Review of the smartphone LG G5: modular flagship. LG G6 review: a practical flagship Examples of photos at night
Flagship smartphones of 2017
The review of the TOP-15 flagship models of the year is dedicated to devices from eminent, and only beginning to gain popularity, manufacturers.
As you can see from the list of devices, most of them are Chinese gadgets.
If even 10 years ago a Chinese phone was associated with a fake of a popular original or a faceless device up to 2-3 thousand rubles, today it is a high-tech and individual device that not only does not resemble popular models, but is also largely considered their killers in power and design.
In this review, you will learn about 15 models that can be safely called the best on the market that were presented in 2017.
The flagship smartphone killer of 2018, which broke in the second half of this year, is rightfully recognized as the Honor 9 phone model.
Since summer sales, this phone has received more than 80% of user approvals. The device is produced by the already famous Huawei brand.
It includes not only a stylish ceramic case with a special protective coating, but also a flagship filling, which, according to the test results, is far ahead of other devices.
Specifications
In addition, the device has 2 main cameras instead of one..
Summing up, therefore, the gadget can be concluded that the company diligently developed the device, as evidenced by a powerful processor of its own design, as well as a ceramic case and 18 layers of tempered glass.
For the price segment up to 30 thousand rubles, it is rare to find an android device that would not only look attractive and unusual, but also have powerful hardware and a high-quality camera.
Price
The flagship smartphones of 2018 are also complemented today by a brand that traces its history of mobile gadgets back to the early 2000s.
And today, Asus never ceases to amaze users with its technological innovations.
The brand went down in history as the first company that, at the beginning of the 2000s, launched a budget model of a tablet and smartphone on the market together with Acer.
As a result, after a new appearance on the market, this brand decided to continue its history of innovator and experimenter and created a model that, in addition to good performance and unusual design, has a number of innovations that you will not find in other flagship smartphones, which ensured the place of this mobile phone in the review.
Specifications
Motorola is the first flagship to use systems such as having three microphones.
Thanks to this, the conversation on the phone is very clear.
The company also decided to introduce more rear panel change systems. The body of the model is completely made of durable aluminum alloy.
However, the 1 mm thick back cover can be changed using a special mount. Model covers are also included.
Instead, there may be additional components in the form of a projector or a second battery for the device.
Such innovations significantly distinguish the model from the monitored ones.
Another Chinese flagship killer smartphone of 2018 is the Meizu model.
For many years now, the company has been presenting many interesting new products that have repeatedly become leaders in the sales market.
The latest model surprises with its innovations. So the company decided to make changes to the back panel and make it more functional for use.
Inspired by the results of Yota, Meise introduced not a monochrome, but a liquid crystal display with a touch control sensor.
Such a screen allows users to not only display notifications and scroll through tracks while listening to the playlist, but also take high-quality selfies in portrait mode.
Specifications
- Support for Android systems version 7 - x;
- Eight-core processor with a clock frequency of 1.6 to 2.4 GHz;
- Duplicated GPU;
- The amount of RAM is 4 gigabytes;
- High-quality screen from Samsung company with a diagonal of 5.2 inches;
- Safety glass;
- Active fingerprint scanner;
- Two main cameras of 12 megapixels;
- 16 megapixel front camera;
- Battery capacity 3500 mAh.
The model is available in three colors - red, black, gold. It is made from a special aluminum alloy.
Price
An interesting model that was purposefully designed to bypass such world hits as iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S7.
Therefore, the model has many external and internal similar features, which in many respects are even higher than those of the device developers themselves.
The model is attractive with its metal on the back side and ceramic on the front side of the cases.
The screen of the device is completely covered with a protective layer.
There are no active control buttons on the front panel. Instead, they are replaced by touch.
The fingerprint scanner is located on the rear panel, right below the camera.
Many users at first could not get used to such an exotic location of the reading sensor, but over time it was noted that such an arrangement was even more comfortable.
Specifications
- Protective screen 5.5 inches;
- Ten-core processor with a clock speed of 2.1 GHz per core;
- Powerful graphics accelerator;
- Support for Android systems of the latest generation;
- 64 gigabytes of own memory.
With such a serious filling in terms of performance, the model weighs only 175 grams. P
users are provided with a large color palette and many different devices and gadgets that can be easily synchronized with this model.
Price
Continuation of the stylish flagship series.
The Nova 2 is an interesting device that has more color styles and a more elaborate design compared to the previous model.
Specifications
- Housing material aluminum alloy and protective glass;
- Support for operating systems Android 7 generation and above;
- Support for all modern networks and types of communication;
- Eight-core processor with a clock frequency of cores from 1.4 to 2.3 gigahertz;
- 4 gigabytes of RAM;
- Own memory 64 gigabytes;
- Latest generation graphics accelerator;
- Screen size 5 inches;
- Special oleophobic coating;
- Front camera 8 megapixels;
- The battery capacity of the gadget is 2950 mAh.
The powerful filling of the model allows it to work in multitasking mode.
With its lightness and thinness, the smartphone can hold a battery charge up to 48 hours.
For a low price, the user gets a stylish gadget with performance for several years to come.
Price
This year, young Wileyfox decided to compete with already established companies in the mobile device market.
If a few years ago its devices could not be called flagships by any parameters, today it is not just a full-fledged modern smartphone, but a gadget with excellent performance and high quality.
Specifications
- Operating system Android 6.1;
- Eight-core processor at 1.6 GHz clock speed;
- 2 gigabytes of RAM;
- Screen diagonal 5 inches;
- Screen protector;
- Main camera 12 megapixels;
- Front camera 8 megapixels;
- Support for micro memory cards;
- Fingerprint scanner;
- Battery 2700 mAh.
Price
The Chinese flagship smartphones of 2018, which have become popular all over the world and have a large number of positive reviews, are complemented by a model from the company.
The device, especially in black, vaguely resembles the Apple iPhone 7 Plus mobile phone.
However, this is only externally, inside there are cardinal differences that are much better than the popular American brand.
Specifications
- The body is made of laminated glass;
- Installed system Android 7.1;
- Support for 2 SIM cards;
- Eight-core processor at 2.2 GHz per core;
- Built-in memory 128 gigabytes;
- RAM 6 gigabytes;
- Screen diagonal 5.5 inches;
- Front camera 8 MP;
- Rear camera 12 MP;
- Battery 3350 mAh.
The model comes in a large color palette. The elaborate design makes it attractive for both boys and girls.
Price
Recently went on sale, and the first batch sold out in just 3 minutes.
The excitement caused a new breakthrough in face identification and completely, which, in addition, does not have any keys on the front panel, even touch ones.
Specifications
- Quad-core processor with a clock frequency of 2.4 GHz;
- Own graphics processor;
- The amount of RAM is 3 gigabytes;
- Own memory up to 256 gigabytes;
- Operating system iOS 11;
- Display diagonal 5.8 inches
- Main camera 12 megapixels;
- Front camera 7 megapixels;
- Fingerprint scanner;
- Battery 2990 mAh.
Everything is perfect in this mobile phone, except for one thing - this is its price. In many technologies used in the gadget, it is ahead of its competitors by a whole year.
The facial recognition system will appear in them not earlier than in a year, and maybe longer.
Price
Unboxing the iPhone X
Distinguishes the model from all previous unusual cases and a limited series.
The device was released at the end of September and proved to be excellent on the market.
Specifications technical
- Android version 7.1;
- Display diagonal 5.5 inches;
- RAM 8GB;
- Built-in memory 128 gigabytes;
- Eight-core processor with a clock frequency of up to 2.45 gigahertz;
- Slot for 2 SIM cards;
- Main and front camera 16 megapixels;
- The battery capacity is 3300 mAh.
Although there is a slight overlap with the design of the iPhone series, the OnePlus 5 has many individual advantages.
Its high performance and excellent quality materials eliminate quite a few competitors in the flagship market.
Price
OnePlus 5 review: sound, performance, autonomy, network and camera again
LG G6
Another interesting novelty from the Korean manufacturer in 2017.
The model is made in a stylish ceramic case and has excellent technical data allowing it to be considered in this top.
Specifications
- Product materials metal frame ceramics glass;
- OS Android 7.0;
- Four core processors at 2.4 GHz per core;
- 4 gigabytes of RAM;
- 64 gigabytes of own memory;
- Slot for memory cards up to 2 terabytes;
- 13 megapixel main camera;
- 8 megapixels front camera;
- The battery capacity is 3300 mAh.
Specifications
- Housing material aluminum alloy;
- Operating system Android version 6;
- Quad core processor;
- Powerful video accelerator;
- RAM 4 gigabytes;
- Own memory 64 gigabytes;
- Screen with a diagonal of 5.15 inches;
- Rear camera 12 megapixels;
- Front camera 4 megapixels;
- Battery capacity 3200 mAh.
If you need an inexpensive and powerful phone in terms of performance, then this model will be an excellent solution for many users.
Price
Xiaomi Mi5s - 2 months of use
The South Korean company LG has always been at number two, and was in the shadow of its big competitor Samsung. But she never despaired, and moved forward step by step. This is a story about resilience, determination and unbridled ambition.
Does LG deserve the fate of an outsider? Maybe. But it is clear that the company is trying to apply the best to remove Samsung from its leading position. It achieves its goal not with brute force, but with the ingenuity that brought us devices such as the LG G2 and G4, and most recently the V10. Now, with the help of the G5, LG is cementing its position as a manufacturer of quality and unusual phones.
For example, the LG G5 is the only modular smartphone currently available for mass sale. The detachable bottom accepts a variety of accessories, such as a camera grip for more convenient photography, or a high-quality external audio device for better sound quality. The phone has other features, such as a dual camera, which is unparalleled in the market. Add to it LG's unusual "Friends" accessories - a smart spinning spherical robot and a handheld 360 0 camera, and you get another component of a colorful environment.
Ultimately, playfulness is just the icing on top that needs a solid foundation to ensure sales in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Here is a preview sample of the LG G5, which allows you to look at the foundation and get a clue how strong it is.
No plastic, metal: The G5 opens a new chapter in LG's design history. For the past three years, LG has had a clear design philosophy when it comes to its flagship lineup and devices influenced by it. This philosophy lies in the so-called rounded design, or rounded rectangles with slight curves at the top and bottom. The appearance features include the location of the power and volume keys, as well as the presence of removable back panels, starting with the G3. With the release of the G5, LG closes this page of its design history and moves on.
Most would agree that the LG G5 is different from any G-series predecessor. It's more aggressively rounded on the sides, smaller, thinner, and has volume keys on the left side. Compared to previous flagships, the model looks really unusual. The upper part of the glass on the front panel is slightly curved, thanks to which it shimmers effectively in the light. A fingerprint scanner has also appeared, combined with the power button, located under the cameras on the back of the case. In top-end devices, metal is often used as case materials. And LG, finally, joins this club and forgets even about plastic, decorated with leather, in favor of cold aluminum.
The most distinctive part of the G5 is the ability to install plug-in modules, which are ejected by pressing a button in the lower left corner. The extraction process itself is well thought out, however, there are concerns that the 2800 mAh battery can break in half when trying to remove it from the base due to the amount of effort required. This is a preliminary copy, we hope that in the end the smartphone will not have such a problem. On the other hand, it is unlikely that the user will often resort to removing and replacing modules. The G5 replaced the G4's leather shell with metal and thin chrome trim on the side faces. However, the chrome edges dig a little into the hands.
Display
Smaller display but same Quad HD resolution as previous model. LG was the first to bring QuadHD resolution to a smartphone, and fortunately it saw no reason to increase the resolution in the G5. The phone has a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, and the visual excess is now less obvious than ever before. This time around, the company opted to equip the smartphone with a slightly more compact 5.3-inch display, as opposed to the 5.5-inch screens in its last two flagships. To protect the display, LG uses a coating called 3D Arc Glass, which is supposedly manufactured in-house and not a third-party solution such as Corning's Gorilla Glass.
Having a preliminary production sample, we will refrain from scientific measurements. We hope that the screen of the commercial sample will not be so cold, and without a bluish tint. In terms of visibility, the screen is quite bright, the image is clearly visible even in direct sunlight. If necessary, the brightness is reduced to an extremely low level: this feature is especially useful for night owls.
Last but not least, the G5's IPS LCD display has an "Always-on display" feature. Thanks to her, the phone will always show the time and date, as well as any incoming notifications. However, the viewing angles at which these data are clearly visible to the eye are quite low. Visibility is also affected by the presence of light from lamps or the sun reflecting off the display. However, this is a useful feature. It remains to be hoped that it will not cause rapid battery consumption.
Interface and functionality
Finally! LG is moving away from the "rainbow" approach to the user interface and moving towards something more minimalistic.
Most expect the G5's UI to be similar to that of the G4, which recently received an update to the latest Android 6 Marshmallow. Fortunately, the shell will be different, we were never big fans of the style of older LG devices.
The G5 shows some positive changes, with fewer flashy colors and a mostly black and white theme. To be honest, after so many years of cartoony elements, it's finally good to see a more dignified, mature take on LG's user interface.
Styling is far from the only thing that has changed. For example, features such as Dual window (the ability to run two applications side by side on the screen) were removed from the G5, probably due to the smaller screen size. There's a new "Recently Uninstalled Apps" utility that gives you 24 hours to recover deleted files, while LG Health has received a visual and functional overhaul.
And finally, this is the first flagship of the G-series with an integrated fingerprint (and you can say Hallelujah!). It's mounted on the back of the power button, and works mostly reliably. No need to turn on the screen before entering the unlock code or pattern, and you can hide confidential photos and notes. On the other hand, the scanners located on the rear panel are not so convenient, given that the device is often placed on the table.
Phone
When it comes to basic phone functionality, the LG G5 sticks to the basics set by the G4. With minor visual updates, the calling app is identical to its predecessor. Unfortunately, there is no longer a special tab "Favorites", which many used.
Messages
The Messages app on the G5 is pretty basic, it's unlikely you'd want to have another. The standard composition of the application includes spam filters, ready-made quick replies, as well as the ability to schedule messages. The only addition worth mentioning are the themes available, allowing you to customize the appearance of the background, the shape and design of the elements.
Calendar
The Calendar app on the G5 is actually very functional considering it's a built-in solution from the manufacturer. In addition to the main functions - the ability to change the view on the agenda, month or week - the Event Pocket function is of particular interest.
Event Pocket connects to other apps such as Facebook and the built-in Tasks app. The feature makes it easy to add scheduled events or chores to the weekly schedule with a simple drag and drop. If the user is bored and would like to visit some establishment or place nearby, you can use the location service and get a list of nearby places that you can visit.
Processor and Memory
Previous flagships LG G3 and G4 were not equipped with the best processors. With the G5, LG is ready to start from scratch and use the quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor. Qualcomm promises that the 64-bit custom Kryo cores in the new chip are twice as powerful as the cores used in the 810. And the Adreno 530 video chip is 40% improves the performance of the graphics subsystem. Throw in 4GB of the latest generation of LPDDR4 RAM and you're all set, at least on paper.
In our experience, these numbers significantly increased the speed of the device, and had a positive impact on the overall system responsiveness to user actions. While the LG G4 is a little sluggish and has some lag, it's great to see the G5 run smoothly and perform just about everything you need at lightning speed.
The G5 continues LG's tradition of always thinking about the mainstream user, and offers storage expansion via MicroSD. The main storage capacity is 32 GB, which is pretty much enough to run a smartphone and run mobile games.
Internet and communication
USB Type-C is a double-edged sword. We love convenience but end up without a compatible charging cable.
Browsing the web on the LG G5 is handled through Google's Chrome unless an alternative browser is installed, but that's fine. We've historically been completely satisfied with Chrome's capabilities and its integration with the Chrome desktop clients for syncing, shared history, and bookmarks. In terms of performance, it feels like the G5 doesn't handle web browsing as well as expected, as some operations, like zooming, don't work very smoothly. Having a preliminary sample, we will not rush to conclusions.
The G5 has a fairly wide range of communications. Dual-band Wi-Fi, support for the new Bluetooth 4.2 standard, NFC, USB Type-C, and even an infrared blaster are in short supply these days. Keep in mind that if you plan to upgrade from an older G-series flagship, you will need a nano-SIM card.
As mentioned earlier, the G5 does not come to market alone. Its colorful entourage of separately purchased accessories includes the LG Rolling Bot, a "smart" ball with a camera and remote control, a laser and even a speaker, for entertaining pets and keeping track of them when the owner is away. Accessories such as a camera capable of capturing 360-degree panoramic photos and a virtual reality headset will soon hit the market.
Camera
The wide angle camera is actually useful! If you've ever tried the LG V10's dual front-facing cameras, you know what to expect from the LG G5's equally unfamiliar dual-camera duo. Simply put, the phone's camera software allows you to switch between two sensors with a single tap. The idea is to use two cameras for different compositions. Key features: 1/2.6" 16-megapixel camera with 1.12 micron pixels, F/1.8 wide-angle lens and optical stabilization. In addition, the user gets an additional 8-megapixel module with a very wide field of view - 135°, more than the human eye.
Why go to such difficulties? Once the G5 is in your hands, you'll understand. In short, the second sensor allows you to shoot scenes for which you would otherwise have to resort to panoramas. Being so wide, the sensor doesn't deliver perfect footage, which isn't expected to change in the final product. There was some distortion around the edges, similar to a fisheye effect, but not so severe as to make the mode hateful. In fact, we really appreciate the creative freedom afforded by a wide-angle camera, not to mention the ability to easily fit a lot more into the frame than usual.
If you're a photography buff, you might want to consider the LG CAM Plus accessory, which is a bulky (yet handy) physical insert that slots into the phone's modular bottom. It has its own 1200mAh cell, and offers physical controls and jog dials that make taking a photo or video a little easier. The front still houses the 8MP selfie camera, which is hardware identical to the G4, as is the main camera on the back.
In terms of software, the G5's camera interface is slightly different from what's offered in the G4 and V10. The iconography has been changed, resulting in an impression of simplicity. Don't judge a book by its cover, the G5 is a very capable camera phone with full manual mode. Unusual photos will add special shooting modes Snap (Vine-like video capture mode, where you can pause / start up to a minute) and Popout (a layer of the main camera frame in the upper part and a slightly transparent background from the widescreen).
The G5 supports video recording up to 4K UHD, along with slow motion and frame decomposition. There's also a range of film filters that look promising for budding videographers, but it also begs the question why LG killed off the manual video mode in the V10.
Multimedia
The LG G5's built-in gallery remains as powerful as ever. She now has a custom view that lets you sort your creations by shooting mode, so you can easily find your work if you need it. As before, the Google Photos app is used for photo editing.
As for the video player, it's now more powerful than ever, with an impressive comprehensive editing mode that lets you trim, speed up or slow down footage, or add artistic visual filters, and some pre-loaded music. Quite a serious update for the built-in application.
In terms of audio, the main audio speaker located on the bottom edge is quite powerful. It's improved, as even a fleeting listen is enough to realize that the "square" sound coming from its predecessor's speaker has been toned down.
Speaking of audio, the LG Hi-Fi Plus module is worth mentioning. Created by Bang & Olufsen, the add-on comes in a matte black shell and adds another twist to the G5. More importantly, it has its own higher quality DAC which allows the user to enjoy high quality audio through its 3.5mm jack, as long as the appropriate content is available. Almost all streaming services now offer compressed, standard quality audio that doesn't have the ability to take advantage of the DAC module.
expectations
Informed assumptions are needed to predict how well a smartphone will sell. The G5 is in line with LG's strategy, but it's not alone in its fight for customer money. Throughout MWC, and weeks later, LG is trying to highlight its ambition to make smartphones for fun and entertainment again.
How will the company do it? If you ask LG, the answer would be "Friends" accessories and two G5 add-on modules. An interesting strategy, in its essence, not seen before. And while it may seem like a smart move, the success of the G5 will still be critical to LG's fortunes in the second half of 2016.
Will there be success? Even if we had the final version, we would evade the answer. It's not the first time critics have liked a product, but the average person doesn't vote yes with their wallet. What is the result? A little tired of constant experiments from LG. Of course, one could argue that this helps move the entire industry forward, but it also suggests uncertainty, and one wonders if LG has a clear vision for its flagship line. However, as a standalone product, the G5 will no doubt be part of the top tier of the smartphone market this year. It is clear that how the main advantages of a smartphone - a dual camera and a modular design - will be met by average consumers, its fate will be decided.
A very detailed review of the Samsung Galaxy S8 (SM-G950F)
After a wave of criticism that swept the G5, LG tried to take into account all the mistakes and presented a real flagship V20. Apparently, a different team worked on the model, since in the V20 there is neither the little-needed modularity nor the "Teflon" case. And this is good. But will the V20 succeed? Under a certain set of circumstances, yes, but, most likely, he will repeat the fate of the V10, the owners of which should be listed in the Red Book. Let's figure out why.
1. Logo. I'll start with the most important complaint: well, the company logo on the front side does not look serious and at least somehow premium. The face of the letters L and G is not a place in the most prominent place. Behind - please, but the front panel should not have questionable elements. The iPhone, Meizu, HTC and even Samsung (in some markets) do without a logo on the front. What kind of complex of a small but proud company does LG have?
2. Battery. From the experience of using the LG G4, LG V10, flagships of 2016 and phones with Snapdragon 820 in particular, I can say that the 3200 mAh battery for the V20 is a real mockery. In fact, the V20 has one LCD panel, but with a cut out segment for cameras and sensors, that is, the V20 has a screen diagonal of approximately 5.9”. If we also take into account the Quad HD resolution (and the fact that this is not an AMOLED matrix), then you need to be a very big optimist, counting on more than one day of medium-active load. Most likely, the V20 will be able to provide a maximum of 3-4 hours of active screen, or even less if you use the cameras, use the Hi-Fi stuffing and play. You can object, they say, the battery is removable. Yes, it's replaceable, but until LG starts boxing an extra battery with a phone somewhere other than the Korean market, that objection won't be accepted. A few people buy a second battery separately. By the way, it is LG's commitment to removable batteries that is to blame for the low capacity of the V20 battery. Indeed, with this approach, engineers cannot accurately enter all the components, as in Tetris, using the internal volume as usefully as possible. The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, which is much smaller than the V20, has a 3,600 mAh battery, but it's deep inside the back of the display, and it certainly can't be removed without being completely disassembled.
3. Design. The LG G5 is a little less than completely terrible on the outside. Luckily, the V20 looks better, but what are those black bezels around the panel? Did the company's designers find drawings of the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 dating back to 2014? And the camera module looking at you like this: O_o? In addition, the V20 is too big to be noticed by the mainstream consumer. Objectively, among the latest flagships (Sony Xperia XZ, Samsung Galaxy Note 7, iPhone 7, Huawei P9), the V20 is the least attractive. Although, no, LeEco LeMax 2 is worse.
4. LG has a short memory. I don’t like it when companies actively promote some kind of chip, and then stupidly “hammer” it and pretend that nothing happened. Where are the volume keys on the back, which were so extremely convenient and reduced the chance of dropping the device by a few percent there? Where did the modularity needed by everyone and everyone go? What about the incredible threads in the G4 leather? It is good that the company admits mistakes and experiments, but it is bad that untenable ideas reach mass production, take away resources and time from the company. Don't put modularity in the head of some top manager at LG, you see, the G5 would turn out to be good. But the case of the G4, which has gone down in history, is really a pity. He was great. I will not be mistaken if I assume that the company will soon refuse the second screen.
LG G Flex
5. Quality. All the top LG smartphones of recent years look attractive on paper. But when it comes to actually getting to know the devices and long-term use, you suddenly run into pitfalls. LG Nexus 4 and Optimus G - overheated, cracked. LG G Flex - a screen with "warts". LG Nexus 5 - brittle case, dust under the screen and broken pixels (dust and pixels, the body cracked at the key were on my Nexus 5). LG G2 - screen marriage (I personally encountered this). The LG G3 is the world's worst QuadHD screen. LG G4 is a total defect of motherboards (judging by the reviews, the motherboards burn 10-12 months after the release, four (!!!) G4s of my friends failed). LG V10 - panel glare (I encountered it personally). LG G5 - screen glare, module backlash. What surprises the owners of the V20 encountered - time will tell. Of course, other companies also have problems, but LG phones have them suspiciously regularly.
6. Support. The company is actively updating its smartphones, but this does not bring joy. I don’t know about the V10 (I don’t know anyone, it’s an exotic device), but the G4 has the same problems with updates: crashes, heating, reduced operating time. They make it worse on purpose so that they buy new items, or what?
Samsung Galaxy Note 5, LG V10, Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
7. Liquidity and price. Flagships are now expensive and the purchase must be approached with all seriousness. LG phones are rapidly falling in price and are not easy to sell on the secondary market for an adequate price. Most likely, the V20 in Russia will cost 60 thousand rubles, and you are unlikely to sell it a month after the purchase for more than 35 thousand (in perfect condition, of course). If you want to change the V20 in a year, then don't expect to get more than a third of the price for it.
Despite the above, the LG V20 is one of the coolest smartphones on the market. It has an original design (not “wow”, but without secondary), excellent hardware (4 GB RAM, 64 GB ROM, Snapdragon 820), high-quality cameras (16 MP + 8 MP, manual mode for photos and videos), the latest Android platform Nougat with improved UX 5.0+ interface, advanced audio component (ESS SABER ES9218, Quad Hi-Fi Audio, B&O Play). I am sure that V20 users will not be disappointed, but there will be few of them, because for comparable money, most will prefer Samsung Galaxy Note 7/S7 edge, Apple iPhone 7/7 Plus or daring Chinese new Xiaomi Mi Note 2 and Meizu Pro 6S at a lower price. price.
How do you like the LG V20? Have you used LG flagships? What advantages and disadvantages do you see in the company's phones?
Specifications
- Platform: Android 7.1 with LG UX 6.0+
- Network: GSM, WCDMA, FDD-LTE (B1, B3, B7, B8, B20 and B38)
- Display: 6 inches, resolution 2880x1440 pixels, 538 ppi, HDR 10, OLED FullVision matrix, Always On Display function
- Camera: dual 16 MP f=1.6 + 13 MP (f=1.9, 120 degree FOV), OIS, dual LED flash
- Front camera: 5 MP, f=2.2, viewing angle 90 degrees
- Processor: 8 cores, 10 nm, 64 bits, up to 2.45 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
- Graphics Chip: Adreno 540
- RAM: 4GB LPDDR4X
- Internal memory: 128 GB
- Memory card: up to 2 TB
- Satellite systems: GPS and GLONASS
- Communications: Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), dual band, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, USB Type-C 3.1, 3.5mm audio jack
- Optional: NFC, IP68 and MIL-STD-810G security, fingerprint scanner
- Sound: ESS SABER ES9218P, Quad Hi-Fi Audio, B&O Play
- Battery: 3300 mAh, Quick Charge 3.0, wireless charging
- Dimensions: 151.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm
- Weight: 158g
Contents of delivery
- Smartphone
- Bang&Olufsen wired stereo headset
- Network adapter
- USB cable
- Instruction
- Warranty card
Introduction
At the end of August, we published a very detailed article about the announcement of the LG V30. In it, we not only considered the positioning of the model, but also talked about all the key features of the device.
In short, LG sees the V30+ as a device capable of shooting the coolest videos, creating cool night shots thanks to the maximum open aperture (among mobile gadgets), delighting the user with a bright and contrasting POLED screen, and also providing a wide range of musical possibilities thanks to the built-in DAC and supported by Bang&Olufsen.
The official answer regarding the introduction of the V30+ model in our market instead of the regular V30 version: The V30+ differs from the V30 in the increased memory capacity of 128 GB. We studied the needs of Russian users and, based on the data received, made this decision. Sales of LG V30 are not planned.
Until December 4, LG had an original promotion: when you buy a V30+ smartphone, you also get a 32-inch TV as a gift. Especially smart ones, I think, were able to guess how to save money on buying a V30 +? :)
At the moment, LG V30 + costs 59,990 rubles.
Appearance
Over the past few years, it has become much easier to describe the appearance of smartphones: as a rule, if we are talking about flagships, then this is a large flat glass-metal device with a screen in the entire front panel and approximately the same back side. Each manufacturer looks at the "construction site" to another vendor: someone copies, someone frankly steals, and someone simply clones a device that is successful on the market and sells it just as successfully. And this is by no means a stagnant phenomenon: look at modern TVs - they differ from each other only in the logo. The situation will be similar with smartphones. Hmmm, something gloomy, I wrapped my thought. In fact, there is nothing wrong with this situation: it will be easier for the consumer to make a choice.
The novelty received IP68 protection and military certification MIL-STD-810. Given the compact dimensions of 151.7x75.4x7.3 mm and light weight - 153 grams - commendable! Now it will be difficult to drown the device in water (or in another liquid), bury it in sand or mud with consequences, and it will be much more difficult to break it. I remember how at the presentation of the LG G6, gadgets were deliberately thrown on the floor as a demonstration of their impact-resistant properties. Let me remind you that the G6 also has MIL-STD-810.
As for the ease of use, there are no questions at all: thin, narrow, light, it is a pleasure to use. Nuance: since the glass is on both sides, the V30 + seemed slippery to me. By the way, the glass here is from Corning, the fifth generation. Metal frame, sloping shape.
There is an oleophobic coating on the front side, but on the back it is either not there or it is of poor quality, since the prints cover the entire surface abundantly.
In Russia, 3 colors are available: black, blue and purple. However, you can buy at this point in black or blue.
Despite the thin bezels at the top and bottom, the speech speaker remained in its original place - top in the center. The volume is high, the timbre is pleasant, even low frequencies are heard, I did not “observe” extraneous sounds. Excellent speaker at the level of Samsung Galaxy S8 and Apple iPhone 8 Plus. There are light and proximity sensors. There are questions about the light sensor: it did not always correctly adjust the brightness of the matrix, and the brightness itself decreased or increased in jerks, that is, not smoothly. It was especially noticeable when moving from a bright room to a dark one.
At the bottom there is a microphone, a USB Type-C connector (version 3.1) and 5 holes, behind which there is a speakerphone. Above is another microphone and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. For some reason, they did not abandon the standard mini-jack in favor of the only fashionable USB-C.
On the right side there is a combined plastic sled for SIM + SIM or SIM + microSD with a rubberized insert. On the left are separate volume buttons. But the round power button traditionally remained on the back surface. The solution, in my subjective opinion, is not the best: very often, putting the phone in my pocket, I accidentally touched the fingerprint scanner (it is built into the power button), and the gadget was unlocked in my pocket.
The fingerprint sensor works perfectly: high recognition speed, almost no delay, in fact, you can put your finger in the way that is convenient for you.
On the reverse side there is a module with a dual camera, a flash, a laser focusing system, the Bang & Olufsen logo.
In general, it seems to me that the LG V30 + turned out to be extremely successful in terms of materials, strength, build quality and ergonomic design. But I would move the power button to the right side.
Display
Model LG V30 + is equipped with a screen diagonal of which is 6 inches exactly. The bezels on the left and right are about 3.5 mm, on the top - 7.5 mm, and on the bottom - about 6 mm. That is, the design can rightfully be called FullVision: the aspect ratio is 18:9, the usable area is 81.2%.
The new POLED screen matrix, high resolution - QHD + (2880x1440 pixels), density - 538 ppi. Below you can see the Pentile structure.
White brightness - 430 cd / m2, a typical standard value for most flagship matrices.
Matrix Options in Normal Colors Mode
Matrix Options in Photo Color Mode
Matrix Options in Online Color Mode
The difference between the first and second modes is minimal, at least, it is difficult to distinguish by eye. But the Internet mode is close to the sRGB triangle. The main disadvantage of this matrix is that all colors fade into a blue-green hue at small tilt angles of the phone.
In the settings, you can set the screen resolution to 1440x720, 2160x1080 and 2880x1440 pixels. At low resolutions, the picture deteriorates noticeably, but at medium values, in general, everything is fine. Thus, you can avoid any slowdowns (although there are none) and save a little battery life.
There is a mode "Comfortable viewing". It adjusts the blue filter or you can switch all colors to b/w. Double tap activates the screen.
One of the important options is Always-on display. It configures the content on the lock screen (including setting its own picture), the display time on AOD. Since the phone has an AOD feature, the V30+ doesn't need a notification indicator as all notifications appear on the lock screen.
To unlock, you can choose several options: key, numbers, fingerprint scanner, voice and even face. I chose everything to make my life easier: it’s dark - I said a phrase, it’s uncomfortable to touch the scanner - I showed my face, and so on.
The face is recognized relatively quickly (but you need to hold the phone evenly in front of you), the voice is recognized with a delay of a second, the finger scanner is instant.
Forgot to mention HDR10 support.
Battery
Judging only by the battery capacity, the LG V30+ smartphone is not equipped with the most capacious battery - 3300 mAh. However, testing has proven that it is not only about capacity, but also about optimizing the system.
At automatic brightness, the V30+ can easily work up to 30 hours with an average screen glow time of 5 hours. If the gadget is not heavily loaded, then you can squeeze out up to 7 hours of the screen. The most active load in the 4G network will land the battery by 12 at night.
The smartphone supports fast charging (QC 3.0): in about 30 minutes - 50% charge. In addition, there is wireless charging.
Communication options
The LG V30+ model uses two slots for SIM cards: a combo slot, that is, either two nano-sized SIMs, or a SIM and a microSD memory card. Simcards work in LTE 4G CAT 16 networks (B1, B3, B7, B8, B20 and B38). In addition, there are VoWi-Fi and VoLTE.
Of course, NFC technology has not disappeared anywhere: paying for purchases in stores and crediting money to a Troika card. The chip is installed somewhere near the fingerprint scanner, so I had to put the whole phone to the reader. For example, in the Apple iPhone 8 Plus, this technology works at a distance of almost 50 mm.
The Wi-Fi network operates at frequencies of 2.5/5 GHz (a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth has version 5.0 (A2DP, LE, AptX HD).
Available GPS and GLONASS. The device detects satellites even indoors: in open space up to 25 satellites with an accuracy of 3 meters. There are no questions about the quality of the connection.
Memory
Surprisingly, one of LG's most sophisticated devices only uses 4 GB of LPDDR4x RAM. Of course, many will say that even 4 is enough for the eyes, but in front of you is a device that should be the best in everything. Therefore, 6 GB of RAM in the LG V30 + would not hurt. RAM speed - 7000 MB / s. For example, in Pixel 2 - 7400 MB / s.
Built-in memory 128 GB, in fact, because the smartphone has a “+” index. The read speed is 580MB/s and the write speed is 220MB/s. Again, the Pixel 2 hits 740/210 MB/s.
microSD cards are supported up to 2TB.
cameras
What Android flagship does without two cameras? Hmm, HTC U11+… Wrong example :) In general, everything is as it should be in LG: a front camera, two main modules - a regular one and a wide one. And now in more detail.
5 MP selfie camera (Hynix HI553, like on UMI Touch), f/2.2 aperture, 90-degree field of view. In addition to being wide-angle, it is otherwise ordinary. I think they simply could not put a large module, given the thin frames. At night it shoots primitively, during the day it’s not bad, but it feels like there is a little lack of detail. Video shoots FullHD at a constant 30 fps.
The main module on the back side is 16 MP (Sony EMX351, sensor size 1/3 ") with the widest aperture among mobile devices today - f / 1.6. Moreover, the lens consists of glass lenses (marketing name CrystalClear) Viewing angle - 71 degrees The module is equipped with a three-axis optical stabilization, which works, but I can not say that it is very active.
Fast optics and OIS can work wonders at 1/10 shutter speeds, since the ISO value in many situations did not exceed 500. The device can shoot more or less normal shots even in complete darkness. The LG V30+ smartphone is not about “noise”: almost all frames are “clean” and devoid of even obvious artifacts.
The white balance is often naughty, so don't be surprised if the pictures are with a yellowish tinge.
In general, I was happy with the LG V30 + camera until I compared the photos with the Apple iPhone 8 Plus. It turned out that the latter, although more “noisy”, retains more details in the photograph. In addition, Apple has better sharpness at the corners of the frames. And one more thing: Apple focuses faster in difficult lighting conditions.
Apple iPhone 8 Plus / LG V30+
I would like to emphasize that I am not a fan of the Apple brand (I hope you remember the experience of operating the iMac 27""5K) and I am extremely objective in testing cameras.
I did not compare the second modules, because they have a different meaning: in the iPhone - an increase, in the V30 - a wide angle.
The secondary camera of the LG V30+ has a resolution of 13 MP (Samsung S5K3M3, sensor size 1/2.9", used in Xiaomi Mi6, Meizu Pro 6/6 Plus), f/1.9 optics and a 120-degree field of view. In the LG G6, this camera was much simpler in terms of detail and lens aperture, I liked the wide angle of the V30+: a huge field of view, bright shots, sharp shots with almost no noise.
In general, the camera settings have migrated from the LG G6: manual video and photo settings, various collages, slow motion, time lapse, and so on.
I liked the Cine Video setting - these are ready-made color settings. Point Zoom is present in this mode: select the area that you are going to zoom in, and then gradually zoom in or out with the slider, approximately the same as in video cameras.
The sound is cool, recorded in AAC 48 kHz 156 Kbps. Again, in the manual settings, you can choose the recording options.
Total for the LG V30+ camera. The smartphone shoots with dignity, there is progress not only in the main camera, but also in the additional one (however, judging by the sensors, they are not the newest and top ones). The quality of the pictures is approximately at the level of other flagships, then looking at the pixels and making a subtle comparison. The front camera is normal. The video is good, the sound is great.
Sample photos during the day
Examples of photos at night
Photo Examples - Low Light
Selfie
- Sample Video (Low Light) (MP4, 123MB) >>>
Performance
Describing the power of modern flagship devices is almost meaningless: all this performance has not played any role for a long time, the main thing is optimization, because without it it doesn’t matter if you use Snapdragon 835 or you have Snapdragon 821. Cool processors currently work on screen resolution, then there is to pull the picture in 4K or so. The situation is approximately the same in the gaming industry: almost integrated graphics are enough to display a FullHD picture, but for 4K you need some kind of 1080 “geforcesin”, and preferably in SLI. Moreover, I don't see cool toys on Android. And they don’t come out, because most of them have different kinds of Xiaomi Redmi 4A, which do not pull 3D graphics. There is no point in trying for the sake of a small percentage of Snapdragon 835 owners. Therefore, we see the dominance of indie toys and "runners" that do not require large computing power. To some extent, in the Android environment, I would call it all a “stagnation period”.
LG's new product runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. It does not heat up under load, even when charging. As I said, this speed is enough for everything. Still, there is no faster chip yet. The Antutu V30+ scores almost 160,000 points.
Operating system
I plan to write a review of the LG UX, so here it is in a nutshell. The smartphone operates on Google Android version 7.1.2. In fact, I would like to see Android 8 already. Compared to the previous version of the shell, almost nothing has changed, but there are even more settings. I can’t call the shell “airy”, after all, something is missing or, on the contrary, there is something superfluous.
Multimedia
Many scold Apple for the fact that they created the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus in the same design and with the same dimensions. However, the large bezels at the top and bottom made it possible to put high-quality speakers in the 7/8 Plus, which are difficult to compare with speakers in other Android gadgets. There is only one speaker in LG V30+, it is located at the bottom. The volume is slightly above average, the sound is flat, which makes me very sad, especially when using the Apple iPhone 8 Plus, which produces a very loud, clear and bass sound. However, LG supporters may say that the V30 is significantly smaller and lighter, and they will be right.
Inside the LG V30+ is an ES9218 Saber digital-to-analog converter. Small excerpt:
“Like its predecessor, the LG V30 is equipped with ESS Technology's SABER ES9218P 32-bit Advanced Hi-Fi Quad DAC (DAC) (LG V20 featured ES9218 chip) from ESS Technology, offering two new features - digital filters and audio presets. While the original Hi-Fi Quad DAC emphasized delivering Hi-Fi sound as close to the original source as possible with minimal distortion and white noise, the improved Hi-Fi Quad DAC offers more flexible parameter settings.
The LG V30 allows you to adjust the impulse responses of digital filters and/or use one of four audio response presets. At the same time, the Hi-Fi Quad DAC controls the sound settings for each audio channel separately, adjusting the balance so that listeners feel like they are in the center of the concert hall. LG claims that its engineers in the new smartphone managed to reduce the level of distortion to 0.0002 percent.
In addition, the LG V30 has support for MQA technology with its codecs, acts as an HD audio recorder with the ability to record high-quality recording from the built-in microphone, and completes the touch with a smartphone package that will include B&O PLAY headphones.
Well, now to the point. No matter how praised the bundled headphones, they still sound mediocre. Personally, I did not have enough low frequencies, high frequencies were lost somewhere. However, it’s worth starting with the fact that there is a Hi-Fi Quad DAC switch in the sound settings.
It selects the volume, sound preset, digital filter and balance of the left and right channels. The "Digital Filter" parameter, as it seemed to me, does not play any role. Presets are equalizer presets, and some strange ones.
Directly in the player there are effects (again, ready-made sound settings) and an equalizer. And here I was in for a complete disappointment: LG put a fancy DAC, but came up with only a 5-band equalizer from 60 Hz to 14 kHz. In such a device there should be a 10-band from 30 Hz to 20 kHz!
Frankly, it is quite difficult to evaluate the sound quality of music: a lot depends not only on hearing, but also on headphones. At the time of writing the review, I did not have cool “ears”, therefore, alas, I could not appreciate the sound of the V30 +. However, work is already underway in this direction :)
Conclusion
If you ask me: Roman, did you like the LG V30+ smartphone? , then I will answer that LG has not yet had anything cooler than this device, so I liked the gadget in almost all respects. The only, but not the most terrible drawback is the screen matrix. It turns a little green at a certain slope. A similar display is said to be on the Pixel 2 XL.
The case and materials do not raise questions: the smartphone is thin, light, made of glass and metal, protected by IP68, and even has the military standard MIL-STD810. The cameras are excellent and are no worse than similar solutions for their money. With the sound of LG also worked.
One could still list the positive points, but in the price range of 50,000 - 60,000 rubles - this should be the norm: high screen resolution, powerful processor, memory, and so on.
The main competitors are Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Apple iPhone 8 Plus. If it doesn't bother you that the S8 Plus has one camera, then you can take a closer look at it; two cameras are required - Note 8; looking for new sensations - iPhone 8 Plus. Not ready to give a lot of money, but if you want an analogue of the V30 + - look for the LG G6, which can be bought for 30,000 rubles cheaper, and from PCT devices.
At the moment, the V30+ costs 60,000 rubles (there was a gift in the form of a TV in the pre-order). I am sure that at the end of January the smartphone will fall in price by 10,000 rubles, that is, it will cost you 50,000 rubles (not RRP). After the announcement of the start of sales of the Galaxy S9, the price of the V30 + will drop by another 5,000 - 7,000 rubles. In total, in April-May, LG V30 + can be released at a price of 35,000 - 37,000 rubles. And there, you see, the LG G7 will appear :)
In the model range of any manufacturer, a special place belongs to flagships - devices that combine all the best that a particular company can offer. We've put together a selection of the top flagships for early 2018 for you, featuring some of the coolest and most uncompromising smartphones on the market.
New flagships of 2018
Samsung - Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus
Few releases have made as much noise lately as the Galaxy S8 from the Koreans at Samsung. Everyone was waiting for this flagship, as the public understood that the company would need to present something non-standard and 100% successful in order to redeem itself for the failure with Note 7. And the expectations were justified.
S8 came out in two versions - standard and Plus, they differ in screen size: 5.8 and 6.2 inches, respectively, as well as battery capacity. And it is the screen that is the main trump card of the smartphone, the “infinite” SuperAMOLED display with Quad HD + resolution occupies almost the entire front of the S8, and it looks very cool.
Other characteristics do not fail either: on board the S8 there is a top-end Exynos 8895 processor, 64/4 GB of memory with support for cards up to 256 GB, 12/8 (f/1.7) MP cameras and a 3000/3500 mAh battery (depending on modifications). Overall, the S8 is superior to any other flagship on the market - this is truly the best smartphone you can buy right now.
Samsung Galaxy S8
LG G6
The LG G6 is made in the same concept as the S8, outwardly these smartphones are even a little similar. The flagship of LG was presented earlier, it was he who became the first device on the market with a display ratio of 18:9.
