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The Case For The LG G5: 2016’s Most Underrated Android Phone

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The Case For The LG G5: 2016’s Most Underrated Android Phone


Richard Goodwin

07/02/2017 – 11:50am

The LG G5 TANKED in 2016. And this is a real shame because it was a truly exceptional phone – and it still is in 2017

The LG G5 – in my humble opinion – was a stunning handset in almost every regard.

Yes, the modular aspect was a bit pants in practice, but everything else about the handset truly rocked my world when I tested it.

In fact, I’d go as far as saying it was easily my second favourite Android phone of 2016. The first was Google’s Pixel XL.

The LG G5 seemed to fare pretty well at MWC 2016 when it first launched; plenty of people seemed hyped about it. Though when it came time for reviews, plenty of critics couldn’t seem to get past the modular aspect of the phone.

Reviews for the handset weren’t great. The design was attacked and the modular aspect was lampooned as gimmicky, fiddly and useless.

I agree whole heartedly with the modular critique – it was pants.

But so what? At least LG was trying something new. Given time, it might have even evolved into something rather useful. Especially since Google ARA is now dead.

To be 100% frank, my love for the LG G5 was based on three things: the design of the handset, its display and its dual-lens camera.

The camera, the first dual-lens shooter to hit the market, was awesome. I found myself using it far more than any other phone I’d had before, simply because of the increased space I had to play with thanks to its wide-angle setup.

The LG G5 uses a dual-lens camera, which means instead of one sensor on the back of the phone you have, well, two. And while this might sound a bit like a gimmick — or, similar to what HTC tried to do a couple of years ago — it really isn’t.

LG G5 Camera Review: LG Smashed It Out The Park

LG smashed the ball out of the park with this imaging setup.

The G5, unlike nearly all of its peers, for now, is equipped with two rear facing cameras: the default 75º setup, which uses a 16MP sensor and captures shots like any other smartphone in its class, and a wide-angle, 135º setup that uses an 8MP sensor for wider, more panoramic shots.

The wide-angle lens lets you take truly stunning photos of things right in front of you. For instance, say you’re shooting a phone for review and it’s on your desk in front of you. With a normal phone you’d have to take a few steps back to get the ideal shot. Not so with the LG G5 — just switch to the wide-angle lens and it captures everything in front of you, as you can see below:

The wide-angle lens is also great for video as well. You can capture a more realistic, POV-style view of what you’re attempting to capture. I mainly used the wide-angle for images but I can really see a lot of people loving this aspect of the camera for video work. The possibilities, whether filming short films or vlogs, are obvious the moment you begin tinkering around with the settings.

Apple is widely reported to be including a dual-lens camera on its upcoming iPhone 7. After using the LG G5 for almost a month as my daily driver, and being someone that doesn’t really use my phone camera all that much, I can see why the world’s biggest technology form is interested in this type of imaging technology — it completely redefines what you can do with photography on a mobile phone. And this is the first implementation. Imagine what it’ll be capable of in a couple of years?

LG G5 Camera: Many, Many Modes

The LG G5 has a couple more tricks up its sleeve, and while these aren’t quite as impressive as the imaging unit as a whole, they certainly add in an element of fun to capturing images. Out the box you get seven shooting modes: Auto (the default), Popout, Multi-View, Snap, Panorama, Slo-mo and Time-lapse.

Popout mode uses both cameras to create shots where the subject is in focus and the background is kind of blurred. The standard lens captures the focus object, while the wide-angle lens handles the background and adds in effects like a vignette or blurring.

Multi-View is pretty cool too, and rather similar to an Instagram mode, as it lets you shoot three separate images and then arrange them in one, grid-like shot for uploading to social networks. This is great for images from nights-out or shots when you’re doing something, say, walking up a mountain, and you want to show progress and vistas from your vantage point inside one image.

Say, CHEESE!

Another cool feature of the camera is its built-in voice control settings, which you can turn on by tapping the Settings icon in the camera app. With this setting activated, you can assign a voice command — like, “cheese” — to activate the shutter.

This sounds like a gimmick, but if you’re capturing images on a tripod and want to minimise movement for video or photo, it is a godsend because you can say, CHEESE, and the image or video is captured without having to touch the camera and this, obviously, eradicates any movement or judder before capture.

Manual Mode For Pros

Like a lot of Android phones, the LG G5 features the ability to shoot in Manual mode. When you activate this mode you have complete control over everything — ISO, White Balance, Shutter Speed and Focal Range. This offers a degree of control over images that simply cannot be matched by standard modes, providing you know what you’re doing.

Importantly, you can also capture photos in RAW format which is ideal for more professional shooters that like to retouch and edit their captured shots in software like Photoshop.

The LG G5 Now Has Android Nougat Update

The LG G5 now has Android Nougat as well, bringing it well in line with with all the big players in the space. LG has consistently been great with its Android updates and their software, while still imperfect, is one of the better Android skins in operation.

But what I like most about the LG G5 is that it’s just a really good phone. It looks great, it feels great and it is packed with tons of useful feature and some really excellent software that is both useful and engaging to use.

The camera app, for instance, is superb.

Out of all the Android phones I tested in 2016, the LG G5 always stands out as special. I would happily use one right now as my daily driver; I honestly enjoyed using it that much.

What’s even more impressive about this phone, however, is just how cheap they are now compared to handsets like the HTC 10, Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s – You can now pick the LG G5 up at Amazon for £399.47 — reduced from £529.99

And while that does still sound quite pricy, what you have to remember is that you’re getting A LOT of phone for that money.

I cannot wait to see what LG comes to the table with in 2016.

Richard Goodwin 07/02/2017 - 11:50am

The LG G5 TANKED in 2016. And this can be a actual disgrace as it used to be a really remarkable phone – and it nonetheless is in 2017

The LG G5 – in my humble opinion – used to be a shocking handset in virtually each and every regard.

Sure, the modular side used to be a bit of pants in apply, however the entirety else concerning the handset in point of fact rocked my global once I examined it.

Actually, I’d move so far as pronouncing it used to be simply my 2d favorite Android phone of 2016. The first used to be Google’s Pixel XL.

The LG G5 gave the impression to fare lovely smartly at MWC 2016 when it first introduced; a number of other folks gave the impression hyped about it. Despite the fact that when it got here time for evaluations, quite a lot of critics couldn’t appear to get previous the modular side of the phone.

Evaluations for the handset weren’t nice. The design used to be attacked and the modular side used to be lampooned as gimmicky, fiddly and unnecessary.

I agree entire heartedly with the modular critique – it used to be pants.

However so what? No less than LG used to be making an attempt one thing new. Given time, it would have even advanced into one thing slightly helpful. Particularly since Google ARA is now lifeless.

To be 100% frank, my love for the LG G5 used to be in response to 3 issues: the design of the handset, its show and its dual-lens digital camera.

The digital camera, the primary dual-lens shooter to hit the marketplace, used to be superior. I discovered myself the use of it excess of some other phone I’d had ahead of, merely as a result of the higher area I needed to play with because of its wide-angle setup.

The LG G5 makes use of a dual-lens digital camera, this means that as an alternative of 1 sensor at the again of the phone you have got, smartly, two. And whilst this would possibly sound just a little like a gimmick — or, very similar to what HTC attempted to do a few years in the past — it actually isn’t.

LG G5 Digital camera Evaluate: LG Smashed It Out The Park

LG smashed the ball out of the park with this imaging setup.

The G5, in contrast to the majority of its friends, for now, is provided with two rear dealing with cameras: the default 75º setup, which makes use of a 16MP sensor and captures photographs like some other smartphone in its elegance, and a wide-angle, 135º setup that makes use of an 8MP sensor for wider, extra panoramic photographs.

The wide-angle lens permits you to take really surprising pictures of items proper in entrance of you. For example, say you’re capturing a phone for evaluate and it’s for your table in entrance of you. With a standard phone you’d need to take a couple of steps again to get the perfect shot. Now not so with the LG G5 — simply transfer to the wide-angle lens and it captures the entirety in entrance of you, as you'll be able to see beneath:

The wide-angle lens could also be nice for video as smartly. You'll be able to seize a extra lifelike, POV-style view of what you’re making an attempt to seize. I basically used the wide-angle for photographs however I will be able to in point of fact see a large number of other folks loving this side of the digital camera for video paintings. The probabilities, whether or not filming brief movies or vlogs, are obtrusive the instant you start tinkering round with the settings.

Apple is extensively reported to be together with a dual-lens digital camera on its upcoming iPhone 7. After the use of the LG G5 for just about a month as my day by day motive force, and being anyone that doesn’t in point of fact use my phone digital camera all that a lot, I will be able to see why the arena’s largest generation shape is considering this kind of imaging generation — it utterly redefines what you'll be able to do with images on a cellular phone. And that is the primary implementation. Believe what it’ll be able to in a few years?

LG G5 Digital camera: Many, Many Modes

The LG G5 has a pair extra tips up its sleeve, and whilst those aren’t slightly as spectacular because the imaging unit as an entire, they for sure upload in a component of a laugh to shooting photographs. Out the field you get seven capturing modes: Auto (the default), Popout, Multi-View, Snap, Landscape, Slo-mo and Time-lapse.

Popout mode makes use of each cameras to create photographs the place the topic is in center of attention and the background is more or less blurred. The same old lens captures the point of interest object, whilst the wide-angle lens handles the background and provides in results like a vignette or blurring.

Multi-View is lovely cool too, and fairly very similar to an Instagram mode, because it allows you to shoot 3 separate photographs after which organize them in a single, grid-like shot for importing to social networks. That is nice for photographs from nights-out or photographs while you’re doing one thing, say, strolling up a mountain, and you wish to have to turn growth and vistas out of your vantage level inside of one symbol.

Say, CHEESE!

Any other cool function of the digital camera is its integrated voice keep an eye on settings, which you'll be able to activate via tapping the Settings icon within the digital camera app. With this environment activated, you'll be able to assign a voice command — like, “cheese” — to turn on the shutter.

This seems like a gimmick, however in case you’re shooting photographs on a tripod and need to minimise motion for video or photograph, this is a godsend as a result of you'll be able to say, CHEESE, and the picture or video is captured with no need to the touch the digital camera and this, clearly, eradicates any motion or judder sooner than seize.

Guide Mode For Execs

Like a large number of Android telephones, the LG G5 options the power to shoot in Guide mode. While you turn on this mode you've gotten whole regulate over the whole thing — ISO, White Stability, Shutter Velocity and Focal Vary. This gives a point of keep an eye on over photographs that merely can't be matched through same old modes, offering you already know what you’re doing.

Importantly, you'll be able to additionally seize pictures in RAW layout which is perfect for extra skilled shooters that love to retouch and edit their captured photographs in device like Photoshop.

The LG G5 Now Has Android Nougat Replace

The LG G5 now has Android Nougat as smartly, bringing it smartly in keeping with with all of the giant gamers within the area. LG has persistently been nice with its Android updates and their device, whilst nonetheless imperfect, is likely one of the higher Android skins in operation.

However what I love maximum concerning the LG G5 is that it’s only a in point of fact just right phone. It appears nice, it feels nice and it's full of lots of helpful function and a few in reality very good tool this is each helpful and tasty to make use of.

The digital camera app, as an example, is very good.

Out of all of the Android telephones I examined in 2016, the LG G5 all the time sticks out as particular. I might fortuitously use one at this time as my day by day motive force; I truthfully loved the use of it that a lot.

What’s much more spectacular about this phone, on the other hand, is simply how reasonable they're now in comparison to handsets just like the HTC 10, Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s – You'll be able to now pick out the LG G5 up at Amazon for £399.47 — reduced from £529.99

And whilst that does nonetheless sound moderately pricy, what you could have to keep in mind is that you simply’re getting A LOT of phone for that cash.

I will not wait to peer what LG involves the desk with in 2016.

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