G7 - Initial impressions after a week

[Ian Bower]

Like you, I was concerned about lack of updates but the update to Oreo killed my battery life. Before Oreo I was regularly hitting 5 hours screen on time but gradually getting less as the updates came until after Oreo when I was struggling to hit 3 hours screen on time. This phone is incredible value, especially here in the UK. The thing just flies and the camera is really underrated, the quad DAC is unmatched anywhere, the screen is superb. I say go for it! ??????

 

[gendo667]

Like you, I was concerned about lack of updates but the update to Oreo killed my battery life. Before Oreo I was regularly hitting 5 hours screen on time but gradually getting less as the updates came until after Oreo when I was struggling to hit 3 hours screen on time. This phone is incredible value, especially here in the UK. The thing just flies and the camera is really underrated, the quad DAC is unmatched anywhere, the screen is superb. I say go for it!

What device was it that Oreo killed your battery life?

 

[Ian Bower]

LG g6.. Great phone but Oreo killed the battery.

 

[mwake4goten]

Appart from the security updates I don't know why many are bothered about these big os version updates. Sure you'll get the latest features but usually at the expense of degraded battery life... Not always but often enough. I just stick with the os the phone was released in. I've done 2 major os upgrade and both times regretted it. It's similar to PC's in a way... Microsoft used to tell people that in order to upgrade OS your hardware had to meet certain higher hardware requirements. I know android is a little different but still the principle is similar.... If you want to get the true benefits of an upgraded OS then upgrade the phone as well. You only have to visit the forums of phones for people who have upgraded to see the woes unfortunately...

 

[fotyc]

I have had an LG G6 since May of last year and really liked it (I am not a super heavy user but by the end of the life of my G4 I had to lay it on the wireless charger mid afternoon to make it to 12 hours) - the battery life is still really good even after Oreo, and the screen is nice - I've just liked the phone. My kid wants a new phone so I'm thinking of getting a G7. Will I like it at least as much as the G6 overall, if you've had both? Thanks!

 

[Ian Bower]

I have had an LG G6 since May of last year and really liked it (I am not a super heavy user but by the end of the life of my G4 I had to lay it on the wireless charger mid afternoon to make it to 12 hours) - the battery life is still really good even after Oreo, and the screen is nice - I've just liked the phone. My kid wants a new phone so I'm thinking of getting a G7. Will I like it at least as much as the G6 overall, if you've had both? Thanks!

Yes, absolutely, just go for it, you will not regret it one bit. Download the pixel camera from XDA for the auto instagram look and you've got something that will stand with any phone out there!

 

[Morty2264]

Thank you so much for your review, OP! I miss having an LG phone, and really think that the G6, G7, V30, etc were excellent strides forward for the company. Glad you are enjoying it, and hopefully things like battery size and DAC will improve in the next iteration.

 

[neil74]

OP here. I ended up selling the G7 on. The positives in my original post still stand but the lack of Bluetooth audio sync just bugged me too much, I listen to my wireless headphones every day so it just became a showstopper. The G7 is still my favourite droid for in hand feel and size, I suspect the lack of audio sync (which seems to work under some conditions) is linked to LG’s ageing software and is a bug rather than intended behaviour.

If LG ever sort their software I’ll be back. I am currently using an S9+, I am not a massive fan of it but it does tick the most boxes for the current crop of droids. With the rumours for the upcoming pixel 3 looking quite underwhelming it looks like it may stay that way for a while too.

 

[neil74]

Yes, absolutely, just go for it, you will not regret it one bit. Download the pixel camera from XDA for the auto instagram look and you've got something that will stand with any phone out there!

Word of caution on the pixel camera apk, every version I have downloaded (for both LG and Samsung) scans as malware. This may not be the case but I never got a satisfactory response when I flagged it on XDA. Just download with your eyes open.

 

[mmaestro]

I've held off on the Pixel cam for this exact reason, I just don't trust random APKs any more, the world's changed since it was a bit of a free for all. I wish Google would just put their camera back in the store.

 

[jordans0nly]

Just got mine Wed. Still using the Note8 as well. The AOD with the G7 is much lighter, not liking that. But do love the bottom firing speaker much more, double tap is much missed. Just seems so far to me, that the Adaptive Brightness works better (software wise) on the Note8 to me in reacting to different light changes much quicker. Just a few things I've noticed.

 

[mwake4goten]

OP here. I ended up selling the G7 on. The positives in my original post still stand but the lack of Bluetooth audio sync just bugged me too much, I listen to my wireless headphones every day so it just became a showstopper. The G7 is still my favourite droid for in hand feel and size, I suspect the lack of audio sync (which seems to work under some conditions) is linked to LG’s ageing software and is a bug rather than intended behaviour.

If LG ever sort their software I’ll be back. I am currently using an S9+, I am not a massive fan of it but it does tick the most boxes for the current crop of droids. With the rumours for the upcoming pixel 3 looking quite underwhelming it looks like it may stay that way for a while too.

When you say lack of Bluetooth audio sync what exactly does that mean. You mean the audio and video not syncing when using Bluetooth?

 

[neil74]

What I mean is that you have to set the volume levels are independent on the device and headphones, i.e. when you adjust the volume on the headphones the volume on the device is not changed.

 

[Deepak Thomas]

For me the UI is half baked as compared to others Samsung UI or EMUI or MIUI. The LG is far from a fully evolved software experience as compared to aforementioned versions. Still a long way to go to before it can offer a refined UI exp. Hope it gets its act together especially since V30 and LG G7 is slowly gathering momentum among consumers.

 

[wmurch3]

considering moving to the G7 from the V30+. I like that the G7 has a super bright mode, the cameras are better (ffs is for sure), side power button and I don't care that it has a notch.

LG is so bad at software updates though. almost makes me not want to buy another LG but I do like their hardware a lot.

I am having some annoying problems with my bluetooth randomly disconnecting on my v30. So frustrating!

 

[Deepak Thomas]

The hardware on LG is among the best..but the software leaves a lot to desired. Their dual sim functionality is one of the worst i have seen till date. every time you make a call u need to toggle the sim witch to make the call before you dial. All other OEMs either have the option to pre determine the default option or would ask at the time of each dial in. So frustrating..If LG doesnt ensure ease of use of their fabulous hardware..thru the software..then users will simply abandon the brand no matter how good the hardware or looks are

 

[mike146]

What I mean is that you have to set the volume levels are independent on the device and headphones, i.e. when you adjust the volume on the headphones the volume on the device is not changed.

Not trying to be an ***, but I have been trying to think of a reason why this matters. Want to know what I am missing. Can you please explain why volume control sync is so important?

 

[Morty2264]

Just got mine Wed. Still using the Note8 as well. The AOD with the G7 is much lighter, not liking that. But do love the bottom firing speaker much more, double tap is much missed. Just seems so far to me, that the Adaptive Brightness works better (software wise) on the Note8 to me in reacting to different light changes much quicker. Just a few things I've noticed.

My fiancé just got his G7 on Tuesday and one of the first things I did to it was double tap to wake. I'm so glad it has that! I loved that feature on my G3. Good to know about the bottom firing speaker. His audio does seem to sound quite good.

 

[wmurch3]

Not trying to be an ***, but I have been trying to think of a reason why this matters. Want to know what I am missing. Can you please explain why volume control sync is so important?

If I had to guess it's so you don't have to deal with turning up two sources of volume. On most phones when you're connected to a Bluetooth speaker and you hit the volume up/down you will see the volume slider go up/down on the phone.

 

[neil74]

Yes, this. You have to set the volume on the device and you have to also set it on your headphones and it is not always easy to know what your actual volume is!

Easy solution is to set it to maximum on the device and then control on the headphones but not all headphones give an indication of what volume you have set unless you have a companion app installed and not all headphones have a companion app.