LG G3 vs Apple iPhone 5s
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Introduction
LG's flagship for the year, the G3, is stuffed to the gills with modern specs, and even throws a thrill or two, in the form of a display with record pixel density, and a unique laser autofocus system. Apple's iPhone 5s, on the other hand, offers a more manageable chassis, and a stellar Touch ID fingerprints sensor. As usual, we are staging a combat between the brushed looks of the 5.5” LG G3, against the slender metal-and-glass frame of the iPhone 5s, as this will be one of the heavyweights fight in the Android vs iOS championship for the immediate future. Which one will prevail? Let's find out...
UPDATE (Jun 25, 2014): This comparison was originally based on our experience with the Korean version of the LG G3. After testing the International (European) version of the phone, we've updated the story with our new findings, affecting the display, camera and battery performance.
Design
The plastic G3 feels less premium to hold, and is much harder to use with one hand than the iPhone 5s - those get traded for the large 5.5” display.
The phones are in entirely different categories when it comes to external design. Measuring at 8.9 mm, the 5.5” G3 is thicker than the 4” iPhone 5s (7.6 mm), and way larger, heavier, and cumbersome to use with one hand. Its plastic build sports a removable back cover, giving you access to the battery compartment and memory expansion slot – possibilities that the iPhone 5s doesn't offer. The iPhone is crafted in a very different way, with premium metal chassis.
LG has positioned the power/lock key, and the volume rocker, in its unique way on the back of the handset. Here they are easier to feel and press with your index finger only, and ensure good tactile feedback. The lock key and the volume buttons of the iPhone 5s are also breezy to use, on account of the small form factor of the phone, which lets your fingers reach everywhere without stretch gymnastics.
Apple shook the mobile phone industry with a unique Touch ID sensor embedded in the home key, which is the first (and only) fingerprint sensor on a mobile device done right. It lets you unlock the phone, and authorize iTunes purchases.
5.76 x 2.94 x 0.35 inches
146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm
5.26 oz (149 g)
4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 inches
123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm
3.95 oz (112 g)
5.76 x 2.94 x 0.35 inches
146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm
5.26 oz (149 g)
4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 inches
123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm
3.95 oz (112 g)
See the full LG G3 vs Apple iPhone 5s size comparison or compare them to other phones using our Size Comparison tool.
Display
The Quad HD panel of the G3 overpowers the smallish display on the iPhone 5s with sheer size and record pixel density, but is less visible outdoors.
The G3 has a 5.5" Quad HD (1440x2560 pixels) IPS-LCD display with record 538ppi pixel density, while the 4" 640x1136 pixels IPS-LCD display on the iPhone has only 326ppi. You won't be able to notice the individual pixels on both displays from a normal viewing distance, but if you examine the screens closely, the G3 panel comes out significantly sharper.
The iPhone 5s has excellent color reproduction with very accurate colors. In comparison, the G3 display colors are less correct, which goes especially for the oversatured reds, but not something that the average user will notice, unlike with Samsung's tacky AMOLED displays, for instance. The color temperatures of both handsets are pretty close – we measured 7099K for the G3, against the iPhone's 7144K. Both are near enough to the 6500K white point standard, so we can't say that either of them leans to the cold side of the spectrum. When it comes to outdoor visibility, though, the iPhone 5s definitely has the upper hand, as it is capable to reach almost 600 nits of peak brightness, and has lower reflectance, while the G3 musters 455 nits only.
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