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LG G4 officially announced: what you need to know
The LG G4 has just been officially unveiled in New York. Read on for full specs, features, price, and availability!
LG has bucked the trend when it comes to building hype for its flagship G4, by releasing a steady trickle of details about the new phone weeks in advance of its official unveiling today. Helped by a generous amount of good old-fashioned leaks, this has allowed us to build a fairly complete image of the G4’s specs, features and design, though that doesn’t mean there aren’t any surprises left in store.
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Ahead of today’s multiple launch events (Android Authority is present at the New York and London presentations), we’ve been given ample time with the brand new LG G4, so we’re able to bring you our hands-on impressions of the device and comparisons with some of the G4’s biggest competitors. But if you just want an overview of what’s new and interesting in the new LG G4, here’s what you should know.
LG G4 specs and features
| Display | 5.5-inch LCD Quantum Dot 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi |
|---|---|
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 (hexa-core: 2xCortex A57+ 4xCortex A53, 64-bit), Adreno 418 GPU |
RAM | 3 GB DDR3 |
Storage | 32 GB, expandable via microSD, up to 128GB |
Camera | Rear camera: 16MP, f/1.8, color spectrum sensor, OIS, laser-assisted focus; front camera: 8MP |
Connectivity | HSPA, LTE-Advanced Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 4.1 |
Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
Battery | 3,000 mAh, user removable, wireless charging, quick charging |
Software | Android 5.0 Lollipop, LG UX 4.0 |
Dimensions | 149.8 x 76.2 x 6.3-9.8 mm, 155 g |
Colors and finishes | Plastic: Gray, Gold, White Leather: Black / Brown / Red / Sky Blue / Beige / Yellow |
The specifications and feature set of the LG G4 are pretty much what we expected, though that’s not to say there’s nothing exciting in there. On the contrary, given Samsung’s controversial choice to drop the microSD card slot and removable battery from the Galaxy S6, fans of the two features may found solace in their appearance on the G4.
Perhaps the most interesting choice of component is the use of a Snapdragon 808 processor, instead of the Snapdragon 810 that is technically Qualcomm’s best in line. The Snapdragon 808 is a rather unusual hexa-core design, with two high-performance cores and four power-saving cores, both 64-bit, as well as an Adreno 418 GPU. There’s no official word on why LG picked the 808 over the 810 (which LG used in the G Flex 2), but the prevailing theory is it has to do with the 810’s overheating issues. LG told us that it worked closely with Qualcomm to optimize the 808 for the G4, but you can read more about how the device performs in our hands-on.
The display remains 5.5-inch Quad HD, like on the G3, but LG is now using quantum dot technology to enhance the color range that the screen can output. Also new is the very slight curvature of the screen, which helps set the phone apart, but doesn’t serve to any specific functionality other than giving the screen some slight protection.
The other big highlight of the G4 is the camera, with its f/1.8 aperture lens, OIS, and laser-assisted focus system. A new addition is a color spectrum sensor that will help the camera pick up the best settings based on the ambient light.
On the software side, LG’s UX 4.0 is an iterative upgrade over last year’s G3, with Android 5.1 Lollipop serving as the foundation.
LG G4 design
LG eschewed metal for this entry in the G series, but it hopes that leather will make it up. The G4 will come in multiple variants, with plastic or leather backs. LG is making a big deal of the use of natural vegetable-tanned leather for the G4, and indeed, the material has a great feel and greatly enhances grip, though not everyone will like the central seam.
The plastic-backed G4 will be available in grey, white, or gold, while the leather model will offer several earth-color hues, with more options to arrive this summer.
Read more about the G4’s design and build quality in our G4 hands-on.
LG G4 price and availability information
LG hasn’t revealed precise pricing information for the G4, but company reps told us that the G4 price will be similar to what the LG G3 cost at launch. That was around $600 in the US for the base version, with carrier-subsidized prices of $100 to $200. We expect that this will be the price for the base, plastic-clad version of the G4, with the leather cover models commanding a premium.
As for availability, LG will offer the G4 from June worldwide, but customers in South Korea will get it sooner. In the US, the LG G4 will be carried by AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-mobile and UScellular.
LG G4 image gallery
More LG G4 coverage
Check out our other LG G4 pieces, and stay tuned for more:
LG G4: your opinion
So, what do you think of the LG G4? Is it what you expected from a refresh? Will it give the Galaxy S6 a run for its money? Tell us in the comments and vote in our poll!