GADGET GIZMO
REVIEW LG G5: Gives a taste of modularity paired with powerful performance
Expensive flagship phones really have to be
perfect don't they? Even the slightest blemish can be amplified to almost
comical levels. We've seen some fantastic premium flagships this year -
Samsung's S7 edge, Apple's iPhone 6S and HTC's 10. This is space that LG will
be competing in, evident from the fairly high price tag.
However, it doesn't come in empty handed - the G5 is the first to actually include a modular design - not only can you remove the battery, it is compatible with some additional accessories called 'Friends'. More on that in a bit. In addition, there are some nifty camera tricks, thanks to the dual lens setup on the rear camera. But let's move on to the device.
As you might know, the G5 is part of a series of flagships from LG. This is the first in the series with a full metal unibody design. A special process gives the metal a softer 'feel' though it might also fool some into thinking that it's plastic.
One of LG's signature design elements - volume + power on the back panel - is gone! Now you have the volume rocker on the left and the circular fingerprint scanner on the back (which also works as the power button when you click it). We wish LG had kept volume on the back panel as well - it's convenient (not to mention second nature for Android phones) to have volume and power buttons next to each other.
Up front, the screen takes up most of the space and it curves down at the top. The curve doesn't serve any purpose other than design. On top, you'll see the headphone jack and an IR emitter. Speaker and USB type C port are on the bottom while the dual camera module and fingerprint scanner are on the back. The scanner is slightly raised and has a chrome ring, making it easier to find.
There are no antenna lines visible - just some tiny 'gaps' in the metal around the periphery. Towards the bottom, there's a tiny button that sits flush with the frame - press this in and it detaches the removable module. The battery will also slide out -which means this is one of the few flagships with a removable battery.
A couple of modular Friends have been announced - for the camera and audio. The camera module has a tiny battery inside - it adds a physical shutter button and a nicer camera-like grip. The audio enhancement module by B&O supposedly works to improve audio quality. We couldn't get to test these out till the time of going to press. The idea is that LG and third-party can design more of these Friends to work with the G5 and possibly future LG flagships. Seems like a good idea but hinges on LG selling a significant number of G5's to begin with.
The camera is one of the highlights of the device. The primary camera is a 16MP unit with optical image stabilization, f1.8 aperture and laser autofocus. This is a brilliant camera that captures loads of detail in most conditions.
However, it doesn't come in empty handed - the G5 is the first to actually include a modular design - not only can you remove the battery, it is compatible with some additional accessories called 'Friends'. More on that in a bit. In addition, there are some nifty camera tricks, thanks to the dual lens setup on the rear camera. But let's move on to the device.
As you might know, the G5 is part of a series of flagships from LG. This is the first in the series with a full metal unibody design. A special process gives the metal a softer 'feel' though it might also fool some into thinking that it's plastic.
One of LG's signature design elements - volume + power on the back panel - is gone! Now you have the volume rocker on the left and the circular fingerprint scanner on the back (which also works as the power button when you click it). We wish LG had kept volume on the back panel as well - it's convenient (not to mention second nature for Android phones) to have volume and power buttons next to each other.
Up front, the screen takes up most of the space and it curves down at the top. The curve doesn't serve any purpose other than design. On top, you'll see the headphone jack and an IR emitter. Speaker and USB type C port are on the bottom while the dual camera module and fingerprint scanner are on the back. The scanner is slightly raised and has a chrome ring, making it easier to find.
There are no antenna lines visible - just some tiny 'gaps' in the metal around the periphery. Towards the bottom, there's a tiny button that sits flush with the frame - press this in and it detaches the removable module. The battery will also slide out -which means this is one of the few flagships with a removable battery.
A couple of modular Friends have been announced - for the camera and audio. The camera module has a tiny battery inside - it adds a physical shutter button and a nicer camera-like grip. The audio enhancement module by B&O supposedly works to improve audio quality. We couldn't get to test these out till the time of going to press. The idea is that LG and third-party can design more of these Friends to work with the G5 and possibly future LG flagships. Seems like a good idea but hinges on LG selling a significant number of G5's to begin with.
The camera is one of the highlights of the device. The primary camera is a 16MP unit with optical image stabilization, f1.8 aperture and laser autofocus. This is a brilliant camera that captures loads of detail in most conditions.
The wide aperture gives a nice depth of field. The second lens is an 8MP with f2.0 aperture and ultra wide angle of view. It has a 135-degree field of view and you'll be surprised at how much you can fit into the frame with this.
Even in a small space, you will likely capture the entire area. This camera works best outdoors. The camera app offers loads of features too: time lapse, manual mode, panorama, RAW image capture, HDR, film effect and some interesting pop-out and multiview modes (these modes use both cameras simultaneously). The G5 also has the amazing Snapdragon 820 with 4GB RAM and 32GB storage. It can tackle any sort of app or game without a hiccup.
The interface is powered by Android 6.0.1 - not much bloatware and there are some nice extras: you can have five on-screen buttons for instance, there are handy phone management tools built in, a very nice universal remote app and even a way to re-install recently uninstalled apps if you deleted something by mistake. Battery life is about a day with normal use though it might need a charge by late evening if you're a heavy user. Luckily, it does support fast charging.
Undoubtedly, there are some things that are
really great about the G5 - but there are also some things that have no place
in a Rs50k + smartphone. For starters, the build quality. There is a very
significant, sharp ridge at the place where the battery module detaches from
the phone. The screen is good but it has thicker bezels than we're used to.
The modular functionality is very limited and the current Friends are expensive add-ons. So it's a tough call to take. Our vote still goes to the S7 edge (for simply brilliant design, quality and unparalleled camera) or the iPhone 6S Plus (for a better overall experience, including battery, OS, apps and camera).
The modular functionality is very limited and the current Friends are expensive add-ons. So it's a tough call to take. Our vote still goes to the S7 edge (for simply brilliant design, quality and unparalleled camera) or the iPhone 6S Plus (for a better overall experience, including battery, OS, apps and camera).
By Hitesh Raj Bhagat
ET8JUN16
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