LG's All-time Phone in a Few Years, But...

Later using the Samsung Galaxy S8+ and seeing how fragile that phone is, I was hoping the LG G6 would be a standout contender that would go toe-to-toe with Samsung'southward all-time. Unfortunately, while the G6 is a solid smartphone and 1 of LG's best, it falls backside in too many areas to take out the 'best smartphone' crown.

1 expanse where LG strongly succeeds is the design. The sealed metal-drinking glass chassis is well congenital and far more premium than anything LG has made previously. The display is i of the G6's best features. It'southward taller and therefore larger than before, occupying more space of the front end panel while shrinking the bezels. Similar with the Milky way S8, this makes the G6 look futuristic, while providing excellent brightness and an extremely well-baked 1440p-class image.

The G6 packs a decent array of features, including water resistance for the first time, a USB-C port, an ultra-fast fingerprint sensor, and a iii.5mm headphone jack. The microSD card slot has also been retained, while ditching the removable battery has allowed LG to include a significantly larger battery than the G5, leading to improved battery life.

One of the major downsides to the G6 is a collection of last-generation hardware. LG missed out on the Snapdragon 835, while other phones that shipped weeks later like the Milky way S8+, Xiaomi Mi 6 and Huawei P10, all use newer silicon.

The cameras have besides received a downgrade for the near part. Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation autofocus is gone, the color spectrum sensor is gone, and the selfie photographic camera is not equally good as on the G5. The inclusion of a secondary wide-bending photographic camera, now with a resolution that matches the main camera, is decent and certainly the best part of this photographic camera package. However image quality hasn't progressed much from last twelvemonth, and in some cases (particularly indoors) I experience the G6 camera has regressed.

The camera is still pretty good, though it tin't match the top dogs in the Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S8.

LG's software also needs a lot of work. Yous're still getting all the benefits of Android, but some of LG's additions – particularly duplicate apps and bloatware – are not exactly convenient. The interface looks dated in comparison to vanilla Android and some other top skins, which doesn't suit the new design all that well.

When you combine these features, what you're left with is a proficient telephone. Not a great telephone, non the best phone on the marketplace, but a skillful phone. It's LG's all-time phone in a few years, and that'south something to commend them on.

Shopping shortcuts:

  • LG G6 on Amazon
  • LG G6 on LG.com

For those who purchase phones outright, it'southward also nice to run across the LG G6 currently retailing on Amazon for around $150 less than the Galaxy S8. I feel the asking price of $550 is about right for the LG G6 and its position in the market. Were it more expensive, in the traditional $650 range, I'd be questioning why LG had priced it so high.

Pros: Expansive, high-quality brandish. LG's best phone pattern yet. Water resistant. Dual photographic camera solution is handy. Contemporary modular system is gone, leading to better battery life.

Cons: Hardware and performance straight out of last yr. LG'south software needs a lot of polish. Photographic camera is expert, only tin can't match the best and is missing features included in the G5.