LG's outing of the G3 will go down as one of the least watertight smartphone launches in history. The rumour mill always goes into overdrive whenever a new flagship mobile is on the menu, but the sheer number of leaks on this occasion were on an entirely different level.
Regardless, LG has launched the latest device in its mobile range, amid plenty of fanfare, at an event in London. This follow-up to the G2 has some big shoes to fill. After all, the G3's highly impressive predecessor grabbed a tasty 4.5 stars (and an ITProPortal Best Buy award) in our review. In fact, the G2's only real shortcoming was that it didn't feature an expandable storage slot. Suffice to say, the G3 addresses this problem, meaning that it can be pumped up to the max.
Despite the fact that Apple's iPhone 5S has been on the market for well over half a year now, the handset is still considered one of the best in the world. Let's see how the G3 stacks up against it.
When it comes to screen size and quality, LG offers up much more than Apple. The G3's 5.5in, 534PPI display beats the 5S' 4in, 326PPI one all ends up. You might argue that the former's QHD screen is overkill, but it is undoubtedly and - crucially - noticeably sharper than the iPhone's.
The G3's bigger screen comes along with an enlarged body and additional weight. It is more than 2cm taller than the 5S, as well as over 1cm wider than Apple's flagship. This all translates to a stonking weight difference of 37g. Whether you classify the G3 as a phablet or a large smartphone, it requires a big pair of hands.
There are no real surprises when we make our way under the G3's hood. Everything is as high-end as you'd expect it to be, including the 3,000mAh battery. However, with an incredibly demanding screen to keep powered, you'd hope that it will be strong enough. The iPhone's desperately poor battery life is now infamous amongst consumers, so the G3 doesn't exactly have much to compete with on this front.
Read more: LG G3 launch as it happened
Camera-wise, The G3's specs once again dwarf those of the iPhone 5S. The 13-megapixel rear snapper, while not the most powerful we've ever seen, is more than a match for the 5S' 8-megapixel offering, and it's pretty much the same story when we come to the front-facing ones. Again, there are no big surprises in terms of connectivity and software, with the G3's inclusion of NFC the only real talking point here.
On the whole, LG's flagship's specs trump Apple's all ends up, but it's overall performance that really matters. On paper, the G3 might look like a much better device than the iPhone 5S, but the latter has a massive share of the smartphone market for good reason - it's a very balanced mobile. Stay tuned for our full review of the LG G3, which will be coming soon.
Read more LG G3 spec comparisons:
LG G3 vs Google Nexus 5: Spec comparison
LG G3 vs HTC One M8: Spec comparison
LG G3 vs Sony Xperia Z2: Spec comparison
LG G3 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Spec comparison
LG G3 | Apple iPhone 5S | |
---|---|---|
Display | ||
Screen size | 5.5in | 4in |
Resolution | 2,560 x 1,440 pixels | 1,136 x 640 pixels |
Pixel density | 534PPI | 326PPI |
Type | LCD | IPS LCD |
Processor and battery | ||
Family | Snapdragon 801 | Apple A7 |
CPU | Krait 400 | ARMv8 |
Cores | Quad-core | Dual-core |
Clock speed | 2.46GHz | 1.3GHz |
Battery | 3,000mAh | 1,560mAh |
Claimed 3G talk time | TBC | Up to 10h |
Storage and memory | ||
RAM | 2GB / 3GB | 1GB |
Internal storage | 16GB / 32GB | 16GB / 32GB / 64GB |
microSD | Yes | No |
Camera | ||
Rear | 13-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
Video | 2160@30fps / 1080@60fps | 1080@60fps |
Front | 2.1-megapixel | 1.2-megapixel |
Wireless | ||
Standard | 4G LTE | 4G LTE |
Wi-Fi | 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac | 802.11 a / b / g / n |
NFC | Yes | No |
Bluetooth | v4.0 | v4.0 |
Integrated wireless charging | Yes | No |
Dimensions | ||
Size | 146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9mm | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm |
Weight | 149g | 112g |
Operating System | Android 4.4 KitKat | iOS 7 |
Price (SIM-free) | TBC | £549 (16GB) / £629 (32GB) / £709 (64GB) |
Availability | TBC | September 2013 |