LG G3 vs Samsung Galaxy S5
posted by Chris P.
/ Jun 10, 2014, 10:13 AM
Introduction
Inside and outside, the LG G3 is nothing short of a truly impressive, and quite intriguing, device. In fact, it's the first device to claim that it's both global and has an extremely detailed, 1440 x 2560 (QHD) resolution display. And that's not even half of it – the hardware configuration of the phone is just monstrous.
But so is the one on the Galaxy S5. The latest Samsung juggernaut has reaped major success with both consumers and critics alike, and that's not surprising in the least. So while the S5 display's pixel count falls short of that on the G3, the phone certainly has a ton to offer, including (but not limited to) an outstanding, 16-megapixel camera, a dust- and water-resistant body, and a vast array of software features.
Today, in an attempt to at least partially defuse this seeming stalemate, we'll explore the depths of either phones, jotting down scores all the while. Let's take a look.
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
Attractive design? The LG G3 has it. But the more pedestrian-looking Galaxy S5 is utilitarians' pick of choice.
To say that LG and Samsung each have their own way of doing things when it comes to design would be a medium-sized understatement.
Both devices are made out of plastic, but both companies have given it their best shot, and the body of neither of the two handsets can be considered cheap. For its part, LG is using high-quality polycarbonate for its rear (with traces of metal within), completed with a matte finish that reminds a whole lot of brushed metal and battles greasy fingerprints. In the same vein, Samsung's Galaxy S5 also sports a plastic chassis, but the back comes with a dotted pattern that looks and feels a bit like leather, and is also excellent at repelling smudges. In this stand-off between faux metal and faux leather, the G3 has a hand over the more pedestrian-looking S5.
Despite its 5.5-inch screen, the LG flagship is not overly uncomfortable to hold, thanks to its extremely thin bezels and overall compact dimensions (146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm / 5.76 x 2.94 x 0.35 in). Still, if you have small hands, you may prefer operating it with both hands, just to be on the safe side. Put next to it, the smaller GS5 is definitely easier to manage. But though it is smaller, its dust- and water-resistant, IP67-certified body is not quite as good at squeezing screen real estate at little expense in terms of overall dimensions (which sit at 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm / 5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in). Lastly, both devices are not exactly lightweight, but neither feels too heavy in the hand – the G3 weighs 149 g (5.26 oz) vs 145 g (5.11 oz) for the S5.
The two companies also differ on their approach towards button layout and design – the G3 is cementing its investment into rear-placed keys, which have gone through a major redesign from the G2's implementation, while the S5 continues Samsung's signature, physical home button legacy.
Looking at the G3, both the power button and volume rocker are noticeably more pronounced than before, and their design and shape have also been changed. Both provide a more profound tactile feedback, with the latter even sporting a new, mesh-textured pattern on top. Travel has also been improved, but the power key is making the better showing in this regard. But neither of the two keys proves as good as what the GS5 has on board - a more conventional, power-and-volume-keys-on-the-sides setup. Indeed, both of these are placed conveniently, and provide great, clicky feedback and travel.
To see the phones in real size or compare them with other models, visit our Visual Phone Size Comparison page
Display
Superior detail, and more accurate colors -- the G3 scores the win here.
One of the very unique points of the LG G3 is its extremely sharp, 1440 x 2560 (QHD) pixel resolution display. This 5.5-inch panel offers the industry-leading 538 pixels per inch, and, according to LG, true-to-life image.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is outclassed in this regard as it features a standard resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels (FHD), which works out to 'just' 432 pixels per inch. Frankly, however, you're unlikely to perceive this inferiority in detail, especially when looking at the two displays from a normal viewing distance.
As for color-accuracy, we can't say we feel LG delivered on its promise of a color-accurate image. Color temperature, for example, sits at the good, but not excellent, 7100 K (6500 K is the reference value), though that's much closer than the Galaxy S5's temperature of 8183K (in the default 'Standard' screen mode), which causes a significantly blue tint. Thankfully, while on the slightly over-saturated side, the G3 colors are mostly acceptable. In comparison, the Galaxy S5's display has a larger color error and produces more saturated, even gaudy, colors.
In terms of brightness, the G3's panel manages the very decent 455 nits. This means that outdoor use is feasible, even under direct sunlight. The same holds for the S5, too – its screen peaks at the good 442 nits, and it's just as easy to make out outside.
More content with (G3 and Galaxy S5)
72 Comments
3. hipnotika
Posts: 353; Member since: Mar 06, 2013
but g3's screen is too cold :S it's contrast is too low :(
posted on Jun 10, 2014, 10:19 AM 12
7. Sauce unregistered
Dang, I must have read the title of this article wrong.
posted on Jun 10, 2014, 10:28 AM 10
41. CoastCity
Posts: 257; Member since: Mar 07, 2014
Hallo Phonearena.
Please see this first:http://postimg.org/image/udx5piyvh/full/
I'd like to ask you, why the color and grayscale charts' TARGET specimens
between G3 and S5 differ that much?
Why the target colors for the S5 are so de-saturaed?
Is it the extra luminosity of the S5?
Wouldn't be better to compaire their color on the maximum luminosity the G3 can
achive? I mean throttle down S5's luminosity so the comparison to be fair.
And if you say we mesure on phone's max lum., I'd ask, did you also use the S5's
color mode that gives more natural colors (pro photo or cinema, Idk)?
posted on Jun 10, 2014, 10:10 PM 0
45. Chris.P
Posts: 567; Member since: Jun 27, 2013
The measurements you see there for the S5 are for the default, 'Standard' mode. You can see measurements for the rest of the color modes here:http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-Galaxy-S5s-screen-is-far-from-the-best-heres-why_id56255
Coincidentally, Ray answered a very similar question in the comment section there. Instead of paraphrasing, I'll just quote him:
16. TechFreak123
"Why using a different target colors for the S5 and the nexus 5?"
89. Ray.S
"Good question. The target color charts are designed to show the amount of difference there is between target and actual colors. They do not represent the actual, real-world colors. This is so because the maximum amount of red (the reddest red) can be represented by 255 bits max. Since AMOLED colors go beyond that, the program actually can't show it. This is so these charts don't aim to show real-life colors, but rather just how much of a difference there is between what's exhibited by the display, and what's considered the reference color."
posted on Jun 11, 2014, 3:13 AM 0
57. sonic03
Posts: 2; Member since: Jun 17, 2014
shouldn't you have included the cinema mode setting in the review and in the display measurement chart. It would be great to know how you'll rate the phone (numbers and real world observation) in cinema mode compared to the g3 and other phones instead of just saying that its over saturated and has a larger color error in general when there is a setting that could put the display closer to actual colors.
posted on Jun 17, 2014, 12:10 PM 0
13. 8800-Arte
Posts: 50; Member since: Jun 05, 2014
I want a much smaller G3 with a 4.7" 1080p screen and the same thin bezels and the same really good design.
posted on Jun 10, 2014, 10:43 AM 3
59. Milli74
Posts: 11; Member since: Apr 16, 2014
I recently in June the 3rd got early Father's Day gift Nexus 5 Brand New with 4.4.3 on board and being this my first Android phone after having iPhones of all generations including my iPhone 5S 32GB I can only say good things about android I knew that this phone Nexus has all specs of high end phone I'll be using this phone for a while it has 491 ppi display which I believe is higher then iPhones and the way everything works on it so damn quick and after Rooting it last night now I'm in total control of this GREAT and I believe average priced device, not like pure Android-Google experience wasn't enough for me but now customization of it is just awesome, I always knew Android was good OS but never thought that it could be this good, for other Android devices like my daughters 2 year old Samsung S3 that is now priced very decent still at around $350 new she loves it and wants the new S5 or note 4 which I will buy for her as soon as note 4 will be released. Having said that I now a android believer as I always thought they were just phone good enough for teens.
What I was going to say is that there is a good Android devices especially new ones or something good like S3 and probably S4 it just on S4 things like air gesture and some other never usable things including a bloatware from Samsung and that Wiz crap unlike Nexus 5 is all great
Android is a great platform that is reliable for any ages.
Way to Go Android! And please allow root the devices like thru a person name George Hotz and all you have to do is go to a website towelroot.com and with in 5 minutes your devices will be rooted and it's not only for Samsung S5 it also goes for S4, Note 2 and 3 and few other phones including Nexus 5 and tablet Nexus 7 just go to the towelroot.com and all the information is there it took me about under 5 minutes to complete with a single download but before you doit make sure in your settings your device will allow you to install third party's apps so just put a check mark there it's very easy!
Here is the site where it tells you step by step how to doit as well as all available devices that it will work on:
idownloadblog.com/2014/06/16/geohot-makes-it-ra1n-on-android-...
Enjoy guys!!!
posted on Jun 17, 2014, 6:50 PM 0
21. CyberFalcon
Posts: 223; Member since: Apr 17, 2014
hey where is the low light camera comparision PA???
We know that G3 will kick S5's b*tt in that dept...
Then y dont u post it too????
posted on Jun 10, 2014, 11:02 AM 0
48. refillable
Posts: 1071; Member since: Mar 10, 2014
Yep they clearly stated; 'the G3 proves ahead. Indeed, in low-light and complete darkness'. However I am sure he asked for a real photo comparison, not just words.
posted on Jun 11, 2014, 9:25 AM 0
49. sar44
Posts: 278; Member since: Apr 14, 2014
Why you dont say about bad dark areas on the sun (less dynamic range) at shots of g3's bsi? Detailing worse, and it is noticeable, worse color (accuracy and separation).
"while the S5 manufactures overly-cold, bluish shots"
Because of yellowness in the pictures of G3, seems that pictures of s5 slightly bluish, but actually it is not so, because there are (on photos) perfectly white, perfect red, perfect green (they not blue, orange and blue-green, which should have been obtained if had the camera would be bluish)
posted on Jun 11, 2014, 9:55 AM 0
50. sar44
Posts: 278; Member since: Apr 14, 2014
s5
g3https://pp.vk.me/c618826/v618826401/95e9/7bw7hDlOdSg.jpg https://pp.vk.me/c618826/v618826401/95e2/NMeVKQWoFs0.jpg https://pp.vk.me/c614824/v614824401/15efd/3awlVBQMNfo.jpg https://pp.vk.me/c614824/v614824401/15ef4/hCockYiBow4.jpg https://pp.vk.me/c619218/v619218401/ad50/vZosnbAwfNo.jpg https://pp.vk.me/c619218/v619218401/ad49/TX4mRgFNq3I.jpg
posted on Jun 11, 2014, 9:57 AM 0
53. Chris.P
Posts: 567; Member since: Jun 27, 2013
That's the indoor section ("overly-cold, bluish shots"), and specifically in very low light or complete darkness. Check the shots again.
Outdoors, we had a reference DSLR, and I can confirm that the S5 produces truly realistic colors overall, much more so than the G3, which produces more attractive, but decidedly yellow snaps (much alike to the Apple iPhone 5s, by the way).
posted on Jun 12, 2014, 2:08 AM 0
64. Milli74
Posts: 11; Member since: Apr 16, 2014
And please allow root the devices like thru a person name George Hotz and all you have to do is go to a website towelroot.com and with in 5 minutes your devices will be rooted and it's not only for Samsung S5 it also goes for S4, Note 2 and 3 and few other phones including Nexus 5 and tablet Nexus 7 just go to the towelroot.com and all the information is there
posted on Jun 19, 2014, 9:13 PM 0
* Some comments have been hidden, because they don't meet the discussions rules.
Recent articles
