Now that the LG G3 has officially launched, the company is basking is a wash of positive reviews. “Life’s Good”—that’s what LG stands for, and that’s certainly the case where the well-received LG G3 phone is concerned. The company has packed in a considerable number of premium features including eye-popping display resolution and pixel density, a 13-megapixel camera, wireless charging, and seemingly inexhaustible battery life. The critical acclaim will bolster the preorder confidence of early adopters, but for those still on the fence, here’s a LG G3 meta-review, a collection of G3 hands-on opinions from device experts.
Hardware and Design
The LG G3 is powered by Qualcomm’s most powerful ARM processor in consumer-level smart devices. The Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocks in at a staggering 2.5 GHz. The resolution hits at 2560×1440 with a pixel density of 538 ppi—more than most television resolutions. In fact, Phone Arena calls the G3 “remarkable.” They speculate, “It’s probably the most technologically advanced smartphone at this point.”
The first thing users will notice that speaks to this achievement is the 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS panel display. Both Phone Arena and TechRadar agree that the display looks great, yet each questions the viability of a QHD screen. Tech Radar notes that “as a headline spec, it doesn’t seem to add a huge amount to the G3.”
The large display does add to the aesthetic appeal, though Android Central mentions a distaste for the overuse of plastic, yet again, on a LG phone. But they do recognize that the plastic used is “less offensive than the greasy, fingerprinty plastic of the G2.” On the design front, comfort seems to be the pervading positive among reviewers: The LG G3 can be held easily in a single hand. While it is another large “phablet” device, reviewers have applauded the slightly curved sides, which make the device easier to hold in a single hand.
Camera
Despite how impressive double-digit megapixel camera specs may sound, the consensus among reviewers is less enthusiastic. Make no mistake: the rear-facing clicker on the LG G3 is apparently very solid, just not industry-leading. Engadget calls the camera UI “extremely minimal.” The G2 featured 14 different camera modes, while the G3 now features a mere four (auto, dual, magic, and panorama). Not to worry: there are many ways to tweak and spruce up pics underneath that Spartan UI.
Reviewers have also been pleased by the phone’s picture quality. There have been some reports of slight over-saturation and odd lighting issues with sunny and low-light evening shots, but this is characteristic of most smartphone cameras. The Verge states that image quality “is better than most, but not an unequivocal champion.” They go on to note that image quality approaches that of the “standard-setting iPhone 5s and Nokia.”
So what about that fancy new laser-based auto-focus system? Supposedly, it allows the camera to focus and snap pictures much quicker than the leading competition.
Battery
The G3’s 3000mAh battery is one of its strongest features, with Android Central reporting an average lifespan of 13-17 hours. It’s quite an achievement considering the juice needed to power a 1440p resolution display. Beyond that, LG appears to be the only company in the industry taking Qi wireless charging seriously by making it available right out of the box. Bravo!
It should be noted that these early reviews are on the Korean LTE networks; the unit is not yet optimized for the U.S. While this LG G3 meta-review is just a brief smattering of hands-on opinions, the overall judgment is exceedingly positive.
Do you think the G3 is LG’s best phone?
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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