Considering the G8. Convince me.

[RJC18]

I've owned a G2, G4 , G6 , V20 and now I have the gorgeous V30. I love the LG brand and have always found them reliable, great camera, skin on the G2, G4 was unintrusive G6 and V20 I downloaded the Pixel 2 Launcher and on my V30 I have Pixel Experience which makes this phone as good as a Pixel 2 UI but with the LG gorgeous looks and feel. If the G8 can exceed this the it will be worth buying

 

[dekatch]

The oldest OS I have is[...]

well, i upgrade always when there is an opportunity to do so. and really, most problems that are mainstreamed will get fixed sooner or later

i had issues with all my Android versions, may it be the Android 4 (my first Android on an Samsung s3} or some later versions. there is always something. but i also always got used to it. dunno really what i miss on my android pie which i had different on earlier android versions. i believe sd card support is the only real downside on latest Android compared to some earlier versions. but yet I'm still able to use my sd card to the full extent.

dunno what I'm missing, but i really can't back up what you said.

i really welcome most of the Android updates, and drawbacks are really rare dunno..

some geek app probably won't function anymore as before, i heard that from oreo to pie upgrader, that some of the out of playstore downloaded apps won't function no more, like call recording and so on, but those are pro user problems. they should be able to fix their problems by.. let's say rooting their phones.. when rooted, an android does really everything you would ask for.

but from an non pro user perspective, android only got better

 

[Norcilien Zidor]

Re: I ad a g5 it was sucks.

V40 is a beast. Go and check full stereo recording and you can even mix your back track while you sing or if you play any instrument. I play the saxophone and my phone is my studio for reccording. So precise and HD Audio quality reccording.

 

[chad schoening]

It does have the best audio in the industry for a phone. It's smartly designed and works well. That said, LG has a horrible track record for updates. And not just OS updates.....security updates as well.

 

[DamianP]

the V40 has done well this year for security updates for me on ATT, it's been updated a number of times and is up to April shockingly even before my s10 plus.

 

[John Freeman]

I've had an LG phone in the past, so I'll do my best to answer your questions:

1) The LG Skin is a mixed bag - you either love it or you hate it! Since you've used Samsung phones, you know their OS's can be a little heavy. But, simple solution: if you don't like the skin, you can download a launcher to replace it!

2) Compared to an S7, the G8 will have a far superior camera. Phones like the Pixel 3 and the Huawei P30 will have better ones, but the G8 will still take great pictures and get the job done well. My husband has the G7 ThinQ and its camera is awesome - so the G8's must be even better!

3) This can be due to a variety of variables.

Brand recognition. People go for what's "in" - so that would be Samsung and Apple - and so other brands, like LG, sometimes go by the wayside.

Online presence - people are more likely to post about questions or issues with products - rather than praise reports - which may give potential customers a skewed sample when doing online research about which phones to buy.

You may also be hearing about LG's bootloop on past devices (the G4 was primarily affected by this) - that may have tainted the brand a little bit. But Samsung had the Note 7 fiasco; and Apple had the purposeful slowdown of devices... So every manufacturer has their own set of issues. No one is immune! But I have yet to hear of any current LG iteration having a widespread bootloop problem.

In the end, it all boils down to what you think you'd be happy with. Personally, I'm considering the G8 as one of the contenders for my next phone. But if you are unsure, try out the phone in the store and see what you think! Watch Android Central and Android Authority reviews! And let us know what you decide!

1) LG skin is harmless at this point. This isn't a real issue on most mainstream Android phones anymore.

2)LG cameras just aren't comparable to flagship photography experiences. Anybody who thinks they are has not owned or used many. My LG V35 was the worst camera on a flagship phone that I had ever used. Slow software, focus issues, massive over processing - oil painting effect. It was the worst. My OP3T with the Pixel camera app smoked it. That's sad. Not a good experience at all. My brother bought a couple G7s on Sprints fire sale and I tested his daughters camera...rubbish. Lack of contrast, lost details, bad focusing... Terrible. My OP 6T obliterated it and this isn't the best camera by far. My brother was mad that I even showed him and my niece saw. Lol LG imaging went downhill after the G2.

3) The only reason to take a huge chance on an LG flagship would be when you can get them half price 4 months after release. Even then we had 3 different G5s that were bought on the cheap not last more than a year and a half when wifi or GPS or a bad display, or dead rear power button. Total trash. Waste of money at any price. Even the $900 V35 for $499 after trade in of a barely working 6P was too much. Sold after 3 months and bought the OP 6t.

And the bootloop issues hit G4, V20, and some G5s. I know 3 people personally. 2 G4s and a V20...

There is no good reason to give LG your money. Anybody else. Out of date software and updates... No reason

 

[Morty2264]

1) LG skin is harmless at this point. This isn't a real issue on most mainstream Android phones anymore.

2)LG cameras just aren't comparable to flagship photography experiences. Anybody who thinks they are has not owned or used many. My LG V35 was the worst camera on a flagship phone that I had ever used. Slow software, focus issues, massive over processing - oil painting effect. It was the worst. My OP3T with the Pixel camera app smoked it. That's sad. Not a good experience at all. My brother bought a couple G7s on Sprints fire sale and I tested his daughters camera...rubbish. Lack of contrast, lost details, bad focusing... Terrible. My OP 6T obliterated it and this isn't the best camera by far. My brother was mad that I even showed him and my niece saw. Lol LG imaging went downhill after the G2.

3) The only reason to take a huge chance on an LG flagship would be when you can get them half price 4 months after release. Even then we had 3 different G5s that were bought on the cheap not last more than a year and a half when wifi or GPS or a bad display, or dead rear power button. Total trash. Waste of money at any price. Even the $900 V35 for $499 after trade in of a barely working 6P was too much. Sold after 3 months and bought the OP 6t.

And the bootloop issues hit G4, V20, and some G5s. I know 3 people personally. 2 G4s and a V20...

There is no good reason to give LG your money. Anybody else. Out of date software and updates... No reason

You are right about the bootloops, I knew I was missing a couple of phones here and there. I can understand you have had a bad experience with LG and would rather not get a flagship. That's cool! But the OP is interested in a G8. It's good to know what issues LG has had like bootloops and camera software not being the greatest - but every phone manufacturer has bugs and/or a feature that some won't enjoy. "Wasting my money" is in the eye of the beholder - some won't by OnePlus, some won't buy Samsung, and so on. It's all subjective.

As far as updates go, Samsung is also pretty slow to get updates. That's kind of a gamble when you buy phones that are a little notorious for slower updates. But at least you get them eventually, right?!

And as far as camera goes, I remember my LG G3 phone taking okay shots. Not premium, but okay. But I wasn't using that feature as much at the time and so it didn't matter all that much. My husband's G7 ThinQ does take really good pictures - I think the quality is sharper and it's definitely good enough to get you a shot. Will it capture a great picture every time? Nope! But neither does my Pixel 2, which is a camera champ.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and I can totally understand why you won't by an LG phone in the future. However, the purchasing choice is up to the OP and I know quite a few people who are happy with LG. I was when I had one. What phone are you using now, out of curiosity?

 

[Ian Bower]

Utterly bonkers.. The G8 is a current flagship and you can't compare with an S7. I had a G4 which for me easily trumped the Samsung as I had the S7 as a replacement for a stolen G4 so has plenty of time with both! To compare with a one plus 6T it's also folly as it's way superior hardware wise. Take a look at Juan Bagnells' full camera review, the G8 is woefully misrepresented in the majority of reviews. Excellent camera, great screen, superb build, the best-by some margin- audio in any phone, unmatched features for anyone who's serious about photography and video creation all for less than 650?? If this phone was made by anyone but LG it would simply clean up. Buy the G8, if it was available here in the UK, then so would I.

 

[ScottsoNJ]

1) LG skin is harmless at this point. This isn't a real issue on most mainstream Android phones anymore.

2)LG cameras just aren't comparable to flagship photography experiences. Anybody who thinks they are has not owned or used many. My LG V35 was the worst camera on a flagship phone that I had ever used. Slow software, focus issues, massive over processing - oil painting effect. It was the worst. My OP3T with the Pixel camera app smoked it. That's sad. Not a good experience at all. My brother bought a couple G7s on Sprints fire sale and I tested his daughters camera...rubbish. Lack of contrast, lost details, bad focusing... Terrible. My OP 6T obliterated it and this isn't the best camera by far. My brother was mad that I even showed him and my niece saw. Lol LG imaging went downhill after the G2.

3) The only reason to take a huge chance on an LG flagship would be when you can get them half price 4 months after release. Even then we had 3 different G5s that were bought on the cheap not last more than a year and a half when wifi or GPS or a bad display, or dead rear power button. Total trash. Waste of money at any price. Even the $900 V35 for $499 after trade in of a barely working 6P was too much. Sold after 3 months and bought the OP 6t.

And the bootloop issues hit G4, V20, and some G5s. I know 3 people personally. 2 G4s and a V20...

There is no good reason to give LG your money. Anybody else. Out of date software and updates... No reason

Totally disagree about the camera. Is it the best, hell no but if you know how to use a smart phone camera you can get very nice photos. Had the OP6T. It's a good phone but to me ip68, expandable storage, quad dac,855 proc. outweigh timely software updates and a slightly better camera. If I was worried about updates I would get an iPhone

 

[DamianP]

so I got the G8 today, came with March security patch, got April's patch immediately. just as a comparison, my s10 plus, both on ATT is still on March.

 

[Morty2264]

so I got the G8 today, came with March security patch, got April's patch immediately. just as a comparison, my s10 plus, both on ATT is still on March.

Congratulations on your new G8! How is the setup going?

 

[Mike Dee]

Totally disagree about the camera. Is it the best, hell no but if you know how to use a smart phone camera you can get very nice photos. Had the OP6T. It's a good phone but to me ip68, expandable storage, quad dac,855 proc. outweigh timely software updates and a slightly better camera. If I was worried about updates I would get an iPhone

Yeah....the LG camera is definitely not for the point and shoot type.

 

[editguy]

Yeah....the LG camera is definitely not for the point and shoot type.

IDK about the LG camera, but people said the same thing about the Nokia 9 camera and I get great point and shoot photos.

 

[dekatch]

so I got the G8 today, came with March security patch, got April's patch immediately. just as a comparison, my s10 plus, both on ATT is still on March.

that's harsh, i already got the update of may on my samsung. that's two security updates ahead. your carrier is messing this up then

forget about that. mine is just on April. but still, i already have that patch. must be your carrier who's holding it back then

 

[Mike Dee]

IDK about the LG camera, but people said the same thing about the Nokia 9 camera and I get great point and shoot photos.

I don't know anything about the Nokia but even if what you're saying is true that has no bearing on the results of LG cameras. Camera results often depend on what you are taking pictures of and the situations that they are being taken in.

 

[Morty2264]

I don't know anything about the Nokia but even if what you're saying is true that has no bearing on the results of LG cameras. Camera results often depend on what you are taking pictures of and the situations that they are being taken in.

You're right about the specific conditions being a variable. And if the target is moving, how fast it's moving, etc.

 

[DamianP]

Congratulations on your new G8! How is the setup going?

First full day as my daily driver and super pleased so far. Great battery life, camera has been great. I'm going to give it a few more days before I post a proper mini review.

 

[Morty2264]

First full day as my daily driver and super pleased so far. Great battery life, camera has been great. I'm going to give it a few more days before I post a proper mini review.

So glad you're enjoying it so far! Looking forward to reading your review!

 

[John Freeman]

Totally disagree about the camera. Is it the best, hell no but if you know how to use a smart phone camera you can get very nice photos. Had the OP6T. It's a good phone but to me ip68, expandable storage, quad dac,855 proc. outweigh timely software updates and a slightly better camera. If I was worried about updates I would get an iPhone

I'm certainly not advising the OP to purchase a Oneplus 6T instead of a G8, I was just using the well-documented 'pretty OK' camera performance of the phone as a reference point.

Even after all of the bad experiences I had seen with LG, I bought into the V35 as being a pretty decent phone for what I was paying. I did watch some reviews that sang its praises. Hogwash! I can't necessarily complain about most of the other aspects of the phone, but the camera software/processing was atrocious.

I know how to use a camera on a phone and couldn't get satisfactory performance out of it. Manual mode introduced a ton of noise in lower-light photos and standard or HDR obliterated the detail. I was able to get decent images using the Pixel camera app, but focusing was still hit and miss/slow many times.

I just feel that if you are spending flagship money - get a proven flagship phone. Do what you want, but I took a chance last year on an LG flagship and it was definitely not up to par - even for $400 off retail.

 

[DamianP]

I'm certainly not advising the OP to purchase a Oneplus 6T instead of a G8, I was just using the well-documented 'pretty OK' camera performance of the phone as a reference point.

Even after all of the bad experiences I had seen with LG, I bought into the V35 as being a pretty decent phone for what I was paying. I did watch some reviews that sang its praises. Hogwash! I can't necessarily complain about most of the other aspects of the phone, but the camera software/processing was atrocious.

I know how to use a camera on a phone and couldn't get satisfactory performance out of it. Manual mode introduced a ton of noise in lower-light photos and standard or HDR obliterated the detail. I was able to get decent images using the Pixel camera app, but focusing was still hit and miss/slow many times.

I just feel that if you are spending flagship money - get a proven flagship phone. Do what you want, but I took a chance last year on an LG flagship and it was definitely not up to par - even for $400 off retail.

I guess everyone has their subjective view on this. I have the s10+(been my daily for the past month) and the camera processing isn't for me. I'm not saying LG is better in general, but I prefer it so far in comparison. If I add on the fact the G8 cost me $475(Swappa) half the cost of the s10+, to me it's a no brainer if I add in the other aspects that I like the LG g8 over the s10+.