The new 5.5-inch LG G3 is a huge leap over last year’s G2, with a WQHD 538ppi screen, metallic design and feature-packed 13-megapixel camera.
Last year’s LG G2 is dust: LG just launched its massive (in more ways than one) new flagship smartphone, the LG G3, and it’s a true beauty. At 5.5-inches it’ll fill your pockets, but there’s an awful lot crammed into that all-new metal frame, some of it putting big handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2 to shame.
Check out our full hands-on review of the LG G3, or keep reading for the full specs and features.
LG G3: UK specs
First up, movie fans will almost certainly love that 5.5-inch Quad HD display. Last year’s LG G2 sported an incredibly crisp 5.2-inch screen that packed in 423 pixels-per-inch (ppi), about standard now for a flagship phone. But the LG G3 farts in the G2’s general direction, and most other premium smartphones’, with its super-dense WQHD display, somehow cramming in a mighty 538ppi (2560×1440 resolution). That’s officially the sharpest phone screen in existence.
Your movies shouldn’t just look good either – the LG G3 rocks a 1-Watt speaker with a special ‘Boost’ amp, which apparently gives you deep bass and clear treble.
Suitably excited yet? Well, the LG G3’s 13-megapixel camera also looks like a beauty, thanks to its Laser Auto Focus for honing in on your victim in just 276 milliseconds, plus Optical Image Stabilisation for cutting out blur. There’s a Dual LED flash to blind your mates in nightclubs. And the 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera can be activated by clenching your fist at the lens, to remove any awkward fumbling.
LG G3: Features
Android 4.4 KitKat has been tweaked by LG, to add the usual extensive array of bonus features. One interesting update is Smart Notice, which basically gives you a virtual slap every so often with reminders and such forth. For instance, Smart Notice prompts you to call back people who’ve tried to contact you, or switch on Wi-Fi when you reach home or the office, but can also help keep the LG G3 working optimally by reminding you to delete old apps etc.
The keyboard is now extendable – simply drag the top of it up and down to make it bigger or smaller. There are new gesture controls too, for instance swiping up the keyboard to select a suggested word, and swiping across the space bar to reposition the cursor – it’ll be interesting to see how intuitive these new keyboard gestures really are.
LG’s Knock Code is also back, fresh from its MWC debut, giving you a quick and simple alternative to PINs and patterns to unlock your handset.
Wires are rubbish, right? Well luckily LG agrees, and you can charge the LG G3’s 3,000mAh battery wirelessly using the nifty dock. Just sit the LG G3 onto the dock and the power will start flowing inside.
LG G3: Design
The LG G3 has received an upgrade in looks too over the G2, with an all-metallic body sporting a ‘Floating Arc’ design (basically, the back’s a bit rounded so it fits nicely into the palm). It looks nice and should hopefully be robust enough to take a few knocks.
Once again you’ll find the power button around the back, and apparently it’s been reworked so it’s easier and more natural to use. We’ll bring you a full hands-on review soon, to let you know what we think.
LG G3: QuickCircle case
The LG G2 sported a funky optional wallet case with a window for seeing the time, date and any waiting notifications, and the LG G3 has evolved that idea into the ‘QuickCircle’ case.
A circular window gives you a rounded view of the G3’s screen through the cover, and you can choose from a number of mini displays that you can show in that window, for easy access. You can simply show the time and date, or you can make and take calls, send texts, fiddle with your media, and even check on your exercise stats.
The QuickCircle case comes in five flavours: Metallic Black, Silk White, Shine Gold, Aqua Mint and Indian Pink. Nice.
LG G3: UK price and release date
UPDATED: The LG G3 will hit stores on June 24 according to Unlocked-mobiles.com, or July 1 according to Carphone Warehouse, ranging for £490 inc. VAT. You can pre-register your interest at Carphone Warehouse and pre-order from June 3, and Three has also confirmed that it will range the handset.
The LG G3 will also be available through US carriers this summer, available from all major carriers and Best Buy.
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