The LG G5 is one of the most interesting phones on the market today, but at the same time it is one of the most underrated. The characteristics of the LG G5 are in no way inferior to the flagships of 2016, these are:

• Snapdragon 820 clocked at 2.2 GHz
• Adreno 530 GPU
• 32 GB internal, 4 GB RAM
• Supports memory cards up to 2 TB
• Screen 5.3 inches with a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels
• Three cameras: frontal – 8MP, main – 16MP, secondary – 8MP (expands viewing angle to 135 degrees)
• Newfangled USB type C
• Fingerprint scanner
• 2800 mAh battery

It's also the first modular phone! You can customize the LG G5 with some body kits that will help you use the phone with even greater comfort. But for some reason it is predicted to have the same fate as last year’s G4, or, to be precise, failure.

What's wrong with the LG G5?

As I said before, the LG G5 is destined to fail or sell very little. What's the problem?

LG G5 has everything that is trendy today: a fingerprint scanner, an always-on display, the newfangled USB type C, two cameras, powerful hardware and in general it is the world's first modular phone! It would seem that the phone has every chance of success, but for some reason people are ordering the Samsung Galaxy S7 and not the LG G5.

Performance and filling

Maybe it's the filling? In terms of hardware, today's flagships are twin brothers, as one of my colleagues put it. In 2016, the difference in the technical characteristics of phones is leveled out even more and they all provide plus or minus the same power to the user. Let's take the same Samsung Galaxy S7 and the subject of today's conversation - LG G5. Undoubtedly, in the battle LG G5 vs S7, according to Antutu rules, the latter will win. The Samsung Galaxy S7 scores just over 101 thousand virtual parrots, while the LG G5 scores 80K in Antutu. But if you throw away the synthetics of the benchmark and look at reality, then this difference in everyday life is absolutely not noticeable. And to be honest, you will only go to Antutu or Geek Bench a few times during the entire use of the phone.

LG G5 wide-angle camera and excellent photo quality

The LG G5's camera beats the Galaxy S7 and even the iPhone 6s Plus in many aspects. The Krystal Key channel has an excellent comparison of the cameras of these phones and their capabilities in different conditions. So, for example, the LG G5 camera takes more accurate photos and conveys colors at night more naturally than its rivals. The iPhone is better than others for shooting video, since its camera has an excellent stabilizer and the video comes out very smooth and pleasing to the eye. The Galaxy S7, in turn, is the best choice for selfies because its front camera has the widest viewing angles of the three.

But when it comes to viewing angles, the main camera of the LG G5 is unrivaled. The G5 isn't the first phone to use dual cameras, but it's the first to get them right. Instead of useless post-focus, the LG G5 does one great thing - it starts shooting wide-angle photos. When the cameras work in pairs, the smartphone can observe a picture of 135 degrees (like Go Pro, for example). And all this works automatically, and you won't even always notice how your G5 will turn off the additional camera when zooming.

In wide-angle mode, the LG G5 takes truly stunning photos. I especially like the photo mode, where the LG G5 takes a “photo within a photo”, creating a kind of frame, which looks very interesting and unusual. In addition, the phone has a very passable photo editing mode right out of the box, which will be good news for Instagram users.

About design, ergonomics and modularity

Leaked photos of the LG G5 phone said that the smartphone would have a terrible appearance, and the hate towards the design of the Korean phone was colossal from the first days. But, at the presentation in Barcelona, ​​the world saw a slightly different LG G5: attractive and with a unique design. This is really a plus for this phone, since Apple’s blind copying has already tired more than one hundred people.

The phone comes in a standard set of colors for today: pink, gold, silver and black, which are the most popular among consumers.

Traditionally for LG, the power button (also a fingerprint scanner) is located on the back cover of the phone, and the volume keys have been moved to the side. The phone sits very confidently and comfortably in your hand.

The body is made of metal using unibody technology, but at the same time, thanks to its modularity, you can remove and replace the battery or install one of the LG Friends modules. Namely Hi-Fi plus and LG Cam. The latter is a kind of booster with a built-in 1200 mAh battery and has a camera shutter and zoom button. And the second is a DAC and amplifier co-developed with B&O that plays music at up to 32-bit resolution without using the smartphone's built-in 24-bit DAC.

Operating system

LG G5 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow in LG's proprietary shell. Personally, for my taste, the shell came out decent and looks beautiful and not intrusive. And yes, there is no menu with applications familiar to Android. Everything is immediately on the desktop.

Of course, you shouldn’t expect TouchWiz 2016 functionality from it. You won’t get such nice perks as Wi-Fi sharing from your connection or the one-screen philosophy. LG is guilty of duplicating standard services and having pre-installed software that cannot be removed.

And the Always-on Display function consumes 20% of the charge per day and the phone does not survive until the next charge in the evening. The same cannot be said about the Samsung Galaxy S7, which can last 1.5 days with a similar function. In general, TouchWiz 2016 is head and shoulders above LG shells in terms of energy saving.

Actually, in the LG G5 vs S7 software, Samsung will win for functionality, thoughtfulness and innovation. As for appearance, this is a matter of your taste.

Disadvantages of LG G5 and comparison with Samsung Galaxy S7

It's worth noting that the idea behind the LG G5 really deserves respect. It's really cool when you can install the module you need yourself or simply replace the battery. But the issue of implementing this idea leaves much to be desired. Below are the main disadvantages of the LG G5 in comparison with its direct competitor in the premium Android segment -.

Hull and painting

The first thing that bloggers from overseas noticed was that the body of the LG G5 is not entirely made of iron. It has an iron frame, on top of which there is plastic with a metallized coating. Actually, it is a plastic case with metallized putty, which breaks off very quickly. The LG G5 is not painted very well and most likely after a year of use without a case the paint will peel off and you will end up with a retro smartphone. And don’t even doubt that the paint will come off from the fingerprint scanner first. This element of the phone is used most often. And if you consider that on the back panel it takes the lion's share of attention, then the prospects are not very good at all.

But in addition to such unpleasant things, there is also this: this is an intermittent chrome line (supposedly for antennas). Few people here can understand this idea, because why make this line at all if you cannot connect the antennas properly? It doesn't look very good: out of the box, your LG G5 already looks like a phone that has been used a lot. Although if you take into account the fact that it will quickly get chipped and scratched, then it will be very organic.

Now let's compare the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7. The smartphone is made on a metal frame, to which Corning Gorilla Glass 4 is attached to the front and back. The sides of the phone are made of strong aluminum and hardly suffer from falls. But there are some complaints regarding the painting of these panels: with prolonged use, the paint near the speakers can wear off. And if in the golden version this is not so noticeable, then in the black Onyx it is quite noticeable. But this is most likely the only drawback in the body and painting of this device.

The antennas here are located under pleasant plastic lines and look organic, the fingerprint scanner is not painted and will have a neat appearance for many years to come. And unlike the LG G5, the Samsung Galaxy S7 does not have the slightest hint of play, while the modular part of the G5 acquires it after some time.

To summarize: the only drawback of the Samsung Galaxy S7 is the coloring of the speakers. The paint near them may rub off, but this is not so noticeable in gold and gray colors. While the LG G5 has a lot of shortcomings. Starting from poor-quality painting, easily chipped “putty”, ending with a painted fingerprint scanner, which will be the first to lose its appearance, and an interrupted chrome line along the contour.

Modularity

The very idea of ​​a modular phone really appeals to me. It’s so convenient: if you want more from your phone, install this or that module. Google even has a concept of a similar phone, where you choose the hardware for the phone yourself... But for now these are only concepts and only the LG G5 is a real implementation.

The modularity of the LG G5 is generally a strange thing. It seems convenient, but it seems not. I won’t go into high gear and say that the phone is losing its aesthetic appearance. I'll keep it simple: it turns off when you change the module. And only after you have inserted the battery into another module, installed it and are ready to use it, you need to start the phone and wait for it to boot. There is no smell of “replacement on the fly”, tell me?

As for the modules themselves, they are still “raw”. Let's take the same Hi-Fi plus module. By installing it, you not only get stereo sound, but also a second headphone jack at the bottom, in addition to the standard one at the top. For what? Only the engineers of the Korean company know. In addition, the Hi-Fi plus module significantly lengthens the phone, and sits absolutely unsteadily in its connector, and I wouldn’t risk sitting with it in my front jeans pocket.

In short, the modularity in the LG G5 is an interesting idea, but not very well implemented. And frankly, more of a good marketing item than something functional.

Screen

As mentioned above, the LG G5 screen has a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels and a diagonal of 5.3 inches. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 4, the same glass is installed on the Samsung Galaxy S7, but what is noteworthy: the glass of the LG G5 bends under strong pressure and unpleasant stains appear on the screen.

Actually, this is another reason to look towards buying the Galaxy S7, and not LG.

Summarize

LG G5 turned out to be a truly original and unusual phone. The LG G5 camera is one of the best I've seen in a smartphone. But various kinds of shortcomings simply discourage any desire to purchase a phone, including

• Poorly painted body, which, among other things, easily chips
• Screen that bends when pressed
• Unfinished concept of modularity
• Weak battery

This is all you will have to face when buying an LG G5. And also the price...

With a price tag of 640 forever green, it is logical to ask the question: “What is there to pay for?” and this will be the right question! After all, they didn’t present normal modularity, it was clearly not assembled with one’s own money, and the battery does not last until the end of the day with active use...

If you want to buy a flagship smartphone on Android, then it’s better to shell out money and buy the Galaxy S7, which will be two heads taller than its Korean competitor. In addition, it will also have IP-68 water resistance and a decent design.

Therefore, if I were choosing between the LG G5 and the Galaxy S7, I would definitely choose the latter and would be glad and happy with such a purchase.

The company has recently become famous for its experiments in smartphone design. Moreover, the manufacturer takes risks and uses even flagship devices for these purposes.

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Let's remember the smartphone with a curved screen LG G Flex 2, a gadget with an additional display LG V10 and last year's flagship with replaceable leather panels LG G4. Even if these experiments do not always end in success, it is more interesting to watch the efforts of the developers of “something like that.”

We received a “light” version of the flagship for review – LG G5 SE. It is this modification that will be officially sold in the Russian Federation. At least for now, anyway. And, as you might have guessed, in this case there were some experiments. Now we are waiting for a modular design, which, according to the manufacturer, can significantly expand the functionality of the device.

It sounds tempting, but first let's look at the improvements in terms of technical characteristics.

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Specifications LG G5 SE

Model	LG G5 SE	LG G4
Device type	Smartphone	Smartphone
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 652, 4 x 1800 MHz (Cortex-A72) + 4 x 1200 MHz (Cortex-A53)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, 2 x 1800 MHz (Cortex-A57) + 4 x 1440 MHz (Cortex-A53)
Video processor	Adreno 510	Adreno 418
operating system	Android 6.0 + LG UX	Android 5.1 (6.0) + LG UX
RAM, GB	3	3
Internal memory, GB	32	32
Screen	5.3"" IPS, 1440 x 2560	5.5"" QD-LED IPS, 1440 x 2560
Cameras, Mpix	16.0 + 8.0 + 8.0	16.0 + 8.0
Net	GSM 850/900/1800/1900	GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Number of SIM cards, pcs.	2	1 / 2
MicroSD support	Yes (combined slot)	Eat
Data transfer		Wi-Fi, WAP, GPRS, EDGE, NFC, HSDPA, 3G, LTE
aGPS/GPS/GLONASS/Beidou	Is/Is/Is/Is	Is/Is/Is/Is
Battery, mAh	2 800	3 000
Dimensions, mm	149.4 x 73.9 x 7.3	149.0 x 76.0 x 10.0
Weight, g	156	155
price, rub.	~39 000 / ~43 000	~20 000 / ~30 000

Of course, it would be worth comparing the LG G4 with the more powerful LG G5, and not its younger brother, but, on the other hand, it’s fairer, because the Snapdragon 808 was not the top solution in the Snapdragon line.

The first thing that catches your eye is the smaller display. Now it is 5.3" with the same resolution. To be fair, it is worth saying that the width of the device has decreased slightly, although the ratio of screen area to smartphone area has become less attractive. The new single-chip system looks very good against the background of the not very successful chip of its predecessor. In any case The Snapdragon 650, which we recently tested as part of the Xiaomi Mi Max, left a warm impression. The same 3 GB of RAM, which already seemed insufficient on the LG G4 due to the heavy shell, is a little surprising.

We should also mention the additional wide-angle camera, equipped with a lens with a viewing angle of about 135 degrees. We will test it in detail in the appropriate section.

Packaging and equipment LG G5 SE

Alas, the smartphone arrived to us without packaging or delivery kit. Recently, flagship devices supplied to the Russian Federation have not been distinguished by the richness of their equipment, so you shouldn’t expect any revelations here either. The only thing that is of interest is the charger, which should support proprietary fast charging technology (the predecessor did not have it).

Since we didn’t have the opportunity to examine the included accessories and packaging, let’s look at the new product in more detail.

Appearance and design of LG G5 SE

LG G5 SE is a device with a classic monoblock design with plug-in modules. Yes, a “modular smartphone” is not exactly what our guest is.

In this case, this is a “smartphone with a connector for connecting modules,” such a wording will be much more accurate. This is important to note in order to immediately understand that there is no trace of any competition with the future Project Ara.

The design of the new model is radically different from its predecessor. It can be assumed that LG is working ahead of the curve, trying to release a device similar to the future Apple iPhone 7 (which is quite true, if you believe the spy photos).

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Note that now the smartphone does not have continuity with the relatively recognizable proportions of all previous flagships. Whether this is good or bad is debatable, but there is a clear change in direction in terms of appearance.

In addition to the gray variant, users can choose from gold, pink and white.

The LG G5 SE also violates established canons in terms of placement of hardware keys and connectors. The ringing speaker is now located at the bottom end next to the USB Type-C connector, and on top there is a place for an AUX output, an infrared port and a microphone.

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The main difference concerns the volume keys, they are now on the left, while the screen lock key remains at the back under the fingerprint scanner.

It is worth noting that, according to iFixit, our test subject can be repaired quite easily, which does not imply a “cosmic” price tag for the repair itself.

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The device body is dismountable by removing its lower part. But with the case material, things are unclear. Most users expected an aluminum body with a matte finish from the LG G5 SE. What's the reality? Let's turn to the manufacturer's official website:

Metallized? How is that? It remains to be assumed that there is metal in the structure. No more. Foreign sites add even more confusion:

Here we are talking specifically about the metal case, however, we are talking about the “full-fledged” LG G5. And in all advertising campaigns in Russian the term “metalized” appears. Well, let's see how things work in practice:

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It can be seen that the design uses two panels, one is located under the screen, and the second is the back cover with the sides. I'm pleased with the thickness of these elements.

This is where we get the opportunity to look at the plastic section of the body. The material bends relatively easily if you press on the body of the smartphone without the battery inserted.

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Let's look at the 3.5 mm jack. I could be wrong, but it doesn't look like a plastic insert.

And here is a cut of the plug itself. Here it is disguised as chromed metal, but the mass and temperature of the material make us understand that this is ordinary plastic. Could it be that the LG G5 is metal and the LG G5 SE is plastic? Hardly. Otherwise, the latter would have received noticeably less mass, but in fact it is only three grams lighter.

In order to disconnect the module, you need to hold down the button, which is located on the left side of the device at the bottom. It does not extend beyond the body, so it is unlikely that you will accidentally press it. In the same photo you can see a small paint chip. It doesn't look like there's any exposed metal underneath.

Despite the fact that LG is responsible for the very successful Nexus 5 and , the Korean company has not yet been able to get into the first echelon of smartphone manufacturers - everything there is occupied by the Chinese, as well as Samsung and Apple. Realizing the situation, LG is taking a step towards unusual and niche devices - this movement is confirmed by the gradual winding down of production of Nexus 5X, which was unable to repeat the success of its predecessor. The LG G5 at least aroused serious interest and speculation: wouldn’t this design be flimsy? Is it really necessary to have two main cameras?

In Russia, another topic for discussion has been added to this: at the start of sales, the LG G5 will be supplied in a simplified se version, which is distinguished by the use of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 system-on-chip instead of the Snapdragon 820 and 3 GB of RAM instead of 4. These are the differences, actually , are exhausted - but the image suffers somewhat. The fact is that the lightweight version costs the same 50,000 rubles - the same as the Samsung Galaxy S7 or Apple iPhone 6s in “full” versions. Is it really that important?

⇡ Specifications

	LG G5 SE (H845)	LG G4	LG V10	Huawei P9	Samsung GALAXY S7
Display	5.3 inches, IPS, 2560 × 1440 pixels, 554 ppi, capacitive multi-touch	5.5 inches, IPS, 2560 × 1440 pixels, 538 ppi, capacitive multi-touch	5.7 inches, 2560 × 1440, IPS, 515 ppi, capacitive multi-touch	5.2 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 424 ppi, capacitive multi-touch	5.1 inches, AMOLED, 2560 × 1440 pixels, 575.9 ppi, capacitive multi-touch
Air gap	No	No	No	No	No
Protective glass	Corning Gorilla Glass 4	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 4	Corning Gorilla Glass (version not specified) on both sides
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (four ARM Cortex-A72 cores, 1.8 GHz + four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.4 GHz)		Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 (four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.4 GHz + two ARM Cortex-A57 cores, 1.82 GHz)	Huawei Kirin 955 (four ARM Cortex-A57 cores, 2.5 GHz; four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.8 GHz)	Exynos 8890 Octa (four ARM Cortex-A57 cores, 2.6 GHz; four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.6 GHz)
Graphics controller	Adreno 510, 550 MHz	Adreno 418, 600 MHz	Adreno 418, 600 MHz	Mali-T880 MP4, 900 MHz	Mali-T880 MP12, 650 MHz
RAM	3 GB	3 GB	4 GB	3/4 GB	4 GB
Flash memory	32 GB	32 GB	64 GB	32/64 GB	32/64 GB
Memory card support	Eat	Eat	Eat	Eat	There is, in the S7 Duos version, a combined slot for a memory card and SIM card
Connectors	USB Type-C, 3.5 mm minijack	microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack	microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack	USB Type-C, 3.5 mm minijack	microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack
SIM cards	Two nanoSIM	One microSIM	Two nanoSIM	One nanoSIM/two nanoSIM	One nanoSIM/two nanoSIM
Cellular connection 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 MHz	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz	HSDPA 800/850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100 MHz	HSPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
Cellular 4G	LTE Cat. 6 (up to 300 Mbit/s): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40	LTE Cat. 6 (up to 300 Mbit/s): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 28	LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbit/s), bands 1, 3, 7	LTE Cat. 6 (up to 300 Mbit/s): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40	LTE Cat support. 12 (up to 600/50 Mbit/s): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20
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
Bluetooth	4.2	4.1	4.1	4.2	4.2
NFC	Eat	Eat	Eat	Eat	Eat
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou
Sensors	Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer, pedometer, IR sensor	Light, proximity, pressure, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), pedometer, IR sensor		Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)	Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer, heart rate
			Light, proximity sensor, pressure sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), pedometer, IR sensor
Fingerprint's scanner	Eat	Eat	Eat	Eat	Eat
Main camera	Dual camera: 16 MP, f/1.8 + 8 MP, f/2.4, laser autofocus, optical stabilization, 4K video recording		16 MP, ƒ/1.8, laser autofocus, LED flash, optical stabilization, Full HD video recording	Leica, dual module, 12 megapixels, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, 4K video recording	12 MP, ƒ/1.7, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, optical stabilization, 4K video recording
Front-camera	8 MP, fixed focus	8 MP, fixed focus	5 MP, fixed focus, 80° viewing angle + 5 MP, fixed focus, 120° viewing angle	8 MP, fixed focus	5 MP, fixed focus
Nutrition	Removable 10.8 Wh battery (2800 mAh, 3.85 V)		Removable 11.4 Wh battery (3000 mAh, 3.8 V)		Non-removable 11.4 Wh battery (3000 mAh, 3.8 V)
Size	149.4 × 73.9 × 7.3 mm	149 × 76 × 9.8 mm	160 × 80 × 8.6 mm	145 × 70.9 × 7 mm	142.4 × 69.6 × 7.9 mm
Weight	156 grams	155 grams	192 grams	144 grams	152 grams
Housing protection	No	No	No	No	IP68 Up to half an hour at a depth of 1.5 m
operating system	Android 6.0 Marshmallow, LG Optimus UX 5.0 UI shell		Android 6.0 Marshmallow, LG Optimus UX 4.0 UI shell	Android 6.0 Marshmallow, own EMUI 4.1 shell	Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Samsung's own TouchWiz shell
Current price, rub.	49 990	30 000	35 000	Approximately 50,000	From 49 990

LG G5 se - information about the filling according to the Droid Info application

⇡ Appearance and ergonomics

If the LG G3 and LG G4 were similar to each other with their cat-like “back” and textured back surface (in the case of the G4, even leather was used), then the LG G5 se is like a step into the world of traditional values. The flat back panel is made of metal, and the volume key has returned to the side. However, the power button, combined with a fingerprint scanner, remains at the back. In the company of two camera eyes, it creates an image reminiscent of a shocked emoticon - and really, how many smartphones have you seen with two cameras at once?

LG G5 se, front panel: above the display there is an earpiece, status indicator, front camera and light sensor

However, Huawei with Honor 6 Plus and the new P9 asks you to calm down - they also have two main cameras, albeit used for other purposes. Let's return to design. Due to the metal, rather than leather, back, the smartphone does not cling to the palm as much - but matte metal cannot be called slippery either. But the smartphone has become much thinner (7.3 mm versus 9.8 mm) and slightly narrower - there is also a smaller display: 5.3 inches versus 5.5 inches for the G4. As a result, it is difficult to say which smartphone is more comfortable to use - everyone has their own trump cards. Although the G5 has a "joker" - a beveled surface above the display, it is very pleasant to drag your finger across it, pulling down the notification panel.

LG G5 se, rear panel: camera unit with two lenses, dual LED flash and laser autofocus eye, below is the power button combined with a fingerprint scanner

The dimensions of the display are quite comfortable - it is no longer too small (although I personally don’t mind 4-4.5-inch smartphones), but still quite suitable for working with one hand. Even though it’s difficult to fit, even I, who has very long fingers, have to reach the corners of the screen. Girls, for example, will have to use their second hand. However, 5.3 inches is still a very reasonable compromise in this age of throwing.

The smartphone is offered in three colors: gold, pink and gray. Once again there was no black case - it seems that the times of “black bricks” have indeed sunk into oblivion. We tested the gray one - the simplest and, I think, popular option.

The rear button, like the camera block, protrudes slightly above the body - if the cameras simply could not be placed entirely in the thin body, then the slight swelling of the key allows you to quickly feel it blindly.

It’s difficult to talk about the build quality and weak points based on the results of a week of testing, but there is an obvious point - since the smartphone is modular, it means it’s definitely not monolithic. In the photographs you can see that the bottom panel does not fit evenly to the body, this is especially noticeable in the photo of the left side. And there is a very serious possibility that it is in this place that the case may become loose when constantly changing modules: at MWC 2016, LG’s stand was strewn with smartphones with large gaps between the display and the bottom panel. On the other hand, this increases maintainability when the battery fails.

A fingerprint scanner is built into the power button. Software - everything is as usual: the scanner is configured in a standard way, helps to unlock the device or confirm payment on Google Play, and by combining it with the power button, it can activate the smartphone in one movement. But either the sensor itself does not work very accurately, or the problem is that you place your finger on the back button at an unusual angle - it did not always recognize me on the first try.

⇡ Modules

The likely source of problems with the reliability of the case and the main distinguishing feature of the LG G5 (and LG G5 se) is the modular design.

The lower part unfastens in one movement - just pull it by holding the small button on the left side. The button, by the way, does not protrude above the body and has a very tight movement, so that accidental presses are excluded. By default, in this way we gain access to the battery - in which case it can be easily changed without contacting the service. The smartphone, naturally, turns off - such gadgets have not yet learned to work without power.

There are currently two modules with which you can improve your smartphone: LG CAM Plus and LG Hi-Fi Plus. LG CAM Plus is essentially a protrusion for gripping your smartphone like a camera, with a built-in 1200 mAh battery and additional controls: a shutter button, camera on, video recording and a zoom wheel. It slightly extends the battery life of the device and makes shooting in a horizontal orientation easier - holding a smartphone with it is more comfortable, your hands don’t shake as much and you can set longer shutter speeds when shooting in the dark. LG CAM Plus will cost about $85.

LG decided to go all-in. Its new flagship is unlike any other smartphone on the market. The imagination of Korean engineers ran wild, and now the most expensive device, one might say, the face of the company, looks like some kind of concept from the future. For starters, the LG G5 has two rear cameras. For what? So you can shoot with a wide-angle lens and experiment with creative picture-in-picture mode. In addition, LG G5 is the first modular flagship in the world. The lower part can be removed and replaced with other parts - if, of course, you buy them. One module improves photography, the other has speakers for excellent sound. If previously “modularity” was just a bold concept, an idea that was occasionally discussed at technology exhibitions, now each of us can easily buy such a smartphone. The question is, is it worth it?

Specifications

Dimensions 73.9x149.4x7.7 mm Weight 159 grams Android 6.0 OS Screen diagonal 5.3 inches Resolution 2560x1440 RAM 4 GB Built-in memory 32 GB, with support for microSD cards up to 200 GB Processor 8-core Snapdragon 820 with a frequency of up to 2, 15 GHz Two rear cameras, 16 megapixels + 8 megapixels; front – 8 Mpix SIM cards 1 or 2, nano-SIM, work alternately Removable battery, Li-Ion, 2800 mAh

Frame

If the Chinese put pressure on technical characteristics, driving their smartphones like sled horses, then the Koreans have been putting more and more pressure on design in the last year. The parameters of their flagship devices have long been ahead of what users may require, but no one will ever come up with the ideal appearance. But LG came pretty close. For starters, the body here is almost entirely made of aluminum. There is only one plastic part: a removable plate at the bottom, which is part of the module. The rest of the body is all-metal, even without rubber or plastic inserts. At the same time, they managed to make the device quite light, and even graceful girls will find it comfortable to hold it in one hand.

Nobody made metal cases before the LG G5. And not only because of their heavy weight. A serious problem was the signal reception by the antenna. The solution was perhaps a remote “stick” sticking out outside the body, but such squalor looked much worse than plastic. The LG G5 uses microdivision technology, where the metal itself becomes the transmitting surface. How exactly this is implemented is not clear to anyone, and LG is not going to share its secrets.

Besides the all-metal body, the second thing that immediately catches your eye is the dual camera lenses. They are on the back, on one black stripe, and look quite nice, although very strange. Between the cameras there is an autofocus laser and LEDs for the flash. Just below is a fingerprint scanner, which also serves as a power button.

The smartphone is available in four colors: silver, pink, gold and titanium (dark gray). It is not completely black.

On the right side of the case there is a slot with SIM cards, and on the left there is a volume rocker. There, on the left, below, there is a small, barely noticeable gray button. It allows you to disconnect and remove the module along with the battery. The presence of various modules is the biggest difference between the LG G5 and all its competitors.

Modules

If you hold the button at the bottom on the left side of the case, you can remove your standard LG G5 module along with the battery. And insert another one - the one that best suits your needs.

The first alternative module is called LG Cam Plus. It improves the functionality of the camera. It is large and thick, so it is comfortable to hold on to with your hand while shooting. It has a photo button, a video button, and a zoom wheel. In addition, such a module increases the total battery capacity to 4000 mAh. If you're buying the LG G5 mainly for its shooting capabilities, this module is a must.

The second module for the smartphone is called LG Hi-Fi Plus. It was created in collaboration with the famous Danish audio equipment company Bang & Oulfsen. This module contains an amplifier and a 32-bit DAC so that the device can produce excellent sound. Together with such a module, the LG G5 becomes the best “audio smartphone” in the world, but such pleasure is not cheap. But the size of the Hi-Fi Plus is small, and it does not change the appearance of the device as much as the Cam Plus.

Of course, the modules can be changed to suit your mood. Leaving the house for a party? Are you going on a trip by car? Why not grab a sound module to play some music! Are you going on a hike where you will need to charge? Want to take more unforgettable photos? Insert a module with a camera and battery into your smartphone!

So far, LG has not said anything about new modules, but other extensions for the smartphone will probably appear in the coming months, especially if the company’s risky venture turns out to be a success. For now it’s a bit damp. If both modules were supplied with the device and had almost no effect on the price, then, of course, this would be a great bonus. But only really crazy photographers and music lovers will pay out of pocket separately for a “shooting module” or “audio module.” You can also purchase virtual reality glasses and a spinning robot that rides on the floor for your smartphone. The glasses look very nice, but other manufacturers also have good solutions in this regard.

Camera

The most important thing: the smartphone has two camera modules on the back. One is 16 megapixels with f/1.8, the second is 8 megapixels and f/2.4. The cameras are not stereoscopic; you won’t be able to take 3D photos with them. They are here for something else. You'll see the difference when you go into shooting mode. Two icons will appear at the top or bottom of the screen: a triangle and three triangles. The first icon is the standard mode, and the second is the wide-angle mode. So if you want to film everything that happens in front of you in a room or in nature, just click on the icon with three triangles. The smartphone will be able to see what is within 135° in front of it (for comparison, the human eye has an arc of only 120°).

The device is also capable of using two of its cameras simultaneously – in a special mode. Two lenses create an unusual effect, similar to a “picture in picture”: part of the image will be close, part will be distant, shot with a wide-angle lens. In the mode settings, you can choose which part (center, edges, separate strip). It looks interesting, and if you like to get creative when shooting, this feature in the LG G5 will be very nice. Top smartphones from Samsung, Huawei, HTC and others have only one camera on the back and do not support wide-angle shooting or such an interesting mode.

The front camera is also very good, 8 megapixels, and allows you to take high-quality selfies, which you wouldn’t be ashamed to hang on your computer desktop. All in all, the LG G5 has the most advanced camera system on the smartphone market. And this is without even mentioning the LG Cam Plus module. If high-quality shooting is important to you, you want to take unique photos, the LG G5 completely outshines the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the latest iPhone. The difference is staggering.

...the most advanced camera system on the smartphone market...

Display

But in terms of screen, the LG G5 is obviously inferior to its main competitor - the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The smartphones have the same resolution, 2560x1440 pixels, but the S7 Edge has a larger diagonal (5.5 inches versus 5.3 inches), a Super AMOLED matrix instead of IPS, and most importantly, the edges of the screen extend to the ends of the device. This allows you to create the effect that the display has no edges at all, which looks great. In addition, on the edges of the Samsung smartphone there is a lot of useful information, there is room for additional shortcuts and for important people from your contact list. The LG G5 does not have such impressive capabilities; the screen here is quite standard, albeit of very high quality.

Like the S7 Edge, there is an “always on” mode: the display will constantly show the time, recent notifications or calendar in a special energy-saving mode. So the device consumes only 0.8% of the battery per hour. If you often look at your smartphone for the sake of your watch (and LG claims that the average person does this at least 100 times a day), this feature will save battery power.

The display is very, very bright, 900 cd/m2. Even on a sunny beach it will be easy to read. It also does not have the most standard diagonal: 5.3 inches – something between “standard” and “shovel recorder”. Otherwise, it’s a very familiar display that can easily be imagined on a flagship from Huawei, HTC or Sony.

Performance

The smartphone has the current best-performing eight-core Snapdragon 820 processor. It can’t get any higher yet. The Adreno 530 chip is responsible for the graphics, and the RAM is 4 GB. Built-in – 32 GB, plus you can insert a microSD card with a capacity of up to 200 GB (and potentially up to 2 TB). So far, there are simply no games or programs capable of consuming at least half of the LG G5’s hardware resources. The flagship will remain relevant on the market for a very long time; you don’t have to worry that in a couple of years it won’t hold up.

It is also worth noting that the port here is not Micro-USB, but a new and faster version of USB Type-C. If you frequently transfer data to or from a smartphone, this could be significant.

Interface and OS

The smartphone runs Android 6.0 with an updated proprietary Optimus UX 5.0 UI shell. She has been noticeably “combed”; there is much less excess in her. They even decided to remove the separate application menu. All programs are now located on the desktop, like Apple or Xiaomi. The decision is controversial. LG says it's more convenient and simpler. But those who are accustomed to Android smartphones from Samsung, HTC and other companies may well disagree with her. LG is also still pushing its weird, overly complicated screen unlock mode. Simply double-tapping on the notification that pops up won’t work here.

Battery

There are problems here too. The battery is simply too small: 2800 mAh. For a powerful processor and a screen with QHD clarity, this is frankly not enough. The main competitor, the Galaxy S7 Edge, costs 3600 mAh, despite the fact that the Samsung processor requires less energy to operate.

Of course, LG's big plus is its modular system. The battery here is removable, if necessary, you can insert another one without waiting for charging. But an additional battery is quite expensive, and you are unlikely to carry it with you (unless you leave it at the hotel while traveling just in case).

LG G5 supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology for fast charging. The battery reaches 83% in thirty minutes.

Competitors

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

So far the only worthy competitor to the LG G5. It has a better screen. Especially if you like the display to extend to the ends. While the G5 has an all-metal body, the S7 and S7 Edge have a glass-covered body for a stunning look. The performance of smartphones is approximately the same. The S7 Edge has water resistance, but the G5 does not. But the LG smartphone is clearly superior to its competitor in terms of camera capabilities. Plus, there are removable modules that allow you to customize the device to your needs.

iPhone 6S

Until the new generation of iPhone comes out, the LG G5 “competes” with this frankly outdated model. In fact, there’s not even anything to compare: top-end smartphones from LG and Samsung beat Apple’s options in all respects. Screen, camera, hardware - all of this in the LG G5 is head and shoulders above the old iPhone, and almost certainly the new Apple model expected this summer will also not be able to compete with the G5 in technical terms. But the iPhone is simply more convenient for many people; it has a nice, strict interface. If you personally prefer iOS over Android, then the new interface in the LG G5 is unlikely to convince you; there are few changes here.

Google Nexus 6P

Also one of the relatively new smartphones, with an excellent screen and a powerful processor. In terms of hardware, it is inferior to both the LG G5 and the Samsung Galaxy S7/Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The shell is “pure” Android, there is no slot for microSD, and the camera is much worse than that of the LG G5. But the device was produced by the Chinese company Huawei and is significantly cheaper.

Opinions

Mobile-review.com

The company has come up with an interesting smartphone, which will undoubtedly become one of the main events of the beginning of the year, although it will in no way be able to compete in strength and importance with the version from Samsung. However, LG made a high-quality device taking into account the shortcomings of the previous model, and, frankly speaking, the LG G5 is an improved version of last year’s flagship in every way. Yes, there is a system of modules here that is completely incomprehensible to me, but no one will impose them along with a smartphone, and, accordingly, you can simply not use them. Of the objective disadvantages, I see one - the battery has a small capacity, everything else is excellent.

The smartphone is very fast, it has all the features you need in a flagship, and it even went the extra mile by giving us the ability to improve it with modules. The best thing, in our opinion, is the design. The body of the LG G5 is metallic magic.

In 2016, few people will dare to pamper themselves with expensive accessories. And without accessories, LG G5 is like a salad without herbs and oil. It seems that individually the tomatoes, cucumbers and onions are fresh, tasty and nutritious, and even more aromatic than before, but something is missing.

The LG G5 and LG G5 SE smartphones are truly revolutionary smart mobile phones. They surprise with their modular design and impress with the third digital camera installed on the back of the case.

• Content
• Introduction
• Specifications
• Appearance
• Equipment
• Screen
• Camera
• Performance
• Communication capabilities
• conclusions

Introduction

“Don’t have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends,” says the famous proverb. It is unlikely that people in South Korea are well acquainted with Russian folk proverbs and sayings, but the appearance of the LG G5 and LG G5 SE smartphones on the market makes us think otherwise. After all, the concept of new models is the ability to add so-called “friends” - modules that expand the functionality of the smartphone. But how many “friends” are needed for complete happiness is up to each user to decide individually. More on the rest later in our review.

Specifications of LG G5 and LG G5 SE

	LG G5	LG G5 SE
Display	IPS Quantum, 5.3”, 2560×1440	IPS Quantum, 5.3”, 2560×1440
Chipset/Graphics	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 /	Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 /
RAM/ROM/Flash	4 GB / 32 GB / microSD	3 GB / 32 GB / microSD
Cameras	front: 8 MP; rear: 16 MP + 8 MP	front: 8 MP; rear: 16 MP + 8 MP
Communications	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 LE, USB Type-C, NFC, IrDa	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 LE, USB Type-C, NFC, IrDa
FM	+	+
Networks	2G, 3G, 4G	2G, 3G, 4G
Battery	2800 mAh	2800 mAh
OS		Android 6.0.1 + UX 5.0 shell
SIM	SIM + SIM/microSD	SIM + SIM/microSD
Internet	WAP, EDGE, GPRS, HSDPA	WAP, EDGE, GPRS, HSDPA
Dimensions	149.4×73.9×7.7 mm	149.4×73.9×7.7 mm
Weight	159 g	156 g
Price (Yandex Market)	to the Russian market not officially available	RUB 42,990

Appearance

Compared to the LG G4, the LG G5 and LG G5 SE models received a smaller display - 5.3 inches versus 5.5 inches. The matte metalized body of the new products looks very stylish and has a smooth tactile feel. In comparison with the same LG G4, the corners of the new product are rounded, so they do not cut into the palm. The case is called metallized because a plastic coating is applied to the metal base (anodized aluminum). By the way, he hardly collects fingerprints. The 2.5D glass used actually gives us a smooth curve, and when you slide your finger down to bring up the operating system’s notification shade, you experience pure pleasure. On the left side we found a volume rocker. The right end carries a cover, under which a combined slot is hidden - with a tray with two places: one is designed for installing a nanoSIM, and the other is for installing either a second nanoSIM or a microSD memory card. The kit includes a special key for the slot lock. The device's power button has a built-in fingerprint scanner and is located on the back right in the center. Above the scanner button there are two cameras and an LED flash. We'll also talk about why the second rear camera was needed... Of course, there is also a front camera, so the LG G5 and LG G5 SE have three cameras in total! The bottom end is equipped with a speaker, a microphone and (attention!) a USB Type-C port. Another surprise awaits the user in the form of an inconspicuous button in the lower left part of the case. If you press it, the battery pack will come out from the inside. Accordingly, this default module can be replaced by another. At the moment, several friends gadgets have been announced, but only 2 are inserted into the battery slot. These are LG Cam Plus - a module with an additional battery and mechanical camera control buttons, as well as LG Hi-Fi Plus - a module with a built-in digital-to-analog converter for audiophiles. The dimensions of the LG G5 and LG G5 SE are the same - 149.4 × 73.9 × 7.7 mm, but the latter is slightly lighter: 156 g versus 159 g.

This is LG G5

This is LG G5 SE

Equipment

The delivery set consists of a complete adapter, a USB Type A - USB Type C cable, a standard headset, paper documentation and the smartphone itself.

The photo shows the LG G5 model, which is not supplied to the Russian market; externally, both modifications of the smartphone are absolutely identical

Screen

The heroes of our review have a 5.3-inch IPS screen with 3D Arc curved glass and a really high resolution - 2560x1440 pixels. It's 0.2 inches smaller than the LG G4's screen. Pixel density - 554 ppi. Protection - Gorilla Glass 4. The screen is, frankly, good: with wide viewing angles, high contrast and rich color reproduction, but it lacks brightness. On a fine sunny day this is felt especially strongly. Although there is a special “daylight mode” that automatically measures the light parameters and instantly increases or decreases the brightness of the display.

Camera

No words, LG G5 and LG G5 SE surprised with a third camera on the rear panel. It is 8 megapixel. Its feature is a 135-degree lens to provide a wide viewing angle. Thanks to this, during shooting you can capture much more space in the frame - almost twice as much as conventional smartphones allow. This is especially valuable when traveling, when you want to photograph a solid architectural structure in its entirety, but there is no opportunity to move away from it.

The only negative is that the wide-angle lens gives perspective distortion. As for the front camera, it is 8-megapixel (f/2.4 aperture), equipped with a screen backlight and a “face enhancement” option for selfies. The main one is 16-megapixel with an f/1.8 aperture. It is armed with laser autofocus, LED flash and optical stabilization. The focal length is 27.88 mm (35 mm full frame). Switching between cameras is easy - with one click on the corresponding icon on the screen in shooting mode.

Below you can see the original photographs taken in various conditions with the LG G5 and LG G5 SE cameras, giving yourself an impression of the photographic capabilities of the smartphone. Let us immediately note that the cameras of both modifications of the smartphone are absolutely identical.

To view a full-size photo, right-click and select “open image”

Sound

Of course, one of the main attractions of the LG G5 and LG G5 SE is the detachable LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY. That is, this Hi-Fi audio player was created in collaboration with the most famous player in the audio market - Bang & Olufsen. So there is no doubt that the LG G5 and LG G5 SE will attract true connoisseurs of high-quality audio, because the 32-bit Hi-Fi digital-to-analogue converter with oversampling technology (384 kHz / 32 bits) reproduces high-definition sound. As for the operation of the main and conversational speakers, we cannot make any complaints about them - everything works “excellent”. There is even an FM tuner with the ability to record broadcasts.

Performance

Inside the LG G5 there is a powerful flagship chipset from Qualcomm - Snapdragon 820. This chipset is created using a 14-nm FinFET process (transistors with a 3D structure) and contains two high-performance cores with a clock frequency of 2.2 GHz and two less powerful ones with a clock frequency of 1 .6–1.7 GHz. The first cores are useful for resource-intensive tasks or “heavy” games, and the second ones for less demanding processes. The picture is completed by the Adreno 530 graphics controller with support for OpenGL ES 3.1, OpenCL 2.0 and the Vulcan API; Spectra IPS processor for image processing; Hexagon 680 DSP digital signal processor and X12 LTE modem. The manufacturer claims that the Snapdragon 820 is twice as fast and also more energy efficient than the Snapdragon 810. There is a lot of RAM installed - 4 GB. The built-in memory is even abundant - 32 GB. If there is not enough, then insert a MicroSD memory card into the slot and forget about the lack of space, filling the flash space with music, movies, photos, games and other content. Even the most demanding games will run and run on the LG G5. Many open applications are also not a problem - the smartphone does not “freeze” from this. As for the LG G5 SE, the hardware is a little simpler: 8-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor (4 ARM Cortex-A72 cores (1.8 GHz) + 4 ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.4 GHz ), as well as 3 GB of RAM. The graphics subsystem is also slightly weaker - Adreno 510. But in the Geekbench 3.4.1 benchmark, the result for one working core of the LG G5 was 2270 points, and for all four - 5281 points.

But in the 3DMark Sling Shot benchmark, using OpenGL ES 3.1, we got a result of 1988 points, which literally means the following - this smartphone is one of the most productive 3D graphics in the world at the moment. The test in Ice Storm Unlimited showed the same thing, where the smartphone scored 28,964 points.

The results of measuring average FPS at a resolution of 2392x1440 also frankly pleased us - 57.9 in the “high quality” mode, 55.7 in the “ultra high quality” mode and 59.0 in the “high performance” mode. On such a smartphone you can safely run all modern 3D toys: they will launch without lags or other tricks.

Comparison tests for the LG G5 SE are presented below. The performance of the LG G5 SE is expectedly lower compared to the LG G5, but overall it looks very decent.

Software and autonomy

Smartphones come to their owner with the Android 6.0.1 operating system pre-installed. Of course, all fans of the South Korean giant's mobile products know that in addition to Android, they will also have a proprietary shell. This time it's Optimus UX 5.0. Among the innovations, we note the abandonment of a separate application menu. In the LG G5 and LG G5 SE, applications are installed directly on the desktop, which evokes analogies with the iPhone. There is now an option to manually configure the grid for arranging applications on desktops: you can choose from three sizes: 4x4, 4x5 or 5x5. Even in the proprietary shell, you will no longer find annoying smart notifications. And the notification curtain itself “lightened up”. The developer was not lazy and even redrawn the icons. However, it is now impossible to remove or add icons to the quick access panel. But the Always On Display function remains. Notification information, date and time are always displayed on the screen, so you don't have to activate the display every time. The battery is installed with a decent capacity - 2800 mAh. In economy mode, both models will last a whole day. Note the possibility of fast charging Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 - charging from 0 to 100% in just one hour when using an authentic charger.

Communication capabilities

LG G5 and LG G5 SE support work with one or two SIM cards in GSM/GPRS/Edge, UMTS/HSDPA+ and LTE Cat.12 networks. You can access the Internet using a dual-band WiFi a/b/g/n/ac/ad module. There is also a Bluetooth 4.2 module. It is impossible not to mention NFC with an infrared port; the latter allows you to use your smartphone as a universal remote control for household appliances. But the smartphone is connected to a personal computer not through the MicroUSB port, but through the modern and high-speed USB Type-C. And every day it’s getting easier to find such a port in modern computers. Navigation in GPS (A-GPS), BeiDou and the domestic satellite navigation system GLONASS is supported. Finding satellites occurs in a matter of seconds. Many different sensors: accelerometer, proximity, gyroscope, light, compass, magnetic, fingerprint sensor.

conclusions

What can we say in the end? If someone complains about expensive modules for the LG G5 and LG G5 SE, then there is no need to buy them. But it’s nice to know that you have the option of upgrading your mobile device: you can improve the audio unit, or you can improve the “camera” part of your smartphone. However, it is not only the modular design and the support of “friends” that make the new products stand out. These models also have a third camera to capture more of the world around you. In general, cameras are the strong point of smartphones. The hardware “stuffing” is beyond praise - it has powerful chipsets and a lot of RAM (3 or 4 GB). Fast battery charging and MicroSD support will be a plus. However, there is also the other side of the coin. Thus, the presence of a removable module still affects the strength of the structure at the place where the module is attached. The brightness of the display, in our opinion, is insufficient, although this saves battery power. But overall, the LG G5 and LG G5 SE are truly innovative smartphones that oh t of your money.

We award these smartphones our Editors' Choice medal for their combination of quality, innovation and superior design.