Great Tablet in perfect size with small (?) Defects

Mainly went to me when buying about having a device for internet surfing in between to mobile view photos or short videos, and - for me an important point - to be able to use the thing as a ebook reader in bed at night.

As ecosystem came for me really only Android in question because my Windows system still too much in the "infancy" infected (keyword app selection) and my Apple because of the limited functions and the compulsion to the "Apple universe" to bind, is inherently unsympathetic, or I can not approve even their surcharge policies (90, - for 16 GB of memory to increase total 32 GB to I get the money 9 piece Class 10 memory cards with up to 16 GB ...)

The next question was that of the form factor. Plenty of choice in the 4: 3 area, there are at Android's not for lack of availability I once briefly an iPad Mini angetestet. I must say, the 4: 3 format is somehow "clunky" to whether it is now displaying the home screen or reading an eBook, nowhere did me really mood arise whether the unusual format.

What has bothered me most, however, is the width of the iPad Mini. For me, the part is simply a bit too wide to hold it comfortably in one hand can without cramp fingers unnatural.

So was also the aspect ratio chosen, now went to the selection of equipment.

Originally, I was actually hanging the Nexus 7, as it seemed to me the best compromise between price and bid hardware. Then the Lenovo Yoga 8 came on the market, and it seemed like the perfect tablet to be (8 inches, great battery, ingenious design with fold-out stand, ...) but have me the rather meager hardware specs deterred, especially would I certainly disturbed the meager resolution of the display.

But then I "stumbled" on the net about the GPad and the price research I found out that the pad at a major Austrian Computer necklace around 279 - was to have.

So went there right after work and both devices (Nexus 7 and LG GPad) taken in hand to compare. I am a newbie and tablet have to confess that the devices were larger than I had imagined, and my first thought was that a 7-inch device certainly sufficient for my needs. When I then compared the two devices, but I noticed that the GPad by the external dimensions is only slightly larger, but considerably larger screen. What bothered me the Nexus directly, was unnecessarily broad edge around the screen, I think here too much space is wasted, and the device for the display that provides it, too clunky (but not the concerns only the Nexus, but about 95% of all tablets on the market)

At LG, however, that is perfectly solved, the display is moved almost to the top left and right, so that no space is wasted. The GPad has immediately felt comfortable in the hand, the width is (for me) perfect in order to hold it still comfortably in one hand.

Property me then even the new Samsung Tab 3 viewed in 8 inches, although I was actually ruled out because of the poorer specs in advance. Well, what can I say, Samsung's mobile devices and I will probably be no more friends. This time it was similar to the year still about one, when I was faced with the decision or HTC One Samsung Galaxy S4. At that time I had made the decision in favor of HTC after about 10 seconds, when I held both devices in hand. I can not help, but the Samsung devices feel like children's toys, even then the S4. The One the other hand, felt immediately valuable and noble. Hab times on a tech blog a comment that makes it very well:

If you compare the two devices with ice cream, then the Galaxy S4 is most likely the Bum-Bum-ice with bubble gum stem quietschbunt and zuckersüss, the One the other hand, more of a Magnum Almond, discreetly, valuable, easy to enjoy.

Why the Battle Scene here, simply has the reason that it now was me at my tablet selection again similar. Yes, the Tab 8.0 and 8.3 Gpad see confusingly similar, and yes, both have roughly the same size and color and so, possibly LG has cribbed here also from Samsung or even copied as Critics claim that, but that GPad but feels in any situation so much quality, confidence-inspiring and easy, huh I call it times to adult, than the Samsung Tab.

This comparison does not win the GPad in my eyes against the Nexus, the choice of materials is indeed much better than the Samsung Tab, but also the Nexus can with me this yes-you-taking-I-like-in-the-hand-feeling generate to the extent as it can the GPad.

So, so that the whole is not excessive now, there's a selective list of what I like about the GPad and what is not:

+ Size of the tablets:

As already mentioned, the size and the form factor is ideal for me, both in portrait and in landscape mode, the tablet is good to keep and fatigue. For me, the instrument represents the maximum possible size for one-handed operation, just perfect.

+ Display:

This basic idea is also continued at the display, the size of the device is optimally utilized for the largest possible screen. LG has really given some thought here, along the lines of 8.3 inches to fit in, so we also take 8.3 inches. Why Many manufacturers equip their devices with a 1) ugly and 2) unnecessary thick edge all around, is beyond me.

The display is really sharp crack, the colors are very lifelike and properly reproduced without artificial saturation. By IPS technology also the viewing angle stability is best, so you can see an angle on the display by and sees something else for me, especially when reading ebooks important because you have to keep the tablet is not always at right angles in front of the nose, to recognize the font)

Where at Smarthphones the Full HD resolution actually makes little sense to 5 inches, because the human eye can see at this size no difference to WXGA resolution (1280 x 800), unless one scans the screen with a magnifying glass, is full -HD quite appropriate in tablets from 7 or 8 inches for me. Here you can see definitely been a difference between HD and Full HD, especially in writings and graphic representations with many narrow lines.

For brightness, I can say that this is perfectly fine, although some complain about the maximum luminosity. It is correct that one in very bright sunlight almost nothing recognizes outdoors, this problem which also concerns but probably 90% of all current devices. However, what is rightly criticized, is the automatic control of brightness, this happens rather bumpy and a time delay, also it seems to me as if the brightness is regulated only in a small area, depending on the previously made manual brightness adjustment. So when I set manually to 60%, then it seems as if the automatic control around governs only in a range of about 40 80%.

I say it this way, if I had the device throughout the day in service, I would be the maybe disturbing because I with my usage profile but mostly constant light conditions prevail (eg. Reading in bed at night, or surfing on the couch in the living room), regle I just manually adjust the brightness, is done so quickly. And who knows, maybe this little problem is still fixed in a while ...

What I really like is the fact that you can adjust the brightness to "very dark". Many devices you realize yes no difference between 10% and 1%, and the display will remain too bright for use in total darkness. However, the GPad can really cut back on clay neste brightness, which makes for an eye-efficient reading experience in the evening, also is also the battery spared.

+ Processing:

As already described, the tablet feels extremely valuable and precious, not least through the pleasantly cool in your hand aluminum back. The lateral roundings my opinion, perfect, not too edgy, not too round, generally affects the device as a unified whole. Creaking or cracking noises, like some places faulted, I can not understand. There is nowhere sharp or ragged edges, the aluminum back is integrated smoothly and without perceptible transitions into the case.

+ Software:

The house Launcher of LG is really "useful", it runs far everything smoothly and fluently and LG has integrated some really good features. Above all, I find the "knock-on" feature really great, I do not know how many times I've tried accidentally in recent days to unlock my HTC One with a double tip ....;)

The QSlide function is very useful, you can call 3 apps with a mop at any time or move aside.

Also QPair work with my HTC One properly.

Currently the "Buzz" -Launcher runs with me without problems and very fluid.

+ Battery life:

More than enough, especially the low standby consumption is truly outstanding. Every morning when I go up 7 to work and in the evening around 18:00 or 19:00 clock take the tablet back into operation, the battery level by only 2 or 3 per cent compared with the figure has fallen in the morning, despite active WLAN. A standing off and on the tablet is therefore not really necessary, even if one uses it rarely.

When reading at low brightness level, the Tab loses about 4-5% per hour (with the Kindle app), for lack of comparative values, I think that this is quite a good value.

In my usage I get so loose over 2 days without having to recharge.

Now we come to my (single) negative:

- Sound / speakers:

The only shortcoming of GPads is in my eyes the really poor quality of the built-in speakers, and "poor" I mean "bad." First, these are directed backwards and secondly produce this very tinny sound with strong "Hall". If, for example reviews on technical devices look on Youtube, so sound the speaker as you put his head in a metal dustbin (comment by a user on android-hilfe.de, so I can only sign)

Pretty much any smartphone that I've ever held in his hands, has produced better sound, a 3-year-old Motorola Defy with mono speaker.

When playing with headphones, however, everything is fine and as it should be, it is so definitely on the hardware and not the software of the device.

So if you often music or videos or whatever wants to play on the tablet, where his wärmenstens down the use of a headset, or purchase an external Bluetooth speaker warmly, one who is otherwise if the poor speaker quality can not be happy.

All in all, I'm with the device very, very satisfied, only the points "auto-dimming" and "Speaker" tarnish the immaculate overall picture a bit, so from me it 4 out of 5 stars and a full purchase recommendation for those who no audiophile delight expect from such a device and are ready for the automatic brightness control with a manual intervention and help on the jumps;)