LG Optimus G review: Grand Slam

LG Optimus G review: Grand Slam

Introduction

Designed to a flagship standard and powered by the latest in handheld computing, the Optimus G cannot hope for a warm welcome from rivals but is due every bit of their respect. LG is not asking for it - it's getting ready to earn it.
Early on this season, LG was looked upon to put the missing piece in the Android quad-core puzzle. It delivered that alright with the Optimus 4X HD, but were far from done. Their Optimus G completes what's nothing short of a grand slam, and does so with a flourish.

LG Optimus G official pictures
The Optimus G is the first phone to market globally with an S4 Pro chipset. Four Krait cores and next-gen Adreno 320 graphics are getting a scary snap out of Snapdragon. Kraits have better per-core performance and have demonstrated it in numerous benchmark tests. And having four of them in one place is a promise of a major speed boost.
But there's more than sheer horsepower to a true flagship and LG have given the design, display and camera their best too. You can safely say the Optimus G has every piece of top-notch technology currently available. The 13MP camera is a first for LG and the screen boasts some impressive credentials as well.

-->

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• 3G with HSPA; LTE
• 4.7" 16M-color WXGA True HD IPS Plus (768 x 1280 pixels) capacitive touchscreen, Gorilla Glass
• Android OS v4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, planned upgrade to 4.1 Jelly Bean, LG Optimus UI 3.0
• Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU, 2 GB RAM, Adreno 320 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset
• 13 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging, image stabilization, Time catch shot, smart shutter
• 1080p video recording @ 30fps with continuous autofocus and stereo sound
• 1.3 MP front-facing camera, 720p video recording
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
• 32GB of built-in storage
• MHL-enabled microUSB port, USB host support
• Bluetooth v4.0
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• Voice dialing
• Two app overlay mode for multi-tasking (Q Slide)
• Independent content output through MHL (Dual Screen Dual Play)
• Accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic

Main disadvantages

• No microSD card slot
• No Jelly Bean at launch
• Mediocre sunlight legibility
• Non user-replaceable battery
• 13MP camera hardly any better than competitors' 8MP units

There is little LG could've done better, apart from pushing ahead with Jelly Bean perhaps. The non-expandable storage is a slight disappointment but if that's the price to pay for the beautifully slim body, we'd take it.

LG Optimus G live pictures
Having already gotten a feel for the Optimus G, we cannot wait to take it out for a proper spin. There's plenty to test and explore, so let's get busy.
The new processor architecture is matched on the outside by a bold and assertive, though not exactly brand new, design. There're novelties in screen and battery technology, as well as imaging and media. But the first things on our list are, as usual, the design and build. So, who's up for a ride?

Unboxing the Optimus G

The retail box of the Optimus G is barely bigger than the handsets itself. It packs a charger and USB cable, a single-piece headset and a couple of NFC tags. The headset has flat cabling and cool silver earbuds.

The Optimus G retail package
The last thing to find in the box is a SIM eject pin. LG could have wrapped it instead of simply chucking it in but it's no big deal as long as it doesn't get lost during the factory packaging.
LG doesn't supply a MHL adapter enabling TV-out, but none of the competitors has one bundled either.

LG Optimus G 360-degree view

At 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5 mm, the Optimus G is a tad more compact than its main rival, the Galaxy S III, and almost the same size as its predecessor, the Optimus 4X HD. The Optimus G fits a display with a wider aspect ratio of 16:10 in virtually the same body as the Optimus 4X HD, thanks to the so-called Borderless design that minimizes the screen bezel.
The Optimus G weighs 145g, which is 12g more than the Galaxy S III. It's not a difference that will be badly felt in daily use. The LG flagship is pleasantly solid, but the straight-etched sides don't allow as good grip as the curvy Galaxy S III.

Design and controls

The LG Optimus G styling isn't exactly new - you can spot the Prada influence that spilled down to the L-series as well. What's more important is that the angular design is an emphatic departure from the organically curved Galaxy S III and HTC One X.
The design is free of embellishments and that's the right approach to a device of this size. Clean lines and straight angles make a simple but strong statement. Gone is the textured back of the Optimus 4X HD, which now may even be considered tacky when compared to the smooth glass covered rear of the Optimus G.

LG Optimus G next to Samsung Galaxy S III and LG Optimus 4H HD
By the way, the finish has nothing to do with what Apple used on their iPhone 4 and 4S. It's actually more akin to Samsung's hyperglaze coating. What's different here is the underlying pattern called "Crystal Reflection" finish. It is more prominent on a black handset than a white one: because the glass is polarized, the pattern shifts depending on viewing angle and lighting.
Still, the LG Optimus G, just like its S III rival feels like an all plastic device (if we didn't know it from the LG press materials we'd have a really hard time telling that the back panel is made of glass), which to many isn't quite great for a flagship device. LG made it quite clear that with all the antennas the smartphone packs plastic and glass was its only choice, so you should think of this as the price that needs to be paid for having the monstrous specs in such slim body. Just don't expect to wow anyone by showing them the sides or the back of your Optimus G - leave that to the screen at the front.
Our extended preview was based on the black model a while ago, and we're lucky to have the white Optimus G for this review.
The front is occupied by the huge 4.7-inch True HD-IPS+ LCD display of 768 x 1280 resolution. Whatever color version you choose, the screen bezel will be always black, unlike the Optimus 4X HD, the Galaxy S III or the iPhones.
There is a very thin metal frame running all around the phone's body where the screen glass and the rear cover meet. It is one of the few subtle accents in the Optimus G's design.

The Optimus G side and rear views
Now let's take a closer look around. Above the screen we find the earpiece, a couple of hidden sensors and the 1.3MP video-call camera. There is a small status LED right next to the LG logo.

The LG logo, the secondary camera and the earpiece above the screen
Below the 4.7-inch display is the familiar layout of capacitive controls: Back, Home and Menu keys. All three of them are haptic-enabled and pleasantly backlit in white (with a dedicated setting for the backlight duration).

The control deck below the screen
The left side of the phone features the microSIM compartment (you'll need the SIM eject tool to open it) and the volume rocker. It is nicely shaped to accommodate its other role: launching the Quick memo app. You no longer have to press both keys simultaneously, which was rather uncomfortable - pressing right in the middle will do the trick and that's where the volume rocker has a very subtle, but convinient hump.

The volume rocker and microSIM slot on the left
The right side has just the Power/Lock key.

The lonely Power/Lock combo on the right
The top side of the Optimus G is different depending on the region you are in. Our unit came straight from South Korea, hence the T-DMB tuner and telescopic antenna. The Europe-bound phones won't have those.

The T-DMB antenna
The 3.5mm audio jack along with the secondary mic are also on top.

The 3.5mm audio jack and secondary mic on top
The bottom hosts the MHL-enabled microUSB port and the primary mic. There are a couple of screws that secure the back as well.

The microUSB port and the primary mic
The 13MP camera lens protrudes from the back slightly, so the phone rests on it. The 8MP variant of the Optimus G has the camera flush with the surface.
Just below the camera is the single-LED flash and diagonally opposite is the loudspeaker.

The 13MP camera at the back
The back cover is non-removable - that is to say, not designed to be user removable, but it can probably give in if you undo the screws. Under the cover is a 2100mAh Li-Po battery, developed by LG Chem and promising increased lifespan of 800 charge cycles.
We ran our traditional battery test of course and the Optimus G achieved endurance rating of 45h. This means that if you were to use the smartphone for an hour of talking, an hour of web browsing and an hour of video playback per day, you'd need to charge it once every 45 hours.

LG Optimus G battery test results

Display

The LG Optimus LG features a 4.7" True HD-IPS+ LCD screen of 768 x 1280 resolution and 470 nits of brightness. The so-called borderless design is trying to minimize the bezel but doesn't get rid of it completely. There's just enough to let you comfortably hold the phone without worrying that your palm of fingers will touch the screen.

The Optimus G display
LG uses a screen technology called Zerogap touch - basically a laminated screen so there's no air between the screen layers (which causes glare) and it uses in-cell touch technology. The top layer is Gorilla glass for protection.
We put the LG Optimus G through our usual display tests and here's how it scored. You can find more about the testing procedures here.

Display test	50% brightness			100% brightness
	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio
LG Optimus G	0.14	197	1445	0.33	471	1438
LG Optimus 4X HD	0.34	369	1077	0.68	750	1102
Nokia 808 PureView	-	-	-	0	455	∞
Samsung Galaxy Note II	0	215	∞	0	402	∞
Motorola RAZR i	0	169	∞	0	370	∞
Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III	0	174	∞	0	330	∞
HTC One X	0.15	200	1375	0.39	550	1410
Apple iPhone 5	0.13	200	1490	0.48	640	1320

Sadly, the LG Optimus G screen is pretty reflective, which leads to a rather mediocre performance in strong sunlight.

Contrast ratio

• Sort by Label
• Sort by Value

• Nokia 808 PureView 4.698
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III 3.419
• Samsung Omnia W 3.301
• Samsung Galaxy S 3.155
• Nokia N9 3.069
• Samsung Galaxy Note 2.970
• HTC One S 2.901
• Samsung Galaxy S II 2.832
• Huawei Ascend P1 2.655
• Nokia Lumia 900 2.562
• Apple iPhone 4S 2.269
• HTC One X 2.158
• Nokia N8 2.144
• Apple iPhone 4 2.016
• Sony Ericsson Xperia ray 1.955
• Sony Xperia U 1.758
• LG Optimus G 1.753
• LG Optimus 4X HD 1.691
• HTC One V 1.685
• LG Optimus Vu 1.680
• HTC Desire V 1.646
• LG Optimus 3D 1.542
• Nokia Asha 302 1.537
• Nokia Lumia 610 1.432
• Gigabyte GSmart G1355 1.361
• Sony Xperia miro 1.324
• HTC Desire C 1.300
• LG Optimus L7 1.269
• Meizu MX 1.221
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket 1.180
• Sony Xperia tipo 1.166
• Samsung Galaxy mini 2 1.114

We snapped a shot of the display under a microscope and here's what the RGB matrix of the Optimus G looks like.

LG Optimus G display matrix
The viewing angles are good thanks to the IPS+ tech, but not without some color shift and contrast loss.
When we put the LG Optimus G side by side with the Galaxy S III and Optimus 4X HD it was clear that the Optimus 4X HD is inferior but the Optimus G has quite decent contrast for a non-AMOLED unit and actually has more accurate color rendering than the over-saturated AMOLED screen on the Galaxy S III. Overall, the image quality is nothing short of impressive.

Handling

The LG Optimus G is about the same size as the other Android flagships but does well to set itself apart with its bold and assertive styling. It may not have as good handling as the Galaxy S III, but it comes very close and generally feels pretty comfortable in the hand. The build quality is rock solid.
The magnificent screen up front and the excellent handling for a device this size, make the Optimus G a pleasure to use. It may come a few points short of a perfect score for looks, but it still feels like a proper flagship - now let's see if it behaves like one.

The Optimus G held in hand

Optimus UI gets customized deeper

The LG Optimus G is powered by Android 4.0.4 ICS with a planned upgrade to Android Jelly Bean later on. The Optimus UI on top of ICS runs deep and adds tones of optimizations including choosing themes, changing the look of icons, choosing between a static or swipe-able wallpaper, etc.
The Android 4.0 interface is sprinkled with some extra little touches that really make using the UI an enjoyable experience. Those are small tweaks that pop up here and there will surprise you with their usefulness. We'll be sure to point them out to you as we go along. Now, let's get started with a video demo of the flagship Optimus G in action.
LG has updated the cool swipe lockscreen, which lets you see what's "underneath" as you unlock the phone. Now, by default swiping a finger at any spot of the lockscreen creates a magnifying glass effect, showing you what's underneath as if you're looking through a rain drop. You can also place up to four shortcuts that will unlock the phone straight into an app.

The new lockscreen
You can change the lockscreen clock style as well as the four icons at the bottom with whichever app you choose. That's how it should be done - in HTC's Sense for example, the lockscreen shortcuts always repeat the homescreen shortcuts.

Lockscreen options
While we're at it, the shortcut bar at the bottom of the homescreen is one of the major changes in the Optimus UI. It can now fit up to 6 shortcuts and that's one more than what TouchWiz offers on the Samsung Galaxy S III. You don't have to use all available slots though - you can discard all but the App Drawer shortcut if you want.
As usual, the shortcuts are always visible on any of the homescreen panes. With the exception of the app drawer shortcut, you can rearrange, delete or replace any of these with shortcuts of your choosing, even folders.
We like the bright color themes and the white system menus, which look very nice on the HD screen. Many aspects of the phone's behavior can be customized, you can go to as small detail as the capacitive key backlight and the transition effect between homescreen panes.

The homescreen
The LG home-backed tweaks and enhancements are by no means limited to the visuals. The Q Slide option makes it possible for you to watch a video while using other apps, while the system-wide QuickMemo integration allows you to take a screenshot anywhere in the phone and take notes over it.
With the Optimus G LG has also added a landscape mode for the homescreen, which is useful given the 16:10 4.7" screen.

Landscape mode
You can resize widgets (Ice Cream Sandwich also allows you to resize most widgets, if you want them to take up more or less space) or you can even shrink a widget down to the corresponding app's icon. LG have also added a pinch of Jelly Bean to the ICS Optimus UI - if you move a widget over icons they immediately move out of the way, which is really neat.

Reordering and resizing widgets
Adding stuff to the homescreen is done by tapping and holding on a blank area of a homescreen. A context menu appears, allowing you to add various customizations to your phone. The tabs along the bottom let you select the appropriate app, widget or wallpaper, which you can add to the homescreen of your choice. Gridlines will appear when you hold and drag an app or widget, allowing you to easily place it on the homescreen.

Placing widgets and changing the wallpaper
If a certain icon isn't to your liking you can always change it to whatever you prefer. There's a wide choice of different icons and you can even choose to make one of your own.

Customizing icons
The contextual menu is accessed the straightforward way - just hit the menu button.

The contextual menu
LG has also enabled a ton of other customization to the the homescreen looks and behavior. There's a dedicated setting for looped homescreen scrolling and the so-called screen effect changes the transition effect between homescreen panes.
The notification area was also been tweaked by LG to allow you to rearrange the toggle buttons shown there. You are also free to add and remove toggles from the edit menu. You can add an insane amount of shortcuts here, but don't worry that they won't fit on the screen - the row becomes side-scrollable so you can still access them all.
As usual, if you've got a music track playing in the background, quick controls will show up here. You can also drag notifications to the left or right to dismiss them.
By default you get seven homescreens to fill up with widgets and shortcuts, but you are free to delete any that you don't need to speed up navigation. You can also set the default homescreen to any of the panes.

Homescreen preview • The notification area with reorderable settings
The task manager on board is of the of the ICS variety, which shows you all of the currently running apps, and lets you stop them by swiping them to the left or right. It is accessed by holding down on the hardware home button.
On the Optimus G, LG has added four icons at the bottom, which allow you to quickly open up a particular app or even stop all apps simultaneously.
Finally, there's a shortcut to the task manager.

The ICS task switcher
LG's task manager lists the currently running apps, but also lets you uninstall apps and gives you info on your storage. It comes with its own dedicated widget, which shows a graph of the available RAM and conveniently offers a button to clear up memory.

The apps menu
The app drawer lists all your available apps and widgets, with a dedicated tab for user downloads. There is a button in the top right corner, which triggers edit mode and lets you to easily reorder and uninstall applications.

The main menu
You can opt to make the icons in the app drawer smaller too. If you select an app whilst in edit mode, a pop up will let you see information like RAM usage, etc.

Main menu options
Although styled differently (icons, colors, etc.), the settings menu of the Optimus G is your run of the mill Ice Cream Sandwich menu. It does feature some interesting extras, however. Eco mode lets you choose what Google finds a more low-key approach to managing your CPU, which in turn reduces battery consumption.

The settings menu
LG borrowed a trick from Samsung's TouchWiz and implemented its own version of Samsung's Smart Stay - called Wise screen. It uses the front-facing camera to detect if you're looking at the screen. Thus you can browse the phone for hours on end without it auto-locking itself. We can confirm that the feature works very well.

Wise Screen

Source : www.gsmarena.com