead. LG’s high-end smartphone cameras have all been based on Sony Exmor image sensors. LG has most recently pushed the boat with its f/1.8 aperture camera in its LG G4, which will let in around 80 percent more light than the G3’s f/2.2 module. This is the wider aperture that we’ve seen yet in a smartphone.
LG’s G4 took a Sony IMX234 sensor and paired it with its own lens, laster auto focus and color compensating technologies to produce one of the best smartphone cameras around.
Not only that, but LG’s research teams are also developing complimentary hardware components for its camera modules. Back with the LG G3 the company announced its laser autofocus system and the LG G4 comes with an infra-red colour correction circuit to better compensate for environmental lighting.
As the company doesn’t have to worry about sensor development, it has more time to work on refining the other module components, which has resulting in some rather interesting and practical camera designs.
HTC
Much like LG, HTC is not in the image sensor business, instead it has had a few attempts at designing its own camera modules.
HTC’s Ultrapixel idea didn’t end up working out to well, so the company ended up moving it to the front camera.
The company coined the phrase “Ultrapixel” for its larger 2.0um pixel smartphone cameras but these actually made use of ST Microelectronics and OmniVision constructed sensors, specifically the VD68969 and OV4688. The company has also experimented with dual-sensor set-ups with the One M8, making use of a 2.1-megapixel OmniVision OV2722 sensor to collect additional depth information.
Despite the novel ideas, the company’s camera technology does not appear to have kept up with the competition lately; the handset scored poorly in our blind test shoot-out.
What to expect next
There are a number of other manufacturers in the mobile image business which produce either their own lens modules or sensors, for example even OnePlus developed its own lens for its smartphone. Hopefully though, I have covered enough of them to give you an idea of what the market is like.
Samsung and Sony are likely quite safe at the top of the sensor market
Samsung and Sony are likely quite safe at the top of the sensor market, but smartphone CMOS sensor demand is inherently tied to the smartphone market. Huge growth in low margin handsets is driving demand for competitively priced image sensors with moderate specifications and this is opening the door for OmniVision, Toshiba and others to collect new business and expand their market share in Asia.
At the high-end, we’re quite likely to see OEM companies continue to differentiate their products by tweaking the broader camera modules to bring out subtle improvements in quality. Ideas like dual-image sensors, wider apertures and laser auto focus will probably keep cropping up from time to time, but final image quality is inevitably tied to the limited space for sensors within smartphones.
The LG G4 is a jack of all trades, yet master of none
Ask people what they want in a phone and the LG G4 would probably fulfill all of those requirements. Yet people are looking at Samsung and Apple offerings for their next device.
Something has to be putting LG at a disadvantage, right?
The LG G4 has a sharp display with Quad HD resolution, micro SD card slot for additional storage, removable battery to extend usage, professional-like camera, Dual Window functionality, Smart Bulletin, LG Health, and plenty of other features. The list goes on and on. All this in a relatively small form factor considering the screen itself is much larger than most of the competition. The only real complaint would be build quality, but the leather back option does make it look much nicer. However, the biggest problem with creating a product that tries to do everything is it ends up being for no one specifically. All the features that everyone said they wanted so much no longer seem that great once they are all together.
The reason for this is exactly why Apple and its iPhone are so successful. The company based in Cupertino focuses on key features that users really want and use, then proceed to work until the product is (seemingly) perfected. When you overload the product with tons of ‘stuff’, the overall experience suffers rather than improves.
Samsung is another great example of this. In the past, the Galaxy line was absolutely flooded with features that many users ended up never using and grew to dislike.
With the release of the Galaxy S6, we are seeing a new and improved Samsung. They have cut features that were not all too useful and redirected resources to make the hardware and software worthy of a consumer’s attention. Even with half the features the G4 has, the Galaxy S6 is widely regarded as the best Android phone ever made.
HTC, at one point, also made phones that were good but lacking distinct features. The company went back to the drawing board and came out with the One (M7), a device applauded for its great design and premium speakers. Now, years later, if someone tells you they love watching movies and listening to music, but are unsure of what phone to buy, you know exactly what to recommend. Instantly, the first phone that comes to mind is the One M9. There is nothing else on the market that sounds as good. HTC has successfully positioned itself for a certain consumer.
The iPhone just works, the Galaxy S6 Edge has curved edges, the One M9 sounds unbelievable, and the Galaxy Note 4 has a versatile stylus. What is that one feature LG really worked into the G4 to make it stand out from the rest? The display’s resolution is matched by other top devices. The inclusion of a microSD card slot is still common even if it is slowly on the decline. And the slightly curved display is bested by LG’s own G Flex 2. There is nothing that only the G4 has that makes it stand out.
I strongly considered buying the LG G3 last year as it had a high-end display that was not only large, but much sharper than anything else on the market. It had something that really stood out from the best of the best. The G4 on the other hand has added more while not being very unique. Its personality is missing.
The G4 is a great phone that most consumers would be happy to own, but I really hope LG starts to consider how it wants to identify in the mobile industry. The company has a great base, but it needs to expand upon that. LG is missing that one feature that everyone wants and is only available on the G4.
Come comment on this article: The LG G4 is a jack of all trades, yet master of none
LG G4 Beat offers mid-range take on familiar flagship design
LG on Thursday introduced the G4 Beat, a mid-range version of its 2015 flagship smartphone. The handset carries over many of the physical traits and characteristics of the G4 but features dialed-down internal hardware.
Key specifications include a 5.2-inch full HD display, 8-megapixel rear camera, and 8GB storage. The standard G4, by comparison has a quad HD screen, 16-megapixel camera, and 32GB storage.
Running Android 5.1 Lollipop, the G4 Beat is powered by a octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor and 1.5GB RAM. Rounding things out, other details include a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a removable 2300mAh battery.
The G4 Beat will be initially be sold in Europe and Latin America, followed by other markets down the road. LG did not indicate if any US carriers might be in line to support the device.
The post LG G4 Beat offers mid-range take on familiar flagship design appeared first on AndroidGuys.
LG unveils the G4 Beat with a Snapdragon 615 SoC
Earlier today, LG took the wraps off its latest mid-range smartphone, the G4 Beat. The handset fits neatly into its ‘G4′ lineup, sporting the same design as the company’s flagship handset.
In terms of specifications, the G4 Beat packs a 5.2-inch Full HD display, a Snapdragon 615 chipset, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable internal storage, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera and 5-megapixel front-facing shooter.
The device will run the latest build of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with LG’s UX 4.0 custom user interface plastered over the top straight out of the box. It will also support 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC and GPS.
The G4 Beat is set to hit the shelves across Europe and Latin America first where it will be available in Metallic Silver, Ceramic White and Shiny Gold colorways. Following a successful launch in these regions, it will reach Canada, India, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and Turkey.
Unfortunately, right now, there’s no official word on pricing, but we expect the handset to retail somewhere in the region of $300 (€270).
Source: LG
Come comment on this article: LG unveils the G4 Beat with a Snapdragon 615 SoC
The LG G4 Beat is a mid-ranger with a few flagship tricks
The growing LG G4 range has just received another new member, following the launch of the G4 Stylus and G4 C earlier in the year. Today the company announced the G4 Beat, which LG says will offer value but won’t compromise on performance.
The G4 Beat is a little smaller than the high flying G4 flagship, shrinking from 5.5-inches down to 5.2 with a Full HD (1920×1080) resolution, rather than QHD (2560×1440). This is a very minor trade-off and the phone also seems to have retained the G4’s subtle curved display.
There’s also a downgraded 8 megapixel camera on the back and a 5 megapixel camera on the front, but the flagship laser auto-focus module and manual shooting mode remains. Interestingly, a 13MP camera will be available in the Latin American market.
“Too often, mid-tier phones sacrifice overall usability in order to include that one killer feature … Our goal with the LG G4 Beat was to create a phone that was not only well- balanced in terms of display, camera, performance and design but delivered terrific value and satisfaction.” – Juno Cho, CEO of LG Mobile
An octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 powers the handset, which is a commonplace chip in today’s mid-tier market, along with 1.5GB of RAM, half of that available with the G4. The battery is also chopped down from 3,000mAh to 2,300mAh, but with less power hungry components the phone’s battery life should still be adequate.
Overall, the LG G4 Beat looks like it does a pretty good job at bridging the gap between the mid-range market and LG’s latest flagship.
LG’s mid-range product portfolio has been instrumental in helping the company secure share in emerging markets such as Latin America. Its range of handsets has also kept LG more competitive with China’s low cost manufacturers. As a result, the company made a £475 million profit last year.
The LG G4 Beat is scheduled for an initial launch in Europe and Latin America, although exact dates are yet to be announced, followed by a global rollout shortly afterwards. Pricing is expected to fall somewhere around the €400 mark (~$440), but will vary slightly depending on the market.
What do you think about the LG G4 Beat?
LG G Pad F™ 8.0 is now available from U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular announced today that it will carry the LG G Pad F™ 8.0. It will be available in the color of your choice, as long as that choice is black.
LG G Pad F™ 8.0 specs
- 8-inch HD + IPS display
- 5 MP rear-facing camera
- 2 MP front-facing camera
- HD camcorder
- Full-sized USB port so you can store and transfer content directly to the device
- Q Pair™, that you can sync the G Pad to your Android™ smartphone (Android 4.1 or higher) to answer calls and messages right from your tablet
- Stylus pen for a more precise touch, and it is loaded with Android 5.0 (Lollipop).
With U.S. Cellular’s $0 down installment pricing, qualified customers purchasing the LG G Pad F 8.0 make 24 monthly payments that are conveniently added to their bill. Customers can upgrade this device in as little as 12 months if they trade it in for any new device with installment pricing. They can choose to pay off the full balance of their device anytime they want. It is also available for $129.99 with a two-year agreement.
Is this device on your radar? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
The post LG G Pad F™ 8.0 is now available from U.S. Cellular appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung may be #1 in the USA, but they are still losing!
Despite Samsung’s recent onslaught of bad fortune, the latest smartphone data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech puts the popular phone maker back in the #1 spot in the USA. This is good news for Sammy, as they have finally taken back the crown they once held so dearly. The sad news is that chances are no one is celebrating in Samsung’s Korean head quarters. Even though Samsung is winning, they are still losing!
The report states the Android operating system continues to grow its market share when taking a look at the three months of the year ending in May 2015. Android now holds 64.9% of the US smartphone market, showing a 2.8% increase over last year. The real question is whether this is, in large, thanks to Samsung or not.
The Galaxy phone maker is reported to have regained the market lead in the US with an increase from 52% (3 months ending in April) to 55% (three months ending in May). This means they were able to retake 3% of the market in just one month, mostly thanks to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. The Galaxy S6 went on to become one of the best-selling smartphones in the US after the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S5.
How is Samsung losing?
Here’s where things get interesting: Samsung also improved their year-over-year statistics, with market share only down by 0.5%, as opposed to 2014’s 1.6% during the same period of time. According to these numbers, Samsung is still losing sales… they are just losing them slower.
Regardless, these changes don’t seem significant enough to place Samsung in a victorious state. A big factor is that Apple is beginning to lose sales as the iPhone 6 hype starts to die down. Meanwhile, Samsung’s flagship device is brand new and should probably be doing much better. The real numbers will come once we compare both devices’ statistics on equal terms. Keep in mind the Galaxy S6 is still the third most sold smartphone in the USA, not the first.
It could be argued that Apple numbers are going down thanks to Samsung’s awesome smartphones, which offer an improved build quality, stunning design, an insane camera and top-notch performance. The phone is a beast, but we can’t give Samsung all the credit for taking down Apple; LG has managed to nearly double its market share year-over-year, which is helping the cause. Now that is an impressive statistic!
Not to mention, Samsung continues to report more quarterly profit drops, with Q2 2015 expected to be the 7th in a row (wow!) Not even their best smartphone ever was able to take them out of this whole they are digging themselves into.
Why is this? These matters are complex and no one can give you a straight explanation as to why Samsung keeps spiraling down. Some say it has to do with Samsung’s supply not being able to meet customer demand. That may be a factor, but we also have to consider Samsung’s phones haven’t exactly been meeting consumer expectations either.
Previous Galaxy smartphones performed great, but the build quality was horrendous. Samsung went back to the drawing board after realizing a change was due. They wanted to improve their strategy and create a Galaxy S6 worthy of consumer envy. This thing had to be powerful and well-built, and they sure accomplished it. The Samsung Galaxy S6 really is amazing in many ways, but it’s still not the hero Samsung was looking for, nor the one we deserved.
I believe Samsung is still trying way too hard to compete with Apple, as opposed to placing more attention on what their customers want. One of the main reasons why Samsung critics stuck to Galaxy phones was that these devices continued to support expandable storage and removable batteries. It was what differentiated them, yet the Samsung Galaxy S6 got rid of both features. And chances are the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will do the same.
There are good arguments to the exclusion of these, something we make sure to mention in our opinion piece regarding the Note 5’s lack of microSD support. My gripe with this whole issue is more about the lack of a removable battery. Have you used a Samsung Galaxy S6? Its battery life is disgusting! The thing seriously won’t last me half a day. And now I can’t even swap batteries when one dies? One day I said “forget this” and just stopped using it.
If Samsung was going to improve the build quality by sacrificing battery life (or the removable battery), we would have liked it to be a sizable battery, at least. This is why so many are finding refuge in LG’s latest smartphone, the G4. It offers a huge removable battery, great performance and a design that is also amazing. In a different way, but it’s amazing.
The real question is whether the Galaxy S6 will continue to sell as well as it has. And if all my beliefs on Samsung’s decline are right, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 won’t really help much, as the latest rumors suggest the it will pretty much be a larger Galaxy S6 with a stylus.
Like I said above… Samsung may be #1, but they are still losing. Their numbers are still going down, their new devices have flaws they don’t plan on changing and the awesome improvements pale against the sacrifices Samsung had to take. But tell us, guys. Would you agree with me that Samsung made some bad decisions? What factors would you credit their decline to? Sound off in the comments and let us know whether you agree or disagree with me.
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LG officially announces its mid-range LG G4 Beat smartphone
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It was inevitable that LG was going to announce a mid-range version of its flagship LG G4, and that device has been made official today as the LG G4 Beat. If you can imagine a slightly smaller, slightly less powerful version of the LG G4, and you’ve pretty much got the LG G4 Beat – headlining specs for the device include an octacore Snapdragon 615 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display and a 8MP rear camera that inherits LG’s nifty camera features like Color Spectrum Sensor and Laser Auto Focus.
Of course, the device was never meant to turn too many heads, but it is a decent offering at the mid-range, and it does have the added incentive of sharing the LG G4’s unique looks and design. Unfortunately, LG Beat devices of old have often been just a tad too expensive to truly be competitive with the likes of the Moto G, but we’ll see what the pricing is like when the device is actually available. LG says to expect the LG G4 Beat in Europe and Latin America this month with Canada, India, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and others to join at a later date.
The full list of specifications for the LG G4 Beat are:
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 615 Processor
- Display: 5.2-inch Full HD IPS LCD (1920 x 1080, 423ppi)
- Memory: 8GB eMMC ROM / 1.5GB RAM
- Camera: Rear 8MP LDAF (13MP in Latin America) / Front 5MP
- Battery: 2,300mAh (removable)
- Operating System: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
- Size: 142.7 x 72.6 x 9.85mm
- Weight: 139g
- Network: 4G LTE / HSPA+ 42.2Mbps (3G)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFC / A-GPS / Glonass / USB 2.0
- Colors: Metallic Silver / Ceramic White / Shiny Gold
- Other: In-Cell Touch / Color Spectrum Sensor / Gesture Interval Shot / Full HD 1080p Video
What do you think about the LG G4 Beat? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Press Release
LG G4 BEAT DELIVERS PREMIUM DESIGN,
SUPERIOR FEATURES IN A MID-TIER PACKAGE
Advanced Display, Advanced Camera and Striking Design Come
Together to Create an Exceptional Phone Without the Exceptional PriceSEOUL, July 9, 2015 ― LG Electronics (LG) officially unveiled its newest variant of its widely praised LG G4 flagship smartphone. The LG G4 Beat1 retains the best features and functions of the LG G4, delivering value without compromising performance or usability. The LG G4 Beat will make its debut this month in key markets in Europe and Latin America, including France, Germany and Brazil before rolling out globally in markets such as Canada, India, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and Turkey, among others.
The LG G4 Beat comes with a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS Display, which is clearer, sharper and more responsive than anything offered by LG before in this category. A powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 615 processor running eight cores at 1.5GHz with integrated 4G LTE delivers an optimal balance of power, performance and battery life.
LG G4 Beat’s camera features are equally as impressive as the hardware. On the back is a 8MP camera 2, supported by LG’s exclusive Color Spectrum Sensor and Laser Auto Focus. Manual Mode, one of the most acclaimed features in the G4, allows full creative control over every detail in each shot. LG also enhanced the 5MP front-facing shooter with Gesture Interval Shot to allow users to take four consecutive selfies with a single hand gesture, increasing the odds of capturing that perfect shot.
“Too often, mid-tier phones sacrifice overall usability in order to include that one killer feature,” said Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our goal with the LG G4 Beat was to create a phone that was not only well- balanced in terms of display, camera, performance and design but delivered terrific value and satisfaction.”
Highlights and Features of the LG G4 Beat are:
- High Performance Multimedia made possible by a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 615 Processor with Octa-Core performance and speed, which can handle Full HD 1080p playback at 60fps and capture at 30fps.
- Color Spectrum Sensor to measure the exact RGB and infrared values of ambient light and objects, resulting in colors that are truer to nature.
- Manual Mode to give users fine control over every detail of a shot, including shutter speed, ISO, exposure and white balance.
- Gesture Interval Shot improves on the original Gesture Shot by increasing the chance of getting that perfect shot even under challenging conditions.
Prices and details of availability will be announced locally at the time of launch.
The post LG officially announces its mid-range LG G4 Beat smartphone appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Engadget’s new buyer’s guide picks: LG’s G4 and a ton of audio gear
It’s been almost two months since we’ve updated our various buyer’s guides, but we’ve made up for lost time by adding a dozen new picks. Most of those are in our portable audio category, with nearly everything replaced with something newer (or better). We’ve rounded out our other categories too, though, with the LG G4 ranking as one of our new favorite phones, and the Fitbit Charge and LG Watch Urbane getting nods in the wearables section. Those are some of the more notable additions, but feel free to poke around — and stay tuned to see what we add next month.
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio/Video, Wearables, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, LG
Source: Engadget Buyer’s Guide
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