The LG is one of the largest manufacturers of smartphones in the world and this year proved to be very active with good releases. Does LG G2 is the best Android 2013? Read our review smartphone.
Index: Characteristics and
accessories and screen
Interface Design and performance
Camera and Multimedia
Verdict: LG G2
The predecessor LG Maximo G, however LG has decided to drop the “Optimus” / “Maximum”, had already demonstrated a different maturity by the South Korean manufacturer for high-end devices. With this LG G2 maker surprises everyone, from the design, the quality of the screen and even incorporates a unique innovation, the placement of physical buttons on / off and volume on the back, never seen before in other smartphone.
addition to these innovations, which depend on the judgment of each, the specifications of this machine are top. Incidentally, the LG G2 competitors there is only the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z and Ultra Galaxy Note 3, the latter has more 1GB of RAM and is in the range of phablets with a Stylus. But another point that LG excels is the price: it costs € 599, while the Xperia Z1 costs € 699 and Galaxy Note 3 cost € 749. As President of Portugal LG told us in the presentation of LG G2 event in Portugal:. “A fair price for the equipment,”
Features and Accessories
class=”c10″> Dimensions: 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 mm - Weight: 143g
- Operating System: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
- Screen: True HD IPS 5.2-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 ppi pixels/424
- Camera: 13MP with image optimization / Front: 2.1 MP
- Processor: Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 to 2.26 GHz
- GPU: Adreno 330
- Ram Memory: 2 GB
- Internal Memory: 16GB/32GB MicroSD without
- Battery: 3000 mAh (non-removable)
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
- GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS
- Bluetooth v4.0 and Infrared
- NFC and 4G
Normalized
- Audio Jack 3.5 mm
- USB 2.0
The specifications of this smartphone are top, with very few competitors to match. As indicated, only the Xperia Z1, Galaxy Note and Xperia 3 Ultra Z have the same processor, however the latter are in a different range of LG G2.
top specifications of this smartphone, Snapdragon 800 with 2GB of RAM ensures that we have an excellent performance with this smartphone and certainly not for a few years we will have to worry about it. But it is not only a 13MP camera with IOS helps us to replace a compact camera and a 3000 mAh battery ensures a reasonable length. In this case, further, finding that the performance of this battery is excellent compared to other devices.
Within all of these specifications, the only missing is support for microSD . As I have stated in other reviews is true that nowadays, with the cloud can do without an expansion of memory, but it gives way, give it. We have the music, the movies, the series on a card apart is better than filling the memory of our smartphone.
Design and screen
LG G2 design is both innovative and disappointing . If we criticize Samsung for keeping the plastic on the tops of the range smartphones like the Galaxy S4 or Galaxy Note 3, the same must be said of LG.
The LG G2 features with excellent ergonomics, maintaining good usability compared to those with small hands, then helped with the physical buttons, but we already there. Despite the “normal” size that range have tops smartphone, the LG G2 can be an ideal size for a larger screen than the others. Just imagine that the LG G2 has the same size as the Galaxy S4, but with a higher screen at 0.2 inches. If we compare the Xperia Z1, everything is better, the smartphone is smaller and has a larger screen.
Even in terms of weight is well placed. Is, of course, behind the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S4, yet it is lighter than the HTC One
Now a question: Who has not dropped this great smartphone for trying, with one hand, turn on your smartphone? Certainly that has happened to most of you, and so does this new placement of the buttons have very logical, especially for those small hands . The sides of the smartphone became virtually “clean” and only at the bottom is that we find the microUSB, headphone jack and speakers. In the lateral compartment only found for the MicroSIM and on top we have a microphone and infrared.
It’s on the back of the equipment we found what we use most on your smartphone, the physical buttons just beneath the camera. One thing is certain, you will end up walking looking buttons, before remembering that G2 placed them in the back, but will eventually realize that it is logical. Incidentally, after the test we carried out we ended up asking ourselves: How nobody remembered it before
For example, during a call is much easier to increase the volume, and whenever we put the smartphone is instinctive finger on button zone. The big problem is that we used to find the physical buttons on the sides, which brings us a long time to get used to something, they ultimately make. We note the lack of side buttons, when we have the smartphone on a table and want to connect. Certainly thinking about it, the LG has Knock On, simply tap the screen twice he binds , or if you have an actual cover, just open.
In terms of notifications have two LEDs. One on the front, next to the front camera (as is already accustomed) and another around the on / off button on the back. However, end up being buttons with different functions. While the front functions as alert notifications, whatever, the back light only “flashes” when we receive a call or during the alarm. In our view, it would be much more interesting that both function as notification lights so seeing a sign permit notification regardless of how the equipment was placed on a table, for example. But it may be that will be added this feature.
But
is to look at the screen that looked great work LG, which reduces the frame of the device at a mere 2.65mm , arguably the smallest frame a smartphone . With this frame, it was possible to increase the screen size of 0.2 inches, but keep a reasonable size smartphone. The example of comparison with the Galaxy S4, cited above, is ideal.
The screen quality is superb. Both external as internal , the automatic mode works in a perfect way, the screen is excellent, has vivid colors and a good viewing angle. We have without doubt one of the best screens on the market.
Interface and performance
LG also has its own interface, such as with competitors. For those who already had Android not have any trouble getting used to this smartphone from the South Korean manufacturer and the interface has been equal in all LG smartphones. If we look weaker smartphones like the LG Maximo L5, eg., We see that is the same interface.
There some applications already found on other smartphones, including its predecessor, as Qslide, Quick Memo or Dual Screen, but we have more . We have the Quick Remote, which allows doing our smartphone one remote for every device with infrared, Quick Translate, similar to Samsung, however after the first dictionary that held the download for free, all others are paid, each for 3 20 €, which is a value something high. However this application allows you to make voice translation, but also writing and with the help of the camera. For example, encounters a word it does not know what it means, choose the right dictionary and with the camera he understands what the word is.
It has a video editor, FM Radio (very rare in the tops smartphone range) Voice Mate, personal assistant Siri and the style of S Voice, Safety and Care, an application that will please the parents, as it allows the smartphone so leave a predefined area can send a message with your location . LG also put the Polaris Viewer 5, to be able to open various file reading.
A new, never seen before in this way, is the Slide Aside . Basically, this feature allows us to put three applications running at the same time, multi-tasking , who acceded to the just swipe three fingers from left to right and left with three applications available in three windows. A different, but not innovative functionality, since the difference between this application and the normal multi-tasking is very little. Moreover, to make multi-tasking even prefer the Samsung, which separates the screen into two for each application, or the LG G Flex, as we saw in our first impressions. Watch a short video of how it works and, as expected, double click on the screen is not always perfect.
All these applications are possible with the enormous processing power of the LG G2. In every way, one of the best smartphones on the market . To have a better idea and compare with competitors, publish performance tests that we normally use, the AnTuTu, AnTuTu X, GFXBenchmark, 3DMark, Vellamo and Quadrant.
For a comparison, we decided to compare the LG G2 with other competitors with Snapdragon 800, the Xperia Ultra Z, Z 1 Xperia and Galaxy Note 3. The results from the Xperia Z1 are taken from Engadget.
In general, the performance is very similar. In AnTuTu LG G2 gains an advantage, but only Vellamo is behind the Ultra Z. In Quadrant is behind all that is, and in 3Mark. But believe me, will not check any delay in relation to competitors.
What surprised me was clearly the battery . For some time we are not used to such a long battery and easily got two days of battery, and a more “normal” use repeatedly got three days of battery . An excellent battery performance that is difficult to find in the market because nowadays a smartphone last more than two days is almost a miracle. I can only compare to the Xperia Z on your Stamina mode.
Camera and Multimedia
The camera has 13MP and excellent performance. Increasingly, the tops of the range smartphone can replace the compact to the most normal pictures, including those for camera time, because if you want a more professional photography, now has to go to a higher range of cameras.
But the LG G2 performed his duties in a variety of situations, from little brightness to the macros photos, almost always with an excellent performance. It is also normal we check some noise in night shots, but we could verify a great improvement over the previous generation of smartphones such as the Galaxy S3 or the LG Optimus G.
Here are some pictures taken with the LG G2, but you can access the original photo on our Flickr page.
In terms of features, the LG G2 offers a wide variety such as filters and ways to take picture and enables customize how photography took our way . Brightness, focus, ISO, almost everything can be customized in our own way, good Android style. It even allows us to indicate what the buttons do traseiroa when photographed, Zoom can do or take photos. Personally, I preferred the first option, since taking pictures with the back buttons do not give any way, and that with some ease, slide your finger to the front of the lens and spoils the picture.
But in customization, nothing beats the ease as we do in 1020 and the Nokia Lumia Camera.
also in terms of shooting the G2 meets the objectives, providing good picture quality and good sound quality.
In terms of multimedia playback performance is excellent. With this screen, Full HD resolution and with the all-powerful Snapdragon 800, would not expect anything . But there is another detail is when using for a long period of time, it is normal to get warm, but differs G2 LG. Also heats, of course, however I noticed that it takes longer, as in others we have tested enough one or two races in Real Racing 3 takes this a little more to get it to warm up.
Verdict: LG G2
If you impressed? Yes If it is the best smartphone of 2013? Yes, the LG G2 combines the size and design with a processing power at the level of very few smartphones available in the market. Incidentally, only the Xperia Z1 and Note 3 is that they are at the same level this high-end device. However, there is one thing that is far superior to other , size and design , and can be very thin and still offer a larger screen with the same resolution and with excellent ergonomics.
The big difference this smartphone are buttons. It is a positive aspect, turns out to be, but with a somewhat lengthy habituation, which is also a negative aspect . Change something that is implanted in the way we use smartphones is very difficult and I believe that most people do not like this new location of the buttons, but that idea from LG has all the logic to be, is an idea to get the hat .
Although I have been a fan of this smartphone, I believe that is not the design of the HTC One level, yes this design the best smartphone in 2013. However, can offer the best specifications at the best price . Also I’m still skeptical of updates, but at the same time believe that LG wants to be on competitors (read: Samsung) must update and the latest news is encouraging.
What pleased me the LG G2 is the battery life . With some ease if you can overcome the two-days of battery, which is very difficult in most smartphones. Also the price pleases me , when compared with competitors. While the Xperia Z1 and Galaxy S4 hit the market with a higher price to € 700, this is able to be in the market at cost 600 €. Undoubtedly, the best price / quality, the tops of the range.
Points in Favor:
- price compared to competition
- superb screen
- Excellent battery performance
- ago Buttons
Points Against:
class=”c10″> No microSD - plastic construction
- ago Buttons
I want to thank LG for having ceded LG G2 for analysis and indicate that you can find this machine on sale in retail stores for € 599 and locked the MEO for 499 €. Take our picture gallery:
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