My LG G4 review after 2 weeks

[Zendroid1]

I'm nearing my return window so I wanted to write a review of my T-Mobile version after two weeks use.

What I love:
-The form factor - same size screen as my iPhone 6 plus but easier to hold and maneuver
-The screen - Love the curve, and the way it feels in my hand
-The exchangeable backs - I hate cases and this gives me options to change the looks without using a case
-The SD slot - for obvious reasons
-The freebies - free battery, free 32gb card, free 128gb card, hard to beat
-The camera - under certain conditions blows away other cameras
-The double tap to wake/sleep
-It's just a fun phone, theres some intangible aspect that I can't place my finger on that makes me really like this phone

What I don't love:
-Battery life - I was very optimistic in the beginning due to the time it went from 100-99% but then it dives fast after that. In addition it seems my battery is getting worse over time. The first few days I got 4.5 hours SoT or so and now with the same usage I'm getting 3 hours SoT or a bit more.
-The camera - It is very capable but falls short compared to other flagships FOR MY USE. The double tap volume down to launch is nice but much slower than the S6. The focus takes much longer to lock than the S6 and my iPhone 6 Plus. It just is a longer process going from open camera to snapping pic. I got many more keepers of my 2 year old on my S6 and my iPhone 6 plus. It just focuses and snaps slowly many times.
-The system lag - I don't have this all the time and in every app but I do have definitely lag in Chrome and some other apps. Stutters, jerks etc. whatever you want to call it.
-The bloat - I knew this coming in and it's minor compared to my S6 but I hate that I can't even disable the My Tmobile app.
-No root - and not looking like it's coming anytime soon so I can't remedy the last bullet point
-The screen brightness - The adaptive brightness is screwy and just not good compared to my other phones. The screen is often way too dark for my liking and I don't like having to adjust manually all the time.
-Smart notices - Do nothing for me. they tell me obvious things at random times and probably suck up battery.

I'm on the fence, there's just something I love about this phone but I'm torn which I like more between his and my S6 Edge. I'm not here to rip the phone because I do love a lot about it and I love what LG does with it's phones. My 2 favorite phones ever are the Nexus 4 and 5. I need to decide soon if I'm keeping or returning this!

 

[aggie]

I'm in the exact same boat as you. I like the phone alot but have a hard time deciding which I want to keep between it and the S6. I'm actually getting better battery life on the S6 which is surprising. The dim auto brightness is another issue for me too. Display, battery, and camera to the S6 but there is just something about the G4 that makes me like using it more. Maybe the larger display, curve, and I love how the leather back looks and feels.

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

 

[GrooveRite]

Nice review! Sorry the G4 isn't working out for you. It may simply not be the device for your needs and that's understandable. Good luck with your S6E!

 

[ibcop]

I agree with the auto dimming feature - mine will appear to "flicker" as it changes and drives me crazy. Battery life is fine for me as I will not cripple a device in order to extend battery life - I simply make the necessary preparations I think I'll need to have more juice whether its an extra battery, charger or battery pack. At least with the G4 you can swap a battery out in less than 30 seconds. I'm sure some software tweaks will be forthcoming to address some issues already identified.

Good luck in your decision. Simply use the device that's best for your needs.

 

[Duncan1982]

Agree about the Autobrightness its really not that great.

I'm lucky enough to have both the S6E & G4.

There are things I like & dislike on both like the Camera on the Edge is just that little bit better (not much in it though) Autobrightness is better on the Edge. Battery life on the Edge is better.

However the G4 has that sweet 5.5" screen and its great in that it has more real estate. Removable battery & Storage are big plusses. The curve and in hand feel is fantastic.

The Edge does feel more premium but I'm not detracting from what a fine job Lg have done with the G4.

I like both and will be alternating between them as mood takes.

The G4 is a win on a lot of aspects, as is the S6E and I would have difficulties deciding between them if I was placed in that scenario.

Good luck with your decision my friend, whatever you decide it will be the right one for you.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[truthteller10]

After trying every new flagship that hit the market this year so far there is one phone that has saved me from becoming an IOS user. The unlikely phone here is the Sony Xperia z3. Albeit the front facing camera is trash, everything else about the phone amazes. I am getting a day in a half of use with 6 hours of SOT easily and this is with all those lovely features that most have to deactivate to get mere 4 hours of SOT. The UI is amazingly fluid and the back camera is just as good as others. After using it for 3 days I must say it has won me over so far.

 

[aggie]

Agree on z3 battery. Sony has the battery optimization figured out. My Xperia Z2 kept going and going and going. However it wasn't as waterproof as Sony stated and met an untimely death. I may give the z3 a try if I return the G4.

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

 

[firefight352]

I've heard a few people complain about the auto brightness on this phone, and I have to say its been a complete non issue for me.

I feel like it adjusts quickly to the ambient light, and when set at auto, I never see the need to increase or decrease...

I'm glad the auto is suitable for me because that would be an issue for me...

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

 

[KPMcClave]

Rolling a couple of replies and questions in to one here. My G4 will be delivered tomorrow. I'm moving from a Droid Turbo.

Where lag is concerned, is it still possible to go in to Settings > Developer options >scroll to the animations section (there are 3 listed on KitKat/Turbo). Setting them to .5x speeds up animations and may take away some of your lag. I had originally set mine to 0, but that made the dialer on the Turbo wonky. Worth a try for anyone who isn't aware of this tweak (and assuming it is still possible in Lollipop).

WRT to the camera and your various opinions, what situations specifically does the G4 handle better than the S6 or SG Edge? The Turbo camera did just fine in perfect codntions, but I take a lot of shots of my daughter playing basketball. Bright, indoor gym, during the day, she's 8 so not blazingly fast. The Turbo was actually a step *down* from my prior Droid Maxx for shots like this (and the Maxx was only meh). I'm assuming with the 1.8 f-stop that this is the type shot that the G4 may handle better than the Galaxy cameras? Lower (not low) light with motion?

I'm rather surprised and disappointed with the reports in this thread of battery life on the G4 (compared to the S6 anyway). I'm coming from a Razr Maxx HD > Maxx > Turbo and BlackBerry's for 7 years before that. Obviously battery life is very important to me. In fact, if the G4 didn't have the swappable battery, I likely wouldn't have bought one. The camera had been enticing me for a while.

Of course, our usage is all different, so I hope I can get mine tweaked to maximize battery (without crippling...there's plenty I don't use or won't ever use that I can disable).

Thanks for the good info, guys.

 

[Zendroid1]

The g4 camera shines when you have slow moving objects or time to take a shot of a scene with little to no movement. For me the g4 just focuses slow and there is some lag in the time you press the shutter button to the actual picture being taken.

I have a two year old and if I take ten shots 1-2 are not blurry and 8 or 9 are. the good shots of moving objects are much higher on my s6 or iPhone 6 plus. I really wish it wasn't true but it is for me!

 

[Duncan1982]

Rolling a couple of replies and querstions in to one here. My G4 will be delivered tomorrow. I'm moving from a Droid Turbo.

Where lag is concerned, is it still possible to go in to Settings > Developer options >scroll to the animations section (there are 3 listed on kitKat/Turbo). Setting them to .5x speeds up animations and may take away some of your lag. I had originally set mine to 0, but that made the dialer on the Turbo wonky. Worth a try for anyone who isn't aware of this tweak (and assuming it is still possible in Lollipop).

WRT to the camera and your various ooinions, what situatyions does the G4 handle better than the S6 or SG Edge? The Turbo camera did just fine in perfect codntions, but I take a lot of shots of my daughter playing basketball. Bright, indoor gym during the day, she's 8 so not blazingly fast. The TRurbo was actually a step *down* from my prior Droid Maxx for shots like this (and the Maxx was only meh). I'm assuming with the 1.8 f stop that this is the type shot that the G4 may handle better than the Galaxy cameras? Lower (not low) light with motion?

I'm rather surprised and disappointed with the reports in this thread of battery life on the G4. I'm coming from a Razr Maxx HD, Maxx, Turbo and BlackBerry's for 7 years before that. Obviously battery life is very important to me. In fact, if the G4 didn't have the swappable battery, I likely wouldn't have bought one. The camera had been enticing me for a while.

Of course, our usage is all different, so I hope I can get mine tweaked to maximize battery (without crippling...there's plenty I don't use or won't ever use that I can disable).

Thanks for the good info, guys.

You will get varying information due to some outright hating Android, trolls that just want to be misleading for some weird gratification.

Then there are the balanced opinions and some where it just works as the annoyances will vary also from user to user.

So just search for the reviews threads most here have written up some great ones including myself.

So my thread is initial impressions & pending review if you use the search it should come up.

It's just easier than writing everything up again dude

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[anon(1733)]

I am to disappointed with the G4. I absolutely loved my G3 too. Things I did love about the the G4 were the camera and screen. But for me the battery life was horrible. I could not even make it through an entire day without charging it sometimes twice. I also had problems with lag in the device. The phone would stutter and freeze at times. I tried reboots, factory resets and the issue would always return. I am sure LG will release a patch and fix the issues though as it is software related and should be a easy fix. I also had the same issue with the S6 edge.

I ended up switching the the HTC M9. The camera is not nearly as good as on the G4 nor is the screen but the device is very fluid and works extremely well for my use. My hope is once LG releases fixes for the issues I had with the device I will buy another one and use it with as much love as I had for my G3.

 

[Duncan1982]

Any new device MAY have issues at launch like loads and loads and loads OK you get the point have said the S6&S6E battery sucks hmm well I get consistently 5+hrs screen on with mixed ussage.

Many here have had no issue's some a few and others many.

Welcome to the world of Technology :-O

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[truthteller10]

Agree on z3 battery. Sony has the battery optimization figured out. My Xperia Z2 kept going and going and going. However it wasn't as waterproof as Sony stated and met an untimely death. I may give the z3 a try if I return the G4.

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

lol just dont take it underwater

 

[imnjs]

I just can't see where you guys are getting lag from. This phone has been a rocket from day one. I get it though. I got the S6 on launch day and thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread but after the anniversary period the little things started to jump out at me and that gut feeling of buyer's remorse set in and I eventually took it back to save my upgrade for this phone.

I am happy with it. Is there little things that would make me happier if different? Sure, and maybe they will at some point, but overall this device has been one that (since June 3) I have not been able to put down, and for me that is rare because I get bored pretty easily, especially with technology I've seen reiterated a thousand times.

We've already received some updates, and some carriers have already hinted at bug fixes coming through the pipeline towards the end of the month. I'm definitely going to wait this one out, because when the kinks are worked out across the board, I truly do believe this is going to be a spectacular device, and honestly, probably one of the last of it's kind (being one of the last flagships with a removable battery).

 

[Duncan1982]

I just can't see where you guys are getting lag from. This phone has been a rocket from day one. I get it though. I got the S6 on launch day and thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread but after the anniversary period the little things started to jump out at me and that gut feeling of buyer's remorse set in and I eventually took it back to save my upgrade for this phone.

I am happy with it. Is there little things that would make me happier if different? Sure, and maybe they will at some point, but overall this device has been one that (since June 3) I have not been able to put down, and for me that is rare because I get bored pretty easily, especially with technology I've seen reiterated a thousand times.

We've already received some updates, and some carriers have already hinted at bug fixes coming through the pipeline towards the end of the month. I'm definitely going to wait this one out, because when the kinks are worked out across the board, I truly do believe this is going to be a spectacular device, and honestly, probably one of the last of it's kind (being one of the last flagships with a removable battery).

The G3 is indicative of this train of thought and the G4 will have the kinks ironed out.

Then some may have regrets

Posted via the Android Central App