Determined to win the race smartphones upscale, LG is betting on the G2, a sacred animal of race on paper.
What
Able to compete with Samsung Galaxy S4 , Moto X and other HTC One, LG G2 is a powerful smartphone, which has in the guts as they say. A look in the data sheet is enough to be convinced: it has a IPS + screen 5.2 “(resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, 424 PPI), a Processor quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974 800 2.26 GHz, a 13 megapixel rear sensor ( LED flash ), a 2.1 megapixel sensor before , 16 or 32 GB of internal memory, 2GB of RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, 4G , or a Li-Po 3000 mAh battery .
Design
At first glance, one could confuse G2 with any modern smartphone from Samsung, or almost: same finish “glossy” which seems to be a joy to see all traces of fingerprints and possible imaginable, same shape, same plastic shell a little cheap, at a time when competition makes it a point of honor to offer the Premium side hulls. It is also annoying: the screen without excellent edges invoice being diminished by the cheap side of the rear shell
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Despite this, the G2 is not a phablet, but rather a smartphone, and its dimensions prove:. 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 mm, 142 g to
Surprisingly
: the Power button and volume control are nestled on the back cover of the mobile. LG takes this choice by saying that this is the exact place your fingers when you hold your smartphone in hand location. We will return. You will find no physical button on the front of the mobile, but only touch, Android-specific keys, you can develop a haptic feedback. Aside from that, we find a 3.5 jack and a micro-USB port on the bottom of the smartphone.
We liked
With Android 4.2.2 at the time of writing, the G2 has 5 offices customizable and widgets houses, in addition to those offered by google . While the mobile provides opportunities for advanced customization of the interface, but regrets that LG has voluntarily “separate” the overlay of the main OS, offering him a module updates independent from the Google Play Store.
In short, you must ensure that your LG and your downloaded from the application store applications Google applications are up to date (although it is possible to activate the Automatic Update).
However, to evoke even Android, it is noted that the proposed version is very stable and does not lag so to speak. Snapdragon processor 800, which merely players, who will enjoy Real Racing 3 gourmants and other apps without any slowdown inherit equally be thanked. Nevertheless, the race for the most powerful processor does not add much to the average user, who will struggle to identify the extent of the power of Snapdragon 800 by containing its use G2 to call, send messages and read emails
On the question of the photo, the rear sensor 13 megapixel G2 allows capturing video in 1080p at 60 fps. Once again, we say thank you to the Snapdragon processor 800! Besides that, we did not find that the pictures taken by this mobile really stood out, when placed beside examples captured with Galaxy S4, a iphone 5/5S. Whether he has a Optical Image Stabilizer. In his defense, the integrated photo application in G2 is very ergonomic, and it incorporates, in addition to conventional manual mode settings, Panorama, Continuous, Creative, etc.. To summarize: this application will take you by the hand and help you get shots of good quality, regardless of the shooting conditions. Note, however, this slight tendency to overexposure, once the flash on.
But it would be unfair not to mention the “exclusive” functions to G2, which this “feature” KnockON very original: it allows standby mobile or get it out of its torpor by tapping 2 times on its screen. Also, the G2 has, like the previous Samsung devices, a function of “true” multitasking. Named QSlide, it allows you to run two applications at once, which will be displayed in the form of windows you can adjust the size and opacity. For example, you can shoot a video on the top of the screen, and Google Chrome on the bottom. The Quick Remote app on it gives you the ability to control your TV with your smartphone, while the Audio Zoom function will allow you to focus on a specific audio source when you are taking videos (sound, captured by three stereo microphone is amplified by the specified angle). Left to the purists wince, LG did not hesitate to highlight the fact that the G2 offered sound 24Bit/192kHz
screen G2 is also stunning accuracy, with 424 ppi. The colors that appear are balanced, although whites tend to drift towards a chouilla blue. But more generally, the wide screen G2 seems ideal for reading: it is also one of the best smartphone screens we have ever see so far, it is say.
Finally, the autonomy of the mobile is really good, and we did not need to recharge from 17 hours. To be honest, we still had between 20 and 30% battery at the end of the evening, which is particularly rare for a mobile that supported (reading email, surfing the web, consulting Twitter is yet used so , Facebook, Google Maps, etc.). could even count on two days of autonomy, provided they do not go see her thread twitter every 10 minutes! Damage the automatic brightness control is not very effective (to be honest, it has struggled to see it in action, as it seems … quiet!)
We do not like
One wonders why LG is hard at work refining its Android overlay, called the UX. Awkward, omnipresent and much to say, a little clumsy, it undoubtedly annoy any Android user who’ve tasted a version of “stock.” Moreover, after 2 days of testing, we had only one desire: this rooter G2, and to inject a basic version of Android, devoid of any overlay! At a time when Apple promotes more than ever with the simplicity iPad Apps “target =” _blank “> iOS 7, LG seems to go in the opposite direction, the direction of” ever “, even really do too much to come out of the closet yet skeuomorphisme we thought disappeared.
same time, the choice to have deliberately placed the power button not on the top edge of the mobile but in the middle of its back cover us baffled. Rather than use, we preferred to go and standby mobile tapping the screen 2 times, and we have adjusted the volume directly through the touch interface. The only time these keys are of interest, it is when one is in full use, and it is desired to increase or decrease the sound of conversation. And this investment choice is not the most attractive, since it is “swell” the rear seat.
Similarly, Slide, according Aside own the LG Android overlay, we asked question. Allow sensible to set aside an application to move to another by dragging three fingers on the screen simultaneously, it seems to overlap with that offers basic Android. In any case, it does not pull out of the game, as well as the utility Voice Mate Siri competitor, S Voice, Google Now, even if that is friendly and functional, not conspicuous by its audacity.
To conclude, we could not help but make you discover the choice of alarm signal operates the mobile base. Really take the time to check it out, and try not to laugh. Frankly, you imagine for one second to start the day with such a melody in the ears
And then I buy
Let it be said, the G2 is a good smartphone, capable of competing with the big names of the moment. Real condensed power, supported by a splendid display and excellent battery life, it is unfortunately let down by a few missteps. Starting with the version of Android it drags, with a customized wrapper to the extreme. The poor choice of placement of the keys on the back cover is not the best idea has ever been LG. And yet, one can not help thinking that the G2 is already a solid foundation for a supposed Nexus 5
Gizmodo.fr in partnership with 20minutes.fr
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