Parting 

Lg g6 full review. Review of the smartphone LG G6: the flagship with a huge screen without frames. Memory, chipset and performance

Outside

In fairness, I note: LG implemented the idea of ​​\u200b\u200b"stretching" the screen in length in a smartphone. Nevertheless, it was the LG G6 that became the first mass-produced globally available device with a non-standard (yet) 18:9 display, in most markets ahead of the Galaxy S8 by a week or two.

With the exception of this feature, the smartphone does not stand out much from dozens of other current models: a metal frame, in two places "crossed" by antenna inserts, a glass back panel, slightly curved at the edges, a dual camera and a round fingerprint scanner in the middle of the back panel.

The scanner (small, made flush with the rear panel, and therefore difficult to find) is combined with the power button. Its atypical execution is perhaps the biggest flaw in the LG G6's ergonomics. That is, in two weeks of use, I got used to this method of control, but I did not begin to experience the joy of this.

But the screen here is just magical. Not in terms of picture quality, although it is at a decent flagship level, but in terms of how convenient a smartphone allows you to create an 18:9 aspect ratio display (2:1, 2880 by 1440 pixels) compared to the usual 16:9. A 5.7-inch diagonal with such proportions does not turn the device into a clumsy phablet. It retains the familiar "grab" width and one-handed typing of the 5.2-inch models. The display can show the clock and notifications in white on black even when the device is locked.

At the same time, for example, the text on each page fits no less than on the 5.5-inch screen of the massive iPhone 7 Plus. The only "but": standard 16:9 video will be played with black bars at the ends of the smartphone, or, when scaling "to the edge", a little picture will be lost from above and below.

LG G6 correctly displays high dynamic range video in HDR 10 and Dolby Vision formats. In such videos, you can see the slightest transitions of shades both in the darkest and in the lightest areas of the image. The picture on the screen is easy to make out even in direct sunlight, the display without an air gap almost does not glare.

Unlike most flagship models on the market, the glass that protects the front panel (Gorilla Glass 3) is completely flat, with no sloping "2.5D" edges. It seems to me that this was done for the sake of greater resistance to cracking when falling. There is also Gorilla Glass on the back, but the fifth version: it is somewhat softer, tactile in general resembles plastic, because of this, small scratches gather faster, but it is more difficult to break it. LG is talking about certification of the smartphone according to the American military standard MIL-STD 810G ().

To prove its outstanding impact resistance, the G6 at the Russian presentation was repeatedly dropped from a height of about 1.5 meters onto a hard porcelain stoneware floor. Other than a few small dents on the metal frame and scratches on the back panel, there was no damage. The apparatus is also resistant to the penetration of water or dust - the LG G6 can "swim" up to half an hour at a depth of one and a half meters (IP68 certification). If LG had kept the modular design of the G5 in the new generation of the flagship, this would not have been possible.

Inside

Flagship system-on-a-chip Qualcomm 2017 - Snapdragon 835 - LG G6 did not get. The laws of business are harsh: . Instead, the smartphone is built on . The same chip is used, for example, in Google Pixel smartphones. LG thus became the last of the major manufacturers to release a flagship smartphone based on the Snapdragon 821.

The rest of the characteristics are uniquely flagship: 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal memory, installation of two SIM cards or one SIM and microSD. There will be no performance problems even in the most demanding games, not to mention regular applications. Of the advanced features of the Snapdragon 835, which the owners of the LG G6 will not get, the only thing to regret is about.

Below you can see the results of testing LG G6 in popular synthetic tests. The smartphone is not the "king of the hill", but is located quite close to its top. Without tests, it is impossible to notice the difference with the leaders of the AnTuTu rating - the device works quickly and without freezes, while even in demanding games it heats up very moderately.

Battery capacity LG G6 (now non-removable) is 3300 mAh. This was enough for me with a good margin for a day of full use - by night the indicator had never fallen below the 20 percent mark. In HD video playback mode at 50% brightness, the smartphone lasted 9 hours and 10 minutes. A full charge from scratch with a standard adapter supporting Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0 takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.

camera, sound

The LG G6 camera has two 13-megapixel sensors, with one of the lenses being standard, the other being ultra-wide-angle (125-degree field of view is no joke). The first is a relatively standard f/1.8 smartphone lens, complete with phase detection autofocus and optical image stabilization. The second (f / 2.4 aperture) is perfect for shooting landscapes and architecture (an ensemble of some medieval square in Spain has a chance to fit into the frame entirely), but it does not have either optical stabilization or autofocus. Yes, on other phones the same "wide-angle" is achieved by using panoramic shooting, but not in all situations it is possible to apply it. You can switch between lenses with on-screen buttons, or you can smoothly zoom in and out of the picture by spreading and pinching your fingers on the screen. Unlike the iPhone 7 Plus, the moment of switching between the two modules is clearly visible, including when shooting video.

Here's how the LG G6 shoots:

This and the following photo were taken from the same point with the regular and wide-angle lenses of the LG G6, respectively.

By clicking on the original photo will open in a new tab - note how the picture with the sky reflected in the river lacks sharpness

But for the opportunity to take such interesting shots, I would like to forgive the fuzziness of the wide-angle lens

Night shots are impressive, but often you have to manually reduce the exposure - by default, the smartphone tends to "overexpose" such scenes

When shooting against the sun, the device turns on the HDR mode, but the bright sky is inevitably illuminated

The payoff for being able to fit something big into the frame from a short distance is geometric distortion.

This picture was taken only in manual mode - automatically, the smartphone stubbornly refused to focus on the object in the middle, preferring the background. Open the photo in full size to see how detailed the fibers of the drop-down kidney are. Since the shooting was carried out in manual mode, the underexposure here is entirely on the conscience of the photographer.

In my opinion, the LG G6 camera, although not ideal, is capable of producing quite "flagship" results, especially in a special manual mode; "automatic" occasionally misses the exposure and color reproduction. I was very impressed with the results of night shooting in the city. A wide-angle lens is indispensable in a number of situations, the main problem with it is the lack of clarity in many shots. And it's not the lack of stabilization: even photos taken in sunny weather at shutter speeds of about 1/500 s look unclear on the monitor screen. But for viewing on a smartphone screen or sending to Instagram, the clarity is acceptable. All photos taken during testing on LG G6 can be seen at this link (Google Photos).

In Russia, LG sells a "premium" version of the LG G6: while America and Europe got the phone with a 32 GB built-in drive, Russia received not only 64 GB of memory, but also 32-bit audio chip manufactured by ESS. This advanced digital-to-analogue converter (even 4 DACs in one at once) with an excellent amplifier significantly improves the sound of music - it becomes more space, "air", it is easier to distinguish between individual instruments and sounds. I note that the chip only works when sound is transmitted over the cable.

Having tried the phone paired with the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 wraparound headphones, I can say that music on a wired connection sounds more detailed and generally more enjoyable than on the iPhone 7 Plus, noisy compositions "put pressure on the brain" less, the sound picture is more clearly drawn. There is no bias towards any frequency range: bass, high and medium were measured just right for our ears. And I'm talking about the sound of ordinary streaming mp3s from Google Play Music; well-made files in 24-bit FLAC sound generally amazing. There is not much to say about the built-in speaker, it is quite loud, but if you turn the volume to the maximum, distortion is inevitable. Perhaps today it is the best smartphone for audiophiles with high-quality headphones who do not want to bother with external DACs and amplifiers. Just keep in mind - when the "Hi-Fi"-chip is turned on, the battery starts to sit down one and a half times faster.

Interface and software features

LG G6 goes on sale with Android 7.0- despite the fact that the most up-to-date version of the Google mobile platform, already available for Pixel and Nexus smartphones, is 7.1.2. Not that users risk missing out on important features. Rather, the question is how long it will take between the release of a new numbered version of Android and its appearance on the LG G6. You can focus on the experience of the previous flagship: LG G5 in Europe and the US began to receive Android 7.0 in December 2016, four months after the "nexus" with a clean version of the operating system, and the update ended only by February 2017. The year before last year, the flagship G4 at LG at first refused to update to Android 7.0 at all, and only when the owners of the devices were indignant, they promised to do it ... in the third quarter of 2017 - that is, about a year after the release of this version of the OS.

You can’t call the interface shell of the LG G6 “clean” - a lot of things have been drawn here on top of the classic Android. Moreover, the reason for this, apparently, is the same: the authorities of the Korean company are still confident that without "its own" interface, the device will lose to competitors. In fact, the non-standard interface only creates additional problems for users who, when switching from other smartphones, have to master many actions on a new one. However, most of LG's competitors have the same problems of not being able to drop their own skins or keep modifications to stock Android to a minimum.

Some branded applications from LG are really interesting: for example, "Square Camera" or "HD Voice Recorder" with a bunch of settings, able to record "high-resolution" sound in FLAC format, with a sensitivity adjustment function for high-quality recording of loud concerts.

findings

The LG G6 is a great device. Yes, outwardly it is an ordinary glass-and-metal block without design frills, but the "long" screen unequivocally refers it to a new generation of smartphones that remain convenient and compact with the display diagonal growing up to 5.7 inches or more. The LG G6 has one of the best cameras, only slightly inferior to the market leaders in automatic mode, but at the same time it can shoot interesting wide-angle photos. Finally, it's the smartphone of choice for those who want the ultimate in portable sound quality. But if 52,000 rubles does not burn your pocket, and the “smart” watch LG Watch Style without a heart rate monitor offered in the load is useless to you, you should wait a couple of months with the purchase - the price will surely become more acceptable. At its current level, it will be very difficult for most buyers not to be seduced by the futuristic streamlined forms of the main competitor, which is now only about 6% more expensive.

Let's sum up the LG G6 review.

Pros:

    Large "tall" screen with support for HDR content in a comfortable body

    Water and drop resistant

    More shooting options with a wide-angle camera

    Owners of expensive headphones will note excellent sound thanks to a 32-bit DAC

Minuses:

    Unobtrusive case design

    Modifications in the interface shell that are not needed by most users, the very existence of which hinders operational system updates

    High price at launch

Specifications

LG G7 ThinQ Samsung Galaxy S9
Display 6.1 inches, IPS, 3120 × 1440, 564 ppi, capacitive multi-touch 5.7 inches, IPS, 2880 × 1440, 564 ppi, capacitive multi-touch 6.1" OLED
2240 × 1080, 408 ppi, capacitive multi-touch		 5.8 inches, Super AMOLED, 2436 x 1125, 458 ppi, capacitive multi-touch, TrueTone technology 5.8", Super AMOLED, 1440×2960, 570 ppi, capacitive multi-touch
Protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Corning Gorilla Glass 3; Gorilla Glass 5 on the back No information No information Corning Gorilla Glass 5
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Napali: Quad-core Kryo 385 Gold @ 2.5GHz + Quad-core Kryo 385 Silver @ 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 MSM8996 (Dual Kryo Cores @ 2.35GHz + Dual Kryo Cores @ 1.36GHz) HiSilicon Kirin 970: four ARM Cortex A73 cores, 2.4GHz + four ARM Cortex A53 cores, 1.8GHz; HiAI architecture Apple A11 Bionic: six cores (2 x Moonsoon + 4 x Mistral) Samsung Exynos 9810: eight cores (4 × M3, 2.7GHz + 4 × Cortex-A55, 1.8GHz)
Graphics controller Adreno 630, 710 MHz Adreno 530, 624 MHz ARM Mali-G72 MP12, 850 MHz Apple GPU (3 cores) Mali-G72 MP18, 900 MHz
RAM 4 GB 4 GB 6 GB 3 GB 4 GB
Flash memory 64 GB 64 GB 128 GB 64/256 GB 64/128/256 GB
Memory card support There is There is Not Not There is
Connectors USB Type-C, mini jack 3.5 mm USB Type-C, mini jack 3.5 mm USB Type-C Lightning USB Type-C, mini jack 3.5 mm
SIM cards Two nano-SIMs Two nano-SIMs Two nano-SIMs One nano-SIM One nano-SIM
Cellular 2G GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Cellular 3G HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 HSDPA 800/900/1700/2100 HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
Cellular 4G LTE Cat.16 (up to 1024 Mbps): bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38 LTE Cat. 12 (up to 600 Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 LTE Cat. 18 (up to 1200 Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 LTE Cat. 12 (450 Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40 , 41, 66 LTE Cat. 18 (1200/200 Mbps): bands 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41
WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4/5 GHz
Bluetooth 5.0 4.2 4.2 (aptX HD) 5.0 5.0
NFC There is There is There is Yes (Apple Pay) There is
Navigation GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo
Sensors Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) Light, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), IR sensor Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)
The fingerprint scanner There is There is There is Not There is
Main camera Dual module: 16 MP, ƒ / 1.6 + 16 MP, ƒ / 1.9, hybrid autofocus, optical stabilization (with main camera) Dual module: 13 MP, ƒ / 1.8 + 13 MP, ƒ / 2.4, phase detection autofocus, optical stabilization Triple module, 40 + 20 + 8 MP, ƒ / 1.8 + ƒ / 1.6 + ƒ / 2.4, hybrid autofocus, optical stabilization, dual LED flash Dual module: 12 MP, ƒ / 1.8 + 12 MP, ƒ / 2.4, autofocus, four-LED flash, optical stabilizer in both cameras 12 MP, ƒ/1.5/2.4 variable aperture, autofocus, LED flash, optical image stabilization
Front-camera 8 MP, ƒ/1.9, fixed focus 5 MP, autofocus 24 MP, ƒ/2.0, fixed focus, no flash 7 MP, ƒ/2.2, fixed focus without flash 8 MP, ƒ/1.7, fixed focus, no flash
Nutrition 11.4 Wh non-removable battery (3000 mAh, 3.8 V) 12.54 Wh non-removable battery (3300 mAh, 3.8 V) Non-removable battery: 15.2 Wh (4000 mAh, 3.8 V) Non-removable battery: 10.26 Wh (2716 mAh, 3.8 V) Non-removable battery: 11.55 Wh 3000 mAh, 3.8 V)
The size 153.2×71.9×7.9mm 148.9×71.9×7.9mm 155×73.9×7.8mm 143.6×70.9×7.7mm 147.7×68.7×8.5mm
Weight 162 grams 163 grams 180 grams 174 grams 163 grams
Hull protection Yes, IP68 standard Yes, IP68 standard Yes, IP67 standard Yes, IP67 standard Yes, IP68 standard
Operating system Android 8.0 Oreo, LG UX proprietary skin Android 7.0 Nougat, LG UX proprietary skin Android 8.0 Oreo, native EMUI skin iOS 11 Android 8.0 Oreo, native skin
Current price 59 990 rubles 39 990 rubles 54 990 rubles from 70,990 rubles to 81,990 rubles 51 990 rubles

⇡ Design, ergonomics and software

LG has been walking for a long time, if not in the trendsetters of mobile fashion, then at least among the inveterate originals. shone with the extravagance of the leather back, which distinguished him from the general background. flaunted a controversial modular design - no one began to repeat after the Koreans, but they deserved a medal for bravery. The G6 brought to the masses an elongated 18:9 display.

The LG G7 ThinQ, however, falls out of this discordant, but colorful series - it was created according to a predetermined template of “the flagship smartphone of the 2018 model”. Tempered glass front and back, the obligatory “mono-brow” that fits into the elongated 19:9 display, the absence of any characteristic frills. We are used to the fact that flagship smartphones are trying to somehow draw attention to themselves, to take a special place on the shelf. Alas, the LG G7 is not one of those - its design can even be called banal.

The colors are modest too - in addition to the jet black G7 ThinQ, blue (Moroccan blue) and gray (icy platinum) are also presented. Koreans do not flirt with the user, trying to take their solidity and build quality. There is also a burgundy G7, but it is not officially imported into Russia.

There are no problems with the latter. Tempered glass on both the front and back panels is resistant to minor scratches: in two weeks of using the smartphone without a case, I did not find a single scratch on it - this is a rarity. The fins are made of metal with almost invisible (at least on a black background) plastic inserts for the correct operation of the antennas.

The main plus of the LG G7 ThinQ case is its moisture resistance - not just according to the IP68 standard, but with a military protection certificate (Military Standard 810G). I wouldn’t count on the fact that a smartphone will definitely survive if it falls onto asphalt from a height of human growth, but you can drop it into a puddle or from a table without much fear. In which case, LG undertakes to replace the G7 ThinQ display free of charge within a year after purchase.

The most important moment at the same time - the mini-jack remained in place. As you can see, the analog connector is not at all a hindrance even to the maximum moisture protection class for today in mass smartphones. Don't believe the marketing games.

There is still something unusual in the LG G7 ThinQ case. It's about governing bodies. This time, the Koreans did without their proprietary power button on the rear panel, placing it on the standard place for Android smartphones - the right edge. But the separate volume keys have gone to the left, accompanied by an additional button with which you can call the Google Assistant. Many complain about it - they say, too many accidental clicks with mostly useless functionality. In fact, you can’t argue with the second one, but I didn’t have accidental clicks. I just didn't use that button.

The body dimensions of the LG G7 ThinQ are impressive - despite the large screen, it does not differ in the thickness and width of the body from its predecessor, which, we recall, already had an elongated display. It is slightly higher, but this does not prevent the smartphone from being very convenient to use - as far as it is possible for a gadget with more than a six-inch diagonal screen.

As for the fingerprint scanner, it is located here in the traditional and, perhaps, the most comfortable place to use - on the rear panel, just below the camera unit. The index finger lies there naturally, you do not need to shift the smartphone in your hand. The scanner itself is classic, capacitive, works quickly and without failures. With it, you can block not only the device as a whole, but also individual applications.

Also, if you wish, you can set the standard unlock for devices on Android 8.0 Oreo using face recognition. Special sensors are not used - this happens only due to the front camera (G7 ThinQ cannot provide protection against unlocking using a photo). So this is a purely secondary option, I would not seriously rely on it.

Smartphone LG G7: Screenshot

The operating system in the LG G7 ThinQ is covered with a proprietary shell LG UX 6.0+. The Koreans are slowly changing their software - even if it's an upgrade, it's all the same LG UX 6.0 that we saw back in the G6. Be that as it may, the shell is pleasant - it looks good, works fast, and is not overloaded with unnecessary software. It is possible to "hide" the notch on the screen by filling the status bar with black or gray. Well, or with several gradient options - you can give your smartphone pretentiousness.

I would like to note the absence of a search string in the standard version of the shell. There are shortcuts for both Google and Yandex, but you need to set the line yourself.

LG promises a timely update of the Android operating system to version 9.0. whether the shell will also be updated to the latest UX 7.0, we cannot say.

⇡ Display and sound

The LG G7 ThinQ uses an IPS LCD display. This is doubly strange, given the flagship status of the smartphone (when even the retrogrades from Apple are switching to OLED) and the fact that LG has been in the lead in the production of screens based on organic light-emitting diodes (true, television) for a year now. And if the V-series smartphones are indeed equipped with OLED displays, then the G7 is also a flagship in its essence - it is deprived of this advantage.

There are no questions about the diagonal and resolution: 6.1 inches, 19:9 format, resolution 3120 × 1440 pixels - with a pixel density of 564 ppi. If desired, the resolution can even be lowered in the settings, which will not greatly affect the quality of the picture in most applications, but will have a positive effect on battery life.

But this, of course, is a very high-quality LCD display - with all the necessary coatings (from effective oleophobic to polarized), but in addition to that - very bright. The maximum brightness measured in laboratory conditions was 609 cd / m 2, which is already more than good. But with auto-brightness activated, this figure can jump up to 1000 cd / m 2 - there will be no problems using a smartphone on a sunny day.

The default settings are not encouraging. In automatic mode, the average gamma is 2.28 with a fairly stable behavior of the curves. But the color temperature is overly raised: the “fork” is from 8,500 K to 10,500 K. The colors will inevitably be too cold. This is also reflected in the average DeltaE deviation for the extended Color Checker palette (greyscale + wide range of color shades): 7.48 at a rate of 3.00. Here, however, the extended color gamut, close to DCI-P3, also affects.

In order to get a more natural picture, it makes sense to turn to deeper settings and change the display of colors. As a rule, it is enough to use the provided presets for this - in particular, the "cinema" mode is provided here, in which the colors immediately become noticeably warmer. However, in order for the screen to immediately show reference colors, this is not enough: gamma - 2.25, color temperature - from 7,500 K to 9,000 K, the average deviation of DeltaE by ColorChecker is 5.41.

To get something as close as possible to the color rendition conceived by the authors of films or photographs, you should tinker with the settings yourself, since there are all the possibilities for this - you can manually change not only the color temperature, but also individual colors on the RGB scale.

LG made a special emphasis on the sound of the smartphone. For this, there is not only a basic set of values ​​​​(3.5 mm jack, Bluetooth 5.0 with support for aptX and aptX HD standards), but also a “named” DAC - Saber ES9218PC. He is familiar to us from the LG V20, and there were no questions for him, what then, what will not happen now - the G7 ThinQ sounds great through wired headphones: detailed, powerful and smooth, without unnecessary emphasis on any frequency spectrum. It can be used even with high-impedance headphones - the smartphone should “shake” them. But I didn't have a chance to verify this information.

The speaker is also not anyhow, but with a large resonator (17 times larger than, for example, in the G6) - and moreover, it has received its own name - Boombox. This allows you to count on a relatively powerful sound for a smartphone, especially when it lies on a table or other hard surface - there is something to resonate. At the same time, there is only one speaker, monophonic, located on the bottom edge. Neither with a vertical nor with a horizontal grip, it does not overlap with a finger.

LG also insists that it is necessary to communicate with a smartphone not only by touching the screen, but also by voice. To do this, its microphones are adapted like nowhere else - the developers claim that the voice is recognized from a distance of up to five meters. Checked - everything is true. Even in a noisy room or from the other side of the room, you can ask Google Assistant or "Alice" about something - and the artificial intelligence will hear.

The last few years have not been the most successful for the mobile division of LG. The leather-backed LG G4 received a cold welcome from buyers, while the LG G5 was baffling with its ill-conceived module system. At some point, it even seemed that LG would no longer be able to get out of this series of failures in the smartphone market. However, at the Mobile World Congress 2017, the company introduced a new flagship - LG G6. From the very first glance at this model, it becomes clear that it continues the glorious tradition of thin-bezel design, laid down in the G2. But what about the other characteristics of this smartphone? Let's take a closer look at the capabilities of the LG G6, and try to figure out if this model can help LG regain lost ground.

Design and materials

The front panel design of the LG G6 is built around a 5.7-inch display, which occupies almost the entire front panel of the smartphone. And in this case, this is not an exaggeration at all, the frames around the LG G6 screen are really small. In this regard, it resembles the most successful models of the company: G2 and G3. Such a “return to the roots”, as for me, only benefited LG, the company abandoned the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bmaking a modular smartphone and focused on what is easier to convey to consumers. And a relatively compact smartphone with a large display is exactly what you need.

With the G6, LG almost departed from the latest smartphone design trends with a slant towards rounded shapes. At least the front glass is completely flat here, and the metal frame even creeps over it a little.

The back of the body of the LG G6 is no less expressive than the front, and not least thanks to the dual camera unit, as well as the power button with a fingerprint scanner. Together they look like the smartphone is very surprised to see you. However, the cameras, flash, and fingerprint scanner are located symmetrically, and given the good colors of the case, the back side looks even stylish.

By the way, LG G6 will be available for sale in three colors: classic white and black, as well as platinum. Given the glossy finish, they are all quite easily soiled, but it will be least noticeable in white and platinum colors.



There are no control keys on the front panel of the smartphone, they are virtual and located at the bottom of the display. Traditionally for LG in the settings, you can change the appearance of the panel with buttons, as well as their position and color.

On the left side are the volume keys, they protrude from the body, so they are quite easy to find by touch.

On the right sidewall you can find only a slot for nano SIM and a memory card. It is hybrid, that is, you can use either two SIMs, or one SIM and a microSD card.

On the bottom edge there is a microphone, a USB Type-C connector, as well as an external speaker.

At the top end there is another microphone and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The case measures 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm, which is only slightly larger than the 5-5.3-inch models. For comparison, the dimensions of last year's flagship Galaxy S7 are 142.4 × 69.6 × 7.9 mm.

The body materials of the LG G6 are simple at first glance: glass and metal. But in fact, they are more diverse than it might seem. The fact is that the company used Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass for the front panel, Gorilla Glass 5 for the back panel, and Gorilla Glass 4 for the block with cameras. LG does not explain this approach, however, this does not affect the consumer properties of the smartphone. . Gorilla Glass 3 has the same hardness as the new generations of protective glass, and is only inferior to them in strength. However, this did not stop the LG G6 from passing 14 MIL-STD 810G lab strength tests. This means that the smartphone has increased shock resistance, vibration resistance, and can be used by the US Department of Defense, as well as NATO.

In addition, the LG G6 has IP68 water and dust resistance, it can be lowered into water to a depth of 1.5 meters and for up to 30 minutes.

Display

The LG G6 has a 5.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2880x1440 pixels (564 ppi) and an aspect ratio of 18:9. Traditionally for LG, the screen demonstrates a high-quality picture with wide viewing angles.

The maximum brightness of the display, according to our measurements, reaches 422 cd/m2, the minimum is 3.3 cd/m2, and the contrast ratio is 1681:1.





The screen provides more than 100% coverage of the sRGB color space, but by default its color reproduction is quite "cold", it is at the level of 7450K, but this can be corrected by activating the "blue color filter". The latter has three gradation modes, as well as the ability to switch the display to black and white.

The LG G6 display supports HDR 10 technology, which makes the image in the video more saturated, but so far it only works in the Netflix and Amazon Prime Video apps.

The non-standard aspect ratio does not affect the display of Android applications, at least the current ones. They can be scaled to a 16.7:9 aspect ratio, in which case the navigation keys and status bar are displayed, or full screen 18:9.

The latter is relevant for games, but not all of them correctly adjust to this aspect ratio, so you often have to run them with black bars on the sides of the screen. The same applies to watching videos. However, you quickly get used to this feature of the smartphone.

The LG G6 also has a feature to display information on a locked display.

It can be time, notification icons, or arbitrary text.

Platform and Performance

The LG G6 is built on a Qualcomm platform with a Snapdragon 821 processor running at 1.6 and 2.35 GHz, as well as Adreno 530 graphics. In addition, the test version of the smartphone was equipped with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded another 256 GB using a microSD card. As mentioned above, the card slot is hybrid. Wireless modules include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP support and aptX HD codec. The A-GPS/GLONASS/BDS module is responsible for navigation.

The Snapdragon 821 is a rather "cold" processor, so even under load, the LG G6 barely heats up.

To date, in synthetic tests, Snapdragon 821 no longer shows the most outstanding results, but this absolutely does not affect the speed of the smartphone. This is still one of the top platforms and its performance will last for several more years.

Interface

Works LG G6 running the operating system Android 7.0 with proprietary interface LG. It allows you to flexibly customize the display of desktops, select the style of icons and change themes.

You can, for example, place all applications on desktops, or hide them in a separate menu. You can also customize animation, change the font and the number of items displayed on desktops.

The drop-down notification curtain traditionally contains a quick settings panel and brightness control, while pulling it down reveals more options.

By default, smartphone settings are tabbed and rather confusing, but they can be switched to a list view, which is closer to the default settings in Android 7.0.

There are a lot of pre-installed applications in the LG G6. There is a built-in file manager, a utility for cleaning RAM and temporary files from the drive, a QuickMemo + note taking program with support for synchronization via Google Drive or Evernote, a task list, and LG Health with a pedometer and the ability to track exercise. Also worth noting are audio recording applications that allow you to do this with quality up to 24 bit / 196 kHz and save to FLAC.

Thanks to the 18:9 aspect ratio of the LG G6, it is more convenient to work with two programs in one window, they display more information.

To do this, from the multitasking menu, you can minimize the application to one half of the window, and the second to the other.


This is convenient when you need to have additional information before your eyes.

The fingerprint scanner

The fingerprint sensor is located on the back of the LG G6 just below the camera unit. It is not very large, but it is located well, so the index finger of both the right and left hands itself rests on it when you take the smartphone.

The scanner works quickly, and you just need to put your finger on it to unlock the display. It supports adding up to 5 prints.

cameras

The LG G6 has two main cameras at once. One 13 megapixel camera with f/1.8 aperture, 3-axis optical stabilization and a 71-degree field of view.

And the second - with the same resolution, but with an aperture of f / 2.4 and a wide-angle lens with a viewing angle of 125 degrees.

In good light:













In poor lighting:




A camera with a regular lens shoots better at night, but a wide-angle camera is very useful if the subject does not fit into the frame. In general, the quality of the pictures is at a good level.

The front camera in the LG G6 is a 5-megapixel f/2.2 lens with a 100-degree field of view. In the camera menu, you can manually switch from wide-angle to portrait mode.

Audio

In Ukraine, a version of the LG G6 with a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad digital-to-analog converter will be sold, thanks to which the smartphone sounds really great.

There is only one external speaker in the LG G6, it has an average volume, apparently the protective membrane from water affects, but it is enough not to miss a call or notification. But the speaker is really loud, you can leave it less than half the volume and the interlocutors will be perfectly audible even in noisy places.

The LG G6 has an FM radio, so when you plug in your headphones, you can listen to your favorite radio station and even record audio from it.

In general, the musical capabilities of the smartphone are very wide and in this regard it is one of the best on the market at the moment.

autonomy

Built-in LG G6 battery has a capacity of 3300 mAh. Unfortunately, the PCMark autonomy test gave an error on the smartphone, so all three attempts to conduct it ended in failure. In everyday use, the smartphone provides more than a day of battery life with more than 6 hours of active screen.

This includes background sync, instant messengers, social media clients, 30 minutes of calls per day, an hour of gaming and YouTube, and an hour of music. That is, you can actively use your smartphone all day and not worry that it will not live until the evening. For a battery of this capacity, this is a good result. In addition, LG G6 supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging and charges via USB Type-C port.

Site score

Pros: design, materials, build quality, IP68 and MIL-STD 810G protection, display, performance, cameras, built-in 32-bit D/A converter, autonomy, fast charging

Minuses: easily soiled body, high price

Conclusion: LG G6 is a new flagship smartphone with a 5.7-inch display that takes up almost the entire front panel. This design originates from the LG G2, one of the company's most successful smartphones. Given this fact, as well as a generally good set of characteristics, we can say that after a number of not the most successful smartphones, LG managed to create a really interesting product. And even though this year's competition among flagships is as high as ever, the LG G6 has something to stand out from their background. The strengths of the model include a large display in a relatively compact body, two cameras with good image quality, a built-in DAC, body protection according to IP68 and MIL-STD 810G standards. The LG G6 has practically no cons, and the only serious thing for Ukrainian consumers will be the high price of a smartphone, which is generally typical for flagships from A-brands

LG G6 is an attempt by the company to regain its former position. Now the battery cannot be changed by yourself, but the smartphone has received such an important function as protection against water and falls. They finished off an unsuccessful idea with modules, but now engineers have a new entertainment - a 2 to 1 screen. The entire shell was redrawn under it, but something still wasn’t thought through.

Here is the first thing you need to know about the smartphone. In no case can it be compared with previous generations. was gorgeous. with his own zest (leather on the back), but he was no longer so cheerful. - absolutely no device that could not be bought. Now we have the G6 and that's another story. It is unlike any of its predecessors. The only thing that unites our hero with them: the letter "G" and positioning as a flagship. Although ... we still have one, which is also not bad-looking.

And now to business.

Equipment

Traditionally, the Russian representative office does not indulge in a complete set - I only had a smartphone. Not scary. I know how to use Google and will be happy to tell you what is included in the kit:

  • Charger
  • USB Type-C cable
  • OTG adapter
  • wired headphones

Design

The appearance of the smartphone is at least original. And as a maximum, the G6 is very good-looking. I gravitate more towards the second option. But let's go in order.

The metal frame here is the most common, with slots for connectors, with inserts for antennas - nothing interesting. The speaker is also alone, although many top-end devices are already starting to deviate from this rule.

The speaker is slightly above average in volume, but its quality is not so hot. At 100% volume, the speaker starts to wheeze, at 80% everything returns to normal.

On the front we have a completely flat protective glass Gorilla Glass 3. Yes, 2.5D glass is now in vogue. But wait, there must be some variety!

I really liked the idea with the rounded edges of the display. Looks cool and original! Unfortunately, there are two BUT.

Firstly, the corners on the front panel are perfectly round, but the pixels of the screen itself are “cut off” roughly, and my inner perfectionist can’t put up with it.

Secondly, not all applications have an interface adapted to this feature. However, more on that later.

The side frames here are moderately thin. The smartphone is convenient to use - there are no phantom touches.

Behind the device is even more interesting. First, here we have Gorilla Glass 5 glass. It is curved in all directions. The light shimmers beautifully on the bends - it looks great.

Despite the 5th generation of protective glass from Corning, it still scratches. I don’t know what previous reviewers did with the device, but I handled it quite carefully. However, there are still scratches. Although there were none around the perimeter of the bumper, it means that the smartphone was not thrown to the ground.


On top are two symmetrical camera eyes, and below it is a power button with a built-in fingerprint scanner. This solution is convenient, so we will not raise controversy on the transfer of the “Power” key. It's good that LG is true to its traditions. Partly.

The scanner works great. The device is unlocked in 10 and 10 cases. Fast enough, but not record-breaking fast, as, for example, .

It's also nice that the camera modules do not protrude above the body. This is how it should always be for everyone!

Protection from everything

I decided to talk about smartphone protection standards in a separate paragraph. Believe me, this is one of the main features of the smartphone.

The minimum requirement for the flagship of 2017 is the presence of protection against moisture and dust IP68. Here G6 fails. The smartphone can be safely bathed in the pool, taken with you to the bath, dropped into the mud and then rinsed under running water. However, LG went further.

The device is drop resistant. Moreover, we are not talking about falling on a carpet or laminate. Here we have adult protection, confirmed by the American military certificate MIL-STD-810G. It is understood that the device can fall from a height of 180 centimeters onto a concrete floor and nothing will happen to it. I saw such an experiment with my own eyes, so I know what I'm talking about.

By the way, the G6 is also good because it is not at all as slippery as, for example,. Glass traditionally clings to fingers better than matte metal.

But what Korean engineers could do more reliably is the SIM card tray. Feels like it is made of some kind of dense rubber or thin plastic. Basically, it broke for me. No crime, I just took it out with a paperclip as usual and this is what came of it.

Display

The second key feature of the smartphone is a screen with an aspect ratio of 18:9 or 2 to 1. Let me remind you that so far the 4:3 standard reigns supreme.

There is something to praise, and there is something to scold.

So here's what I liked:

1. With this ratio, it is very convenient to watch Hollywood blockbusters. It is known that the Star Factory now adheres to the 21:9 standard, and on the G6 display, black bars are minimal at the top and bottom. In addition, you can use your finger to expand the picture to fill the G6 screen. And here's your second plus.

2. Cool! Cinema with neatly rounded rather than right angles looks really interesting. The same can be said for the system's default desktop or camera app when the viewfinder opens to full screen. This is where the positives end and the harsh reality begins.

1. LG came up with a feature, but failed to adapt it properly. As a result, in most applications, the bottom of the display is eaten by virtual touch keys. Yes, they sometimes crawl away from the screen, but not in all programs. And on Instagram at the bottom there are two strips with control keys at once: some are systemic, others are from the application itself.

Where the main interface is made in a color other than black or light gray, the bottom bar with keys looks simply ridiculous. If anything, there are 95% of such applications.

In the parameters, you can expand each program to full screen (18:9) and it works - the top status bar becomes the same color as the interface of a particular utility. However, the bottom bar with the buttons does not disappear anywhere.

Why couldn't this strip be made transparent? Or at least adapting to the colors of the main background? In general, after the wow effect, you begin to understand that it would be better if the screen were ordinary - rectangular, and the touch buttons were brought to the case.

2. The manufacturer claims that the display we have is 5.7 inches and he managed to cram such a large panel into a compact body. On the one hand, this is true. However, we say “thank you” to the touch buttons, which noticeably reduce the real diagonal to 5.39 inches. I was not too lazy, I measured.

As a result, instead of 5.7, we have a screen of only 5.39 inches. This is how a good idea meets a bad implementation.

Remove the touch buttons somewhere from the screen ...

Otherwise, there are no complaints about the screen. This is a high-quality IPS-matrix with a very serious resolution - 2880 x 1440 pixels. The density of dots per inch is 564 ppi.





Oh yes! Another figure that is now fashionable to compete. The screen occupies 80.7% of the front side area. Wow!

I will not talk about support for HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. Soon we will have a separate material on this topic with all the figures and facts. I'll add a link here.

Specifications of LG G6 (Model LGH870DS)

When a new generation of some flagship comes out, I compare its characteristics with its predecessor. For more clarity. However, the G6 is a machine very different from the . So we won't compare them.

  • 5.7" IPS display with Gorilla Glass 3, 2880 x 1440 pixels (564 ppi)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 MSM8996 processor (four Kryo cores @ 2.35 GHz)
  • graphics accelerator Adreno 530
  • 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM (1817 MB free after reboot)
  • Flash memory 64 GB type UFC 2.0 (actually available 49.78 GB)
  • support for Micro SD cards up to 2TB
  • two rear cameras: 13 + 13 MP with a viewing angle of 71 and 125 degrees and dual (f / 1.8 and f / 2.4, 4K recording)
  • front module 5 MP (f / 2.2, 100-degree lens)
  • 3300 mAh battery + Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0
  • Android 7.0 OS (Google Assistant support - English only for now)
  • shell LG UX 6.0
  • sensors: compass, proximity sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, sensor
  • illumination, fingerprint scanner
  • connectors: USB Type-C 2.0 (OTG works), 3.5 mm output
  • case dimensions: 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm
  • weight 163 grams
  • body colors: white, black, platinum
  • protection against moisture, dust IP68 and drops

Wireless standards:

  • 4G (LTE bands: 3, 7, 20, 38, 40)
  • support for two Nano SIM (slot combined with Micro SD)
  • Wi-Fi (802.11 ac 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, FM radio
  • navigation: GPS, GLONASS, Beidou

Performance

How does it happen? You pick up another flagship, admire its reactive work and don’t want to use anything else. So this cannot be said about the G6.

I do not know why, but in operation it does not at all resemble a device for 52 thousand rubles. The interface is thoughtful at times, applications do not launch instantly, the camera takes a long time to open, photographing does not differ in rate of fire. Furthermore! A couple of times I praised real and noticeable brakes in third-party programs. Yes, engineers cannot be responsible for the performance of applications from third-party developers, but there are no such problems on other devices (for example).

And yes, I will not scold the smartphone for the fact that it has a 2016 processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, at a time when all newly released flagships receive and will receive the 835th “dragon”. I will only scold the device for the fact that at the same time it costs 52 thousand rubles - almost the same as the Samsung Galaxy S8, and they just put a fresh chipset there.

Let me remind you that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is not only a performance boost. The new "stone" includes a modem that provides LTE speeds up to 1 Gb / s, as well as Bluetooth 5.0. These are innovations for which you can overpay and not a little, but when they are not there ... we pay for other chips. Fortunately, the G6 has them.

For example, this is sound transmission via Bluetooth using the aptX HD codec or the same Dolby Vision. So far, only the flagship from LG and no other smartphone in the world can boast of these bells and whistles.

Let's get back to performance. Now there is no task that would be too tough for our hero. I am sure that nothing will change in the next year. And if you are not an advanced mobile gamer, then the safety margin of the G6 is easily enough for 2-3 years. That's just the system is optimized and everything will be hoo!

cameras

I especially liked the work of HDR. I once set the function to auto and forgot. Pay attention to the examples of shots - they are all very contrasting, and these are not the easiest shooting conditions. We say thank you for this evening sun. Fortunately, the algorithms easily coped with too dark areas of the frames. Not perfect, but still very good.

Night shots are also decent. And this is perhaps the most difficult shooting conditions for any technique.

And now the same two-chamber chip. You approached the building almost very close, and a maximum of a door fits into the lens. For the G6, this is not a problem. Switched the shooting to wide-angle mode and everything fit into the frame. Gorgeous!



Of course, at this angle there is a barrel effect. Without it, nowhere. It all looks like the pictures were taken on some kind of action camera. So much the better - why two devices, when everything is combined into one - into a smartphone.





Now for what I didn't like. LG is pushing Collage features and square ratio shooting. I remind you that exactly two such squares fit on the 2 to 1 screen and it looks cool on the smartphone display. When you open pictures on a computer, you understand that all this is pampering - algorithms greatly cut the quality of the photo. Otherwise, I, in principle, did not expect.

There is a mode for creating 360-degree shots. However, this is actually a hoax, because the smartphone makes the most common panorama and adds a blur from below and above to match the primary colors in the photo.

And there is no optical stabilization. Absolutely not. For the flagship, for which they ask for 52 thousand rubles, this is simply unacceptable.

The smartphone can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second. The quality of the video stream is chic, there is simply nothing to complain about.

What can not be said about the Slow Motion mode. The resolution is only 1280 x 720, and the FPS rate is 120. At the same time, the quality of the videos is no, moreover, even on the smartphone screen.

I remind you that back in the fall I set a new bar in this regard. Now we have a reference - 1080p at 120 FPS, and 720p slows down the movement at 240 FPS.

Sound quality

Pleases two things. LG engineers did not kill the 3.5 mm jack, although they could have easily done so. Moreover, the device supports the aptX HD codec from Qualcomm. And this is the second moment that warms my soul.

Most recently, we talked in detail about what this aptX HD is. I recommend this standard, because it is the future. And the G6 is ahead of the rest here.

In short, the sound quality when transmitting a signal to Bluetooth headphones with support for such a codec is higher than on a CD. That is, WAW, FLAC and other Hi-Res formats - all this is a story about a really cool sound. If anything, at the moment there are only 5 smartphones with such support, 3 of which are from LG.

I was lucky, I just have the right headset - . She knows how to decrypt the codec we need and that's what I can say about this.

The sound quality of these wireless headphones is amazing!

I can't say that I am a great listener, but for the first time I hear and feel the difference between wired connection and Bluetooth transmission. The last option, in theory, should be inferior to the cable, but not this time. However, the difference is quite small, it seemed to me that way.

Shell

There is nothing from Android 7 in the form in which Google bequeathed it to us. Everything is tightly closed by the proprietary shell LG UX 6.0. However, do not be upset, because the superstructure is stylish, beautiful and bright.

It has its own logic, which you need to get used to. However, what smartphone does not have it?

The developers are proud that the interface is adapted to the screen with a ratio of 18:9. Applications can be scaled two to one in portrait and landscape orientations. In fact, it looks very ridiculous - again, we say “thank you” to the wide strip with touch buttons.

In general, if you are waiting for some new experience from software on a screen with such a ratio, then do not wait. The G6 is just a smartphone, with an elongated display that makes it a little more comfortable to watch Hollywood content. And that's it.

Battery Life

The built-in battery is only 3300 mAh. And given the rather “hot” iron inside, it would be foolish to count on something extraordinary.

LG G6 works one light day and no more.

I disconnected the device from the outlet at 8 am and be prepared that it will be discharged to zero by 8 pm.

The screen glow time in my case did not exceed 3-4 hours, and this despite the fact that I left all wireless protocols turned on in general, activated the Always-on-display function, and after all, taking into account the IPS matrix, it raises one percent charge per hour.

Samsung Galaxy S8, and - all owners of the new Snapdragon 835 processor. However, the smartphone has its own unique features that, for certain needs, can play a decisive role.

Pros:

  • Nice, at least original design
  • Rounded display - essentially useless, but cool feature
  • Unbreakable screen (will go for two pluses at once)
  • Waterproof IP68
  • Wide-angle lens is a great replacement for an action camera
  • aptX HD codec support
  • Beautiful video with Dolby Vision (special content required)

Minuses:

  • "On paper" the diagonal is 5.7'', but in fact 5.3'' - the on-screen buttons eat up the useful area of ​​the display
  • Not a flagship processor
  • Weak front camera
  • Lack of optical stabilization
  • Performance still needs to be improved
  • Not very strong battery

Taking into account all the pros and cons, the smartphone turned out to be very interesting anyway. However, for sure, it does not cost 51,990 rubles, but that is how much they are now asking for it in official retail. Let me remind you that abroad it costs from $650 to $750 and this cost is much more in line with the level of the device.

In terms of the speed of working with applications, the “Chinese” is a little more agile. You have to pay for this with the voracity of the processor (Huawei is well aware of this, so it put a less clear screen + 4000 mAh into the battery) and the speed of work in games (but nothing can be done about it, but so far the speed is tolerable).

If we forget about the not very clear display, there is nothing to complain about in Huawei P20 Pro from a technical point of view. But there is something - with the software. The number of "glitches" is such that even Xiaomi owners with homemade "Vietnamese" firmware will laugh. Some of the problems are fixed, after which other "surprises" arrive. It’s also puzzling that in the “supermodel” running Kirin 970, navigation and network reception stability (network search speed after signal loss, switching between 3G / 4G) are clearly not up to what we are used to seeing in Snapdragon 835/845.

findings

Before us, of course, is the best LG among all that you can buy today. With the brightest screen, the fastest processor, good cameras in general + a “widescreen” unique among new smartphones, excellent sound and a minimum of “gags” on top of standard Android. And it's a thrill!

At the same time, it looks like a budget Alcatel, discharges to zero in less than a day, and takes pictures at the level of the flagships of 2018, only if you set the settings manually. And this is pain.

I will now say something masochistic, but there is some special way of the LG warrior in this “fight with the machine”. When a smartphone responds with excellent photo quality thanks to your efforts, and you know exactly how to squeeze cool photos out of it, and do not rely on whether the mobile phone selects the aperture value correctly (Galaxy S9), and whether it can stitch a night photo correctly after 4 seconds of continuous shooting (Huawei P20 Pro).