LG officially launched its 2016 flagship, the G5, in India yesterday, and we were at the launch event. Priced at 52,990 INR, the G5 is not trying to compete on pricing. LG claims this device is packed with innovation and design, in addition to significant improvements to its previously criticized thick and heavy software. We had the opportunity to play with the device for close to an hour and are happy to share our initial impressions of the G5.
The Look and Feel
When it comes to design, LG has shown that it can be bold, more so by moving the volume rockers and power button to the back of the phone, breaking conventions. While not everyone was a fan of this design choice, many accepted it due to the other exceptional features offered by LG’s flagship devices. With the G5, LG continues to make bold moves, which we’ll explore as we discuss the design language.
The LG G5 has a somewhat awkward look, especially when you look at the back of the phone with the camera duo and fingerprint scanner.
Bold move #1 is moving the volume and power rockers to the sides to declutter the back, a change we greatly appreciate. When you see the phone in person, some of its awkwardness diminishes.
Bold move #2 involves curving the edges, departing from the iconic sharp edges of the G4, which gave it a stunning look with its leather backs. The screen’s edges are curved as if the glass and the unibody metal have melded into each other.
This leads us to bold move #3: the screen is now 5.3 inches instead of 5.5 inches, a rare occurrence to see a successor with a smaller screen size. However, the screen does not disappoint, offering an IPS QHD display with a good number of pixels.
The “Always On” feature, similar to what we’ve seen in the Galaxy S7 series, is simpler on the G5. LG claims it uses less than 5% battery per 24 hours and turns off when in a pocket or bag, making it a useful feature.
The G5 feels comfortable in the hand and is easily usable with one hand. However, it lacks the premium feel that one often expects with flagship phones. Unlike the LG G4, which had a metal frame and a leather back, the G5 opts for a unibody metal design with a matte finish. While this design may not appeal to everyone, those who understand the reasons behind it will appreciate LG’s approach.
Hardware goes powerful and the Software goes light
The G5 comes with the latest hardware, including the Snapdragon 820 SoC and 4GB of RAM, with 32GB of internal memory and expandable storage via a microSD slot. An Adreno 530 GPU ensures the processor has the power it needs for heavy tasks. The battery, however, is a slight downgrade at 2800mAh compared to last year’s G4, but Quick Charge 3.0 can take the phone from 0-80% in just 35 minutes. Unfortunately, like the Nexus 6P, there is no option for wireless charging.
LG’s UI has often been criticized for being sluggish due to numerous customizations and options. However, LG has significantly improved the UI by streamlining the Toggle menu but the Settings menu still retains the old tabbed structure. Bold move #4 involves removing the app drawer, although there is a way to enable it via settings. This is a bold step, as many users prefer having an app drawer.
Overall, during our time playing with the G5, we found it to be much smoother than the G2 and G4. While it’s too early to judge how the software will perform over time, our initial impressions are positive.
A Nerdy looking camera delivers delight
The G5 features a 16MP camera and an 8MP wide-angle camera with laser autofocus and dual-tone LED flash. The camera interface is rich in features, with an enhanced manual mode. The camera app launches faster compared to the G4, and the processing time, especially in indoor and low-light conditions, is significantly improved. The two cameras work together to intelligently combine their individual views into a single picture based on the contents of the frame and shooting conditions. However, compared to the S7 Edge, the G5 falls short in focusing speed and video capture.
The 8MP front camera does a decent job as well.
A Step into Modularity
Bold move #5 – LG takes a bold step with a modular design, allowing users to easily swap out the battery by pulling the bottom portion of the phone. Additionally, LG offers an LG Cam Plus module that provides an additional 1800mAh battery and physical camera controls for a more professional shooting experience. LG also introduces other add-ons, such as a 360-degree camera, for use with the G5. While these moves may seem trivial, they represent significant innovation for a flagship device.
Initial Impressions
Our initial impression of the G5 is positive. It offers a unique design with several bold moves that set it apart from the competition. However, its unconventional design may appeal to a niche crowd, which could be a risk for LG. Perhaps the LG G6 next year may bring more modular options, but for now, it will be a tough task for the G5, which lacks the sleek looks of the Samsung S7 and HTC devices.
The G5’s camera performance with wide-angle support is impressive, and the software improvements are noticeable. The question is whether the G5 at 52,990 INR can compete with devices like the Samsung Galaxy S7 or upcoming phones like the OnePlus 3 and HTC 10 remains to be seen.
Overall, the LG G5 is a compelling offering from LG, and we look forward to spending more time with it for a detailed review.
