LG G3 5.5-inch Android smartphone review

It doesn’t take long to realise the G3 is a worthy challenger to the top tier of Android smartphones and easily the best device LG has ever created.

The smartphone combines intelligent design with intuitive features that offer a satisfying high quality experience.

It has a premium look and feel with an edge-to-edge 5.5 quad HD screen that fits inside a chassis that’s hardly larger than other smartphones with a 5-inch screen.

DESIGN

What you won’t see with the G3 are buttons along the edges of the device.

Like the G2 that came before it – the volume keys and on/off/lock key are all located on the rear panel below the 13-megapixel camera lens.

This means when you naturally hold the device in one hand you can easily access these keys with your finger.

The other benefit of this design is that the screen has more room to take up even more of the front surface area.

What you end up with is a 5.5-inch screen in a smartphone that’s only millimetres bigger than other 5-inch devices.

The back panel is curved to sit comfortably in the palm of your hand. It is meant to look and feel like metal but it’s actually plastic.

It still has solid build quality but the surface is quite slick and it can be a little slippery if you haven’t got a good grip on it.

The LG G3’s back panel is also detachable so you can access the removable battery, the SIM card slot and the microSD slot to expand the device’s 16GB internal memory.

FEATURES

The most obvious feature of LG’s G3 is the dazzling 5.5-inch quad HD screen. No it’s not a 4K or Ultra High Definition but it does have a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and 538ppi (pixels per inch). The iPhone 5S has 326ppi.

It is a super sharp screen that’s going to make the websites you browse, the pictures and videos you look at and the apps you use all look great.

It’s a screen you’ll never tire of looking at.

But the G3 goes a lot deeper than having an impressive screen.

The user interface has also been tastefully redesigned to let enough of the Android KitKat operating system to shine through but with a few added touches.

The design of each app icon has also been meticulously created and also allows the user a natural intuitive flow with various colours associated with certain tasks. The calendar taskbar is red, the phone’s is green and messages colour is gold.

Everyday tasks like typing – the activity performed more than any other on our devices – is enhanced with the Smart Keyboard which can be elongated to suit the size of your thumbs and fingers.

Smart Notices also takes note of your missed called and reminds you to call them back and even takes stocktake of your apps and lets you know the ones you haven’t used in a while in case you wanted to delete to get back some memory.

Located in the screen immediately to the left of the home page is the LG Health app that’s tracking your steps along with a list of smart tips to get the most out of the device.

The downside is if you want to get rid of the smart tips you can but you lose a screen and can’t use that space as an extra page for widgets and apps.

On the security side there’s also Knock Code that lets users set their own unlock code consisting between two and eight taps on different parts of the screen.

The camera is another standout feature of the LG G3. It has 13-megapixel resolution main camera and a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera.

Pictures taken with the G3 are outstanding – sharp, clear and bright whether you’re shooting a landscape or a close-up.

And in low light situations the dual flash chimes in nicely with the right colour temperature to keep your shots looking bright and natural.

The camera has Laser Auto Focus so the G3 literally shoots a laser towards the subject to measure the distance and focus within 0.3 of a second.

This worked well when we need to capture an image quickly and the Laser Auto Focus ensured that shot was in focus.

Touch and Shoot can get you focused and also captures the image with one touch.

Selfie lovers will adore the new feature that helps take your pictures a lot easier.

The hardest part of taking a good selfie is hitting the capture button. But with the G3 that’s not a problem anymore.

When the front camera is activated simply hold up your palm so the lens focuses on you.

When you’re ready to take your picture, simply make a fist and a three second countdown begins – which is plenty of time to get your duckface just right.

Now there are some features you won’t find on LG G3 like a fingerprint reader and it’s not waterproof. Far from being a deal breaker in our mind.

PERFORMANCE

The LG G3 is powered by a 2.5Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and has 2GB RAM. That means it’s fast.

There’s no waiting for apps to open or for the camera to be ready and moving around the device’s menus is smooth and seamless.

The good news is the G3 can back all of its excellent features with excellent performance.

On the connectivity side the device works on the 4G networks including the new 700Mhz spectrum that Telstra and Optus is testing right now.

There’s also 802.11ac wi-fi on board so it can connect even faster on your wireless network.

On the battery side the G3 also has it where it counts. There’s a 3000mAh battery under the hood which can power that bright high-resolution screen and keep you easily powered throughout an entire day and night.

LG’s G3 actually has wireless induction charging when used with the accessory (available at extra cost). The wireless charger looks like a small chair and when the G3 is resting on the surface it is being charged.

Another excellent accessory for the G3 is the Circle Case which has a circular window to see at a glance the time, weather, your calls, messages and favourite apps without having to open the case.