No matter how good the V30 is, it still may not put a huge dent in sales of the duopoly.

[flyingkytez]

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I think we're headed to a boring, monotonus stretch with smartphones...where there is so much conformity.

Totally agree. The V20 was the last "fun" phone to hit the market. Seems like everyone wants a basic phone like iPhones or Pixels. "Take away the headphone jack and everything! We don't need em!"

 

[MSFTisMIA]

What do people do when they exercise or go to the gym? They wear headphones and listen to music on their phone. Music is a billion dollar industry, if not making money through music sales it's through advertising. Watching music videos on YouTube is considered listening to music on your phone. Only a few old timers don't really care for music but a mobile phone is the primary media player for most people, especially the younger generation. Most people don't even have laptops and ipods/mp3 players/CD players are near extinction. Smartphones and music go hand and hand.

Not everyone in the gym who works out wears wired headphones. When I mean a lack of a USB-C standard, this is what I'm talking about:

1) You cannot plug in HTC made USB-C headphones into any other OEM devices and get audio. You cannot plug in a Moto don't into a HTC U11 and get audio.

2) I can plug in my USB-C headphones into my Mi Note 2 (and 950XL) and play audio right away. When I plug them into my V20, I have to manually select the audio from the same pop-up window that occurs when you try to data transfer via cable to a PC. And I lose the Hifi DAC because it's tuned for the 3.5mm jack. I'm sure it's hit or miss like that with other phones.

When everyone plugs into a 3.5mm there's no fiddling...just play and go.

Sony had a comparable issue. In my former Z3 and current Z3 tablet compact, active noise cancelling​ was done in concert with the phone and specific headphones. You can still get regular audio, but not the noise cancelling. I plugged the noise cancelling headphones into other 3.5mm Jack and it gave off static and played no audio. By the Z5, Sony built the noise cancelling into the phone so you could plug in whatever headphones and still get active noise cancelling.

Google has a terrible track record for audio. It is only now improving Bluetooth audio using some of Sony's codecs (so when they kill the 3.5mm in the Pixel 2, you know why). They barely scrapped together a standard for USB-C charging just now and got OEMs and Qualcomm to follow.

I don't mind if they kill the 3.5mm, but a sensible compromise is one universal standard codec that all OEMs can use and s secondary profile that allows OEMs to deliver custom sound through proprietary headphones. That way, if you lose the damn dongle and are tight on a budget, you get an adequate replacement and are not assed out.

 

[Aquila]

Google has a terrible track record for audio

The Pixel DAC was pretty decent, but the 3.5mm jack was underpowered, supplying about half the power that the V20, iPhone 7+, etc.

 

[recDNA]

It could but Samsung and Apple continue to provide much better cameras for the point and shoot majority. Wide angle and other gimmicks attract precious few. Give me a good low light shot in my living room that doesn't come out yellow or pixelated and does not require fiddling with settings. If LG could do that they could increase market share. Make it the brightest screen for outdoor viewing. Add practical features most people use. A 4000mAh battery is better than 6gb ram. A headphone jack is better than curved edges. Easy reliable HDMI connection is better than second screen. LED notifications are better than AOD but include both! Then market these advantages. Don't show us big stars on motorcycles with phone in hand. Demonstrate how LG phone is better than iPhone and Samsung.

 

[anon(5630457)]

If the V30 has great specs, like an decent IPXX rating, a big battery, and great cameras, I will seriously consider it vs the Note 8, iPhone 8, and Pixel 2.

 

[mchi5]

And Just Remember... 97.835 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

I would like to see some hard evidence to support this claim

IMO, the people who come to these forums and post probably make up 10-15% of all cell phone users. A "common" buyer will walk into their provider store (Verizon, Sprint, etc) or big box stores (Best buy) and ask for either an iPhone or Samsung. Most people never heard of Huawei, One Plus, etc, or if they have have no idea the differences.

For instance when I got the LG G6, my friend who I thought was pretty tech savvy, asked me what phone I got. When I told him "The LG G6" he was like, "oh that's the new Samsung G6?". WTF?

** Oops realized after I posted I'm off topic. Sorry!**

 

[Aquila]

IMO, the people who come to these forums and post probably make up 10-15% of all cell phone users.

My best guess is 1-2%. Your point stands, I just think it's way more slanted the other way than even your assessment.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

Im not sure what real life you're referring to. If you are only referring to phones and have heard no interest in wide angle that's one thing. In photography, wide angle lenses are very important as are telephoto and are tools no photographer worth his salt will do without. Dual cameras in cell phones are still in their infancy and have physical limitations so its hard to get it all in and every brand is going to have their own version of what is best till it all shakes out. Time will tell.

That may be true for photographers carrying around DSLRs, but it isn't true of smartphone users. Smartphone users don't care about wide-angle lenses. A wide-angle lens does very little that panorama stitching can't do. As long as there isn't any movement in front of the camera, the results are the same or better with panorama image stitching. Here's a shot from my Note 5 that I took out of my Google Photos. Click on it for better quality if you think the huge thumbnail is blurry.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=LUtGNzFnYjdJVFlOSVJIaHFMTloyb0phRDY0R3ZR

 

[Mike Dee]

That may be true for photographers carrying around DSLRs, but it isn't true of smartphone users. Smartphone users don't care about wide-angle lenses. A wide-angle lens does very little that panorama stitching can't do. As long as there isn't any movement in front of the camera, the results are the same or better with panorama image stitching. Here's a shot from my Note 5 that I took out of my Google Photos. Click on it for better quality if you think the huge thumbnail is blurry.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=LUtGNzFnYjdJVFlOSVJIaHFMTloyb0phRDY0R3ZR

Wide angle is fairly new to smartphones and you can't speak for all smartphone users. I never use panorama and its not the same as a wide angle shot. I could say smartphone users don't care about panorama but I won't because I can't confirm its true.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

AFAIK, and I'm definitely not an expert, the current kings of audio are these in this order: LG V10, LG V20, HTC U11, ZTE Axon 7 and then the 835 devices that are consistently pushing roughly 1V through the port or better. But, those 4 devices are so close to each other that the differences are essentially based on preferences and the type of content being listened to.

From what I have seen in PocketNow real audio reviews, it is more like LG V20, ZTE Axon 7, OnePlus 5, 835 devices, HTC U11. The U11's audio is a bit behind the 835s with headphone jacks. No idea where the LG V10 lands.

Wide angle is fairly new to smartphones and you can't speak for all smartphone users. I never use panorama and its not the same as a wide angle shot. I could say smartphone users don't care about panorama but I won't because I can't confirm its true.

Wide angle isn't that new to LG, but very few people care about it. None of the other manufacturers have followed LGs lead for that reason. Smartphone owners don't really care about panoramas either, but the feature essentially negates the need for a wide-angle lens. In fact, using a panorama means I am using the same sensor and aperture as my primary camera. LG wide angle lenses and even the telephoto lenses of other brands always have smaller apertures.

 

[Aquila]

From what I have seen in PocketNow real audio reviews, it is more like LG V20, ZTE Axon 7, OnePlus 5, 835 devices, HTC U11. The U11's audio is a bit behind the 835s with headphone jacks. No idea where the LG V10 lands.

Ok. Jerry from AC was giving the nod to the V10. I'm surprised to see the U11 so low?

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

Ok. Jerry from AC was giving the nod to the V10. I'm surprised to see the U11 so low?

The guy from PocketNow has a history working in audio. Here is his real audio review.

 

[Mike Dee]

From what I have seen in PocketNow real audio reviews, it is more like LG V20, ZTE Axon 7, OnePlus 5, 835 devices, HTC U11. The U11's audio is a bit behind the 835s with headphone jacks. No idea where the LG V10 lands.



Wide angle isn't that new to LG, but very few people care about it. None of the other manufacturers have followed LGs lead for that reason. Smartphone owners don't really care about panoramas either, but the feature essentially negates the need for a wide-angle lens. In fact, using a panorama means I am using the same sensor and aperture as my primary camera. LG wide angle lenses and even the telephoto lenses of other brands always have smaller apertures.

If you want believe it go ahead but Panorama does not negate wide angle. They are similar but not the same and don't take the same shot.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

If you want believe it go ahead but Panorama does not negate wide angle. They are similar but not the same and don't take the same shot.

Unless there is movement, panorama takes a better shot than wide angle.

 

[vasekvi]

That may be true for photographers carrying around DSLRs, but it isn't true of smartphone users. Smartphone users don't care about wide-angle lenses. A wide-angle lens does very little that panorama stitching can't do. As long as there isn't any movement in front of the camera, the results are the same or better with panorama image stitching. Here's a shot from my Note 5 that I took out of my Google Photos. Click on it for better quality if you think the huge thumbnail is blurry.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=LUtGNzFnYjdJVFlOSVJIaHFMTloyb0phRDY0R3ZR

Are you kidding me? The wide angle lens is the primary reason I sold my 4 month old V10 and got a V20. And it's the main reason I got my girlfriend a G6 and not an S8

 

[Mike Dee]

Unless there is movement, panorama takes a better shot than wide angle.

Good luck with your Samsung and your panorama

 

[vasekvi]

Unless there is movement, panorama takes a better shot than wide angle.

When you take video all bets are off. You can't do diddly with panorama.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

Are you kidding me? The wide angle lens is the primary reason I sold my 4 month old V10 and got a V20. And it's the main reason I got my girlfriend a G6 and not an S8

Good luck with your Samsung and your panorama

Digital Photography Review tested the LG G6's wide angle lens as part of their LG G6 review. This is what they had to say.

"The G6 super-wide-angle camera comes with the same sensor resolution but a slower F2.4 aperture than the main lens. As it is often the case with very wide lenses, it is softer, especially towards the edges of the frame and shows noticeably more distortion.
Image processing is noticeably different compared to the main camera, too. The super-wide-angle appears to apply stronger noise reduction to its images, resulting in softer detail and more smeared luminance noise.
Overall image detail and sharpness of the super-wide-angle are not on the same level as the main camera but it still offers a very convenient and easy way of fitting more of a scene into the frame at the push of a button."

They also said this about an indoor shot.
"Due to the slower lens aperture the camera has to increase sensitivity to ISO 1000 to capture the indoor shot below. Detail is clearly suffering and noise is getting more intrusive but overall this is still a very usable shot, even at larger image sizes."
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/lg-g6-camera-review/7

It may be convenient to take a shot with the wide angle lens, but it absolutely harms the quality of the image. Something that doesn't happen with a good panorama (aside from things in motion)

There is no reason to use a wide angle lens for video.

 

[vasekvi]

Digital Photography Review tested the LG G6's wide angle lens as part of their LG G6 review. This is what they had to say.

"The G6 super-wide-angle camera comes with the same sensor resolution but a slower F2.4 aperture than the main lens. As it is often the case with very wide lenses, it is softer, especially towards the edges of the frame and shows noticeably more distortion.
Image processing is noticeably different compared to the main camera, too. The super-wide-angle appears to apply stronger noise reduction to its images, resulting in softer detail and more smeared luminance noise.
Overall image detail and sharpness of the super-wide-angle are not on the same level as the main camera but it still offers a very convenient and easy way of fitting more of a scene into the frame at the push of a button."

They also said this about an indoor shot.
"Due to the slower lens aperture the camera has to increase sensitivity to ISO 1000 to capture the indoor shot below. Detail is clearly suffering and noise is getting more intrusive but overall this is still a very usable shot, even at larger image sizes."
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/lg-g6-camera-review/7

It may be convenient to take a shot with the wide angle lens, but it absolutely harms the quality of the image. Something that doesn't happen with a good panorama (aside from things in motion)

There is no reason to use a wide angle lens for video.

You just cannot get the same effects with panorama. Plain and simple. You may have points on quality and such but the bottom line is sometimes you just want to take out your phone and shoot a quick wide angle photo or video.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=XzJkbFRDMm9EV1NfUXV4dTFUWUlfY3ZtemhQTE9B

 

[Mike Dee]

You just cannot get the same effects with panorama. Plain and simple. You may have points on quality and such but the bottom line is sometimes you just want to take out your phone and shoot a quick wide angle photo or video.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=XzJkbFRDMm9EV1NfUXV4dTFUWUlfY3ZtemhQTE9B


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The quality is only different because the wide angle sensor is different. That changed with G6 and probably will change with the V30.