LG G3

Review in pictures

All the makings of a blockbuster

• Fashioned out of plastic, but the brushed metal finish exudes a premium feel

• The curvy rear adds to ergonomics

• Placement of physical buttons on the rear and barely-existent bezels mean the 5.5-inch smartphone is even smaller than many devices with 5-inch screens

• Removable back gives access to the battery and slots for microSD and micro-SIM cards

A compelling screenplay

• The 5.5-inch display sports a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 (534ppi) • The 2K screen offers lovely visuals• Media viewing and gaming experiences are superb• Brightness and sunlight legibility are very good

Lights, camera, action!

• The G3 sports a 13MP autofocus shooter, while the front camera bears 2.1MP resolution

• Laser beams help the primary shooter focus in a jiffy

• Also boasts features like 4K video recording, Optical Image Stabilisation +, a voice-activated shutter and a nifty gesture-triggered timer for selfies

Shoots to kill• The camera app offers most

modes, but doesn’t let you tweak settings like ISO, white balance etc.

• Images shot in daylight are very impressive, and so are close-ups

• Shoots usable pics in low light too

• HDR isn’t its strongest point• Overall, a very capable

snapper

The software plays the protagonist

• The G3 runs KitKat, with a custom UI on top

• The UI features a flat, clean look

• Knock Code lets you define a custom knocking pattern for unlocking

• Supports double-tap-to-wake and to sleep as well

• Custom quick settings panel• Loads of customisation

options

Adding the smarts• The keyboard is customisable,

letting you tweak button placement and height. It learns from your typing patterns too

• Smart Notice is a virtual assistant, throwing up prompts in natural language based on time, location and behaviour

• The navigation buttons on the bottom are customisable too

• Guest Mode and one-handed mode are also there

• Loads of features and apps such as Dual Window, QuickMemo+, Quick Remote and McAfee Security

Mesmerising performances

• A zippy 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801processor, paired with 2GB of RAM tackles even heavy apps and games smoothly. This variant offers 16GB storage, but there’s a higher end model with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage too

• Up to 128GB can be added via microSD and there’s USB OTG as well• Small hint of lag while switching apps on occasion though• Loaded connectivity options

Juice for the thirsty• The device is fuelled by a

3,000mAh removable battery

• Lasts a full day comfortably with moderate usage

• The 2K screen need a lot of juice, so you might need a top-up charge during the day if you view videos and play intensive games for long

At a glance

• 5.5-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 display (~534ppi)

• 13MP primary camera, 2.1MP front shooter

• 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm 801 processor

• 2 / 3GB RAM, 16 / 32GB internal storage, expandable by 128GB

• 3,000mAh battery • 4G (including Indian band), 3G,

dual-band Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, Infrared, USB OTG

• Android 4.4 KitKat• Wireless charging

-• Rear button placement• Basic camera app• Pricey

Pros and cons

+• Stupendous looks• Gorgeous display• Smooth performance • Intuitive UI with tons of

customisation options and useful features

• Capable camera• Wireless charging

Rs 47,990 (2GB / 16GB)Rs 50,990 (3GB / 32GB)

Pricing and verdict

“The LG G3 is as loaded as its gets right now, and boasts drool-worthy specs and features. It looks great, while the 2K screen is a scorcher too. It’s pricey, sure, but it’s a lot of phone for the money. If the outlay involved is fine with you, your wallet and your bank, this is what you should be buying now. ”