LG G4 vs Galaxy S6, iPhone 6, LG G3 preliminary camera shootout

The new LG G4 is here packing a serious camera so we thought we’d compare it against the Samsung Galaxy S6, iPhone 6 and last year’s LG G3. LG says the firmware isn’t final, but by the looks of it, it isn’t far off.

If you happened to step in halfway through LG’s London launch event for its new G4 flagship, you’d be forgiven for thinking the company had done away with smartphones altogether and switched instead to pedalling digital cameras, with 90 per cent of the keynote devoted to the LG G4’s impressive-sounding snapper.

The 16-megapixel sensor has been beefed up with the help of an impressively wide F1.8 aperture and what LG calls ‘OIS 2.0’ which translates as improved optical image stabilisation (over last year’s G3), featuring 2 degrees of movement along its X and Y axis (as opposed to 1 degree on the G3) and the inclusion of Z axis stabilisation too (which as a by-product LG says helps improve low light performance).

LG G4

  

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All shots were taken with HDR switched off and captured on each phone’s highest native resolution – both the Galaxy S6 and G4 capture their largest shots in a 16:9 aspect ratio. The G4 appears to produce the most accurate white balance in its macro sample and there’s an impressive amount of detail throughout the images it produces.

LG G3

  

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Even compared with last year’s G3, there’s a noticeable difference between the photos. We still love the G3’s camera, but our G4 indoor snaps were warmer and a little brighter, making them more attractive when viewed back. 

iPhone 6

  

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The iPhone 6’s camera produces very similar indoor snaps to the LG G3, so once again the G4 wins out with clearer, brighter snaps. However, there’s very little in it when it comes to macro shots, with the LG G4 and iPhone 6 both capturing plenty of detail up-close.

Samsung Galaxy S6

  

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And while the Galaxy S6 has the best camera of any phone on the market right now, the G4 still produced brighter, more detailed shots in the slightly gloomy interior we tested it in. Which makes us very keen to try it out in everyday conditions when we get the G4 review sample.

We can’t wait to see how the LG G4 camera fares once it hits retail, but until then, which camera samples do you prefer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and check out our full hands-on LG G4 review.