t's official... finally. LG has revealed the G3 smartphone at simultaneous global events, introducing the world's first QHD resolution handset after weeks of leaks, rumours and speculation.
More than a simple upgrade to last year's G2, the G3 is every bit the flagship handset, with features that put the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S5 and the HTC One (m8) to shame.
LG G3 DISPLAY
The G3's headline feature is an incredibly high resolution screen. The 5.5in LCD display has a 2,560x1,440 resolution, making it the highest resolution display ever seen in a commercial smartphone. By squeezing in so many pixels, LG has achieved an unbelievable 538ppi pixel density, almost doubling the amount Apple describes as necessary for a "retina" display.
Each individual pixel is reduced in size by around 44% versus a traditional Full HD resolution screen, helping the company squeeze more pixels into a smartphone screen than any other manufacturer. LG says that the human eye is more than capable of spotting the difference between HD, Full HD and QHD resolutions, and was keen to point out the differences between Samsung's AMOLED screens and the G3's IPS LCD screen.
LG has used it's own unique optimisations, known as 3a, to help keep battery life as high as possible despite the increase in resolution. This system includes adaptive frame rates, dropping frames when displaying still images, adaptive CPU clocking, reducing CPU speeds when running less intensive apps, and adaptive timing control.
LG G3 BUILD QUALITY AND MATERIALS
Despite rumours suggesting the G3 would be made entirely from metal, just like HTC's One m8, in the end LG went for a middle ground - the G3 has a metal-like finish that looks convincing, doesn't attract fingerprints and isn't as slippery as the G2's plastic coating, but isn't as cold to the touch as actual aluminium.
The 146.3x74.7x8.9mm handset has the same rear-facing buttons as the G2, albeit refined with a flatter shape that sits flush to the phone, rather than protruding outwards slightly. By putting the buttons on the back, LG has saved space on the edges of the handset, meaning the screen bezels are impressively slim.
The handset will be arriving in a choice of colours, with metallic black, silk white, shine gold, moon violet and burgundy red all scheduled to arrive at launch. A slightly curved back and edges should mean it stays firmly in your hands, despite the large screen size.
LG G3 PERFORMANCE
Performance comes from a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU running at 2.5GHz, paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage - putting it on par with Samsung's Galaxy S5, the HTC One m8 and the Sony Xperia Z2. There will also be a more powerful variant, with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage, but it's currently unclear whether it will see a UK release.
Both models will have a microSD card slot for adding extra capacity, with compatibility with up to 2GB microSD cards - assuming you can actually find someone to sell you a 2GB card.
Finally, the 3,000mAh battery is removable, and should be capable of lasting all day on a single charge.
LG G3 CAMERA
On paper, it seems as though the rear camera has received a minor upgrade over the G2; it has the same 13-megapixel OIS+ optical image stabilisation sensor, now paired with a dual LED flash. Hower, the addition of a laser autofocus system, the first of its kind in a smartphone, will apparently help the handset shoot clearer, faster photos than competing smartphones. It will also shoot Quad HD video, for playback on the handset or a 4K TV.
It arrives with a new Touch and Shoot mode, which strips away all unnecessary icons and UI in order to let you focus on taking great photos rather than fiddling with shooting modes. Making a fist will automatically start a countdown timer, saving you scrabbling for the shutter button when shooting selfies.
The front-facing webcam has seen a bigger upgrade, with a larger 2.1-megapixel sensor and f/2.0 aperture for brighter shots. LG has rebranded it the Selfie Camera, and we imagine it will prove capable for snapchat addicts.
LG G3 SOFTWARE
The G3 runs the latest 4.4 KitKat version of Google's Android operating system, customised with LG's own flat user interface and integrated apps.
Some features will be familiar to anyone that's seen the G Pro 2, with Knock Code unlocking the handset using a pattern of taps rather than drawing a shape or typing in a password.
Others, including smart keyboard, are brand new. It lets you swipe upwards using your left or right thumb to select suggested words, or long-press the spacebar to edit text, which should mean less time spent moving your hands up and down the screen as you type and edit text. Words get bigger while you type them, so you don't have to move your line of sight to check you've got the right word. You can change the height of the keyboard and the keyboard will adapt to your typing style, recognising your movements over time to reduce errors.
Smart Notice is the other major addition. It behaves in a similar manner to Google Now, but focuses more on usability than reminders or notifications. If you send a message during a meeting saying you'll return a call, the handset will remind you later in the day to make sure you don't forget. It suggests when to uninstall apps or delete files you no longer use in order to free up memory or storage, and can remind you to turn on battery saving mode should you run low on charge.
LG G3 UK RELEASE DATE
It will be going on sale in Korea from tomorrow on wards, but LG won't be bringing the G3 to the UK until early July. Although the UK networks have yet to reveal official details, you can expect the likes of EE, Vodafone, Three, O2 and Virgin to all sell the handset on Pay-as-you-Go and monthly contract deals. We're still waiting for an official word on price.
Stay tuned for a hands-on first look, as we get our hands on the G3 before it goes on sale.
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