I don't really see the major upgrade compared to the G4, a lot of the specs are similar (3 GB of RAM, 32 GB internal storage, etc). It's a nice refresh, but only reviews will tell whether it can entice G4 owners to upgrade. If the Snapdragon 820 hits it out of the park, maybe. If it's only a minor bump, better off waiting till the G6 comes out.
This is just tragic, they go way bulky and way ugly and they create a dumb proprietary slot, then go on and not really use it. A camera grip , really? You can make a case that is far more useful and not require that slot, same for the DAC and the other 48 ideas they never thought about yet. If you are gonna make a proprietary connector and a huge one like this, you better have a good reason to do so. they just got lost somewhere in the coolness of the idea and did nothing, nothing at all with it, besides the ability to swap the small battery. The accessories are mostly positives but ,when you ruin the main device, what's the point. Smaller screen than the G3 but taller device, that''s where 2 years of technological evolution got them to. 1440p flat, 4GB of RAM and the same SoC as everybody else won't get anyone excited. The ugliest flagship they have designed in a long time- not a plus either. Lets make it bulky, ugly , small battery and underspecced at crazy prices....
To be fair, the G4 was the least expensive flagship last year. But yeah, the G5 is u-g-l-y and has no alibi. I would criticize it for other points. Smaller battery, slow updates, and no monthly android security patches. LG was one of the only manufacturers that would not commit to security updates.
The device seems to be *capable* of many new features, but it seems like anyone wanting the better camera, etc will have to pay extra for it. Will there be special promotions to have one of these neat addons via mail in promotion like the g4? Or will they just be giving away batteries like the g4?
The main reason I won't be even looking at the G5 is that the G4 at launch was a software disaster, with the device not registering taps, locking up, etc. And that doesn't even include the recall for faulty motherboards (google it - sprint pulled all of their g4 stock shortly after release because of it). I like the g4 now, but it shouldn't have taken so long to have a stable device. I'm never getting an LG device again. Hopefully another manufacturer will get it right.
100% ACK regarding the software disaster. I got a Verizon G4 after it was on the market for about 6 months already, and the touchscreen was horrible. I was about to throw it against the wall when Verizon finally released the fix that made the touchscreen how it was supposed to be from day 1. While Verizon of course delayed the fix a lot, there should have been no way that LG released a phone like this into the wild in the first place. The issue was blatantly obvious. I really like the G4 now think I will keep it for a while, but for the first 6 months the touchscreen and other issues made it a pain to use.
I am of a similar mind. Smaller screen, larger bezel... and what is the advantage? You can spend extra to get a dac or a camera grip...
The dac I can see some people using, personally I don't really use the headphone out on my phone as use BT for my headphones and for my car connection.
The camera grip though, what is the point of that? Do you just have it on your phone at all times and live with that unwieldy bulk at the end? Or do you carry it around with you, and switch it out.... which begs the question why are you not getting a ultraslim point and shoot, which will be better than the phone, or just going all out and bringing a DSLR camera.
This hardware also will require a custom software solution to take full advantage, and LG (or any other Android OEM to be fair) has shown the ability to make custom software that works as flawlessly as it should, or at least as well as what Google or Apple or MS would put out.
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konradsa - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
I don't really see the major upgrade compared to the G4, a lot of the specs are similar (3 GB of RAM, 32 GB internal storage, etc). It's a nice refresh, but only reviews will tell whether it can entice G4 owners to upgrade. If the Snapdragon 820 hits it out of the park, maybe. If it's only a minor bump, better off waiting till the G6 comes out.rabidpeach - Friday, February 26, 2016 - link
AAAAGGGGHHH you!!! Get G4 Owners to upgrade?? MY G3 is only 6 months old!!jjj - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
This is just tragic, they go way bulky and way ugly and they create a dumb proprietary slot, then go on and not really use it. A camera grip , really? You can make a case that is far more useful and not require that slot, same for the DAC and the other 48 ideas they never thought about yet.If you are gonna make a proprietary connector and a huge one like this, you better have a good reason to do so. they just got lost somewhere in the coolness of the idea and did nothing, nothing at all with it, besides the ability to swap the small battery.
The accessories are mostly positives but ,when you ruin the main device, what's the point.
Smaller screen than the G3 but taller device, that''s where 2 years of technological evolution got them to. 1440p flat, 4GB of RAM and the same SoC as everybody else won't get anyone excited. The ugliest flagship they have designed in a long time- not a plus either.
Lets make it bulky, ugly , small battery and underspecced at crazy prices....
anactoraaron - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
To be fair, the G4 was the least expensive flagship last year. But yeah, the G5 is u-g-l-y and has no alibi. I would criticize it for other points. Smaller battery, slow updates, and no monthly android security patches. LG was one of the only manufacturers that would not commit to security updates.The device seems to be *capable* of many new features, but it seems like anyone wanting the better camera, etc will have to pay extra for it. Will there be special promotions to have one of these neat addons via mail in promotion like the g4? Or will they just be giving away batteries like the g4?
The main reason I won't be even looking at the G5 is that the G4 at launch was a software disaster, with the device not registering taps, locking up, etc. And that doesn't even include the recall for faulty motherboards (google it - sprint pulled all of their g4 stock shortly after release because of it). I like the g4 now, but it shouldn't have taken so long to have a stable device. I'm never getting an LG device again. Hopefully another manufacturer will get it right.
konradsa - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
100% ACK regarding the software disaster. I got a Verizon G4 after it was on the market for about 6 months already, and the touchscreen was horrible. I was about to throw it against the wall when Verizon finally released the fix that made the touchscreen how it was supposed to be from day 1. While Verizon of course delayed the fix a lot, there should have been no way that LG released a phone like this into the wild in the first place. The issue was blatantly obvious. I really like the G4 now think I will keep it for a while, but for the first 6 months the touchscreen and other issues made it a pain to use.Sttm - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
I am of a similar mind. Smaller screen, larger bezel... and what is the advantage? You can spend extra to get a dac or a camera grip...The dac I can see some people using, personally I don't really use the headphone out on my phone as use BT for my headphones and for my car connection.
The camera grip though, what is the point of that? Do you just have it on your phone at all times and live with that unwieldy bulk at the end? Or do you carry it around with you, and switch it out.... which begs the question why are you not getting a ultraslim point and shoot, which will be better than the phone, or just going all out and bringing a DSLR camera.
This hardware also will require a custom software solution to take full advantage, and LG (or any other Android OEM to be fair) has shown the ability to make custom software that works as flawlessly as it should, or at least as well as what Google or Apple or MS would put out.
Teugeus - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
Thank you for the live blog, look forward to the next one !edwd2 - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
that back is seriously ugly, and the battery downgraded. I was a huge fan of the LG G2 but theyve been getting worse every year.cyberfrost - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
Agreed with the sentiments expressed so far. Ugly back and downgraded battery. Fail!!Lolimaster - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
They should axe this pronto, the fail is inminent, don't cry later.Lolimaster - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
Want to be innovative?Switch to 16:10 2560x1600, properly calibrated screens, 3500Mhz baterry, enough of this "all metal" body who means nothing except gimping the baterry.
Sttm - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
16:10 in a phone is a terrible terrible idea. The wider the phone, the worse it fits in the hand.Lolimaster - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
2016 and still a pathetic 32GB as base when quality nand is dirt cheap. For a 400+ Phone I expect no less than 128GB as base.cyberfrost - Sunday, February 21, 2016 - link
Waiting for Samsung S7 Edge. Hope it has expadable memory and bigger batterydoggface - Monday, February 22, 2016 - link
Alot of haters.. Wow.I wonder how long until other manufacturers replicate the battery thingy. Removable battery + alum design seems like best of both worlds.
But then I don't care and was never going to buy this anyway... Probably like the Apple fanboys that posted before me.
Christopherdean016 - Monday, January 16, 2017 - link
I want to know when exact LG G6 irelease date. Do you guys have any information about the release date?