Never a month passes when we don't see a new smartphone getting launched. However, there aren't really that many devices that manage to generate a big buzz before launch. And even fewer devices there are whose launch events too become something of a sensation.
Recently (on 19th June) LG's latest flagship device was launched by none other than the legend Mr. Amithabh Bachchan himself. And that is enough to give an idea about the sensation that the launch event must have created.
A device that is launched by the great Mr. Bachchan himself must be something special, one feels. So let's try and see what makes LG G4 special:
Specifications:A device can't boast of being a flagship device of a big brand like LG unless it packs in itself some really impressive specifications. It is another matter, however, that what's top-of-the-line today becomes a average tomorrow. And these days, we are seeing many cheaper devices offering impressive specifications as well.
Anyway, LG G4 packs in its slim frame the power-packed punch of Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 Processor with X10 LTE chipset, 3GB LPDDR3 RAM, 32 GB internal storage (expandable with microSD card), 3,000mAh (removable) battery, Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system and a 16 M front and 8 MP rear camera.
As per LG, G4's 5.5-inch IPS Quantum Display is capable of producing 20 percent greater color reproduction, 25% better brightness and 50% greater contrast. LG also claims that the battery of G4 lasts 20% longer than the battery of G3.
Back Covers:There are by now many images of LG G4 floating around on the internet. And on most of them, you can see a very premium looking leather back. These leather back covers are primarily what make G4 Look different from its very impressive predecessor G3. The leather back decidedly looks good and is made up of genuine, hand-crafted full grain leather processed through age-old vegetable tanning process. This genuine leather back is available in three colour variants brown, black and red.
Now, I have two hesitations with this leather back. One, I don't support leather products and do not really like the idea of a phone decked in the skin of a dead animal. But that's just my view and many, I know, are fond of leather products. Well, my second hesitation is about how well would this leather back respond to the common scrubs and scratches that result from normal every day use.
Anyway, if you really like this leather back look, it costs only a little extra than the other variant of G4, the one that has a ceramic like back made of plastic. These plastic back cover variants are available in white, Grey and Gold colour options. ( You can see more product images here)
Slim and curved:
LG G4 is a big screen device. It has a big 5.5 inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display with 2560 x 1440, 538ppi resolution which makes it a phablet device. And yet, the device is so designed that it is comfortable to hold and use with one hand. It measures 148.9 x 76.1 x 6.3 - 9.8 mm and weighs 155g. It has a Slim Arc design. That is, it has a gentle curve that makes it more comfortable to hold or put in a pocket. The curve is very slight and not as noticeable as of devices. But LG claims that this slight curves gives to G4 20% better durability in case of face-down falls than conventional flat smartphones.
Rear Key:Another main design element of LG G4 is the Rear Key feature. We first saw this Rear Key feature in LG's G2. Since then, all of LG's flagship devices have this feature that places the Volume Rocker at the back of the device and makes them more multi-functional. The Rear Keys and their features in G4 show some improvements when compared to the older LG devices. Some users might find the Rear Key design more convenient than the conventional side keys. Other may find them harder to use. But these Rear Keys do have one advantage. They allow the device to have smooth sides.
Camera:Camera is one of the highlights of LG G4. G4 has 16 MP rear and 8 MP front camera. The camera of G4 features a wide F1.8 aperture lens that allows 80 percent more light to reach the sensor. The OIS 2.0 technology promises enhanced image stabilization. The camera is also complemented by the Color Spectrum Sensor (CSS) which helps in improving the color accuracy of the photos by better reading of the RGB values of the surrounding light.
For more expert photographers, G4 also has a Manual Mode that allows greater control over the focus, shutter speed, exposure and ISO etc. for better fine tuning of the photo shots.
To add to the convenience of taking selfies using G4's 8MP front facing camera, users can take advantage of Gesture Commands. The Gesture Interval Shot feature clicks photos spaced two seconds apart to increase the chance of capturing the perfect shot. One just needs to open and close one's hand twice in front of the camera and that activates the camera of the phone.
Features: Any flagship device is bound to have some interesting and useful features. Some of the features that G4 has include Quick Shot. Using Quick Shot, one can switch on the camera by double pressing the volume rocker even when the phone's screen is off. This, however, is no longer a new feature and several other and much cheaper smartphones have it too. The Gallery app has been improved and made faster. There's a Smart Notice feature that provides personalized and timely notifications of weather, travel etc.
Considering all this, LG G4 definitely looks like an impressive device. And considering the specifications of G4, its good performance seems assured. Its camera is already winning many praises. However, other than its leather back look, I didn't find anything too striking and out of the box in it. It is much like G3, which is not a bad thing though. G3 has proved its worth and won many accolades. But the thing is, now that many cheaper devices too are offering high specifications and excellent features, the high-end and flagship devices will have to try harder to impress.
Important Specifications of LG G4:- Size: 148.9 x 76.1 x 6.3 - 9.8 mm
- Weight: 155g
- Display: 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440, 538ppi)
- Chipset: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 Processor with X10 LTE
- Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
- RAM: 3GB LPDDR3 RAM
- Storage: 32GB eMMC ROM / microSD slot
- Battery: 3,000mAh (removable)
- Camera: Rear 16MP with F1.8 Aperture / Front 8MP with F2.0 Aperture
- Network: 4G / LTE / HSPA+ 21 Mbps (3G)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.1LE / NFC / USB 2.0
- Colors: [Ceramic] Metallic Gray / Ceramic White / Shiny Gold / [Genuine Leather] Black / Brown / Red / Sky Blue / Beige / Yellow
- Price: Rs. 51,000/
For more information, you can check out G4 on LG's website
