LG G Flex vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3

It’s crazy how the two respective customized Android experiences look and perform very close to one another, but at the end of the day, we feel as though that there’s slightly more depth with the Note 3’s enhanced TouchWiz Nature UX experience. Well, the customized Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean experience of the G Flex is pretty good too, but it just doesn’t have the same arsenal of note-taking functions. Most importantly, there are also some notable features, like the various Air Gestures and View functions, that aren’t replicated by the G Flex’s experience.

Surprisingly, multi-tasking is handled in nearly the same capacity with these two, seeing that their respective Multi-Window and Dual-Window features give us the ability to simultaneously use two apps.Even their notifications panels complement one another. From the secondary set of features we’re given with various notifications, to being able to access several different connectivity functions from it, they’re both equal with their arsenal.
For the productivity focused users out there, the G Flex and Note 3 are preloaded with Polaris Office 5 to give us something to work with on the road. However, the Note 3’s S Pen stylus and accompanying note-centric apps is more ideal and encompassing to appease hardened users who prefer a tasetful paper and pen experience.

It’s all about Qualcomm’s piece of silicone under the hoods of both these beasts, which means they handle almost anything we dish at them. Powered by the same chipset, a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU coupled with the Adreno 330 GPU, they’re only separated by the amount of RAM they’re complemented with – 2GB with the G Flex, and 3GB with Sammy’s offering. Between them, there’s more of a snappy performance with the G Flex.
Packing an ample 32GB of internal storage with the two competitors, it’s the Note 3 that’s able to supplement its capacity thanks to its available microSD card slot.

Let’s not argue that they can handle even the most complex of web pages with their browsers, but again we see the usefulness found with the Note 3. Yes, they feature fast page loads via LTE, instantaneous page rendering, and buttery navigational controls, however, the Note 3 continues to show its more comprehensive features set. They include being able to scroll vertically with our eyes, precise selection via its S Pen, and the zoomed view when we hover our finger over the display.

Well, there’s nothing too surprising here, especially they’re highly prized things – meaning, they’re armed with the same set of connectivity features. They consist of LTE, aGPS, Bluetooth 4.0, dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, NFC, and IR blasters.

More, more, more. That’s the name of the game with their camera apps, since they’re filled to the roof with several shooting modes and manual controls to give shutterbugs everywhere something to be content about. 

It’s the battle of the 13-megapixel cameras, that’s what these two are flaunting! Impressively, they produce the same lovable looking photos that are rich in detail, properly exposed, and boast lively looking colors. With the latter, though, it tends to be warmer for the G Flex – and cooler with the Note 3. Under lower lighting situations, shots taken by the G Flex come out brighter, allowing it to draw out slightly more details. Finally, their LED flashes cast pretty much the same amount of lighting to our subjects.

We’re also split when it comes to recording 1080p videos. No doubt, they’re ample for the task at hand, but there’s just a smidgen more consistency with the Note 3’s quality, seeing that it’s just crisper with its visuals – whereas with the G Flex, details tend to be a bit subdued, which results in a softer tone. Also, the G Flex is more prone to prominent artifacting elements as we’re panning.

Multimedia

Looking at their music players, we again take notice how they similarly match one another with their presentations and functions. Likewise, their internal speakers emit boisterous and commanding tones that allow us to easily discern them – and without strain or distortion at the loudest volume setting.
Having big screens that are iridescent, they make for ideal video watching experiences. With the subtle curve with the G Flex’s display, it’s mentioned to have less reflection, but in our experience, it’s hardly noticeable to the trained eye. Essentially, we’re pleased by the performance that each delivers – more so when they provide us with their complementing multi-tasking features.

By far it’s the G Flex that offers the superior call quality, seeing that it consistently delivers voices that are clear and distinct with both the earpiece and speakerphone. On top of that, its volume output is incredibly loud too. As for the Note 3, crackling tones are evident through the earpiece at the loudest volume setting.

Battery

Power users will especially drool over by the long lasting battery life that we experience with them, as their high capacity batteries give us that “all day” battery life with heavy usage. After using the G Flex more, we notice that it’s able to give us more juice, but then again, we need to stress the fact that we’re using it with only 3G connectivity, as opposed to the more demanding LTE connection with the Note 3.

We can’t deny the new innovations that accompany the LG G Flex, which makes it so impressive in many fronts. It’s obviously unique and very different in the space right now, seeing that no one else has really done it before, but at the end of the day, it’s a solid showcase device that shows us what is possible. In comparison to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, it’s a good rival, but doesn’t have enough of the practical “goodies” for power users.

There’s good reason why many believe that Sammy’s phablet is the one to beat, mainly due to the fact that it’s still a class ahead of everyone else in what it can do on any every day basis – to help us get through things, get the work at hand accomplished. Although it’s not perceived as a new or fresh feature, its S Pen stylus continues to bring forth new enhancements and functions that aid the overall smartphone experience. Additionally, it’s a true high-spec’d device in every single hardware category.

And then there’s the matter of pricing. Right now, if you’re to import the LG G Flex from South Korea, you’re going to need to fork over a whopping $940 out of your pockets. Certainly it’s a hefty tally, but it’s a warranted one because of the innovative qualities it brings to the table. Are they practical? Yes, but from a design and ergonomics vantage points. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 can be purchased outright for $750 through many US carriers. It’s still expensive in terms of smartphone pricing, but its deeper and more meaningful offerings give it a more well-rounded finish.

The LG G Flex has the looks and cooler next-generation tech behind it, but at the end of the day, it’s the Note 3 that will appease a wider array of consumers at the moment with its outstanding and diverse software experience.