The best gifts to upgrade your grad’s tech setup
After many years of use, it's time for a change.
LG G4
87
Engadget Review
LG's 2015 flagship has a lot going for it, including a lovely pair of cameras and a screen that promises to be the most accurate on the market.As solid as the G4 is, though, it feels more like an iterative updatethan what LG really needs: a truly exciting flagship smartphone.
Pros
- Mostly great cameras
- Long battery life
- Has a microSD card slot
- Bright, vibrant screen
Cons
- Bland design, aside from that nice leather option
- Trails its rivals in gaming performance
- LG didn't include its Quick Charge technology
View All Critic & User Reviews
LG G4
- Critic Reviews (10)
- User Reviews (8)
- 89AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE10 ReviewsEngadget90LG G4 review: refined, but not game-changingLG's 2015 flagship has a lot going for it, including a lovely pair of cameras and a screen that promises to be the most accurate on the market. As solid as the G4 is, though, it feels more like an iterative update than what LG really needs: a truly exciting flagship smartphone.CNET80LG G4 review: This powerful, fast beauty takes tooThough it feels too similar to last year's G3, the LG G4 is an excellent big-screen smartphone that will appeal to budding photographers, and has old-school features missing from rival flagships.Android Authority90LG G4 Review: a phone that attempts to do everythiWith a unique and attractive design, great performance, and a fantastic camera, while also being the only current flagship to feature a replaceable battery, LG is attempting to provide users with a phone that offers literally everything you may want.The Guardian100LG G4 review: one of the best phablets available,Aesthetics aside, solid performance, two-day battery life and a great 5.5in screen make the G4 one of the most usable and best phablets available.Pocket-Lint90LG G4 review: A balance of phone meets phabletThe LG G4 is a great phone, striking a balance between smartphone and phablet, delivered with little compromise and at a price point that undercuts many competitors. And with camera performance as good as this the G4 will certainly make LG's name stand out in the smartphone world.Phandroid80LG G4 ReviewWhile there is this sense that LG could have pushed harder, it is also difficult to find much to complain about with what the G4 ultimately presents: a phone worthy of consideration as one of the best to launch in 2015 so far, though perhaps not THE best.The Verge80LG G4 reviewThe G4 is really for the Android diehard, ... It’s all fast processor and big screen and weird camera features — it’s what most people think of when they think of Android. And that’s exactly what some people want.Yahoo90LG G4 Review: A Leather-bound Smartphone with an EThe LG G4 is one of the best smartphones on the market, but it falls short of passing Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and Apple’s iPhone 6. It has a sleek leather design, colorful screen, and exceptional camera, not to mention its removable battery and expandable storage.phoneArena90LG G4 ReviewThe LG G4 manages to do what successive phones are required to do each and every year – and that’s to improve upon the opportunities missed with last year’s product. In that regard, we can attest that the G4 trumps the G3 in several key areas to making it a worthy successor.Stuff100LG G4 reviewIn the end there are just a few minor niggles holding the G4 back from taking the top spot from the mighty Galaxy S6, but it should certainly be on your shortlist, especially if you appreciate microSD cards, bigger screens and gadgets wrapped in luxurious animal skin.
- 93AVERAGE USER SCORE8 ReviewsEngadget Reader80September 25, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader100September 6, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - EngadgetEngadget Reader90September 2, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90August 8, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!This is a great phone. My only issue I had was it was so bad at connecting to Wifi. It would connect but have a very slow connection. I have tried different ways to fix this via google search and youtube and nothing. I've never had another phone be so bad on wifi. Other than that this phone is amazing.Engadget Reader90July 1, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90July 1, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I have used my fair share of smartphones over the years; my daily drivers alone have included the OG iPhone, HTC Desire, Samsung S2, HTC One X and HTC One (M7). Each of those devices was ahead of the curve at the time, but each had its own share of annoyances. After two months with the LG G4, I can honestly say that this is the first smartphone I have owned with which I am ALMOST entirely content; it is all I want a smartphone to be, and more.The phone's obvious stand-out features, as noted by many reviewers, are its camera and its display. The G4 provides, hands down, the greatest smartphone camera experience I have ever encountered. The simple and auto modes produce great, reliable results (and very quickly): great for those moments where one simply doesn't have the time to play around with exposure, white balance and manual focus. But when one DOES have the time, boy are the results spectacular. I have taken macro shots that my friends' iPhone 6 Pluses (and one friend's S6) can only dream of thanks to the G4's f/1.8 lens, and photos taken in tricky lighting conditions look true-to-life; I have yet to experiment with long-exposure shots (since I don't currently possess a tripod) or with the ability to shoot in RAW (I'm not great at photoshop), but I am genuinely excited for the chance to try these out in the future. The phone's display is a joy to behold. Yes, its blacks aren't as black as those on OLED screens, yes, it is a smidgeon less bright than that on the S6, and yes, it is no longer the only qHD display on the market, but none of these detract from the fact that it is a stunning looking display: it is only in the darkest of rooms that one notices that the blacks aren't really bad, it is more than readable under direct sunlight, and qHD is still more pixels than one really needs on a smartphone. I would also like to add that, out of the box, it produces the most accurate (more accurately accurate-looking as I lack the technical know-how to test the display rigorously) colours out of the current generation of flagships. The top-bottom curve of the phone, subtle though it may be, makes watching landscape videos an incredibly immersive experience.These two oft-exalted features aside, I was also pleasantly surprised by the G4's performance, software, and battery life. LG's decision to use the Snapdragon 808 rather than the more powerful 810 was criticised by many (in comment sections of technology blogs). While it certainly cannot match the Exynos 7420-powered S6 or its Snapdragon 810-powered brethren in terms of graphics or raw power, not even my most resource-intensive apps were able to cause any perceivable lag, and I daresay that the UI on the G4 runs more smoothly and with fewer problems than that on my friends' S6 or HTC One (M9). A great deal of work must have gone into optimising the software for the SoC, which shows a complete departure from the laggy UIs that LG has produced in years past. This increased focus on software is apparent throughout the device: aesthetically, it is closer to stock Lollipop than ever, with no unnecessary gradients or shadows; the camera app is incredibly powerful and offers an incredible degree of control without being intimidating; Q-slide, dual window and other features unique to LG have all been improved, but are implemented in a way that one would never have to use them should one not wish to. Unfortunately, I still find LG's default icons to be too colourful and somewhat childish, but installing a launcher which allows for custom icon packs (Nova, for instance) makes this a non-issue. The 3000 mAh battery does not sound particularly impressive, but in conjunction with the Snapdragon 808, it easily lasts me through the day with heavy use, and through two days with light to moderate use; that it is removable and that it supports Quickcharge are just icing on the cake.I mentioned earlier that I was only almost entirely content with the phone, and I'm afraid I must now address the sources of the "almost": the build and design of the phone, and the speaker. Visually, I think the phone is stunning: the blank monolithic front is beautifully minimalist, the bezels are pleasantly thin, and the subtle curve and textured-back give the device a refreshingly different look. It is only when one holds it that its flaws begin to show. The positioning of the power and volume controls on the back invites one to use the phone with one hand, but the width of the device combines with its sharp edges and corners to make it quite impossible to hold it comfortably without cradling it with both hands. The lack of metal in its construction, while beneficial in many ways, simply lacks the jewel-like premium quality that I have grown to love in HTC devices. The G4's single back-facing speaker, while certainly above-average for smartphones and loud enough for most situations, cannot compete with the HTC One (M9) 's superb dual front-facing speakers. One would most probably prefer to use the excellent futuristic LG Infinim bluetooth headset for music needs: it is solidly built, its earbuds are comfortably positioned, and its sound quality is superb.It should be clear from this review that I am absolutely enamoured with this device. It is the closest we have ever gotten to a smartphone sans annoyances, and is an absolute joy to use. And, with a RRP that is considerably lower than those of its closest competitors', I must recommend that anyone in the market for a new smartphone look into the LG G4.Engadget Reader100June 5, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Excellent phone. Great Camera.Engadget Reader100May 7, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!LG G4 Review - Experience the luxury factors of the LG G4 which is sleek and packed with great features, including the amazing camera. We are the perfect place to review and check out the LG G4's specifications & prices.The new LG G4 is a gem, I purchased one just over a week ago and I have found the design most exquisite and stylish. Since I have had the LG G4 I have found the battery life very good for the phones size, I work long shifts and need to be contacted at all times, and I have managed to use the LG G4 for over two and a half days without recharging.The LG G4, also sports an amazing screen with high quality pixels and HD, the screen is perfect for watching videos and movies when board.I also found the LG G4's camera to be top quality, beating the iPhone and all other hand sets in its price range, plus the LG G4 is very easy to use. I was able to learn all the basic features and short cuts in 40 minutes. I also, found the size & weight to be great as it's not too lyte or heavy, perfect for people who are on the go.Here are the LG G4 full specifications, plus prices and distributers: http://lgg4.yolasite.comI found that the LG G4 is compatible with all the main Medias on the market, plus you can expand it for using with business and industrial needs like graphic design and art. The LG G4 also is very durable and more reliable than most smart phones I’ve owned.The ecosystem is also friendly to the environment and has little use of any hazarder’s materials.Overall I think the LG G4 is the best Smartphone for the price, plus it is also better than phones that are more expensive, the LG G4 is also perfect for a gift.Here are the LG G4 full specifications, plus prices and distributers: http://lgg4.yolasite.com
Key Specs
TYPE
Smartphone
OPERATING SYSTEM
Android
SCREEN SIZE
5.522
INTERNAL MEMORY
321
CAMERA
Yes
TALK TIME
3G
CARRIERS (US)
AT&T
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