LG G4 deals and reviews

Should you buy the LG G4?

The LG G4, successor to last year's G3, is one of the largest smartphones on the market today, with a display quality that makes the most of the space available to it, and a camera that can rival anything its competitors offer.

An all-round fast performer, the G4 is, without doubt, a strong contender for smartphone of the year, with a 'phablet' display size, top camera quality, the ability to expand the amount of storage available to you (via microSD), and a battery that can last for up to two days of general use. You can get the G4 either with a plastic rear, or for a more quality feel, a leather rear.

Display

The LG G4's display is its standout feature. At 5.5 inches (the same as last year's G3) the G4 is positioned against other phablets, matching the display size of the iPhone 6 Plus, and dwarfing the iPhone 6's 4.7 inches, HTC One M9's 5 inches, and the Samsung Galaxy S6's 5.1 inches.

The gain in display size doesn't reduce display quality either. The colour palette of the G4's display is impressive, offering pin-sharp images from its 538 pixels per inch (ppi) display – this pixel density places it between the iPhone 6 Plus (at 401ppi) and Galaxy S6 (at 577ppi).

Commenting on the G4's display, CNET note: "LG reports that its phone's color accuracy has improved, resulting in more true-to-life red and blue tones. Though it's not necessarily noticeable when looking at the G4 by itself, color differences become more discernible when placed side by side with other [handsets]."

Design

An area in which the G4 doesn't make quite such an impressive impact is the casing design.

Though many reviewers noted that the G4 is very comfortable to hold, there was a general consensus that despite this, the plastic around the phone can feel somewhat cheap in the hand compared to its closest rivals; namely the iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy S6, and HTC One M9.

LG also offer the G4 with a sophisticated leather backing that received generally favourable reviews from those using it – this could be a worthwhile alternative if the G4's plastic build puts you off this phone. PhoneArena liked this feature: "The G4 can be picked up with a casing that's comprised out of vegetable tanned leather, a process that we're told takes approximately 3 months to complete."

Camera

So what would be the G4's second strongest feature? Probably its 16-megapixel camera.

In their review, The Guardian noted that "The G4's camera has some of the best low-light performance I have ever tested on a smartphone", while The Verge were impressed by the phone's exposure options: "The G4 has a new camera app that includes both automatic and manual exposure options while ignoring many of the gimmicky camera modes of years past… It's the most comprehensive manual camera mode I've used on any smartphone."

The story is the same across a wide range of G4 reviews: the camera is highly versatile in both high and low-light. The manual exposure options are some of the most impressive available on any smartphone, and it was also universally reported that the automatic exposure mode does a standout job on its own. The G4's front-facing camera, coming in at 8-megapixels, also received high praise. The phone also has an app called Quick Shot, enabling lock-screen two-tap access to the camera, making it very quick to grab a pic.

Removable battery and Expandable Storage

A welcome feature of the G4 was the ability for users to expand the phone's storage via microSD, something that is lacking in some rival high-end phones like the iPhone and the Galaxy S6. The phone itself comes with 32GB of internal storage. It also comes with a large, removable battery, which is just as well, as several reviwers considered the battery life to be rather average. Removable batteries and expandable storage used to be commonplace in smartphones, but the trend for flagship devices of recent times has been to have as few removable components as possible, so LG's decision to incorporate these in the G4 was warmly received by many reviewers.

Performance

The G4 is a fast performer. Coming with a Snapdragon 808 processor, the overall system performance of the G4 is very good. It would be hard to imagine the phone performing much faster in general use, even if LG had opted for the slightly more expensive Snapdragon 810 processor - they decided against that option based on reports of the 810 processor causing other mobile devices to heat up rapidly during general use (it was dumped from Samsung's flagship Galaxy S6).

The G4 comes with 3GB of RAM, which ensures you have enough to handle the high-resolution camera pictures, gaming, and anything else you need. Most reviewers noted that even memory-intensive games worked well. AndroidPIT said: "All the lovely animations of Android Lollipop run smoothly on the Snapdragon 808, web browsing is a cinch, and switching between open apps - even demanding games like Asphalt 8 and Real Boxing - is buttery smooth."

Android 5.1 Lollipop and UX 4.0

The G4 comes ready with the latest version of Android, 5.1 Lollipop, with LG's own overlay, UX 4.0.

Lollipop comes with the standard array of apps you'll be used to if you've owned an Android phone in the past - Gmail, Chrome, Google Maps, and so forth. LG's UX 4.0 comes with a number of fun features, including a Dual Window multi-tasking option, lock screen animations and clean app icons. Opinion is divided over the beauty of UX 4.0, but the CNET reviewers were fans, noting: "Bright, colorful and more in tune with Android's Material Design aesthetic, UX 4.0 is LG's most refreshing UI yet."

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100	TechRadar | Gareth Beavis LG has tried to focus on what everyone actually wants out of a smartphone, a great looking design, color rich display and the great camera for photos - but it doesn't quite deliver as impressively as we'd hoped. Read full review
100	Expert Reviews | Katharine Byrne The G4 may not be as powerful as other flagship smartphones, but it's certainly got a wealth of features to help it stand out from the competition. Definitely the phone to choose if you want a top-end handset that can adapt to your own needs. It wins a Recommended award. Read full review
100	Alphr | Jonathan Bray The LG G4 isn't the fastest or sleekest smartphone around, but it is the most practical of the market-leading flagship handsets. Read full review
100	Recombu | Alex Todd If it isn't clear, the LG G4 is a feature-packed handset and a fitting offering amidst the current top smartphones on the scene. It's noticeably more affordable than its main rivals without falling short on quality. Well played LG. Read full review
100	S21 The G4 really is something a little different, thanks to the beautiful leather finish on the back. It´s a stunning design in every way, and one that really does ooze premium look and feel. Read full review
100	What Hi-Fi? We admire the LG G4 for daring to do something different. That leather back may not be to everyone's taste, but it's a refreshing change that makes the phone stand out. The audio quality may not be up there with the class leaders, but this is more than compensated for by the brilliant camera and the ability to tinker with batteries and memory cards. Read full review
100	Stuff | Andrew Williams The camera is top notch, the screen brilliant and those extra 0.4 inches of screen space will be enough to convince a bunch of buyers. Only time will tell whether using a slightly lower-end processor was a bad idea, but there are no major sacrifices right now. Read full review
100	PC Pro | Jonathan Bray Critically, it hasn't compromised on performance, battery life or camera quality, and by retaining both a microSD slot and a removable battery, the G4 will appeal to a whole tranche of customers to whom flexibility is most important. The LG G4 is best option for everyone else. It's a highly impressive smartphone, and one that – refreshingly – does things a little differently. Read full review
100	Mobile Choice | Sunetra Chakravarti With the G4, LG have given us a handset that stands out not just for sheer value but also for being different- one with an arc, removable back plate, expandable storage and when you see something that is such a worthy competitor to the crowd, you cant do anything but applaud the effort for sheer gumption. Read full review
100	The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs The LG G4 is a power-user's Android smartphone. One of the most usable and best phablets available. Read full review
90	Australian PC World | Tony Ibrahim The G4 is less about numbers on a spec sheet and more about how it works in the real world. Improvements made don't come at the expense of other features, and this means its list of positives is much longer than its list of negatives. Read full review
90	AndroidPit | Robert Zak The LG G4 screen is bold and beautiful and the phone's unique design... may well attract Android die-hards. It may not feature gizmos galore, but LG's latest flagship does everything it needs to really well. Read full review
90	jmcomms | Jonathan Morris If you're looking for a phone that can take photos of a quality that is on another level, the G4 is the phone for you. Read full review
90	TechSpot | Tim Schiesser Depending on what you want from your smartphone, the Galaxy S6 Active is a fantastic choice, especially for those that love smartphone cases and want superb battery life. Unfortunately, the Galaxy S6 Active hasn't been widely released by Samsung, which might make it a bit difficult to obtain outside the United States Read full review
90	Know Your Mobile | Richard Goodwin The LG G4 might not be the loudest and jazziest thing in the world but it is a solid handset that does everything you'd expect and a whole lot more. Pick one up and use it for a week or two and you'll know what I'm talking about. Read full review
90	Digital Trends | Ted Kritsonis The LG G4 is the best smartphone of 2015, and it's camera is so good that it often outperforms the competition... There's no doubt the G4 is the best handset LG has made to date, not just because of the components, but also because of the thoughtfulness that went into it. Read full review
90	Android Central | Alex Dobie The LG G4 is as close as you can get right now to a no-compromise, high-end Android phone. Almost everything about it is done exceptionally well, from the best-in-class screen and camera, to the reliable all-day battery life. LG's software is quicker and more responsive than ever before, and the premium leather backs add a welcome touch of class. Read full review
90	Brighthand | Dragan Petric LG's flagship phone should be the top pick for those that value smartphone cameras. Meanwhile, its modern design (especially the leather-clad version), ergonomics, and excellent display should appeal to everyone else. Read full review
90	Android Authority | Joshua Vergara With a unique and attractive design, great performance, and a fantastic camera, while also being the only current flagship to feature a replaceable battery, LG is attempting to provide users with a phone that offers literally everything you may want. Read full review
90	news.com.au | Harry Tucker "I didn't know how LG could best Samsung's brilliant Galaxy S6, but its incredible camera, great battery life and clean user interface may have just done it. If you're in the market for a new phone... and unless you need an iOS device, I couldn't recommend the G4 enough". Read full review
90	Register Hardware | Andrew Orlowski LG has made its own flagship for 2015 much more "Galaxy-like". It retains the removable battery of last year's G3 and is priced keenly off-contract. You can stuff in a Micro SD card up to 2TB. (No, 2TB-sized MicroSDs don't exist yet). So: come hither, ye disappointed Galaxy owners, we'll look after you now. Read full review
90	Mashable | Raymond Wong The G4 may not be made of metal and glass, but the genuine leather still feels premium in its own way. It's lightning fast and the user interface is finally devoid of all the crap that made its predecessors unbearable.The LG G4 packs all of the best mobile technologies into a sleek leather-clad smartphone. Read full review
90	AllThingsD | Robert Zac Is the LG G4 the best smartphone in the world? We think not, but by the thinnest of margins. It may not feature gizmos galore, but LG's latest flagship has certainly made our Best Android phones list that bit tougher to break into. Read full review
90	phoneArena | John V While it's not a dramatic update, the LG G4 manages to do what successive phones are required to do each and every year – and that's to improve upon the opportunities missed with last year's product. In that regard, we can attest that the G4 trumps the G3 in several key areas to making it a worthy successor. Read full review
89	YourTechExplained | Ben Schoon It's got the best camera, best battery life, the most options that die-hard Android users need, and everything thing else is on par with the competition. There's really not much to say, LG nailed it with the G4. Read full review
87	Engadget | Chris Velazco LG's 2015 flagship has a lot going for it, including a lovely pair of cameras and a screen that promises to be the most accurate on the market. As solid as the G4 is, though, it feels more like an iterative update than what LG really needs: a truly exciting flagship smartphone. Read full review
86	The Street | Gary Krakow As far as the phone's overall feel, everything seemed to work quickly and smoothly. The HD display offers crisp and clear views, the cameras produce high-quality stills and videos and the battery should last power users an entire day on a full charge. Read full review
85	Coolsmartphone | Dan In my time with the G4 I must say the stand out feature is the camera, that 16 megapixel shooter on the back is simply amazing when it comes to taking photos on the move, even low light ones. The rest seems to be a slight step up from the previous model with the main difference being if you get a version with a leather back on it. Read full review
85	Neowin | Nirave Gondhia If you want a truly unique smartphone, the LG G4 is among the best Android devices available on the market today, and I would highly recommend going for the leather version. If other flagship devices haven't quite hit the mark for you, then the G4 could be the smartphone you need; it's certainly not flawless but it definitely comes close. Read full review
85	TechnoBuffalo | Brandon Russell The G4 is a great, safe, predictable package, one that offers a pleasant experience overall. What LG is doing is staying the course, giving fans and technophiles a device that's powerful and functional. Read full review
80	Gadgets Now | Anupam Saxena LG G4 is better than its predecessor but Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are also great options designed more for one hand use, sporting a premium form factor. We'd recommend waiting for a price cut if you're looking forward to buy the G4. Overall, LG G4 is a well-balanced flagship smartphone let down mainly by its sub-par battery backup. Read full review
80	Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman The LG G4 is a capable flagship smartphone on the Android platform. It's a bit like a wolf in sheep's clothing. It wears the plastic garb of lesser phones, but packs the killer instincts required to bite back at the competition. Read full review
80	Tom's Guide | Michael Andronico The LG G4 offers a crisp quad-HD display and an excellent camera within an attractive leather design, though its battery life disappoints. Read full review
80	PC Advisor | Chris Martin On the whole, hardware is once again strong - particularly the camera - but not massively different from the G3 and has tough competition... This is the flagship to go for if you want a removable battery and expandable storage but it's a shame to see features like wireless charging dropped. Read full review
80	AnandTech | Joshua Ho Although LG hasn't gone for aluminum unibody design or a glass back, the G4 manages to have some real authenticity in its design as they don't seem to make any real attempt to dress up the fact that the phone is plastic. The glossy sides are a bit irritating, but overall I don't have a lot to complain about here. The leather backs also help a great deal with improving in-hand feel for those that don't want a plastic back cover. The removable back makes switching these covers out pretty easy, and also allows for removable battery and microSD, two features that can make or break a purchase for those that need them. Read full review
80	T3 | Gareth Beavis The LG G4 is definitely another step forward for the once-ailing smartphone brand, but it's a step that puts it further behind the leading pack. This is still a really great phone in so many ways, but there's nothing extraordinary about it that you can't find elsewhere. Read full review
80	NDTV Gadgets | Kunal Dua It has a unique design, an excellent display, and a camera that's up there with the best in terms of image quality. However, the large battery doesn't translate into equivalent real-world usage, and the software could use some improvements. Read full review
80	The Inquirer | Carly Page The LG G4 is undoubtedly among the best smartphones on the market today. We felt somewhat let down by the plastic design and average battery, but the gorgeous screen and impressive camera make it a worthy Galaxy S6 challenger, especially when its cheaper £499 price is considered. Read full review
80	Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader To many, the LG G4 will be the perfect Android phone: large, bright and sharply-dressed; powerful, sleek and long-lasting. It lacks the wireless charging of the Galaxy S6 and waterproofing of the Xperia Z3, but otherwise there aren't a lot of places to criticize it. Read full review
80	Digital Spy | Spencer Hart So LG has chosen the evolution route for the G4, then. It's a solid improvement on last year's phone, but probably doesn't present enough of a reason to upgrade if you have a G3 in your pocket already. That said, we are seriously impressed by the G4's camera, screen and battery life – three of the most important aspects when considering a new smartphone. It's also the only flagship device to offer a removable battery and expandable storage. If those things are important to you, then this phone is definitely worth your consideration. But there are faster phones out there and the plastic build quality can feel a little cheap compared to its more premium rivals. So while the LG G4 is very good, it's not quite top of the pile. Read full review
80	CNET UK | Lynn La , Andrew Hoyle hough it feels too similar to last year's G3, the LG G4 is an excellent big-screen smartphone that will appeal to budding photographers, and has old-school features missing from rival flagships. Read full review
80	Gizmodo UK | Darren Orf The LG G4 is a solid Android smartphone, one that won't disappoint you. If you're looking for a stellar camera and need that extra battery-swap utility, the G4 is the one you've been waiting for. Read full review
80	Forbes | Ian Morris So, what the G4 offers is less glitz and glamour than the Galaxy S6 but it gives Android enthusiasts a phone that they can use as they wish, with customization options aplenty and a removable battery and microSD card. Read full review
79	The Verge | Dan Seifert The G4 is really for the Android diehard, the person that loves the Galaxy S6's camera and performance, but can't imagine living with a phone that doesn't have a removable battery or Micro SD card slot. It's all fast processor and big screen and weird camera features - it's what most people think of when they think of Android. And that's exactly what some people want. Read full review
60	Trusted Reviews | Andrew Williams Performance issues and a relatively high price make this a disappointing mid-range Android. Read full review
50	OtherGadgette | Holly Brockwell I can't honestly recommend this phone for anything other than the camera. The ability to tweak manual settings and shoot in RAW is genuinely really cool, and useful to a very small audience of photophiles. For everyone else, avoid. Read full review

Compare LG G4 specs side-by-side with other phones COMPARE SPECS

Dimensions & Form	Form factor: Touchscreen bar Dimensions 148.9 x 76.1 x 9.8 mm (5.86 x 3 x 0.39 in) Weight: 155 g (5.47 oz)
Screen	Size: 5.5 inches diagonal Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels Screen Density: 534 ppi Screen-to-Body Ratio: 73.6 % Display Type: IPS LCD
Runs
Performance	Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 CPU: Quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 & dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57 GPU: Adreno 418 RAM: 3GB
Camera	Main Camera: 16 megapixels with LED flash and Laser Auto Focus Secondary Camera: 8 megapixels
Storage	Built-in Storage: 32GB Expandable Storage: Micro SD
Battery & Charging	Capacity: 3000 mAh Removable Battery: Yes Wireless Charging: Yes Quick Charge: Yes (v2)
SIM standard	Nano SIM Compare SIM Only deals
Water & Dust Resistance	Not Available
Fingerprint Reader	None
References & More info	Official website GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the LG G4

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the LG G4 camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the LG G4.

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All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.