LG G3 - Specifications. Review and testing of the flagship smartphone LG G3 Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device

LG G2 - last year's flagship of the manufacturer became a real find for many. In it, the company managed to combine a stylish design, advanced characteristics and a comfortable shell, which, oddly enough, did not receive any name. Of course, there were also negative aspects, but they were so insignificant that you simply did not notice them. While reviewing the LG G3 32gb dual, we noticed that the new flagship has all the advantages of the previous model, but at the same time its capabilities have been greatly improved. The manufacturer managed to create an optimal device that can satisfy the needs of a wide variety of users. We recommend reading the LG G3 d724 review and specifications to learn about all the advantages and disadvantages of the new model.

Our delivery set is as follows: documentation, charger, microUSB cable and the device itself.

LG G3 design

In our opinion, the design of the device turned out to be very standard; it does not have any bright features that attract attention and delight. The only advantage will be the back cover, stylized “to look like metal”. Despite the banality of the design, the device fits perfectly in the hand. The smartphone can’t be called a freak, but it doesn’t evoke any emotions either. It’s quite a standard gadget, but its main advantages lie inside. While conducting a review and specifications of the LG G3 d855, we noticed the variety of colors on the back cover. It can be made in matte black, silk white, pink, as well as gold and light purple. As you can see, rare and very bright shades were chosen for the smartphone.

It is already common for the manufacturer to use plastic to create flagship models, but the brand’s specialists are trying to introduce at least some variety. To make the plastic resemble metal in appearance, a special film with a metallizing structure is glued to its surface. You will not be able to accidentally tear it off, since it is fused into the plastic. LG G3 d 722 dual lte smartphone review showed that the film does not collect scratches and fingerprints due to its special structure. The lid really resembles a metal one, especially if you look at it from a certain angle.

LG G3 Build Quality

The manufacturer, unlike most competitors, installed a removable cover and battery, but despite this there are no backlashes. The build quality is truly top notch. The block with three device control keys is made perfectly, there are no complaints about it. Another positive side we would call is the absence of a frame between the protective glass and the ends of the phone. Some flagship models have such a gap and it collects a lot of dust.

Case dimensions

Contrary to all expectations, the frames of the LG G3 turned out to be even thicker than in the previous model. The new model is larger in every way: taller, wider and thicker. Although now this is not at all surprising, because recently manufacturers have begun to offer devices with a large display in their assortment, and therefore the body parameters are also increasing. The rather large dimensions of the device do not affect the comfort of its use. For this, the manufacturer offers interesting software solutions. As an example, you can customize the order of the keys on the bottom touchpad so that you don't have to reach for frequently used keys.

Controls

The main feature of the flagship can be considered the complete absence of keys on the front panel, as well as the side ends. Three control buttons are installed on the back of the device in the camera area. Initially, the original arrangement of the keys causes inconvenience, but gradually you get used to it. The LG G3 smartphone's characteristics and price are perfectly matched, thanks to which the manufacturer is rapidly increasing its position in the global market.

At the top end there is an infrared port, with which you can control home appliances. There was a place nearby for an additional microphone.

At the bottom end we found a microUSB connector, a headset jack and the main microphone.

The main camera, speaker and control keys are located on the back side.

At the top of the front panel there is a speaker, a light and proximity sensor, an indicator of missed events and a 2.1 MP camera lens. The indicator light is capable of displaying several types of events: new messages, system notifications, missed calls and the need to connect to a charger.

Display

The LG G3 display has a diagonal of 5.5 inches. This is a popular format today, in which it is convenient to use the multimedia capabilities of the device. This is one of the first devices with a screen resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. Of course, it will be impossible to see the pixels on such a display. The benefits of the screen don't end there. It has an excellent reserve of brightness, which is sufficient even when used in bright sunlight, and the viewing angles are ideal.

The picture does not lose color saturation even if you tilt the display diagonally. Auto-backlight works quite correctly, but sometimes it works to save energy. Due to this, the brightness level may not be as high as you would like to see. In our opinion, the screen turned out to be simply perfect in all respects. On the one hand, it is bright and saturated, but on the other, it has a balanced color temperature, so that the eyes do not get tired from prolonged use of the gadget. The characteristics of the LG G3 phone are very good and make it one of the best flagships of the company.

The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 with an oleophobic coating. There are practically no fingerprints left on the screen, but they are also removed in an instant.

LG G3 Cameras

The resolution of the main camera module is 13 megapixels. It is equipped with a two-axis optical stabilization system, laser focusing, and a flash. We were most interested in laser focusing, which works very quickly and accurately. The sensor works in the following way: a large number of rays are sent out in a minimum period of time and pass to the focusing object. After pointing, they are reflected and returned, after which the system calculates the time required for the rays to completely cover the route. In this way, high pointing accuracy is achieved. The LG G3 camera also has an additional contrast focusing system.

The camera interface looks like this:

The smartphone supports video recording in high quality, as close as possible to 4K (3840x2160 pixels). The next feature is the increased frame rate during shooting - up to 120 fps.

The interface is quite ordinary, with the exception of one feature. There are two shooting modes - with and without settings display. In the first mode, the device automatically aims at the subject each time you move the viewfinder, and shooting is carried out by pressing a key. Manual focusing can be done by tapping on the subject on the display. There is also a mode without settings, in which shooting is possible by pressing any point on the display. The camera instantly focuses on the selected area and takes a good photo.

If you are a beginner, it is better to shoot in automatic mode. Then the device will automatically select the optimal parameters depending on the shooting conditions. Photos in this mode turn out decent even in low light.

Example photo:

Autonomy LG G3

LG G3 s d724 specifications include the use of a battery with a declared capacity of 3000 mAh. The capacity remains unchanged compared to the previous model, but the display has become larger, as well as its resolution. Fortunately, autonomy remained at a decent level and is not inferior to its predecessor. With average use (several hours of music and Internet surfing, a couple of hours of talking and text messages), the gadget lasts for a day. In emergency situations, you can use the proprietary energy-saving mode, which can be activated when the charge level is less than 30%. When activated, the brightness is reduced and the indicator light, vibration, wireless connections are turned off, and services are automatically synchronized.

Specifications LG G3

The technical characteristics of the LG G3 are very good, because the device is built on the best Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 platform at the time of release. This is a 4-core processor with a frequency of 2.5 GHz. The Adreno 330 video accelerator is responsible for the graphics in games. There are two versions of the model on sale - with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in, as well as 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of built-in. If the built-in memory is not enough for you, then it is possible to install a memory card.

Performance, LG G3 testing result

The interface and applications work excellently; during the entire testing period we did not identify any slowdowns.

Test result in Antutu (X):

GeekBench 3:

Interface

As standard, the device comes pre-installed with the Android 4.4.2 system with a proprietary shell from the manufacturer. With each new model, the shell becomes more and more convenient and functional, but it never received its name, although it definitely deserves it. The shell looks absolutely amazing. It is thought out to the smallest detail, and its main advantage is the simplicity of colors and shapes. The interface contains icons without unnecessary details, made in a minimalist style, which is combined with a calm color scheme. If in G2 the interface lacked integrity, then everything is fine here. The interface is made in the same style, which is pleasing to the eye.

LG G3 sound

The speaker is simply awesome. During a conversation, you can clearly hear the interlocutor, as well as you. The speaker volume is sufficient with a large margin, although there is only one. The volume of the conversational and multimedia speaker is sufficient for comfortable use of the device even in noisy rooms and on the street.

Conclusion

On the Aliexpress website, LG G3 with 16 GB of internal memory and 2 GB of RAM can be purchased at a price of 9,000 rubles. You can also order a more advanced version if you plan to use the device to its fullest. For this price it will be difficult to find a more worthy option. The manufacturer has equipped the device with a high-quality high-resolution display, good cameras, a user-friendly interface and powerful hardware.

Where can I buy?

Your rating for the smartphone:

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on a single chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Nowadays, it is not at all difficult to purchase an inexpensive, good smartphone. Manufacturers of even famous brands regularly update their budget segment lines. Such models have a beautiful modern design, extensive multimedia capabilities and other functions. Of course, they differ from expensive gadgets, for example, in the level of performance, camera and screen resolution. But the low price fully pays for the missing technical characteristics.

LG K3 LTE is just such a “state employee”. Its cost does not exceed 6,000 rubles. Does the device correspond to the stated price? What technologies have the developers implemented in this smartphone? Does it have any disadvantages? Reviews from owners, as well as studying the technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer, will help us find answers to these questions.

What's included?

The manufacturer, even in budget models, does not deviate one step from modern trends. This becomes noticeable when looking at the packaging. It is decorated according to the latest fashion. The base color is regular white. The name of the K3 LTE model stands out clearly on it. At the bottom, the manufacturer printed the company logo. The box itself is made of ordinary cardboard and has a rectangular shape. Its dimensions fully correspond to the dimensions of the phone. As for the latter, it is laid almost end-to-end.

In addition to the smartphone, the manufacturer provided a standard set of components. It only includes a USB cable and a power supply. Of course, all the necessary documentation is available. However, the case for LG K3 LTE will have to be purchased separately. In principle, there should be no problems with its choice, since a wide variety of models are available in specialized stores. Those interested can choose either a regular silicone bumper or a book case. You will also have to buy a memory card separately. The device supports the common microSD format.

Appearance Features

The LG K3 LTE K100DS is a typical touchscreen smartphone. Its body is made of plastic, which is a common practice for budget gadgets. It is worth noting that the material has quite good qualities. Unfortunately, the model range includes only two color options: dark blue and black. The device does not look bulky. The rounded corners of the body played a big role in this. Due to the fact that the device is equipped with a small screen, its dimensions can be safely called compact: height - 133.9 mm, width - 67.75 mm. It’s worth taking a closer look at the thickness indicator. Unfortunately, this phone model can hardly be classified as narrow. Its thickness reaches almost 1 cm (9.4 mm). The weight of the phone is small - only 127 g.

On the front panel, about 70% is dedicated to the screen. It is framed by a rather thick black frame. At the bottom, the manufacturer presented the company logo instead of the usual control panel. At the top, in addition to the narrow speaker hole, there is also an “eye” for the front camera and sensors. The control panel is located directly on the screen itself. There are three buttons on it with the designation of a square circle and a triangle. LG K3 LTE will have to be purchased additionally, since the manufacturer did not provide it in the factory configuration.

The back cover looks quite monolithic. At its bottom there is a hole for the output speaker. At the top there is a camera lens without flash. Under it, the manufacturer has allocated space for the company’s corporate logo.

Mechanical control buttons are located on the side faces. On the right side is the power key. It is also used to lock the gadget. On the opposite side there is a “rocker” with which you can adjust the volume. The top end is occupied by only one connector intended for connecting headphones. At the bottom there is a microUSB port and a microphone.

In their reviews, owners note the high build quality. During operation, no play or squeaks were detected. The only thing the owners noticed: when trying to bend the body, a slight crunch appears. The phone is very convenient to use, thanks to its well-chosen shape and compact dimensions.

Screen characteristics

The LG K3 LTE display measures 4.5 inches. It is based on a matrix made using TFT technology. What does this mean? First of all, it should be noted that the color rendition of the screen is not very high. Also, don't count on wide viewing angles. However, for an entry-level gadget these are quite acceptable characteristics. LG K3 LTE will not surprise the user with its high screen resolution. The maximum this display is capable of is 854×480 px. The display density of pixels per inch is 218 ppi. Of course, for modern gadgets this figure is very low, but the “squares” on the screen will not be visible to the naked eye. The manufacturer indicated in the specifications the presence of a “multi-touch” option, but exactly how many simultaneous touches this model supports is unknown.

The brightness level is ideal for using the phone in normal lighting. However, outside in sunny weather, glare appears on the screen, and the picture immediately becomes unclear.

Considering that it belongs to the budget segment, the manufacturer did not use protective glass.

hardware

This phone model is available in two versions: for the domestic and European markets. As for the latter, the developers equipped the device with a Snapdragon 210 processor (MSM8909). This chipset is manufactured by Qualcomm. At maximum load it is capable of delivering a frequency of 1100 MHz. The Adreno 304 video card is responsible for the graphics in this version.

Now it’s worth considering the characteristics of the LG K3 LTE, intended for sale in Russia. This version runs on a processor based on the Cortex-A53 crystal core. The maximum clock frequency is 1100 MHz. As a coprocessor, the developers chose a model with two Mali-T720 MP2 computing modules.

The RAM size is small - only 1 GB, but for budget devices this figure is quite acceptable. Unfortunately, many owner comments focused on the size of the built-in storage. Currently, 8 GB is critically small. The situation is slightly improved by the ability to use external drives. If you install a memory card, you can expand the memory capacity up to 32 GB.

operating system

LG K3 LTE K100DS runs on Android version 6. Users do not have any special comments about the operating system. The interface has a standard appearance. The manufacturer did not make any additions.

In operation, this gadget showed itself to be good. All applications open quickly and work without lags. Of course, users will not be able to install modern resource-intensive games on the device, but its potential will be quite sufficient for everyday tasks.

Camera capabilities

Unfortunately, this model cannot be used as a camera. This becomes clear after studying the camera resolutions. The front module has a 0.3 megapixel matrix. The maximum it is capable of is 640x480 px. The only thing this camera is suitable for is video communication. It is unnecessary to talk about the quality of photographs, since the front module is simply not capable of high-quality photographs.

Things are a little better with the main camera. It is based on a 5-megapixel sensor. It’s worth noting right away: the developers did not provide a flash, which makes shooting in low light almost impossible. The quality of the photographs can hardly be called even average. Under ideal conditions, digital noise is clearly visible on them. Colors are dull and detail is poor. Using the main camera you can record video in 720p format. Its quality is quite mediocre.

In their comments, users clearly identified optics as one of the weak points of this model.

Sound quality

If we talk about sound quality, the LG K3 LTE does not receive the best reviews. The fact is that the main speaker only works purely at medium volume. And if you increase it to the maximum, you can clearly hear distortion and interference. Unfortunately, it is impossible to achieve good sound through headphones. This “state employee” is definitely not suitable for audiophiles.

Communication capabilities

LG K3 LTE Dual Sim has all the necessary wireless interfaces. Particular attention must be paid to the Bluetooth module. And this device implements version 4.1LE. Currently it is the most energy efficient. There were no comments from users regarding the Wi-Fi module. It has the 802.11 standard, which works with all modern protocols. An indisputable advantage is that the device can act as an access point. This model also has a radio, for which you need to use headphones as an antenna.

GPS navigation modules work quite clearly. If you are in an open area, a few seconds will be enough to detect satellites. The speed decreases (but not critically) if the user is on the street among buildings.

For data transfer, the gadget has a microUSB connector. Its version is 2.0. All files are transferred very quickly, without delays. The device also has an accelerometer. And of course, support for 4th generation networks significantly expands the capabilities of this model.

Battery life

Unfortunately, this model cannot boast of battery life. The LG K3 LTE battery has a capacity of only 1940 milliamps per hour. For a modern smartphone, such a battery will not be enough for full operation. The battery is manufactured using lithium-ion chemical composition. The type is removable.

The owners' comments provide the following results of testing operating time on a single charge:

• If you watch videos or movies, the battery life will last no more than 7 hours.
• If you use the phone in combined mode, you will need to charge it in the evening.

It is important to consider that some functions drain the battery the most. For example, this includes Wi-Fi. If you connect to the Internet using this module, then 100 percent charge will be used up in 4-5 hours.

Given such low battery characteristics, owners of this model are advised to arm themselves with a Power Bank. A portable battery will allow you to always stay connected. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not provide special power saving modes for this phone.

The next-generation Korean smartphone has seriously matured, acquired new functions, was packaged in a new design and got rid of childhood diseases, which, in principle, were not particularly present. And here, for the first time, there is no regard for other market players. Obviously, LG realized that there wasn’t much to borrow from Samsung lately and decided to create their own self-sufficient design from their point of view and their own proprietary shell. The latter, by the way, turned out to be very pleasant and convenient.

At the start of sales, G2 could be purchased for 24,990 rubles. This was a very competitive offer at that time. Nobody expected the same price from the updated version of the smartphone, although, I must admit, there was still a faint hope before the announcement. The device entered the market with a price tag of 29,990 rubles and had already managed to drop several thousand by the time this review was published. The main competitors are still maintaining the price level. I mean, of course, and .

However, a smartphone from LG in official retail now sells for 26,990 rubles.

It is clear that each manufacturer, like that sandpiper from the swamp, considers its device the best, and the Koreans are actively trying to push us to choose their product. I propose to take everything apart using the example of my operating experience for two months and decide whether the game is worth the candle.

Equipment

The smartphone package is not particularly rich in supplies. In addition to the device itself, in the box you can find a power supply, a microUSB cable and branded booklets.

Unfortunately, there is no, even the worst, headset in the package. Such is the saving.

Appearance and ergonomics

The example of the G3 shows that LG is focusing on design and materials - these are important components of a modern smartphone. How else? Compared to its predecessor, significant work has been done on the appearance of the device. True, they didn’t forget about saving either. From the front, the device is not much different from other devices. There is an already established timber design concept here. The frames around the display remained minimal, they became slightly wider than in its predecessor. Not critical.

Under the display there is a blank plate with a company logo. There are no touch buttons here; they are transferred to the display. I never tire of saying that this is inconvenient. Firstly, virtual keys eat up the working space of the display. Not a crime, but still. Secondly, there are no system control buttons in the Camera application. Instead, only one single “Back” key is available. Because of this, you cannot instantly exit the program to the desktop. First you have to return to the application that was open before launching the camera, and then click on the image of the “House”.

But the virtual control panel can be customized to suit you.

Above the screen there is an oblong grid of a voice speaker, to the left of which there are: a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a front camera and an LED indicator closer to the opposite corner.

The light sensor behaves interestingly in the sun. When exposed to direct sunlight, the smartphone screen remains unreadable for about 3 seconds, after which the corresponding sensor is activated and the backlight is raised to the maximum level. Only at the highest brightness of the display does the information on it become readable.

There are beveled edges at the top and bottom of the front side, and a barely noticeable plastic edge is located along the perimeter of the entire front side. The latter is made specifically to protect the glass from contact with the surface when the smartphone is lying face down.

From the back the body looks much more interesting. At certain angles and with appropriate lighting, the surface of the battery cover is indistinguishable from specially treated metal. The bottom line is that a special metallized coating is used.

Of course, there is no special chill characteristic of metal, but the surface is pleasant and, moreover, looks good. So far there are only two colors on sale: black and white silk. And very soon models with other colors will hit the market: purple, burgundy red and, of course, gold.

By the way, the back cover is now removable. Under the cover there is a removable battery, which provides access to the SIM card. Accordingly, there is no hot swap. The memory card is located above the SIM card slot, so it can be easily removed without turning off the device.

LG is not going to abandon the control buttons located on the back cover. On the contrary, here their design has been improved. The volume keys have a concave shape, while the screen power button, on the contrary, protrudes above the surface of the smartphone. Quite a bit, but not like it was in the company’s previous flagship.

The entire navigation bar has been made smaller, even though the buttons have improved in usability. Thanks to this, taking screenshots (volume down button + power button) has become much more convenient. By the way, the protruding plastic transition from the camera eye to the buttons is always the first to come into contact with the surface, which is why it is noticeably scratched and looks completely indecent.

Above the smartphone control unit is the rear camera peephole, covered with sapphire crystal. To the left of the camera there is a dark window, under which the laser responsible for focusing is hidden. When you launch the camera app, you will notice a reddish flicker. On the other side of the photo module there is a dual LED flash. In theory, it should provide normal skin color in photos taken in the dark. There should be no creepy greenish tint to the face.

Right there at the back there is a hole for the main speaker. The location is not very correct from the point of view of the propagation of the sound flow, but in practice I did not notice any deterioration in sound.

The sides of the smartphone are devoid of any elements. One noticeable silver frame surrounds the entire perimeter of the device.

Except that on the right side there is a recess for opening the back cover. Due to this, it can be easily removed. In the same Samsung Galaxy S5, the battery compartment cover is very difficult to remove. Shoot it however you want. Not so in G3.

In the middle of the bottom edge there is a microUSB port, to the left of which there is a microphone hole and a 3.5 mm audio output.

On top there is a hole for another microphone and an infrared port for controlling household and other appliances.

It is better to compare the dimensions of the device with the main competitors of the G3 in the following table:

The Korean smartphone seemed a little wide to me. From the comparison above it is clearly seen that it is truly the widest device among the current flagships. In my opinion, in this regard, HTC One has the most convenient dimensions. However, our editor Irina Shubina, on the contrary, liked the device to the fullest.

Otherwise, the smartphone also turned out to be rather large. If the G2 had a relatively compact size and gave the impression of a small and nimble device, then the G3 became noticeably larger. Operating the device with one hand is sometimes difficult. This is especially true when typing or turning off the Camera application, when it is really difficult to reach the “Back” key.

For this purpose, the smartphone is pre-installed with the ability to configure detailed controls under one hand for both left-handed and right-handed people.

First, you can customize the location of the system control buttons at the bottom of the screen.

Secondly, it is possible to move the keyboard and dialer to the left or right side of the device.

Thirdly, you can place a special virtual button anywhere on the screen, by clicking on which a pre-added list of applications is activated. Activation of special touch zones and so on is provided. Feel the scope!

All these additional settings slightly improve the ergonomics situation. A pleasant nod to the consumer on the part of the manufacturer.

Smartphone display

The screen is covered with protective glass Gorilla Glass 3, which provides protection against scratches and good resistance to fingerprints. However, scratches and grease marks still appear on the surface of the glass over time. Considering this, it is better to use some kind of protective film and try to be careful when using the device. There is another alternative - the QuickCircle case, which we will return to later.

The display has a diagonal of 5.5 inches with an actual resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels. Let me make a slight digression. In 2009, Apple released an updated line of iMac desktop computers with exactly the same resolution. At that time, they, of course, were not pioneers, but monitors with the same resolution cost about two-thirds of the price of a computer from the Apple corporation. Now, of course, the situation has changed. It's 2014, and smartphones have already caught up with advanced desktop screens in terms of their characteristics.

The pixel density value is 534 ppi. Of course, this is a record figure, but in practice, 90 percent of people will not be able to distinguish the FullHD display from the QHD installed in the G3. The purest water is a race for numbers and nothing more.

I am glad that LG strives not only for quantity, but also does not forget about quality. The smartphone uses a matrix built using IPS+ technology, which provides very good color richness and contrast. There are no bright acid colors typical of Samsung smartphones. The shades are close to natural.

I think the display installed in the LG G3 can easily be considered one of the best on the market.

Viewing angles are maximum. There are no shortcomings in this parameter.

Performance and Specifications

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.5 GHz (4 cores)
• Adreno 330 video chip
• memory 16 or 32 GB (eMMC ROM) + slot for microSD memory cards (up to 128GB)
• 2 or 3 GB RAM (DDR3 RAM)
• 5.5’’ display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, based on an IPS+ matrix (Quad HD, 538 ppi)
• 13 MP main camera (OIS+ optical stabilization and laser autofocus)
• front camera 2.1 MP
• removable (and this is a victory, friends!) battery 3,000 mAh
• sensors: accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
• OS Android 4.4.2 KitKat
• Dimensions: 146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm and weight 149 g

Networks and interfaces:

• 4G (LTE), 3G (HSDPA), 2G (GSM)
• Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac),
• Bluetooth 4.0
• NFC, SlimPort, MHL
• A-GPS / Glonass,
• USB 2.0, OTG

A version with 16 GB of memory allocated for data storage and 2 GB used as RAM is available on our market. It's a bit of a shame that domestic consumers are not as highly regarded as consumers in other markets. Those wishing to purchase the maximum version can look for sellers of gray goods online. The majority (at least 95% of all users) will be satisfied with the younger version.

Yes, the device has up-to-date technical specifications, easily handles content of any weight and resolution (we’re talking about 4K video), flies through all menus and opens applications with lightning speed, but there is still one caveat.

As expected, I configured a naked smartphone from scratch to suit all my tasks and needs. I installed a lot of the software I needed, activated about a dozen different accounts, etc. The longer I used the device and accumulated content on it, the harder the G3 became to work. The interface began to jitter, the desktop with all the widgets and icons began to load for about 4-5 seconds after each press of the “Home” key. The camera recorded pictures for as long as five seconds and, therefore, during this period of time the device did not react to anything. If we draw a parallel, the G3 reminded me of a PC with Windows XP installed on it. The more programs were installed, the longer the download took and the more the system performance dropped.

The situation was cured by a complete reset and setting up the device again. Google backup returned all installed applications to their place, the rest had to be set up manually. After a short procedure of this restoration, the G3 again looked like a modern flagship, and not like a noname Chinese for 1500+ rubles.

I find it difficult to answer what was the matter. Now the device works as expected. It is my duty to tell you everything as it is and to warn you even about an unlikely, but still possible, scenario.

At the end of this section, I provide screenshots of synthetic smartphone tests.

Camera LG G3

For this feature, you can fall in love with the G3 at first sight. In short, the photos are of very good quality, the video detail leaves no questions, and the camera interface is not overloaded with useless settings and shooting modes. There are disadvantages, but the pros still outweigh.

Let's figure it out. The rear camera is a 13 megapixel module with an f/ 2.4 aperture, which is additionally equipped with a laser focusing system and improved (compared to the G2) optical image stabilization (OIS+). The first function migrated to the smartphone from professional cameras and allows the device to quickly focus on objects, mainly in poor lighting conditions. The beam estimates the distance from the camera eye to the photographed object. LG claims that the focusing speed is 0.27 seconds. There was no way to check this. We take your word for it.

Optical stabilization does not need to be specially activated from the menu, since the system works always and everywhere. To be honest, it’s strange for me to see such a slider in the settings of smartphones from other companies. Of course, as a user, I always want to have excellent, blur-free pictures. Why should I go into the settings and turn off this function in this case? Let it be enabled by default!

By the way, the interface of the photo application is devoid of many popular (among manufacturers) settings and shooting modes. Everything is done very ascetically and as accessible as possible. The kind of horror that can be seen in the camera settings in the Samsung Galaxy S5 is not here. LG left only the most necessary parameters and relied on developing an automatic mode, which copes well with most shooting scenarios. No night portrait, landscape in cloudy weather or sports mode here.

There are also some not entirely obvious points. How does this happen in smartphones from other companies? In the parameters there is a lever that activates the ability to focus and release the camera shutter with one tap on the screen. In the G3 you won't find this setting anywhere in the menu. To take a photo with one tap on the display, you need to hide all elements of the camera interface.

Otherwise, photos are taken by pressing the corresponding virtual button.

Output photos have a maximum resolution of 4160×3120 pixels (4:3).

I suggest you familiarize yourself with examples of smartphone photographs in a variety of shooting conditions.

The front camera (2.1 megapixels) takes pictures in a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. The front sensor records video in a similar resolution. There are two main features that I would like to talk about. Firstly, the shutter is released using the palm of your hand when photographing your loved one. It all happens as follows: you must enter your open palm into the camera’s field of view, wait until the sensor recognizes the palm (turquoise hand grip frames appear) and then clench your hand into a fist. You will have 3 seconds to make the right mine and try not to block the horizon. The setting works with a bang, mistakes happen only in difficult lighting conditions.

The second is taking selfies in the dark. To do this, you need to activate the flesh-color backlight in the settings. Most of the screen becomes a soft pink color, and the backlight is brought to the maximum by the smartphone. Thus, the screen plays the role of a flash, sufficient for shooting in poor lighting conditions. The trick is aimed primarily at creating portraits in almost complete darkness. You shouldn't expect miracles, but there is still an effect.

We will touch on the nuances of photographing with the G3 in more detail in a separate article. There we will analyze in detail the various modes of the smartphone camera, delve into the available settings and generally look at beautiful photographs. The review will appear on the website very soon.

Videos can be recorded in normal resolution (1920×1080 pixels) or in UHD format (3840×2160). It's certainly not 4K, but it's very close. The frame rate varies from 30 to 120 fps.

It’s also worth adding that I liked the focusing speed during video recording and the quality of audio stream recording. You can evaluate everything yourself using the following examples:

Sound

The built-in speaker has a power of 1 watt and an additional amplifier. This is exactly what is stated in the official specifications. Yes, the device is really loud. You can even feel a slight vibration on the back cover. However, all this does not affect the sound quality in any way. Still, few have surpassed the once super popular Motorola E398.

The quality of playback through headphones is at the level familiar to any modern smartphone. Now, in terms of this parameter, almost all modern devices are on the same level. It doesn't matter what kind of device is used as a player. Many smartphones and tablets have already learned to produce a more or less similar sound picture. The LG G3 has no shortcomings in this regard.

Of the additional enhancements, I liked the Pure surround setting the most. It makes the sound more interesting, but this is only in my subjective opinion. Otherwise, there are standard audio presets, including a seven-band equalizer.

As for the rest of the features, everything is very standard here. There is support for playlists, broadcasting audio streams to other devices, and perhaps that’s all. This time around, LG doesn't put any emphasis on sound quality through various third-party forces. I'm talking about the Vienna Boys' Choir, whose voices and compositions were used to promote G2.

The maximum volume is 80% of the top value in the same iPhone.

Battery

The device has a removable battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh. Obviously, LG took into account the opinion of those users who, for some reason, are still not satisfied with the non-removable battery. I don’t know what you can look at under the lid, but the manufacturer was not too lazy to accommodate this very small layer of consumers. This step in itself says a lot about the corporation. Perhaps the reason for such a step lies in something else, but we will believe in the best.

Fully charging the battery takes about two hours. The entire battery capacity can easily be used up in one day. It is enough to make several five-minute calls a day, spend a couple of hours on the Internet via Wi-Fi, use navigation for two hours, and take a couple of dozen photos using the built-in camera. In this mode, already at ten o’clock in the evening the device will have approximately 20% battery charge. Overnight, the smartphone loses about another 10% of its capacity. Is this the norm? For a smartphone with a five and a half inch display and a monstrous resolution, this, in my opinion, is at least good. The manufacturer, for its part, assures that the metal in the battery cathode has been replaced with graphite, which in the bottom line should give good results for the battery’s energy capacity. This is what it looks like in theory.

In practice, we have comparable autonomy indicators of the G3 compared to its competitors.

Of course, there is an energy saving mode. You can activate it from the settings. In this case, the smartphone disables auto-sync, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, vibration when touched, LED indicator, etc. Nothing special.

By the way, during extensive testing of the G3, I noticed one feature that concerns battery performance. After fully charging and reaching 100%, the battery, of course, begins to discharge. However, the charge drops to 99% only after 5-10 minutes of active use of the device. In the future, energy consumption is displayed correctly and each percentage is consumed over equal periods of time with the same intensive use. It reminded me of the times when Nokia reigned almost unchallenged. The charge, measured at that time in sticks, began to melt quite actively when the battery reached its actual 50 percent capacity. Up to this point, usually all the full 5-6 divisions were burning. The hero of our review has about the same thing, but, of course, not on such a scale. Frankly speaking, I haven’t seen such behavior for a long time.

Software features

We're done with the hardware, let's move on to the software. LG has done a great job in this regard.

Firstly, the branded shell has been completely redesigned. From subscriber icons to sliders in the built-in player. The interface has acquired the now fashionable flat design, but shadows from objects still remain. It's funny that the Koreans switched to a simplified design earlier than Google with its Android L.

The colors have changed to softer, pastel shades. The only thing that is not entirely clear to me is why some icons (Internet browser, contacts) became round, while others (messages, camera) remained square. It is clear that purely Google applications cannot be remade, but your own programs could be adjusted to the general concept.

Knock Code- an excellent feature thanks to which you can unlock your smartphone screen by double tapping on its surface.

The setup works well, but mistakes still happen quite often.

Several times the device completely refused to respond to double taps until I activated the screen with the power button. In the company's previous flagship (G2), the feature was debugged much better. I have been using both smartphones for quite a long time, so I have something to compare.

Smart Tips- these are special tips, thanks to which the user can visually get acquainted with the main features of the new device, of course, if he has not read our review. Hints intrusively make their way onto the main screen and over time they begin to irritate. After viewing them, they do not disappear anywhere and remain hanging on the desktop located to the left of the main screen. Their main purpose is to refer to educational texts and videos on how to interact with the device. No more.

LG is actively promoting a new “smart notifications” system Smart Notice, thanks to which the device independently decides, depending on the time of day, location or behavior of the owner, what it can offer or advise its owner. Over the entire period of use, the G3 notified me about activity in the LG Health application, offered to add an unknown number to contacts, and once indicated that I needed to take an umbrella from home, as precipitation was expected. Everything is quite predictable and understandable. How did we all live without these notifications?

It is now very fashionable among manufacturers to develop their own not even applications, but entire software units for processing user activity and presenting them in a digestible form. In G3 such a center is called . Here information about the distance traveled is collected, calories burned depending on exercise are calculated, and so on.

Of course, it is possible to present information in the form of graphs for various periods of time.

Step counting is extremely accurate. For every hundred real steps I counted out loud, there are approximately 2-3 mistakes on the part of the Korean miracle. This is a very good result, which the developers of pedometers from the Play Store can envy. Bracelets don't count. It doesn’t matter where you store your smartphone, in a bag or in your pocket.

Among other things, the health utility can build tracking tracks on a city map. While recording movement, all other information about the user’s activity is collected and it depends on the type of workout. The data obtained can, of course, be shared in all possible ways. You can only hope that your friends from your contact list will be interested in seeing your achievements.

I really like the ability to select before pasting what I previously copied.

LG has provided a special one for this clipboard, where in addition to the already copied text, photographs and other files are also stored. When pasting, you can select either the last copied text or access the memory buffer. In my opinion, this is a very convenient thing that all modern mobile devices lack.

Miracle keyboard

In all press releases, the South Korean company emphasized the unique keyboard in its 2014 flagship. Its main features are adaptability to the input method and characteristics of a particular user, it is possible to change the size of the keys and change the height of the keyboard block, as well as several other customization options.

I didn’t notice any special learning ability that later helps when entering text. Perhaps this is because I primarily use the swype method (Path input) to enter text. In the options menu, you can set the degree of auto-correction from moderate to active. My nerves are dear to me, so I decided to go with the moderate option.

For the ability to change the height of the block of virtual buttons and for the line with numbers, special thanks to the manufacturer.

On the same iPhone, you experience significant inconvenience when you need to enter an alphanumeric password and constantly switch the keyboard to the mode for entering letters and symbols. Everything is fine here!

In the keyboard settings, you can add several commonly used punctuation marks. I understand that a fairly impressive mass of people categorically do not recognize the comma, but I am still accustomed to inserting other punctuation marks into sentences in addition to the period. Of course, you won’t be able to cram all the punctuation into the virtual buttons area, but adding a comma to a period is easy! Again, thanks to LG.

Among other things, you can choose a keyboard theme (black or white). I guess that's all. Some convenient features have appeared, but it feels like there is still room for work. In a good way.

Application messages has detailed settings for receiving and storing correspondence, but now it has lost the ability to be customized by the user. In the same G2, it was possible to change the background in correspondence, as well as select alternative bubbles for dialogues.

It is an application that can be accessed both from the menu and by long pressing the volume up button. Here you can draw by hand, take printed notes, insert images, and more.

is a special application from the manufacturer for automatically cleaning various debris in the system. It quite well replaces many third-party “task managers”.

LG continues to support the feature guest mode. If necessary, you can set up, so to speak, an additional account, which anyone can log in to when they unlock their smartphone with a specially prepared guest key. A curious person will see only those applications that the owner of the smartphone has previously allowed for display in the mode settings.

Now the G3 is equipped with a two-window mode for viewing programs. Everything is simple here. Holding down the Back key activates a menu from which you can drag a predefined program to the top or bottom of the screen. Landscape orientation is fully supported. We have already seen this on Samsung smartphones, and now other Koreans have caught up.

As expected, an LG smartphone comes pre-installed with a proprietary application designed to control various consumer electronics. The interface is user-friendly, initial setup is quick and painless. Pressing virtual buttons is accompanied by distinct sound signals.

As before, the company took care of adding its own file manager. It has a simple design, has the most necessary functions for working with files, and presents files in a convenient and visual form by category (images, music, etc.) or where they are stored.

Captured photographs can be easily edited in the built-in image processor. The editor is full of various settings, has a lot of different ready-made filters (don’t read Instagram) and generally does everything quickly and very efficiently. For many, this feature will be a good help for editing captured footage without using third-party applications or a desktop PC. I filmed it, touched up the colors, posted it online, got a bunch of likes - well done!

To conclude the section on software capabilities, I would like to give examples of screenshots of other applications of the system: calendar, calculator, alarm clock, etc.

Accessories

Along with the flagship, LG decided to throw additional smartphone-specific gadgets onto the market. The cover case and wireless charging are the main accessories that can diversify the already interesting interaction with the G3.

QuickCircle case

The window became round, a metal edging appeared, and along with the new shell, the device interface was updated, which is activated when the case is closed. The surface of the plastic case, as well as the body of the smartphone, looks like metal, but is distinguished by more pronounced transverse stripes.

There are plenty of colors to choose from: black, white, pink, light turquoise and, of course, gold. In addition, QuickCircle is available for sale with or without support for wireless charging (installed instead of the back cover of the device).

All icons accessible through the case window have now become round to match the general concept of the shell and accessory. In standby mode, a widget with a clock and weather is installed. In the settings, you can choose from nine preset clock themes.

As before, there is still access to the audio player, messages, and the telephone part of the device. In addition, with the lid closed, you can take photographs through a special round viewfinder. In mass retail, an accessory that works with wireless charging can be purchased for 1,990 rubles, and a regular model will cost 1,790 rubles.

Wireless charger

This is a special plastic stand that folds easily for carrying. The color is exclusively white, but in theory there is also a black variation of the device. According to rumors, normal operation of the accessory is ensured only by a 2 Amp adapter. Unfortunately, in practice it was not possible to check how the G3 interacts with the device, since at the moment it is very difficult to find this accessory.

Bottom line

The appearance of the G3 was awaited with special hopes by both fans of the company and people who had tried the previous Korean flagship at one time. After many years of uncertainty, LG finally found themselves and released a very worthy smartphone at a more than competitive price of 24,990 rubles. I mean G2. The current flagship competes with devices from other manufacturers almost head-on. However, the price of 26,990 rubles may work in favor of a smartphone from LG.

Yes, there are certain reservations here that cannot be considered shortcomings in the full sense. You need to get used to the dimensions of the device, but it is possible that the smartphone will fit perfectly in your hand. You have to try it yourself. There are software-level orges, but they probably shouldn’t be taken seriously. Personally, the only thing I lack about the G3 is moisture protection.

It is clear that the second major Korean player in this market is catching up with Samsung. It is simply impossible not to compare these two manufacturers. However, if everything continues like this, LG will definitely do well. At least, I really hope so, since a company capable of creating such devices is worthy of it.

Is the LG G3 the best flagship of 2014?

The ideal, as we know, does not exist. So G3 is still afraid of liquids and dust. Otherwise, taking into account the noticeably lower cost compared to its competitors, a smartphone from LG can be safely recommended for purchase. Then it will be your top choice this year.

Competition in the mobile device market truly resembles a battle of the titans. Every year, recognized industry leaders release new and updated gadgets, thereby dealing virtual blows to their rivals. The uncompromising struggle for the minds of potential buyers is flaring up with unprecedented force. To stay visible and win, manufacturers simply must implement advanced technologies. LG confidently chose such a complex and thorny path of innovation. A serious confirmation of this is its new flagship smartphone LGG3 . South Korean engineers have done a tremendous job and equipped the device with a unique in its class 5.5-inch Quad HD screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels.

After the grandiose presentation of LG G3 Day Kyiv, which took place on June 19 at the Hilton Hotel in Kiev, the LG G3 smartphone left an indelible impression. This device caught our attention not only with its beautiful design, but also with its powerful hardware platform. Unfortunately, the pace of the presentation, like any other public event, simply does not allow time for a thorough review, let alone testing. But we did not lose hope. And now, after some time, the LG G3 smartphone has finally arrived in our test laboratory, where we can slowly and more carefully continue our acquaintance, the results of which you can read further on.

Specifications

Delivery and configuration

The LG G3 smartphone comes in a relatively large and quite stylish box. It is made of thick cardboard and has an attractive minimalist design.

The removable top has chamfered sides and is finished in a high-gloss silver color, which is quite attractive. It also has several emblems with interesting information and a corporate logo. For example, one of them tells us that LG became the winner in the category “Most Innovative Device Manufacturer of the Year” according to the prestigious Global Mobile Awards 2014 competition. The reverse side of the box is made in a pleasant coffee color and is a little more informative , compared to the top. In addition to the technical characteristics of the device, here you can find icons with a list of proprietary functions that the South Korean manufacturer has equipped its flagship smartphone with.

The LG G3 arrived in our cozy test laboratory as a pre-sale version. Evidence of this is the lack of complete packaging: only the smartphone itself with the factory film and a short user manual. However, it is worth noting that a potential buyer, in addition to the above, will also receive a charger and a USB cable. This “gentleman’s” set is the minimum necessary for a comfortable start to working with a smartphone.

Appearance, arrangement of elements

After your first acquaintance with the LG G3, you understand what a huge amount of work the designers of the South Korean company have done. Compared to its predecessor, the new product has radically changed in appearance, which, without a doubt, was to its benefit. The result of a lot of hard work is a completely new design concept called “Floating Arc”, which looks very fresh and very attractive.

Its characteristic features are the presence of ergonomic curves that can be seen on the sides and back of the device, as well as the use of extremely thin contours around the display, which give the smartphone sophistication and lightness.

And this is not surprising, since the dimensions of these same contours are a record 8.5 mm at the top, 12 mm at the bottom and about 2 mm on the sides of the screen. Thanks to this, a relatively large smartphone with a 5.5-inch display looks quite compact, which makes it stand out from its direct competitors.

With dimensions of 138.5 x 70.9 x 9.1 mm and a weight of 149 g, the device fits comfortably in the hand, and working with it does not cause any difficulties. This is greatly facilitated by a proprietary feature in the form of a rear block of Rear Key control keys. Thanks to its convenient location, it is always under the index finger and allows you to operate the device with just one hand.

The front panel of the device is almost completely (76%) covered with protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with excellent oleophobic and anti-reflective coating. The device display is edged with a small (only 0.5 mm) plastic insert, which, in addition to decorative purposes, serves as additional protection from damage.

Above the screen there are: front camera, proximity and light sensors, LED indicator and earpiece hole. Below the display there is only a small insert with a concentric pattern and the manufacturer’s logo.

On the top edge of the smartphone there is a microphone and an IR transmitter, which allows you to control any multimedia and household appliances in the house. On the bottom there are: a micro-USB 2.0 connector, a 3.5 mm mini-jack audio jack and a second microphone.

The side edges of the device are free from any connectors and elements.

The back side of the LG G3 is made of high-quality plastic with a textured imitation of metal. Despite the characteristic grinding, after which the back surface of the device becomes quite slippery, holding the smartphone in your hands does not cause any difficulty.

At the top, in the center of the back side, is the main camera lens, flanked by a two-section LED flash and an innovative laser focusing module. A little lower below them is the manufacturer's logo. The multimedia speaker grille is located in the lower left corner.

Compared to its predecessor, the back of the LG G3 is equipped with a removable cover. Fortunately, the developers took into account previous experience and were attentive to the wishes of their customers.

Now under the cover there is a removable battery, and there are also two card slots: micro-SIM and microSD. Additionally, it contains an NFC module, with which the smartphone can exchange data via an encrypted channel, and a wireless inductive charging module, which allows you to charge the device’s battery from a special docking station without additional wires.

The very good build quality deserves special attention. Traditionally for LG it is at the highest level. The smartphone body has remarkable rigidity: there is not the slightest hint of play or gaps. At moderate pressure, the geometry of the device cannot be changed, and the image on the display remains without streaks or other possible artifacts. Overall, the LG G3 feels solid and high quality.

Without a doubt, the main highlight of the flagship LG G3 smartphone is its magnificent 5.5-inch display, which is based on a high-quality IPS matrix with stunning Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels). At the same time, the pixel density is a record 538 ppi.

The screen has excellent color reproduction, good contrast and excellent viewing angles (without any inversions or shifts). Of particular note is the very good white balance: it looks very natural and does not go into warm or cool shades, as often happens in more affordable devices. The brightness of the screen backlight is also at a qualitatively high level and has a good range of adjustment. This allows you to easily use your smartphone both on a bright sunny day and in complete darkness.

Tempered glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which has an excellent oleophobic and anti-reflective coating, is responsible for the safety and integrity of the display. Thanks to this, there are practically no fingerprints on the screen, and those that appear are easily removed.

The built-in touch display substrate supports recognition of up to 10 simultaneous touches. Moreover, their processing is carried out without any complaints. The screen responds clearly and instantly even to light touches. Sliding your finger across the protective glass is very easy and quite pleasant. It does not cause any discomfort. It is also useful for our climatic conditions to support the display in high sensitivity mode, which allows you to interact with it while wearing thin gloves.

LG engineers can be rightfully proud of their device, since a display with such characteristics has not been used in any smartphone until now. The qualitative difference between the new Quad HD resolution and the Full HD present on the market is simply undeniable, and it clearly catches the eye. This is especially noticeable when working with fonts or while viewing high-quality photo and video materials. The detail of the image is simply amazing, since individual pixels can only be distinguished with the help of special equipment. Perhaps the only obstacle to digital happiness may be the lack of suitable data quality. It's no secret that not all mobile content has a resolution of 720p, let alone the latest 4K Ultra HD format. But we believe that a display of this format is a good foundation for the future, and all its hidden potential can be used after a short period of time.

The LG G3 model is equipped with a good multimedia speaker. Unlike its predecessor LG G2, it is located on the back of the case, in the lower left corner. Despite its compact size, it is loud enough and makes quite a good impression. According to the manufacturer, the speaker has a power of 1 W, and with the help of a built-in amplifier this figure can increase to 1.5 W. The sound is quite clear, without noticeable distortion. There are well defined high and mid frequencies. Low frequencies are almost absent, which is not surprising given the form factor of the device. The smartphone can be safely used for games, watching videos and other needs without additional devices.

However, for music lovers, we still recommend using high-quality headphones, since traditionally for flagship LG smartphones, the new product includes a good mobile amplifier. In addition, without additional settings, it provides music playback in Hi-Fi format, and the built-in equalizer has a special profile for headphones - “LG QuadBeat”. All this makes the sound very pleasant, adding depth and volume.

The quality of the speaker is also at a good level. It is moderately loud and provides a pleasant and quite “live” sound transmission.

Camera

As befits a flagship model, the LG G3 smartphone is equipped with two digital cameras. In our case, the engineers of the South Korean company made an uncompromising decision and equipped their brainchild with proven Sony Exmor RS series modules, which are among the best in their class.

The main camera of the device is represented by a Sony IMX135 module (1.2 micron, 1/3.06") with a resolution of 13 megapixels and an f/2.3 aperture. It is capable of taking pictures with a maximum resolution of 4160 x 3120 pixels with an aspect ratio of 4:3 and 4160 x 2340 pixels at a ratio of 16: 9. The resulting photographs delight with excellent color reproduction with natural color saturation, good contrast and excellent image detail. They can be considered one of the best among top-class smartphones. There is also a traditionally good implementation of the HDR photography mode.

Separately, it is worth noting the presence of a unique (first used in a smartphone) laser autofocus with a 9-point focusing area, which was previously found only in professional cameras. This solution allows you to take high-quality photo and video materials in any weather conditions and in any degree of illumination. The camera delay time is quite impressive, which at the time of shooting is a record 0.267 seconds. Plus, the smartphone is equipped with an advanced optical image stabilization system OIS+ and a two-section dual-illumination LED flash (with warmer and cooler LEDs), which have a very beneficial effect on the quality of the resulting photographs.

The only thing we can find fault with is the algorithm of the main camera, which, in particularly difficult shooting conditions, tries to set the exposure level slightly higher than required. And also to the optics with an external sapphire lens with a light purple coating, which gives the image a subtle purple tint when a bright light source, such as the sun, is close to the edges of the frame. But this has more to do with the photographer and his ability to choose the right angle and location than with the properties of the camera itself.

All the positive aspects of photography also apply to video shooting. The main camera of the smartphone is capable of recording video not only in the already familiar Full HD resolution, but also in the latest 4K Ultra HD, which is an impressive 3840 x 2160 pixels. There is also a (now fashionable) slow motion mode at 120 frames per second. Starting with Apple, more and more manufacturers are adding this feature to their flagship devices. True, in our case, this mode cannot boast of high image quality and serves more to attract buyers in the form of a good marketing ploy. Otherwise, the level of recorded video is at its best and does not cause any significant complaints.

As for the recorded sound, we should note a rather aggressive noise reduction system and the high sensitivity of the microphones themselves. However, overall its quality remains at a high level.

The front camera of the smartphone is also represented by a fairly good module - Sony IMX208 (1.4 micron, 1/6") with a resolution of 2.1 megapixels and an f/2.0 aperture. Despite the fixed focus, it is capable of providing fairly high image quality and taking photos and video shooting with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The camera also has a good automatic retouching mode and can be safely used not only for all kinds of web conferences, but also for taking selfies that are fashionable today.

The proprietary software responsible for the operation of the cameras has a pleasant appearance and an intuitive interface. Its obvious advantages include the quick shooting function, which is reproduced with just one light touch on the display.

It is also worth noting that there is a “smart” and quite convenient front camera mode, which makes it much easier to take self-portraits. It looks something like this: the camera tracks the position of the user's palm and, after clenching it into a fist, starts a 5-second countdown, after which a photo is taken.

However, the total number of useful functions, compared to its predecessor LG G2, was greatly reduced, leaving only the most basic ones (according to the developers). Unfortunately, there is no longer the ability to select white balance, perform exposure correction, change the ISO value, set the focus type and adjust a number of other useful settings, which will be a very sad fact for an experienced user. However, there is hope that with a software update these and other necessary functions will definitely return back.

Examples of photography with the main camera

Examples of photography with the main camera in HDR mode

Examples of front camera photography

Video examples

LG G3 in resolution4 K Ultra HDat 30 fps

An example of daytime shooting from a smartphoneLG G3 in resolutionFull HDat 30 fps

An example of evening shooting from a smartphoneLG G3 in resolutionFull HDat 30 fps

Example of time-lapse photography from a smartphoneLG G3 in 720 resolutionp at 120 fps

User interface

The LG G3 smartphone comes with a pre-installed Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system, which is complemented by the latest version of the proprietary LG G3 GUI shell.

Such a symbiosis traditionally offers excellent functionality and a fairly extensive set of capabilities that will not leave most users indifferent. In addition, LG is going to provide an update to Android Lemon Meringue Pie (Android 5.0) as soon as possible, of course, after its official release.

Based on current trends in the mobile industry, the developers have significantly simplified the design of the operating system, making it simple and minimalistic, in well-chosen pastel colors. Such a radical solution, compared to the bright and colorful interface of the LG G2, looks like a breath of fresh air. Subjectively, this takes the design of the operating system to a whole new level, making it more stylish and pleasing to look at. The jury members of the prestigious Red Dot Awards 2014 competition share the same opinion, where the South Korean company received 9 awards, one of which was for its simple and intuitive user interface.

The functionality of the operating system can be described as quite rich, with a wide level of capabilities. At the same time, it is not full of unnecessary functions, which in real conditions, in most cases, will rarely be in demand. Among the innovations, it is worth noting beautiful animation and pleasant sound design. Compared to its predecessor, this is a qualitative step forward.

Closely following the latest trends in the field of health, the developers have added a good fitness assistant, LG Health, to their flagship smartphone. This useful application quite accurately counts the owner’s steps and tracks the route of movement.

The Smart Notice function deserves special attention, which imitates communication between a smartphone and the user through pop-up notifications. This is very convenient, as you can quickly get information about the weather, missed calls and other data. In our opinion, this is a very useful innovation.

The proprietary KnockON function, already familiar to many users, remains in place. With its help, you can easily unlock your smartphone by double tapping the screen. In addition to it, an improved variation of KnockCode has appeared, which allows you to protect your smartphone from unlocking with a special combination of taps. To do this, the device screen is divided into four parts, and the user is given the opportunity to choose the sequence in which the display will be pressed and in which quadrant. It is almost impossible to guess such a password at random, since under such blocking conditions there are more than 80,000 possible combinations. This solution is a good alternative to the fingerprint scanner, which is present in some competitors.

It is also worth paying attention to the KillSwitch function. If you have lost your smartphone (or become a victim of a thief) and do not want your personal data to become public, all you need to do is send a remote command that will destroy all information on the device and turn the modern gadget into a useless brick.

The developers have worked hard, not only adding a number of new functions, but also qualitatively updating existing ones. Thus, many gesture actions have not disappeared, the ability to control the device with one hand, the excellent quickmemo+ note-taking application, the ability to work simultaneously with two large applications, as well as with small QSlide typing programs.

Thanks to the infrared port, the new product turns into a remote control for all multimedia and household appliances in the house. As we see, the functionality of a smartphone is gradually going beyond the usual understanding, acquiring new capabilities.

The system settings menu has a large set of items. They are all well sorted and arranged so that they are easy to remember and quick to find. For ease of use, they can be displayed in two modes: divided into tabs or in one list.

Finally, it is worth saying that the interface works very smoothly and quickly, and interaction with it occurs on an intuitive level, causing only positive emotions.

Hardware platform and performance

The flagship LG G3 smartphone is based on one of the most powerful processors - Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, which is presented in its maximum configuration (model MSM8974PRO-AC). It is characterized by the presence of 4 Krait 400 cores with an operating clock frequency ranging from 300 MHz to 2.46 GHz and 2 MB of L2 cache. The CPU is manufactured using a modern 28nm HPm process technology. The role of the graphics accelerator is played by the Qualcomm Adreno 330 adapter, with an operating clock frequency of 578 MHz and support for OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenVG 1.1, OpenCL 1.2 and DirectX 9.0c.

It is important to note that there are two versions of the LG G3 on the market. The first option that came to us for testing has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, of which 11.2 GB is available to the user. The second option is characterized by an increased amount of memory: 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. Both versions of the smartphone support microSD memory cards up to 128 GB.

Despite the significantly increased display resolution and the use of a more powerful processor, the device's overall performance in synthetic tests is only slightly higher than that of last year's LG G2. However, in real conditions, the capabilities of the LG G3 are more than enough to perform almost any task, including running modern games, since most of them are not yet optimized for Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) and run in resolutions 1080p and 720p with subsequent scaling. For example, the smartphone can handle quite demanding games like Dead Trigger 2 and Asphalt 8: Airborne with ease, while delivering high-quality images and a high frame rate. However, for GTA: San Andreas at high graphics settings and Modern Combat 5: Blackout, performance begins to lack a little, which is why minor stuttering becomes noticeable.

But, as you know, all good things come at a price. In our case, the Achilles heel of the device was the heating of the case. Unfortunately, it is quite high, which presents certain inconveniences during operation. The smartphone heats up in many resource-intensive situations, not only when launching games, but also while shooting from the camera, as well as watching “heavy” videos. In such cases, the back of the device becomes noticeably hot, especially the metal power button, and holding the device causes some discomfort.

Communications

As a prominent representative of advanced flagship devices, the new product being tested can work with all modern mobile networks: 2G, 3G and, of course, 4G with support for LTE Cat.4.

This smartphone model is equipped with a radio module that supports one SIM card. The quality of voice transmission was at a high level: there were no interruptions or independent drops. But it is worth considering that this largely depends on the telecom operator used.

The range of communication capabilities is represented by NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac modules. The latter has support for Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Hotspot functions and is capable of operating in two frequency bands: 2.4 and 5 GHz. DLNA support is also traditionally present.

Data transfer speeds via Wi-Fi (wired connection 100 Mbit/s, router supporting the 802.11n standard) show good results: up to 44 Mbit/s for receiving and up to 38 Mbit/s for sending. Searching for points and connecting to them occurs very quickly, and the established connection has good stability.

As noted above, the LG G3 smartphone is equipped with a removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh. Compared to its predecessor LG G2, in which the battery was an integral part of the device, this allows, avoiding additional costs, to quickly replace a faulty battery without contacting service. In particularly extreme modes of using a smartphone, to increase its “survivability”, you can carry an additional, already pre-charged, battery with you. With an average load during everyday tasks, the battery capacity is enough for about a day and a half of work in autonomous mode. Considering the screen size and the power of the hardware platform, these are quite good indicators.

More detailed testing showed the following results. While watching HD video at 50% display brightness and Wi-Fi and GPS modules turned on, the device worked for 11 hours. In the case of a gaming simulation using the Epic Citadel game (Guided Tour mode), the device lasted almost 2.5 hours with 100% display brightness and Wi-Fi and GPS modules turned on. The estimated battery life according to the GFXBench benchmark is 193 minutes. To fully charge the battery, you need to spend approximately 3 hours (from the USB 2.0 connector).

Results

After a fairly detailed acquaintance and testing of the flagship smartphone LG G3 Several very important conclusions can be drawn. First, LG is rightfully considered one of the leaders in the mobile device market, as it boldly introduces advanced technologies into its new products. Secondly, LG respects its users and pays due attention to their opinions.

The very pleasant impression that was left after meeting the LG G3 smartphone at the LG G3 Day Kyiv presentation did not disappear anywhere, but only intensified several times. The colossal work of the engineers and designers of the South Korean company was not in vain. Before us is a bright representative of the new generation of mobile devices, which has absorbed all the advanced developments in the field of mobile technologies.

In addition to its elegant appearance, the LG G3 smartphone has a powerful hardware platform that will satisfy even the wildest dreams of a demanding user. The duo of Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and Qualcomm Adreno 330 graphics adapter is capable of bringing even the most demanding modern game to its knees. A high-quality 13-megapixel main camera module with a unique laser autofocus will not leave indifferent not only the amateur photographer, but will also pleasantly surprise the professional. And support for memory cards up to 128 GB will allow you to show off your filmed collection to everyone, anytime, anywhere. But the most stunning element in the new smartphone from LG is the magnificent 5.5-inch display with stunning Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels) and a record pixel density of 538 ppi. Such a screen, without a doubt, raises the quality bar to unprecedented heights.

Perhaps the only unpleasant thing about the new product is the heating of the case. But let's be honest and frank to the end. Given the stated technical characteristics and high level of performance, the temperature problem is a negligible problem for the board.

Otherwise, the flagship LG G3 smartphone can be safely recommended for purchase to all connoisseurs of uncompromising power and the latest technologies.

Advantages:

• stylish appearance;
• excellent build quality;
• excellent IPS display with a unique Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels) and a record pixel density of 538 ppi;
• excellent main 13-megapixel camera with unique autofocus, two-section dual-illumination LED flash and support for video recording in 4K Ultra HD format;
• support for microSD memory cards up to 128 GB;
• high level of productivity;
• the ability to control multimedia and household appliances;
• Availability of GPS and GLONASS modules;
• support for new generation mobile networks 4G LTE;
• the presence of NFC, IrLED, Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi with support for the 802.11 ac standard;
• Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass with high-quality oleophobic coating and anti-glare filter;
• possibility of working with thin gloves;
• Gesture recognition with front camera;
• the presence of proprietary security functions KnockON, KnockCode and KillSwitch;
• the presence of a built-in LG Health fitness tracker and Smart Notice assistant.

Flaws:

• noticeable heating of the case, especially when shooting video in 4K Ultra HD format;
• insufficient video quality in slow motion mode at 120 fps.

We express our gratitude to the Ukrainian representative office of the company LG Electronics for the smartphone provided for testing.

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