LG G Pro 2 Pro Reviews

We very much enjoyed using the G Pro 2, and though we’ll likely go back to a smaller-screened phone after the review period is over, it’s a great device. It doesn’t have the S Pen stylus of the Note 3, but stacks up to Samsung’s flagship phone in every other way. Thanks to its KnockOn unlocking and rear power/volume button placement, it’s more comfortable to hold than the Note as well. We still prefer the G Flex if we had to choose a phablet to carry around, though.

LG G Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are arguably the best that the Android phablet world can currently offer, yet choosing one over the other is very clear-cut. At first blush, they sport an almost identical specs sheet, close performance, and similar design solutions with a removable battery. LG also met every major feature of Samsung's TouchWiz interface, including the multi-window mode. Still, there is a handful of major differences that will easily tip the scales for you. The OIS tech on the G Pro 2 results in better low-light photos, and shake-free videos, compared to the Note 3. Samsung also has an ace up its sleeve with the S Pen stylus, which offers an extra input option, that is more precise than your fingertips. However, anecdotal evidence, and our own polls, come to show that only a small percentage of Note owners use the stylus on a regular basis, while most use their phone camera often. Given that the pricing of the two phablets is very similar, the choice here boils down to whether you prefer a better camera with your phablet, or the extra input options brought along by the S Pen – as simple as that.

After all that we’ve said about the LG G Pro 2 and the Sony Xperia Z1, you’re probably still wondering about the one big question that we have not answered yet: which one should you buy? For us, both handsets are more or less on par. Both are very powerful devices that deliver smooth and enjoyable Android experience, both are great for gaming and have very good cameras that could easily replace a point and shoot. There are some subtleties: the Xperia Z1 camera captures smooth video with fast auto-focus, but the handset lasts shorter and its screen has poor viewing angles. LG’s G Pro 2, on the other hand, comes with a slightly better overall camera with OIS+, it features a large and vivid display, and offers a lot of useful features like the split-screen multitasking, and those nuances tip the scales in favor of the LG G Pro 2. If you are not picky about these tiny details, though, you should simply decide which one looks and feels better in terms of size and design. For all else, you probably won’t regret buying either one.

With its stunning 5.9-inch LCD screen, Android 4.4 KitKat software, and oodles of mobile processing power, the new LG G Pro 2 is an excellent smartphone no matter which way you slice it. That said, the way this massive handset is positioned in the market puts it on a collision course with Samsung’s similarly appointed Galaxy Note 3. And in a spec-for-spec battle, the Pro 2 is an even match with the Samsung juggernaut. Design, however, pushes the Note 3 over the top, and its more-comfy grip makes the difference. Oh, and if having a stylus is what floats your boat, well, the Note 3's S Pen interface is icing on the cake. To be clear, though, much of the G Pro 2's allure will depend heavily on how much it costs. Unfortunately, specific pricing for the Korean LG G Pro 2 model we reviewed isn't available, or at least it's not yet sold as an unlocked or US carrier-branded equivalent. But if you can snap up the Pro 2 for about $100 less than the Note 3, well, that's a steal in any book.

The LG G Pro 2 is a great device, full stop. It honestly feels needless to try and spin this into a spiral of accolades, as glamor for the sake of glamor doesn't seem to be the goal the LG engineers had in mind when building the phablet. Instead, the G Pro 2 feels like one of those devices built to last. A device which lives in the real world, the practical and pragmatic world, and it does so with stoicism and attention to the details that actually matter. Are there weak sides to the G Pro 2? Of course. We definitely wished LG treated us to a set of stereo speakers, and we're far from completely content with the way the company goes about its proprietary software. But that's a small price to pay for what you get in return, and we can't help but recommend this device if you're browsing the phablet section. But there's also the competition to consider. The most likely rival, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, comes in a package that can definitely make the G Pro 2 sweat, as it's an equally potent beast in both the performance and camera departments (but no OIS!). Its smaller, 5.7-inch screen also makes it more manageable, but not by an awful lot. The Note 3 also touts S-Pen stylus support, an omission that may cost the G Pro 2 with the productivity-oriented crowd. Another likely competitor is the HTC One max. It's noticeably larger, however, and it's a generation behind on the performance front, not to mention that its optically-stabilized UltraPixel camera lags behind the 13-megapixel unit on the G Pro 2. Even if a fingerprint sensor is a sought-after feature for you, LG's phablet is still worth some serious thought.

LG has taken a great device in the LG G2 and has blown it up to a much larger size in the LG G Pro 2. Again, this isn’t so much a follow-up to last year’s LG G Pro, but a compliment to the LG G2 instead. Working with one of the finest processors on the market and a display that’s both sharp and bright in essentially any environment, there’s little to dislike about this handset. We’ll be reserving final judgements of the US-based product for when the device is released in the USA on carriers this side of the shore, but for now, things are looking good. Any and all battery tests and phone (voice) tests will be kept for that time as well.