LG G3 Review

The G3 is one hell of a big phone, but you'd never guess just from holding it. It has a 5.5in screen - up from 5.2in on the G2 - which puts it firmly into phablet territory, but it somehow fits that display into a smartphone-sized body.
How does it do this? By all-but doing away with the bezels. The G2 was already pretty good in this regard, but the G3 takes it to a new level; from the front, it's almost all glass.
It's also surprisingly easy to hold and use despite that big screen. That's thanks to the noticeable curve round the back, which makes it easier to grip and fools your hand into thinking that it's smaller than it is. You won't need to stretch your fingers in order to reach the top of the screen.

The G3 is also considerably lighter than both the M8 and Z2 - and unlike either of those phones has a removable rear cover too. That allows for a battery swap-out, should you need one, and also gives you access to the microSD slot, which would otherwise have to sit on the G3's pristine sides. Plus, it makes wireless charging possible, if you team it with a suitable charger.
If you do juice it up via the traditional microUSB port, you'll notice that there's no pesky removable plastic cover; of course that also means that it's not waterproof in the way that the Sony and Samsung phones are, which has to earn it a tick in the minus column.

Loved the rear buttons on the G2? You’ll adore the G3’s improved versions. Where the power and volume controls on the G2 were somewhat unsightly, they now have a nice textured finish and a sophisticated design, which makes them both easier to locate and to work out which is which.

G2 upgraders will adapt to the G3’s new design like a fish to water, but that’s not to say first-time users will be baffled by the rear placement. Sure, you might struggle to find them the first few times but in our experience new users get about a 90% hit rate within seconds of picking the phone up. Using your index finger, to be honest, will soon feel more natural and less strenuous than stretching your thumbs to the sides of the Galaxy S5, One (M8) or Xperia Z2. 

Camera: laser-sharp focus

  

You probably already read about the laser-focus camera, but let's just make it clear: it's a work of genius.

The laser enables the G3 to focus more swiftly than any of rivals and also means that you can take a series of photos simply by tapping the screen repeatedly. That's right - no need to do one tap to focus/refocus and another to actually take the photo: just let the laser do the work, tap and you’re done.

Admittedly, the Galaxy S5 comes close in terms of autofocus and speed, and the One (M8) and Xperia Z2 aren't that far behind either. We're talking milliseconds either way - but that can make the difference between a crisp shot and a blurry mess on occasion.

As far as the 13MP photos themselves go, expect minimal noise, sharp details and well-balanced colours. And this isn’t just the work of the 2K screen. We used a 13in MacBook Pro (non-Retina Display, by the way) to view photos taken on the G3, S5, M8 and Z2 on, and the G3's shots were both less blurry and less noisey.

The front 2MP camera is designed for both video calling and, in a very 2014 manner, selfies. The good news is, you won’t have to tap the screen to activate the timer. In a move somewhat inspired by the gwiyomi viral video, you can hold your hand in front of the camera, clench your fist, and it’ll activate the timer. It makes sense, as it reduces the chance of you losing your grip and watching the G3 plummet to its death.

Quality-wise it's clear, though not amazing in poor light, and probably about on a par with the HTC One (M8) for Skype duties.

Elsewhere, there's also 4K video, which is generally very smooth. Nor does it make the handset get too warm, as the Xperia Z2 has a tendency to do.

LG G3 Tech Specs

Operating System: Android 4.4 KitKat
Processor: 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor
RAM: 3GB (2GB version available)
Screen: 5.5in True HD-IPS + LCD with 2560 x 1440 resolution (534ppi)
Camera: 13MP rear, 2MP front
Storage: 32GB internal (16GB version available), plus microSD up to 128GB
Data: 3G / 4G/LTE
Battery: 3000mAh
Size: 146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm
Weight: 149g