Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2014/05/28/lg_g3_android_smartphone_uk_launch/

LG G3 fights off screen-res war rival Samsung with quad-HD cutie: In pictures

Dumb is the new clever ... or something like that

By Bob Dormon

Posted in Personal Tech, 28th May 2014 12:24 GMT

Hands on In London on Tuesday, LG took the wraps off its new G3 Android smartphone. Just like waiting for buses, LG put all its bullet points in threes, kicking off with the display, camera and design as a trio of core features.

LG G3 Android smartphone

James Marshall, Head of Product Marketing LG Europe highlights that size matters on a 5.5-inch display

Certainly the handset's 5.5-inch display packs it in. Rather than choosing a bigger screen, LG’s panel-making expertise comes into play, utilising a reduction in pixel size to deliver a 2560 x 1440 resolution and a pixel density of 538ppi. Too much for a smartie? Wait until you see it.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Picture perfect? The camera resolution wars are over, bring on the display pixel density battles. And check out the "Quick Circle" see-through porthole in the case – more on that later

While some may argue the eye can’t detect this level of detail, LG begs to differ, and gave high-resolution printing in coffee-table books as an example of demand for eye-popping images.

So, if you’ve got a quad high-def screen (that's four times the resolution of base HD) then you’ll need a camera to match, surely? LG’s been busy here too as the camera can capture video in ultra-HD (3840 x 2160 pixels) and 13Mp stills, although the handsets on show defaulted to 1080p video and 10Mp widescreen photos.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Camera resolution options – click for a larger image

This is probably just as well as the internal storage of 16GB or 32GB will be quickly consumed if you’ve got an ultra-high def (UHD) video habit. Thankfully, microSD cards of up to 128GB are supported.

LG isn’t making too much of a fuss about the camera resolutions, though, as it wants to wow you with the laser autofocus on the G3. The tech here is apparently the same as used on speed cameras, and is designed to deliver more accurate subject tracking and a faster response when snapping; LG claims a quarter of a second delay.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Laser guided camera and the rear key controller

While testing out the camera on the stand, what impressed your humble hack most was the ability to have a decent quality image when using the pinch-to-zoom function. However, when zooming in and trying to pinpoint a person in the distance, the focus did appear to have a job on its hands, and was easily distracted by peripheral movements.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Cover photo?

However, even at high magnification, LG's optical image stabilisation (OIS+) tech made viewing a smooth experience. Playback of the UHD video wasn’t quite so smooth for panning shots, though, and made me wonder what sort of frame rate this hi-res capture reverts to – 15fps perhaps?

LG G3 Android smartphone

Selfie mode: hold your hand out flat, clench a fist and then brace yourself

For less extreme tasks, the camera performed well; you can even use it with the cover closed, thanks to a porthole in the case. More on this concept in a moment – we’re not done with the camera yet as the LG G3 has a selfie mode. The 2.1Mp front-facing camera detects gestures: hold your hand out flat, then clench a fist and the countdown begins. Three, two, one... snap. Easy, huh?

Stretchy keyboard, anyone?

LG was at pains to point out that it has some clever battery-saving functions to keep the 3,000mAh cell powering its quad HD display. You’d certainly want to experiment with the options, though, as the device ran a rigorous campaign of screen dimming and sleeping, such that viewing photos for more than a few seconds would need a prod to keep the dozy thing awake.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Quad HD display and UHD video capture will certainly challenge the battery life

On the stand the LG G3 was running Android KitKat 4.4.2 and the 32GB model has 3GB of RAM at its disposal; the 16GB version gets 2GB of RAM. Both rely on ARMv7-compatible Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 system-on-chips stated as being “up to 2.5GHz quad-core" processors. There may be some clock speed differences depending on the RAM and storage spec chosen.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Home screen and apps aren't particularly striking

Although LG has done some work skinning Android – such as making things less candy-coloured and child-like by toning down the icons and assigning colours to different tasks – the actual home screen is a bit lacklustre.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Ringing the changes

Where you really notice the difference is when the "Quick Circle" phone case is closed, and a simplified cluster of six icons appears in a see-through porthole from the touchscreen beneath: these can be easily thumbed, and I was able to access the clock, LG’s health app, music player, camera, messaging and phone software.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Circular thinking – click for a larger image of the apps viewable from the Quick Circle porthole

Being a large screen, typing is one area LG has put some thought into with a straightforward enhancement that allows you to expand and shrink the keyboard to suit how you hold the handset.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Stretch or shrink the keyboard size

The G3 is surprisingly light. While the curved back hides some of its bulk, it’s not exactly super slim and somehow misses the mark aesthetically even though it is available with solid colour and metallic finishes. Oh, and if you think that’s a stylus in the top corner, it's not: it's in fact a TV aerial for the South Korean market.

LG G3 Android smartphone

Nope, it's not a stylus, it's a telescopic TV aerial, but we probably won't be seeing that on the UK models

Throughout the event, LG chanted its new mantra for the G3: simple is the new smart – although there's no word on simple being the new cheap (or costly). Pricing isn't available yet, and the LG G3 is expected to go on sale in the UK in July. ®