LG G4: Be careful while fingering this leather-clad smartie pants

Nice LG advert...........

I assume you added a synthetic benchmark to draw in the idiots - I wonder how many who care about the results will notice that you didn't include the S6 results..........

After having a Nexus 4 since launch I bought an LG G4 after thinking hard about the SG6, the M9 and the Z4.

I am really thrilled with the G4. The screen is amazing and the camera stunning. The author didn't mention one of the key points about it having a fully manual mode for shots - ISO, Shutter speed, EV, White Balance, 9 point auto focus or full semi-auto focus or complete manual focus. The opportunities for creating really high quality shots even in challenging conditions is great (combined with F1.8 Apeture!). The optical image stabiliser works superb and the slow mo video is good quality to.

Also charging speed after having a nexus 4 was an eye opener even with the standard charger (haven't tried the quick charge 2 charger yet).

I was anxious about the size after a Nexus 4 but it doesn't feel significantly bigger, in fact in many ways it feels smaller. I also like stock android and this doesn't dilute it too much - it's definitely plenty fast enough. Also compared to the Nexus 4 the GPS and compass are much more accurate - side by side in the car it was quicker to lock and remained much more stable. Even streaming radio on my journey in it didn't drop out once whereas the Nexus 4 had 3 blind spots on the same journey so the radios seem to be much better (LTE is non-existent around here so it wasn't for any lack of that on the Nexus).

The lack of water resistance/water proofing is a shame as I use a phone a lot in difficult conditions so I'm looking for a suitable case and the lack of a fingerprint sensor is a small omission. However these are nice to haves.

Another point that I hadn't seen mentioned, my G4 bought outright from an independent was a brown leather one but came in the standard pack with nice subtle gold back included as well and also came with some pretty reasonable headphones.

I might have some 'purchase justification bias' but I generally don't get too excited by phones as I deal with lots of different ones at work, however so far I am not displeased with this.

For a review from a real photographer see here: http://www.colbybrownphotography.com/gear-review-a-photographers-take-on-the-lg-g4/

"Samsung has walked off with all the only profits being made... "

Even if this phrase is not plain wrong, it sure is unsightly.

RTFM Mr Reviewer

"I found having a Samsung S6 massively more convenient, not just because of the fingerprint unlocking but because of the venerable main button. Double-click that button and the camera is ready in a second or two. And while you can turn the G4 display on and off with a double knock, taking pictures always took much longer."

Doh! RTFM next time i.e. Double tap the volume down button and it takes a picture in under 2 seconds from lock.

I upgraded from my Galaxy S4 (which I liked but had rubbish build quality) to the LG G3 and really like it. The only real problem I have with it is occasional lag in the LG UI and an annoying problem where it occasionally just plain forgets your settings. If LG have indeed improved their UI software then the G4 may well be my next upgrade!

Function Before Form

I could care less how it looks. Until any high end smartphone can survive a few falls to the floor, down the stairs, etc., I am going to slap it in an Otter case.

Samsung made a mistake taking away the SD card and removable battery. Apple must have been delighted with the S6.

My Galaxy S3 shows no sign of flagging. It is hard to foresee any reason to trade up in the next few years. Unless Samsung kill it with lack of support/updates.

sub head

Removable battery, micro SD expansion? Walk this way...

"If I could walk that way..."

The leather cow-hide clad one

Does it play moovies and moosic?

oh, by the way

can you, like, use it as a phone too?

Thin?

How much does that matter nowadays? Most people take that thin phone and stick it in an otter box and it's the size of a paperback.

Location -> settings

> I found it impossible to tell the phone that it was in my home location. So the feature went untested.

If anyone is interested in location-based settings for an Android phone, see whether Llama [play.google.com] fits the bill. It determines location based on cell tower IDs; you have to teach it which towers belong in which zones. The process of teaching location, and fixing the settings for different times and zones is a bit fiddly, but I've found the app to be quite efficient.

When are phone manufacturers going to realise that the choices we should be offered are far more fundamental than just the specs of the hardware? What about a choice of OS? I'd love to buy a Samsung device, so long as it doesn't have Android. I'm never buying an Android phone no matter how good the hardware is, just like I wouldn't put a nest of vipers down my pants.

>> Samsung has made its best phone in years

No it hasn't.

>> – the Galaxy S6 has a sealed battery and no expandable storage.

Yeah thats exactly the reason why it isn't even close to its best phone. I'd much rather have my old S3 just because it has those things.