Are LG smartphones underrated?

posted by Chris P. / Feb 09, 2016, 9:19 AM

If you take a trip through our reviews section and dig real deep, you'll find that we've consistently rated LG's finest very highly. The flagship G line in particular has never been rated lower than 9 out of 10. That's a fantastic track record!

And yet, LG is far from anything approaching a juggernaut within the mobile space. Sure, the company reported a tiny increase in sales volume for Q4 of 2015 compared to the same period last year, for a total of about 60 million units, but avoided reporting on the profitability of the arm. Overall, the company made a few hundred million last quarter, but the majority of the dough came from its home appliances and air conditioning divisions.

Obviously, we're speculating here, but it's certainly true that the company has been unable to nibble at Samsung's share of the pie, and exotic and far-away makers from China have managed to overtake LG—in terms of sales volume if not actual profit.

So we have a company consistently churning out critically acclaimed flagships that somehow still hasn't managed to make serious enough money—at least not enough to brag about. Does that mean that LG smartphones are being under-appreciated by the wider public? Or do you think LG sales are just about where they ought to be relative to the flagships they produce? Or is it that it's something specific that's holding them from cashing in?

Are LG smartphones underrated?

Absolutely

69.22%

It's just that they do/don't do (something) right (do share!)

21.04%

Absolutely not

9.74%

Options

53 Comments

1. Kary1

Posts: 300; Member since: Jun 26, 2015

The public is ignorant and accepts the limitations of Samsung (S6 and on) and Apple products. The recent X-Files episode (Were Monster) showing a smart-phone purchase transaction is not that far off base.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:28 AM 6

4. QWERTYphone

Posts: 654; Member since: Sep 22, 2014

LG G5 is THEE phone of 2016. (I've been samsung only since 2009) Removable battery, metal, fingerprint scanner, MicroSD = WIN !!!!!!!!!

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:35 AM 4

18. Ashoaib

Posts: 3260; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

same here... I used to love samsung but unfortunately I got terrible battery life on note 4(there were no fault in the device as per samsung service center)... then samsung dropped the bomb by removing replacable battery option in note 5 and S6... LG also has terrible battery life but atleast it is user replaceable

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 10:32 AM 0

32. j2001m

Posts: 3060; Member since: Apr 28, 2014

Hi, sorry I take a 3600 Battery and waterproof with all the s7 battery saving than a removing battery with metal phone, that sound very safe to me, good look with that, going by lg past hardware problems they removing battery will stop removing within. Months that 100% You are up on Samsung does wireless Charging cases for the s6 + and note 5 right, it works way better than any removing Battery setup

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:53 AM 3

30. MSi_GS70 unregistered

It is ot ignorant but they don't know.. And naive usa person will never look for an LG phone coz has no idea it exists.. They know only ape and sam

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:46 AM 0

2. Achillias

Posts: 52; Member since: Sep 24, 2015

I won't buy a smartphone with on-screen buttons, period. Never liked the trend. Hopefully it will be gone, alot of company's are coming back on it.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:29 AM 12

16. Ashoaib

I hate on screen buttons too... LG should use capacitive buttons

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 10:25 AM 8

28. mawi2013

Posts: 67; Member since: Oct 18, 2014

I prefer on screen buttons, it means much less bezel on the bottom of the phone

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:32 AM 9

51. Xelief

Posts: 62; Member since: Aug 17, 2015

You're really limiting yourself by not buying ANY phone with on-screen buttons. Might I ask why you have this bias? I have only ever used on-screen buttons and can't say it's really been an issue. The power button's still always a physical button for if the phone becomes unresponsive.

posted on Feb 10, 2016, 5:18 AM 0

3. Achillias

And LG is mostly about the on-screen hype.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:30 AM 3

5. GreenMan

Posts: 2694; Member since: Nov 09, 2015

Yes, The V10 is indeed underrated... Its a better phone than the likes of heavily overrated Samsung Galaxy S6 and its all siblings (Edge, Active, Defective or whatever blah) and yet I've yet to see a single person rocking this smartphone...! Such a shame considering its secondary screen is a blessing, and reminds me of outdated & out-fashioned flip phones which show basic notifications on smaller screen that always stays on! Way better than Smartphones with Edges & stuff...!!!

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:35 AM 8

13. Furbal unregistered

Minus battery life it is a damn good phone

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 10:10 AM 6

24. maherk

Posts: 6684; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

How is it underrated when it suffers from 3 major issues? 1- light bleeding from the secondary screen 2- same battery as the G4 when it has an extra .2" of screen size and that secondary screen, which reslted in a pretty poir battery life for a 2015 phablet. 3- fingerprint won't work with the majority of 3rd party cases!! Not to mention it's size, weight, and that horrible UI. And you should crawl back to your cave if youe truely believe it is better than the S6 Edge+, which has a better screen, camera, design, processor, and most importantly, a far superior battery life.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 10:49 AM 6

33. Clars123

Posts: 1073; Member since: Mar 16, 2015

I wouldn't say a FAR superior camera...but I do think the edge+ is better than the V10 on compactness alone

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:54 AM 2

36. maherk

I said better camera, and far superior battery life.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 12:05 PM 1

34. j2001m

As I keep saying Samsung offer wireless charging cases for the note 5, they are better the removing battery's with crap basic Battery life Also the look cool and last way longer

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:56 AM 2

42. LeFritz

Posts: 3; Member since: Mar 02, 2014

As someone who owns a V10, I agree with some of what you said. The light bleed is definitely noticeable when the phone is off, but I personally don't see an affect with the screen on. The battery is absolutely terrible for what it is. Granted I could easily swap it out, but that's also an inconvenience of having to hold/charge two batteries. The fingerprint reader has been updated a while ago; longer than when I've had it at least, so I saw no issue. To say the V10 is superior than the S6 Edge + is a bit of a stretch as well.. Hah

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 2:01 PM 2

45. Doctorluv unregistered

Does this "Greenman" Crap knows what he's talking abt? I honestly dnt think so!

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 4:25 PM 1

6. cripton805

Posts: 1485; Member since: Mar 18, 2012

They so some things so right, but then turn around do others so wrong... For ex. The LG G Stylo... Why even offer it with 1gb of ram and 8gb of rom? You can bearly have it function and it starts missing calls and texts. Now, the LG V10... So right! Dual front camera. One with a beautiful wide angle sensor. The camera app is good. The whole package is amazing. IMO. Rugged, Good Lower, Good Battery, etc... I love it. I know Samsung does this too, but when the low end leaves a sour s**t taste in your mouth. You begin to lose interest as a whole.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:37 AM 4

7. pa_follow

Posts: 19; Member since: Jun 21, 2015

Flex 2 was one of the most underrated phones of 2015.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:43 AM 4

8. jan25

Posts: 470; Member since: Feb 26, 2012

Hardware is pretty solid, software is a different story.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:43 AM 2

14. 2faraway

Posts: 75; Member since: Mar 26, 2014

and vice-versa with the LG G3! they just hadn't that consistancy, LG2 in fact just besides the fingerprint magnet that it was, it shined in everything else!

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 10:22 AM 1

9. carlemillward unregistered

LG is definitely underrated, just look at the amount of LG articles compared to Samsung and HTC.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:49 AM 2

10. ikenvape

Posts: 305; Member since: May 28, 2014

Working at t-mobile the past 2 months. I can definitively say Yes. People in the US are so wrapped in Apple vs Samsung. Disappointing to watch

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:54 AM 5

52. Xelief

Also work for T-Mobile. Also can't stand how engrossed people are with Apple and Samsung.

posted on Feb 10, 2016, 5:21 AM 0

11. MrKoles

Posts: 368; Member since: Jan 20, 2013

Ui is terrible...really ugly

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:58 AM 8

12. Beto_Lopez

Posts: 44; Member since: Apr 14, 2015

actually i like the UI, i have tried android stock ui and i prefer LG UX.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 10:04 AM 5

15. 2faraway

Lollipop material design was not even out and they were already using it, and it works better than those sharp UI found in Sense and Z!

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 10:24 AM 2

17. skymitch89

Posts: 1451; Member since: Nov 05, 2010

To me, LG is like a younger Samsung. They have nice hardware, but they are seriously lacking in the software. The LG UX is sluggish and not very nice to the hardware. When I switched to Verizon and got the G3, I was expecting greater things from the SD 801 & 3GB RAM than I was experiencing on the Note 3 I had when on Sprint.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 10:30 AM 2

39. wargreymon

Posts: 764; Member since: Nov 05, 2013

G3 took a dip in smoothness, but with marshmallow even the 2GB-variant is smooth as silk. G2, G4 and V10 is smooth sailing, so if that is your only concern, you don't need to worry.