LG Optimus G: faster, bigger and better than the iPhone 5
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When it came out, the LG Optimus G took the mobile world by surprise. Thanks to exciting features such as its large 4.7" True HD IPS Plus screen and powerful Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, the handset became an instant favorite of many smartphone aficionados around the world.
As it happens with such successful devices, people immediately started comparing the Optimus G with the other top handsets out there, and especially the iPhone. However, even though Apple's latest device is no doubt a strong performer, it is obvious that LG's Optimus G does many things better than the iPhone 5. Part of those things are made possible thanks to the wonderful hardware, while other are achieved through LG's custom Optimus user interface.
One can easily see that the Optimus G is a smartphone for serious users just by taking a look at the specs sheet. It has large 4.7" True HD IPS Plus display that not only makes a variety of tasks much easier to execute, but also delivers an exceptionally true-to-life image quality. Things like messaging, web browsing and video playback are all considerably better with the Optimus G's 4.7" screen than with something way smaller, like the iPhone 5's 4" display. The keys of the on-screen keyboard get bigger and easier to press, the text of web pages gets bigger and easier on the eyes, and video... well, it just gets bigger and much more enjoyable.
LG is also a pioneer when it comes to utilizing the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset. This powerful quad-core SoC is capable of delivering exceptional performance, and the Optimus G manages to reveal its full potential thanks to its optimized software and abundance of RAM memory. The Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset allows users to experience the latest applications and games in the best possible way - with beautiful graphics and fluid performance. Furthermore, the S4 Pro practically guarantees that the Optimus G is one future-proof handset that will continue to deliver top-notch performance even when next-generation applications start to appear.
All of the Optimus G's hardware power is put to good use by the Android operating system. The most popular mobile OS is equally appropriate for both hardcore smartphone users and those who are new to this market. There are a lot of things to explore in Android, but one of the biggest user favorites remains the enormous amount of control and great customization capabilities. However, LG hasn't stopped there, but has also included its own unique user experience (UX) in order to bring many new features and goodies to the OS. Among these we find the QSlide function which is like a dream come true for the heavy multitaskers out there, allowing them to display two applications on the screen at the same time, like the messaging app and the web browser, for example. Another one of our favorites is Live Zooming. Leveraging the Optimus G's extreme performance capabilities, consumers can use Live Zooming to zoom into a video while viewing it, making it possible to enjoy even the smallest details. There are many other cool features added by LG's own UX like Dual Screen Dual Play (mirrors the display on a TV screen but can also show different content on the phone and TV) and QuickMemo for those moments when you just want to take a screenshot of something and jot down a quick note on top of it.
At the end of the day, it is easy to understand why the LG Optimus G provides more value to users who demand more - its spectacular features like the large True HD IPS Plus display and Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset make it one of the best offerings in its class. For customers who want to enhance their mobile lifestyle with a stylish, yet powerful smartphone, the Optimus G is among the very best options money can buy right now.
 |
| DESIGN | ||
|---|---|---|
| OS | Android (4.0.4) | iOS (6) |
| Dimensions | 5.19 x 2.71 x 0.33 inches (131.9 x 68.9 x 8.45 mm) | 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 inches (123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm) |
| DISPLAY | ||
|---|---|---|
| Physical size | 4.70 inches | 4 inches |
| Resolution | 768 x 1280 pixels | 640 x 1136 pixels |
| BATTERY | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2100 mAh | 1440 mAh |
| HARDWARE | ||
|---|---|---|
System chip | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 | Apple A6 |
Processor | Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait | Dual core, 1300 MHz, Apple Swift |
| Graphics processor | Adreno 320 | PowerVR SGX543MP3 |
System memory | 2048 MB RAM (Dual-channel) | 1016 MB RAM (Dual-channel, 1066 MHz) / LPDDR2 |
| Built-in storage | 32 GB | 16 GB |
| CAMERA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Camera | 13 megapixels, Immobile | 8 megapixels, Immobile |
| Flash | LED | LED |
| Features | Auto focus, Face detection, Smile detection, Exposure compensation, ISO control, White balance presets, Burst mode, Digital zoom, Geo tagging, Panorama, Scenes, Effects, Voice activation | Back-illuminated sensor (BSI), Auto focus, Touch to focus, Digital image stabilization, Face detection, Geo tagging, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR), Panorama |
| Camcorder | 1920x1080 (1080p HD) | 1920x1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps) |
| Features | Video calling | Video calling, Digital image stabilization |
| Front-facing camera | 1.3 megapixels | 1.2 megapixels |
| Software Experience | ||
|---|---|---|
| Special UX features | QSlide Function, Live Zooming, Dual Screen Dual Play, QuickMemo, Pattern lock, Voice Shutter, Icon Customizer, burst shot, easy mode | Standard iOS apps |
Advertorial: The opinions expressed in this story may not reflect the positions of PhoneArena!
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66 Comments
1. romeoc1984 posted on 18 Jan 2013, 05:13 12
Hahaha, this is sponsored by LG. Take it with a grain of salt!
28. AppleHateBoy posted on 18 Jan 2013, 11:30 6
IN terms of performance:
Optimus G with ICS < iPhone 5.
Optimus G with Jelly Bean > iPhone 5
Period.
43. bigstrudel posted on 19 Jan 2013, 17:02 2
Why? Jellybean is pretty redundant considering there is no lag of any kind anywhere in the OS with the snapdragon krait quad. Aside from that the added features of JB are pretty limited. I'm looking forward to JB on the Optimus G but more as an opportunity
for LG to fix minor bugs in the custom skin rather than the features that JB bring to the table (many of which were included in LGs custom skin)
Period.
3. Techsplash posted on 18 Jan 2013, 05:20 2
they are advertsing when already better handsets have started to come out.
5. techloverNYC posted on 18 Jan 2013, 05:30 1
I cant believe this is coming from a company like LG.....
The only good phone that come out of the company is nexus 4......
I mean if you are samsung (recently on the rise), sony (starting off new),nokia,mota (all at one point has worlds best selling phones) you can proudly say this but LG..
Any high end phone in 2012 will beat the iphone in specs.......not to mention 2013
10. papss posted on 18 Jan 2013, 06:46 10
I disagree.. I think the G is great phone and the nexus 4 is to me the best nexus so far. I've always found the nexus line rather boring to look at but that changed with LG.
The others you mentioned are great too though
19. Nick040489 posted on 18 Jan 2013, 08:44 6
It's funny because the Nexus 4 and the Optimus G are the same phone aside from a couple curves at the corners. So you can't really put this phone down and say the Nexus 4 is awesome because that doesn't make sense. Plus I have had this phone since it came out and have had literally no problems with it.
24. metalmaniac posted on 18 Jan 2013, 09:51 0
Actually, the nexus 4 IS the same as the Optimus LG, sans LTE functionality.
29. AppleHateBoy posted on 18 Jan 2013, 11:38 3
Nah, there are couple of other differences. If Nexus 4 would have been the same as Optimus G, we would have been able to run Nexus 4's Jelly Bean ROM on the Optimus G. But unfortunately, we can't and Optimus G is still stuck on 1 year old ICS.
46. bigstrudel posted on 19 Jan 2013, 17:14 0
Yeah they are different for sure. The OG benchmarks considerably higher. And the Battery life is also much better. It all has to do with the kernel. LG basically is using a better kernel than Google is with the Nexus 4.
52. puckhead posted on 21 Jan 2013, 18:36 1
I have the LGOG and the Nexus7. So ive used ICS and JB. ICS with the LG skin runs amazing on the LGOG. If you have never used it (which I doubt you have) you shouldnt make judgments.
53. puckhead posted on 21 Jan 2013, 18:48 1
If you have never used the LGOG with ICS and the LG skin then you shouldnt make judgements that it needs JB desperately.
62. metalmaniac posted on 26 Jan 2013, 08:24 0
I was only referring to the hardware, don't so self-righteous.
8. Naviiin posted on 18 Jan 2013, 06:22 4
I like the Optimus G but this comes across as kinda desperate...
9. Nathan_ingx posted on 18 Jan 2013, 06:28 4
This disclaimer sounds like LG is about to launch Optimus G next week.
13. evil_slayer posted on 18 Jan 2013, 07:16 1
hehehehe lg you sould also mention how horrible you are in updates....
less than to weeks left for jan 2013 and we(optimus 3d users...if there still anyone else than me...who are still having this phone because of the 3D)
didn't get the ICS update yet(not to mention that 2x just very recently got it)
the only good thing came out of you is nexus 4 and that's because its a nexus
nice job advertising now about a phone released in agust 2012 :)
14. darkvadervip posted on 18 Jan 2013, 07:38 1
I don't get it. When it boils down to it every android phone is the same just different specs nothing new that's outstanding.
49. Doakie posted on 20 Jan 2013, 14:14 1
So what's that outstanding about the iPhone 5 comparing it vs high end Android phones? Hardware is rather interchangeable among all smartphone manufacturers and operating systems. All specs titles that have been touted have belonged to different manufacturers at some point. Biggest screen, thinnest phone, smallest bezels, best camera, highest ppi. Most benefits are gained these days through software tweaks. Did you even read what they wrote?
"Among these we find the QSlide function which is like a dream come true for the heavy multitaskers out there, allowing them to display two applications on the screen at the same time, like the messaging app and the web browser, for example. Another one of our favorites is Live Zooming. Leveraging the Optimus G's extreme performance capabilities, consumers can use Live Zooming to zoom into a video while viewing it, making it possible to enjoy even the smallest details. There are many other cool features added by LG's own UX like Dual Screen Dual Play (mirrors the display on a TV screen but can also show different content on the phone and TV) and QuickMemo for those moments when you just want to take a screenshot of something and jot down a quick note on top of it."
They name 4 software benefits they hold over the iPhone 5. But of course iPhone people are going to discredit those features as being unimportant because you'll never own an Optimus G for a month to find out how things are beneficial to everyday life. Just like when I first got my Galaxy S 3 I thought "CM10 IS FASTER? HERE I COME!" then after two days of running Cyanogenmod I realized "Wait a slight speed increase isn't worth losing all the software benefits of Touchwiz. Smart stay, smart rotate, power saver, the better camera app." I'll come up with a more complete list for you. Either way I'm pointing out hardware is important to differentiate yourself from your competitors but software is where the most benefits are being added right now so I wouldn't knock Android manufacturers for being all the same while the most popular phone in the world the iPhone is so cookie cutter that Samsung and even LG has released a more diverse product portfolio in a single month...
58. daftastic posted on 23 Jan 2013, 00:57 0
You have the fact that there's only one type of iPhone whereas you can get Android on just about any phone in the world therefore making it less exclusive.
Case and point, the numerous low end China phones that have ICS.
So in other words, the exclusivity and the uniqueness is why the iPhone sells.
Android is cool though, don't get me wrong.
59. Riven posted on 24 Jan 2013, 18:01 0
uniqueness and exclusivity why the iphone sells? i dont think so, people just like the iphone for reasons beyond "uniqueness" (all iOS' from the last YEARS look the same) and exclusivity? you can get MULTIPLE versions of iphone from 3GS to 5 right now on practically all carriers. So i have to disagree with ya
64. daftastic posted on 29 Jan 2013, 08:46 0
When I say uniqueness, I don't mean in terms of OS. There's nothing unique with iOS at all.
What I'm saying is, there's only one type of device with one type of OS, meanwhile you have Android loitered all over the place finding its home from the cheapest-made phones to the top dogs of the phone market today. Android has lost its uniqueness by being in just about every device on Earth.
IMO that's exactly why people like iPhones, because there's only one kind on a single high-end device--they feel unique, it turns into a status symbol. That is of course from an average consumer's view, which is absolutely stupid.
54. puckhead posted on 21 Jan 2013, 18:50 0
you obviously dont know jack sh*t about android or how it is used.
15. PapaSmurf posted on 18 Jan 2013, 07:39 5
Optimus G would be 3x better if were running JELLYBEAN LG. Not ICS.
21. OptimusOne posted on 18 Jan 2013, 09:26 0
its out in korea already and you could just get a custom rom
44. bigstrudel posted on 19 Jan 2013, 17:06 2
If someone can explain why I'd be happy. Project Butter is a total waste of processing power on the Snapdragon Quad. Lag is nonexistent on this device. Anyone saying this stuff just hasn't used a real next generation processor like the Krait Quad.
17. raphael007 posted on 18 Jan 2013, 07:56 1
People even the Samsung galaxy S2 will eat out the Iphone5. Please get real.
23. BadAssAbe posted on 18 Jan 2013, 09:48 2
LG Optimus G Is still the best phone out right now. I dont know why everybody is hating on this ad if theres a ad for a phone on almost every Page/site/blog.
Great Specs, Great looking, What is there to hate?
Updates are a bit overrated when the truth is there might be a few apps that will give the same Effect
25. roscuthiii posted on 18 Jan 2013, 10:02 0
An advertorial? oh well... I guess even phonearena has bills to pay, but if this site's going to have these then I hope they're few and far between.
30. gravityron posted on 18 Jan 2013, 12:42 0
I am kind of new to PhoneArena; I used to read iMore. Two things made me start looking for another website for my news: 1. Grammar/spelling mistakes that made me question the integrity of the reporting and 2. Related to integrity, is that sponsored stories like this one from LG, were passed off as written by the staff. So, I must say that I really appreciate that PhoneArena is demonstrating a high level of integrity and treating their audience as an educated lot~!
31. Joshing4fun posted on 18 Jan 2013, 12:54 1
Hey Lg, nobody on this site will buy your phone simply because you put a super ad about it out. We aren't the same consumers that believe everything the tv says. We ain't ignorant!
33. slandy7 posted on 18 Jan 2013, 14:09 1
PhoneArena has no business running an ad like this in the from of an article. Even if they do mention that it is sponsored, and that "The opinions expressed in this story may not reflect the positions of PhoneArena," it is simply not good journalism and mars their professional appearance. I read multiple tech blogs and news sites and no other site is this daring with its advertising. Whether this sort of sponsorship actually affects PhoneArena's integrity or not, it is certainly making people begin to question it.
45. bigstrudel posted on 19 Jan 2013, 17:09 0
How much money do you donate to Phone Arena to keep it employees paid?
35. nyc_rock posted on 18 Jan 2013, 16:01 0
Sorry, but this is totally shady. Is PhoneArena really this desperate for revenue?
And LG! You got some balls putting out this nonsense when your's is the last of the superphones not running Jellybean.
Poor job all around.
37. Not_Amused321 posted on 18 Jan 2013, 21:00 0
And that's why I'm getting the Optimus G in Q2 2013 if Sprint doesn't come out with anything better.
38. Guest_star posted on 19 Jan 2013, 07:35 0
I really really really really really really really really really really want that optimus G wallapaper, does anyone knows where I can get one? pls ppl anyone!
39. phonemirer posted on 19 Jan 2013, 08:21 0
better than i5, dont u say, lg ??
- lumia 920
- nexus 4
- note 2
- optimus g
- droid dna
- droid razr maxx hd
- ativ s
- s3
- oppo find 5
- xperia z
- xperia zl ( someone explain me wich is odin and wich is yuga, and what one is da best )
this list is not a ranking, is a better than i5 list
40. phonemirer posted on 19 Jan 2013, 08:23 0
lol no, i forgot the upcoming nexus 5, s4,note 3 and huawei ascend mate.
41. vincent95 posted on 19 Jan 2013, 12:34 0
13MP camera and ICS... a really good combination (: Goes together like a burger and fries (:
50. Not_Amused321 posted on 20 Jan 2013, 15:36 0
yes, but I heard from a lot of users that the cell phone seems to lag a lot. I don't know if this is true. If nothing good comes out in Q2 2013, such as Sprint cell phones, then I might get the Galaxy S III vs. Optimus G
51. puckhead posted on 21 Jan 2013, 18:29 0
It is a really good phone, I bought it on launch day from AT&T.
To give some background --
I had an iphone since 09 and really liked it. I even bought a macbook pro because I liked my iphone so much. I wanted to buy a tablet this past summer and didn't want to spend a lot so I bought the Nexus7 instead of an ipad. I'm very happy with it, Nexus 7 is great especially for 200 bucks.
I thought I would get the iphone5 this fall but because I liked my android tablet so much I decided to look into getting an android phone. I read and watched countless reviews of all the latest phones, from many different websites, you name it I read it or watched it.
I decided to buy the LGOG over the Nexus4, GS3, HTC one X, and iphone5.
I am sure all the above phones I mentioned are great, there is no doubt in my mind, however i'll explain one by one why I chose the LGOG over them.
Nexus4 is a prepaid phone with not a lot of storage and no LTE. LTE is everywhere where I live so that was a huge negative.
GS3 has a super amoled display, I wanted a bright vibrant LCD like the iphone had.
Plus the GS3 had been out for a long time at this pt making the specs more dated.
Iphone5 looked great but I was bored with iOS after 3 years. I really enjoyed having widgets on my Nexus7. However that wasn't the main reason, the deal breaker was the small screen, I wanted a bigger screen. The longer skinny screen wasn't going to do it for me.
It was either the LGOG or the HTC one X. The LGOG was newer with better specs. So I pulled the trigger on it.
After owning the LGOG for a few months I must say I am very happy with my decision.
Everyone posting comments crying about lack of Jelly Bean don't know what they're talking about. I thought i would miss Jelly Bean immensely but must say I actually really like the LG skin on top of Ice Cream Sandwich. Since I have the Nexus7 and use it almost everyday -I know JB. Also anyone that says the LGOG lags is full of sh*t.
Positives for the LGOG:
Screen is obviously amazing. The hardware design is beautiful as well. This version of android is top-notch. Once Google Now is added it will be perfect. Not sure project butter is going to be as apparent on a phone vs a tablet, especially one with a quad core processor. Plus I think LG has already incorporated some JB features...
Negatives:
Battery doesn't last super long and phone is fragile, dont drop a glass phone...Good camera not great, only okay speaker and call quality compared to GS3, Note2 or iPhone5.
My favorite thing about this phone is the customizable home screens with Android. After getting used to this I am not sure I could go back to iOS even if it did have a larger screen.
In the end saying one phone is better than another is stupid, it all depends what features you value e.g. some ppl might value the ease of use with one hand with the iphone, especially if you have small hands it all depends what features you value..
55. fizziano posted on 21 Jan 2013, 21:25 1
iPhone and IOS are borrrrrrrrrring! Snooze....... When the iPhones first came out they were edgy. Now they are safe. No edginess. No fun. No anything other than same old same old.
The Optimus G is edgy and better than Nexuw 4 because it has LTE which will make a difference as time proceeds. iPhone has a loyal, non risk taking, arrogant and smug following which shouldn't surprise anyone because they are the left brained & no brained. They are all talk and no edge. Nonrisk takers. No one should be satisfied to be that.
56. puckhead posted on 22 Jan 2013, 10:06 0
I mostly agree. Larry Page is the new Steve Jobs...I know thats going out on a limb but its seems to be true...
3 or 4 years ago iOS was better than Android but not anymore, Android is def evolving at a faster pace - IMO
60. CheapSocks posted on 25 Jan 2013, 01:01 0
so LG's gaining some ground in the smart phone turf war. hmmmm guess who's next in apple's crosshairs??
61. zazori08 posted on 25 Jan 2013, 15:32 1
DUDES! everything is faster, bigger and better than the iPhone 5
65. InspectorGadget80 posted on 30 Jan 2013, 07:47 0
News flash pa every phone is bigger than the puny iph5
