Top class device for now affordable price, but with a distinct "weakness"

One right at the beginning in front: I have not purchased the equipment here on Amazon, but as part of a contract extension at my provider (O2). And I wanted to use only for a few days to view and send back within the 14-day withdrawal period it actually, since I (11 and 12 Cyanogenmod) was very pleased with my previous Galaxy S3 and the subsequent install Custom ROM and this has my claims actually completely sufficient. But as that's just so, to be woken up with a newer and modereren equipment needs that you had not previously. But though I have to admit that I in the summer or autumn of this year in any case once again wanted to buy a new smart phone, only to LG I had not even thought to date. Important to me in particular, a replaceable battery, the display is at least 5.5 or 6 ", one on the Unterseiteite centrally placed USB port were there (for docking / charging station) and a widest possible plastic housing, because these to metal usually a significantly lower SAR have value, although metal is certainly chic and stylish, but this is probably a matter of taste.

Anyway and even now may be thinking well, I have kept the G3 now yet. After the first start I was just amazed by the brilliant sharpness of the display. Since my old S3 could not even begin to keep up, although this was 4.8 "and a HD resolution a pixel density of 300 ppi provides good and more than 300 ppi can no longer recognize the human eye. The" problem "this is / was that Samsung the S3 a so-called Pentile matrix used, ie only 2 instead of 3 subpixels per pixel. This causes on closer inspection a while sharp, but slightly "pitted" or "grainy" image matrix, although not actually in practice so really bother. At G3, however, can it not even begin to talk, it being the WQHD display the G3 with 540 ppi m. E. is clearly exaggerated. FHD would have done it here, because as I said is the human at about 300 ppi eh eye reached the end of the story and even a FHD on the 5.5 "of the G3 surpass the loose. In WQHD thus have approximately 3.7 million pixels are calculated, it would FHD only about 2 million, almost half less. This "Pixel Mania" therefore costs in principle only unnecessary computing power and thus power, which I am when it comes to battery.

Some other reviewers here complain about a relatively small battery time. I can confirm that only partially. I do not know after how many days of the first use of these reviews have been written, but I have found that the battery requires about 10-12 loads until it reaches its full capacity. If this is done, then an intensive user comes so easy throughout the day. Under "intensive users" I understand, however, is not someone who plays 3-4 hours a day Real Racing 3, Asphalt 8, Dead Trigger 2 or other extremely compute-intensive games, but the "average Joe user" of the G3 to Telenonieren, Internet , email, messages, FB, G + and similar things used. I myself have in this regard a display-on time of about 4-5 hours per day (with automatic brightness control) and the battery is then in the evening still at around 30-40%. Enough so very relaxed and a little (he) users should definitely create 2 days or more with it.

Again briefly back to display: The white values ​​are also great and the viewing angle stability is perfectly fine, even if the IPS display can not quite keep up with AMOLED here, but that's a whining to very, very high level. Mind a little more clearly noticeable, these are the not so good black levels compared to AMOLED. I use the G3 (as well as the old SGS3) in a charging station as a bedside clock at the bedside. This means that the display is turned on and the area that is not used by the digits of the time display, was supposed to be shown completely black, but that he is not really. He appears or "lights" in the darkness of the bedroom in a slightly lighter "anthracite" - is hard to describe. When S3 that was not sufficiently clear and even the even older Galaxy S2 was in this respect almost second to none, but that also (or even) had a Super AMOLED Plus display, where non-illuminated pixels were not supplied with electricity, thus actually remain completely black. Who also want to use as a bedside clock, the G3 with a corresponding app, yet at night or during sleep is extremely sensitive to light, this could possibly disturb the little. On the day but falls this "lack" not to.

What the performance (or in business terms and "Performance") is concerned, there is no doubt raised the G3 doubt. Only true 3D gaming freaks should be able to bring the G3 to its performance limits. I myself have "only" 2GB Memory version with 16GB of flash RAM and is perfectly adequate for everyday life, where I have now all software updates to Android performed 5 Lollipop (Software Version v20h, as of today, 19/03/2015). Although I have installed another launcher, but the user interface from LG provides otherwise m. E. hardly cause for criticism. There are numerous settings that might overwhelm an Android newbie at first. If you install additionally from the PlayStore an authorization manager for installed apps, you can on the rooting of the device almost dispense at least this desire is (as opposed to Samsung) not yet come up with me. In current AnTuTu Benschmark (v5.6.2) the G3 creates with me almost 41,000 points what more could you want? My old S3 brought it here with CyanogenMod 11 and Boeffla kernel and slight OC of the CPU and GPU to around 29,000 points. With the "old" Android 4.4 Kitkat the operation was partly a bit choppy, but that was with the update to Android 5 Lollipop completely solved (almost) and is probably only for very extreme hardcore "nerds", "geeks" and "Freaks" are bothersome, but this human species is anyway probably always have something to complain about ;-). No offense ...

Very handy and if you come from other devices first well is also hard to get used to operate the on / off button and the volume rocker on the back below the camera. I for one do not want to miss that. How often do you or customarily uses his cell phone with your fingers and the thumb and thenar eminence on the sides of the unit and comes often unintentionally to the volume rocker and / or the on / off switch? Especially when you bring it out of the jacket or trouser pocket? I any case with my "sausage fingers" that's when other devices often happens when you are not careful. Here, I find, LG has found a great solution to which one also (surprisingly) used quickly.

For camera: Well, what can you generally say? There are in fact so far not a single smartphone camera, which can take on a halfway reasonable DSLR or even good compact digital camera, yes not even the current iPhone 6. Particularly in deteriorating light conditions can be here without exception, every (!) Cell phone camera Unfortunately, the bin is come that way. For occasional snapshots in good light but the camera delivers amazingly neat results. Because I was really flabbergasted. Only when zooming a more or less strong noise can be seen in filigree objects. Also in the peripheral areas of the image takes the edge off hardly. Not bad for such a "toy-clippers". The two-color LED flash, however you can forget. Ok, applies here just as acceptable for snapshots, but who wants to make reasonable in the dark pictures so ... well. Sure you will have realized that I am an ambitious amateur photographer and usually use a different gear, right? But no matter and as I said before: For a cell phone camera, the G3 is really neat and useful images when the lighting is right. It is sufficient to at least 95% of cases even when the camera is in auto mode. A funny gimmick I find it when using the front camera to be able to trigger a fist with a delay of 3 seconds at Selfies with a hand gesture in the form of molding. Really funny. This can also be done with the front camera HDR images. A real plus point, although it has only 2 MP.

So I come to the conclusion times as slow. The G3 is by its slightly rounded back and the very narrow margins despite 5.5 "display remarkably well in hand, but I have to admit though that I already half with just under 2 m height" toilet seat "as a hands did and even Huawei Ascend Mate a 7 with its 6 "display still like a midget in my" paws "acts.
Due to the fact that the G3 is made entirely of plastic, it looks in comparison, of course, not so wertig as a counterpart of metal from other suppliers, but also has the already mentioned advantages as removable battery, usually a lower SAR value and (mostly anyway ) better transmitting and receiving performance (WiFi, GPS, mobile phone, etc.).
The performance is for a "Normalo users" beyond reproach and should loose for the next 2-3 years to be more than sufficient. The built SoC Snapdragon 801 is certainly no longer so fully up to date, but if you want this respect always have the latest and fastest processor that can be anyway set a new device in principle every few weeks.
With the update to Android 5 Lollipop everything runs fast, fluid and smooth, from a few sooooo few micro stuttering from time to time apart.
The settings offer numerous options. Here z. B. I find the variable in size keyboard a great feature, as well as the partially configurable operation bar (on-screen key).
The camera makes a Smartphone truly amazing good pictures and is probably one of the best that is currently installed in such devices.
Unsightly fingerprints are practically almost never seen at least on the battery cover.
The speaker on the back deserves to be called "loud" really.
When used as a navigation system in your car (in my case, Sygic or Navigon) direction changes are detected by at least 15-20 meters and possibly recalculated the route..
Class, after a short time, the control buttons for on / off and volume rocker on the back, but this is certainly a matter of taste.
The display or / and the focus is beyond any doubt. Only the brightness outdoors in sunlight could be better a bit, but that's whining at a high level.
A great idea is also the freely configurable "Knock-on code" by which the G3 can unlock. The display is relatively sensitive to touch and if you wear it out of its case in your pocket, jacket or Handdtasche can u. U. happen that the device "just so" turns on and does virtually or in the worst case independently. With Knock-On is activated which is practically impossible. It also plays then no matter where you enter this code on the lock display. A great idea that should integrate other manufacturers.
The current price of around 350 euros here at Amazon for the "small" version with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of flash is absolutely fair. Equivalent models of other brands (!) Manufacturers cost loose 50-100 euros more, which have then also partly to provide a metal housing. It comes in the 5.5 "class of course cheaper, such. As of Wiko, bq, ZTE, Xiaomi and so on, you should ask the question here, since these devices often by with (quite good) processors Mediatek are equipped as it looks here with updates or appearance if one wants to have those or this one point is important.

Really real negative points, which I would say this is not at all, are not noticed in the device. Those looking for a smartphone that still among the top devices on the market is one (as of March 2015) and also well priced is still affordable, need to look at the G3 at least once closer. In Youtube there are also numerous videos to, but usually installed with Android 4.4, which now no longer is still so up to date.

Oh, That reminds me what a: The G3 has in computationally intensive use is a problem with the heat in the area around the camera. Apparently there are CPU and / or GPU installed. If it gets too hot, then turns the max. Down screen brightness to 90% and possibly (?) The processor performance is a little choked. According to my research but this can be switched off. Enter this in the phone set the code 3845 # * 855 # (so you get to the "Hidden Menu") and then on the options here "Thermal Daemon Migitation OFF" and "High Temperature Property OFF". I have at least subjectively the impression that the G3 so just a tad bit run faster and smoother. But please: I assume at this point explicitly not guarantee that you can be G3 just in case damage is so or even destroyed. Setting these options at your own risk and at your own risk.

Supplement / Addendum of 03/28/2015: After my wife the G3 also liked a lot and it's just impressed with what this "infernal machine" has so everything on it, they would also like to have such and so I call to negotiation with our provider at a fair price (similar to the price here on Amazon) ordered a second G3, which was delivered 3 days ago. Here, however, I noticed with respect to the display today a difference when it comes to the white balance. During my G3 in this respect perfectly, so falls on a direct comparison with the G3 my wife (so if one considers the two G3 next to each other) that the white has a slight yellow tinge, so going in the direction AMOLED display. Not dramatically, but it falls - in direct comparison - hold on. Even otherwise, the display of nachgeorderten G3 a small tick in this regard, or generally darker. This is also striking when playing the two pre-installed LG Demo Videos parallel. Here both devices to the latest software version Android have been updated 5 Lollipop (LG software version v20h) and the display settings in terms of brightness and contrast were identical. Looking at both units separately for themselves, then falls not on. I know at this stage is not whether a "normal" series dispersion is or whether it is about to see an incorrect display. However, I have the (perhaps unwarranted?) Impression / suspected (?), That there are different versions of the G3, even if the devices sold in Europe bear all the model name D855. Both G3 that I bought were ordered and delivered within a few days. The unit my wife were at the 4 little protectors, which are laterally attached to the unit, each fitted little blue plates in order to deduct these films more easily. In my G3 but lacked these tabs so that the removal of these films was a bit fiddly. The screen protectors are slightly different. While both films are completely identical printed from the first impression, but once you put them on each other so it is noticeable that the pressure is not congruent to 100%. I find a bit strange. Does the LG G3 around at different manufacturers produce, the block also, albeit minimally different hardware (replica)? But I will not speculate here. I'll keep this review to date and keep you informed. Perhaps a / the IPS display also needed only a certain "run-time"? Can I imagine though not quite, but behold me. If there is no improvement, the display of the re-ordered the device, I'll probably change (must).

In terms battery I have but I still have a positive Addendum: This has now probably reached its full capacity on my G3 - and that is just great. If the display is off, ie in standby, the consumption is on average only about 0.5% per hour when the G3 is logged in the WLAN. Here, a weather app are active with me in the background or as a widget z. B. that updates every 15 minutes, Whatsapp, Aqua mail with IMAP Push, G +, FB, Google Now cards, and the usual and usually only with root access disconnectable Android "system of things". I think that's already great and are m. E. no cause for criticism. However, one turns on the display, the battery consumption increases "explosively" in which the course is only relative. But the display is sometimes a certain time, so 1-2h and then check it in the settings under battery -> Battery operation by, then quickly clear who or what the G3 demands the most power, namely the display - and Although with very, very wide margin. Since then really realized that a "just" FHD display a noticeably longer battery life could have been achieved, but what the heck. As a normal user to get so very, very loose at least on the day - and even a bit further.

Updated on 29.03.2015: So, the problem with the different white values ​​when display is now clarified. There are in fact according to my research a high dispersion, as regards this point. Obviously built in LG G3 displays (in direct comparison) significantly different white values. This is m. E. for a top device unacceptable and therefore I have my rating of 5 on correct Unfortunately only 4 stars. If you're "lucky", then you catch a device very, very good white values ​​(or rather a cold color temperature) when "bad luck", then the color temperature so rather an AMOLED is very warm, accordingly. Although this is certainly a matter of taste, I find such a randomly unacceptable and here LG should urgently rectify. Nevertheless, the G3 is otherwise naturally continue still a top device that deserves a strong buy recommendation.