LG G4 Pro Reviews

LG has tried to focus on what everyone actually wants out of a smartphone, a great looking design, color rich display and the great camera for photos - but it doesn't quite deliver as impressively as we'd hoped.

There are two reasons why you might be interested in comparing these two handsets. You either own an LG G4 and are interested in upgrading to one of this year's heavy hitters, or are looking for a new phone and are wondering whether it's a good idea to shell out for the shiny new Samsung Galaxy S7, or just go for a discounted, slightly older model in the face of the LG G4. One doesn't need to keep score in order to see that the Galaxy S7 is a clear winner in this comparison, but hey – it has the benefit of being the newer piece of tech. However, this does not make the G4 obsolete or useless. If you are a casual user who's looking for something that's not metal, but still has that flagship flair, a great camera, and will do a good job at keeping you connected through social media, email, calls, and texts, without breaking a sweat – the G4 is still a great device to go for, and can currently be had for a great price, too. However, if you want to have the shiniest, most powerful, most advanced piece of tech that's currently out on the market, there is no doubt that the Galaxy S7 should be among your top choices.

For the money, the LG G4 offers an interesting (though not as impressive as Apple's) design, big (though not color-accurate) display, decent (but not fantastic) performance, competent software functionality (but no fingerprint scanner), a camera with plenty of potential (that's not consistently great in Auto mode), and the freedom to add a microSD card or replace its empty battery with a charged one. That's a strong package overall, but then again, the iPhone 6s Plus' price premium will be well worth it for some users. Apple's phablet looks fantastic, has a much more color-accurate screen, moves swiftly and reliably, takes very good photos, and has excellent battery life. Great as it is, the LG G4 simply lacks the kind of pedantic polish that differentiates Apple from others in the smartphone game. With all of this in mind, it's up to you to decide which handset suits your needs better. Truth be told, you can't go wrong with either, but you must consider that both phablets serve different types of users. Thus, those who want an elegant and reliable phablet for consuming multimedia, making mobile payments, and playing games with silky-smooth framerates will find the iPhone 6s Plus fantastic for their needs. Power users, though, might prefer the LG G4 for its competent multitasking, file format freedom, the camera's Manual mode, and the ability to add a microSD card or replace the battery on a whim. And if you also happen to be price-conscious, this is another point of interest for LG's hero phone.

Outside of the price and quality perspectives, there are many things that make the iPhone 6s and LG G4 quite unique. The iconic look of Apple's smartphones has been successfully imitated, but its pedantic level of polish and general niceness still hasn't been matched. Although high-end Android smartphones, such as the LG G4, have come close to replicating this effortlessness, they are still no match for the iPhone's consistency. However, they do present an avenue for experimenting with interesting technology and novel design decisions. The LG G4 is an endearing example of Android's freehand nature with its original look, leather back or not, and also boasts wonderful user-centric features, such as a great (but not consistently so) camera, a removable battery, and a microSD card slot. We also love the straightforwardness of its user interface, complete with LG's clever additions to Google's operating system.

The LG G4 for Sprint has useful features you won't find on other flagship smartphones, but its battery life isn't great and it tends to run rather warm.

All things considered, for most users, deciding between the Galaxy Note5 and the LG G4 would be a classic decision of either splurging on a device that's more expensive and able to do more than they actually need, or paying less for a device that seems to be less pretentious, but about as versatile in almost all cases. Whether the Note5 is worth the price premium is up to your individual tastes, needs, and financial situation, which is why we can't straight up recommend it as a better purchase than the LG G4. But if pure technological enthusiasm, or the need for stylus-driven mobile productivity are the motivating forces in your decision-making process, you will end up happier with the Note5.

At $535 unlocked and off-contract from Mobicity, the LG G4 costs just as much as the 32 GB Samsung Galaxy S6. While I’d personally choose the Galaxy S6 at this price due to its superior performance and build quality, the LG G4 is far from a bad choice and will certainly satisfy buyers looking for a great, flexible device with the best camera on the market.

The LG G4 has a beautiful screen and a terrific camera, but some heating issues can make this Android smartphone too hot to handle.

Crowning a champion is always a difficult thing to do, requiring us to see how they compare against one another in all areas – while also thinking about the kind of value they bring to the table. Factoring their pricing, the Nexus 6 can be picked up as low as $600 outright, or $200 with a 2-year contract. That puts it in a better position than when it was initially released, making it pretty competitive to the G4’s anticipated on-contract pricing of $200. Quite frankly, it’s a tossup and mainly hinges on what matters to you the most. Combing through how they perform in all the categories, the LG G4 impresses us with its sophisticated looks, fine-looking IPS Quantum Display, impressive camera, better call quality, and versatile LG UX 4.0 experience. Not one to be outdone because it’s the older model, the Nexus 6 can still outbox its newer rival, as it delivers a commanding presence with its sturdier construction, gigantic screen size, longer battery life, and stock Android experience. The latter, of course, might be a huge drawing factor for those who yearn for the latest and greatest in terms of Android. Nevertheless, the G4’s experience is still a versatile one that's rich in personalization and multi-tasking. At the end of the day, however, both phones have the guts and performance to prove to everyone that they live up to their claim of being flagship phones.

The LG G4 and One M9 turned out to be two very similar flagships in an evolutionary way, as both don't offer the earth-shaking upgrade from their predecessors that Samsung did with the S6. LG, however, throws in more unique bells and whistles for the G4 to be an inherently worthier upgrade, while HTC kept novelties to a minimum, addressing chiefly the rear camera resolution with a 20 MP piece. With the price equality, and the obvious screen size and design differences, it will be a matter of personal preference whether you'd pick the more compact, more premium-looking M9, or the G4 with a larger, Quad HD screen, and removable battery. If you are a music aficionado, we'd recommend that you go with the One M9, while the G4 is the phone for shutterbugs and media buffs, with its superb picture and video taking and playback abilities.

We started by saying that the LG G4 focuses on two key areas, and good news is that it brings noticeable improvements to both: having the leather option is nice, and the camera captures excellent shots consistently. While specs alone don’t tell the whole story, it’s worth pointing out some technical advantages of the G4 here: the base model of the LG phone features double the internal storage and the option to expand it, optical image stabilization in the camera, a removable battery, split-screen multitasking, etc. - stuff that might appear to hardcore users. The iPhone 6, on the other hand, has the sleek and super thin design, plus, it has that smooth performance with no complications and the rich App Store behind its back, but - after many years of holding the lead - its camera is no longer unmatched. Which one should you choose? It’s a lot about your preference when it comes to software platform, but the LG G4 is one of the best Android phones you can get at the moment, and probably the best phablet, while the iPhone 6 will still carry more appeal for gamers with its stellar catalog, as well as causal users who count on its “just works” approach. If those nuances are not all that important, though, you can stay assured that both phones are great in most other aspects.

In the clash between the LG G4 and the iPhone 6 Plus, it's virtually impossible to determine a clear winner. Both handsets have their strengths and weaknesses, and picking one over the other will eventually narrow down to personal preferences. The G4, in particular, is a pretty good example of what a smartphone maker might come up with after it's taken its time to perfect a winning formula – the G4 is a surprisingly good all-around device that will most certainly cope with the majority of everyday tasks you might throw at it. Not that the iPhone 6 Plus does not belong to the same breed, no – it's definitely a well-bodied performer that can easily grow on you and become your favorite smartphone. It'd be mostly a matter of choosing between Android and iOS. Yet, at the end of the day, we are more than certain that whichever you go for, you will hardly get disappointed – both the LG G4 and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus will remain among the better devices you can get in the following months.

If you kept score, you'd know which way we're leaning right now — the Galaxy S6 snagged more wins on the way, big or small, earning itself a lead on the G4. This doesn't come without a lengthy, maybe even patronizing disclaimer, that makes it sufficiently clear that you should try and identify the things you care about instead of following along blindly. This means deciding whether you want a phablet-sized phone, or one that is easier to handle. It means asking yourself if that extra frame or two when gaming will really make a difference. It means finding out whether metal-and-glass designs are your thing, or whether you prefer the warm touch of leather instead. We opened this stating that this is a tough matchup, and at the end, we're still convinced — it's hard to reach an objective conclusion as to which one is better. Sure, gun-to-our-head, we'd shout “the Galaxy S6!”, but again, that would rob you of the opportunity to make your own choices, weigh your own options.

In all fairness, the two phones get the job done – they’re great for many things, while also sporting an impressive specs sheet. When it comes to most bang for the buck, we’d give the edge to the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge, despite its higher starting cost. In paying the extra $100 for Sammy’s offering, you get the better looking design, built-in wireless charging, rapid charging, finger print sensor, heart rate sensor, and a novel dual-curved display. Add to that, TouchWiz offers a little bit more depth. Conversely, we’ll applaud the LG G4 for being a worthy competitor too. If savings is your thing, the $200 on-contract cost is deserving for a high caliber phone like this one – though, you’ll be getting a less premium looking phone with its plastic casing. Regardless of that, LG really impresses us with the G4’s amazing low lighting performance with its camera – and its vibrant IPS Quantum Display. Like we said people, there’s no shame going with one of the phone over the other. It just mainly comes down to what design you find more attractive.

From the pixel-dense display to the silicon processor housed inside, the LG G4 is a solid Android smartphone, one that won’t disappoint you. If you’re looking for a stellar camera and need that extra battery-swap utility, the G4 is the one you’ve been waiting for. With that being said, as soon as I hit “publish” on this review, I’m going to go back to the Samsung Galaxy S6 as my daily driver. The Galaxy S6 seems like a step toward what Android smartphones will become. A shaky step in some spots, sure, but a step into the future. The LG G4 is the perfection of a dying breed, a phone you might have cried tears of joy over—in 2013. (I like it a lot, but the future is kind of my job.) But if you think the new posh, jewelry-grade generation of Android phones is bullshit, if you don’t need to keep one foot in the future at all times, the G4 is your next pick. And it’s a reminder that sometimes, the past is worth preserving.

I admire LG’s restraint. The company took the best of last year’s G3 and spent its time refining the key elements: display and camera, and that focus has paid dividends. The G4 has a fantastic screen and a camera capable of taking on Samsung and Apple’s finest and not being cowed. All the same, it’s not a clean sweep. The G4’s plastic models are frankly underwhelming and, even with the leather back in place, the fake chrome still cheapens the overall feel. Wireless charging as standard would’ve been an obvious cherry on top of the removable battery, too. I wrote earlier that one of Android’s key charms is the variety it permits. Make no mistake, the LG G4 is not merely the phone you buy because you don’t want to have the Samsung everybody else has. Its well-considered camera make it a strong candidate for best Android for keen photographers, while its power and storage flexibility make it a compelling option for power users.

LG has gone down an unexpected route with leather models which we like apart from a couple of colours. The so called ceramic model will be cheaper but feels cheap and plasticky. On the whole, hardware is once again strong - particularly the camera - but not massively different from the G3 and has tough competition. We feel build quality could be better with a metal frame and dimensions going down, not the reverse. This is the flagship to go for if you want a removable battery and expandable storage but it's a shame to see features like wireless charging dropped. (Remember the G3 is now a steal at under £300 SIM-free)

LG wants us to feel the great, and to that degree, they’ve succeeded in bringing the phone a new finish that’s sophisticated. But more importantly, they want us to see the great, which we can certainly agree to. While it’s not a dramatic update, the 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.