Lg g5 what is included with the phone. LG G5 SE review: flagship in a vacuum


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 single-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 prospect is 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.

Specifications LG G5 SE

  • Case materials: plastic, metal, glass
  • Operating system: Android 6.0, LG UX 5.0
  • Network: GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, LTE (nanoSIM)
  • Screen: IPS LCD, 5.3”, capacitive, 2560x1440 pixels (QuadHD), 554 ppi, automatic backlight level adjustment, Gorilla Glass 4
  • Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (MSM8992)
  • Processor: Quad-core 1.2 GHz (Cortex-A53) and dual-core 1.8 GHz (Cortex-A72)
  • Graphics system: Adreno 510
  • RAM: 3 GB
  • Storage memory: 32 GB, microSD card slot
  • Main camera: 16 MP, f/1.8 and 8 MP, f/2.4 (wide-angle), laser focusing, three-axis optical image stabilization (OIS), LED flash
  • Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.0
  • Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.2 (A2DP, LE, Apt-X), USB Type-C connector (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset , NFC, IR port
  • Navigation: GPS/GLONASS (A-GPS support)
  • Additionally: FM radio, fingerprint scanner, fast charging (Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0), Always-on display technology
  • Sensors: accelerometer, position sensor, light sensor, gyroscope, barometer
  • Battery: removable, Li-Ion, capacity 2800 mAh
  • Dimensions: 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.3 mm
  • Weight: 156 grams

South Korean LG is one of the few companies in the smartphone manufacturing market that is not afraid to experiment in the upper price segment, in other words, constantly inventing something new for its flagships. Usually the situation is the opposite - companies try to keep top-end devices identical to each other for as long as possible from year to year, tightening up the characteristics and occasionally refreshing the design. There are plenty of examples - from Apple, Samsung and HTC to the most striking - Sony, where the design of devices in the upper price range has remained almost unchanged since the Xperia Z1, released in 2013.

For LG, flagships are a field of experimentation. In the LG G2 smartphone, the company tested a solution with control buttons located on the “back” of the body and made the frames as thin as possible. LG G3 took the path of increasing the screen diagonal for the flagship (5.5” versus 5.2” in LG G2), redesigned the camera and decided to “play” with the metallic texture of the plastic, giving the smartphone a more expensive look. The next flagship - LG G4 - was in many ways an improved version of the G3, but completely changed in appearance: they abandoned the “metal-like” plastic, came up with replaceable covers made of genuine leather, and made a display slightly curved inside the body to protect it from damage when dropped. For my taste, in terms of design and ergonomics, the LG G4 was not a role model; in other respects it was comparable to its competitors, but in one thing it was ahead of literally everyone - photo quality. This smartphone still takes the best photos in low light and at night (we’re not talking about the speed of photography, but about the quality), surpassing both the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and devices from Apple in this regard.


The next flagship - LG G5 - has again become an object for experimentation. The company again completely redesigned the design, moved some of the keys from the “back” to the ends, added a scanner, came up with a system of replaceable modules and a slightly simplified version of the device - the LG G5 SE on a simpler platform. Otherwise the devices are identical. In this review, I will tell you about all the features of the LG G5 using the example of a simplified version - the LG G5 SE. Go.

Design

There are practically no external similarities between the LG G4 and LG G5; the company has once again “overhauled” the design. The smartphone turned out to be more strict and, at the same time, simpler and calmer than its predecessor. For some, the lack of bright details is a plus. For some it’s a minus; it’s a matter of personal preference.

The front panel with a protective glass curved at the top, the two-camera module on the back, and the bottom end with a system of replaceable modules attract attention, but in general the new LG G5 looks simple. Perhaps this is the case when I don’t have much to write about the design, it’s so simple here.

The smartphone is available in four colors: silver, gold, pink and gray. In any variation, these are shades of the indicated colors; the body remains approximately monochromatic and dim. Again, some will like this, some will not.

Housing materials

There is an interesting feature associated with materials in the LG G5 SE. The fact is that at all presentations and on the official website the device is called a smartphone in a metal case. At the same time, when you take the device in your hands, the metal is not felt at all. Moreover, if the smartphone is accidentally scratched or falls and gets chipped, then you will most likely see characteristic traces of peeling paint and plastic underneath on the back side. And yet – the body is really made of metal.


I don’t know why LG decided to use this solution, there is no visible benefit from it, but it is what it is. The base of the case in the LG G5 SE is made of aluminum, in particular, the entire “bath” in which the electronic filling is located, and the ribs. However, on the outside, the case is covered with a thick layer of plastic, on top of which a “metal-like” coating is applied. This explains the fact that if you take scissors and scrape along the lid, then, having erased the primary layer, you will most likely decide that the case is made of plastic. To get to the metal base, you literally need to pick apart several layers of the lid.

Painted plastic over metal causes another problem (besides not feeling like you're holding an expensive device). Along the edge of the case there is a chrome-like color, and in these places the paint begins to peel off the fastest, so that after a month or two, gaps in the plastic will appear on the device. It's not too noticeable if you don't pay attention, but it's still annoying.


The front panel is made of specially curved Gorilla Glass 4. Unlike the now fashionable 2.5D glass, in the LG G5 it curves at the top, creating a smooth platform for conveniently calling up the notification shade. When you need to open it, your finger does not cling to the end, but comfortably slides down. The solution turned out to be not only beautiful (like simple glass with a 2.5D effect), but also useful from a practical point of view.


Assembly

There are almost no complaints about the assembly of the device. With the exception of the lower replacement element created for installing modules. When you take the device out of the box and just use it, there are no problems, the base module with the battery sits securely in its place, there is no play, and so on. But judging by the LG G5 SE samples that have been in use for more than one month, after some time and after frequent module changes, the mount may become loose. Let me rephrase, maybe it will come loose, maybe not, everything will depend on the specific usage scenarios, frequency of changing modules and other things.

Dimensions

In terms of size, the new LG G5 is almost exactly the same as last year's model. Due to its smooth curves and rounded edges, the device fits comfortably in your hand and is comfortable to hold and use. At the same time, calling a smartphone small, of course, will not work. With a diagonal of 5.3"", the device, to put it mildly, is not a record holder in size and is comparable to models with higher diagonals - 5.5"".


  • Apple iPhone 6S Plus(5.5"") - 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm, 192 grams
  • LG G5(5.5"") - 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.3 mm, 156 grams
  • LG G4(5.5"") - 148.9 x 76.1 x 9.8 mm, 155 grams
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge(5.5”) – 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm, 157 grams
  • HTC 10(5.2"") - 145.9 x 71.9 x 9 mm, 161 grams

A year ago, I would have paid more serious attention to the dimensions of a smartphone, but, in my opinion, now devices with a 5.5” diagonal have become commonplace and any model that fits the dimensions of popular devices in this category is perceived as normal.


Compared to Galaxy S7 Edge


Compared to Huawei P9


Controls

I want to grumble a little here. Experiments are good, but I think there should be some limit, some things, points that, having been accepted once and promoted, should not be changed after a short period of time. Yes, I'm talking about the controls, specifically the power and volume keys. It would seem like a small thing, but I don’t think so. With the LG G2 smartphone, the company began promoting the idea of ​​a key block on the back of the smartphone. Three buttons were located on the back of the device in the upper area, near the main camera. Unusual, but generally convenient, and the company made the right emphasis when promoting this idea. Then there were the LG G3 and LG G4, as well as intermediate models (like the LG V10) with the same key layout logic.


And now comes the LG G5. The volume buttons are on the left edge, the power key is on the back and is combined with a fingerprint scanner. Is there some logic or general principle here? To be honest, I don't see it. Yes, I personally also quickly got used to that arrangement, but the approach itself is confusing, because the whole block of buttons on the back of the device was a great idea.





You can unlock your smartphone (turn on the screen) in three ways - by pressing the power key on the back of the device, double tapping on the display surface, or touching the power button (the fingerprint scanner on it). At the same time, the third method is convenient because you don’t need to press the power button (as in the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, for example, where you need to press the Home key), you just need to touch it.

The scanner allows you to save up to five prints, it works quickly and accurately, I have not had any complaints about this element during the month of using the device (unlike the scanner in the Samsung Galaxy S Edge, which for some reason is “stupid”).

Like other smartphones from the company, there is a gesture system:

  • Automatically answer calls when you bring your smartphone to your ear (even if a Bluetooth headset is connected to the device)
  • Muting the ringer volume when you pick up your smartphone from a table, shelf, or anything else
  • Switch to silent mode during an incoming call when you turn your smartphone over
  • Stop the alarm or set it to go off again when you turn your smartphone over
  • Pause video playback when you flip your smartphone over

Now about the location of elements and connectors. At the top end there is an IR port, an additional microphone and a 3.5 mm mini-jack. On the bottom there is USB Type-C, the main microphone and speaker.



On the front side, in the upper part, there is a speaker, light and proximity sensors, as well as a light indicator and an 8 MP front camera peephole. The tray for two nanoSIM cards or one nanoSIM card and a memory card is located on the right edge.

Screen

The LG G5 has a 5.3" diagonal screen based on an IPS matrix (IPS Quantum). Display resolution – 2560x1440 pixels (554 ppi). In terms of characteristics, the screen resembles that of the LG G4 - that is, good. There is a reserve of brightness, viewing angles are maximum. Even if you tilt the screen diagonally, there will be absolutely no distortion of the picture in color or brightness. The automatic screen backlight sometimes works to save battery power, that is, it sets the backlight level lower than what you want to see, but during the day its operation is quite correct. The color temperature is set well, in my opinion, and the only drawback I would note is the inability to change it.


The screen is covered with protective glass Gorilla Glass 4 and has a high-quality oleophobic coating, so that the few fingerprints and marks that appear on the display can be easily removed.

Like Samsung's flagships, the LG G5 supports Always-on technology, when some useful information is constantly displayed on the screen. In the G5, you can display the time, date and a line of new notifications (system), as well as some arbitrary signature.

Again, like Samsung, LG notes the extremely low power consumption of this thing, but, like Samsung, if operating time is important to you, it’s better to forget about Always-on. And although Samsung uses an AMOLED screen that is more efficient for this scenario, and here IPS, I turned off the option in both cases (in the S7 Edge and G5 SE).


Camera

There are two main cameras in the LG G5 - one with a resolution of 16 MP, an f/1.8 aperture, a color spectrum sensor, a three-axis optical stabilization system (OIS) and a laser focusing system. The second is wide-angle, with a resolution of 8 MP and an f/2.4 aperture.


The idea is that for usual scenarios you use a 16-megapixel camera, but if you need to take a photo that covers as much space as possible (a general photo at a holiday, some beautiful landscape, etc.) - switch to a wide-angle camera.

You might think that this is some kind of advertising gimmick and in fact the cameras in the LG G5 do not differ too much in the shooting angle, but this is not so. The second camera is really wide-angle and allows you to get several times more information in the frame than the main one. Here's what it looks like in reality:

Main camera (16 MP) Wide-angle camera (8 MP)

The photo quality from the wide-angle camera is worse than from the main one, but for my purposes, it seems to me that it is quite sufficient. You are unlikely to use it constantly. So let's talk about the main camera.

Like the LG G4, the main camera module here is equipped with an optical stabilization system and laser focusing. Focusing speed in the G5 is approximately at the same level as the LG G4. The quality of the photos on the first firmware, to be honest, is not as high as I expected, although it is good overall. But now the company is preparing new firmware, and the camera will improve with each successive one, so we can expect progress in this regard.

Below is a small comparison of the cameras in the LG G4 and LG G5:

LG G4 LG G5

In my opinion, during the day the devices shoot about the same; in low-light conditions, the LG G4 looks stronger.

Now let's take a look at comparative examples of pictures at night; there will already be three devices: LG G4, LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

LG G4 LG G5 Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Here I would distribute the devices as follows: the highest quality and closest to reality picture is produced by the LG G4. I believe that this smartphone is still without competition when it comes to shooting at night; there are simply no better devices yet. In second place is the LG G5 - its picture is not so sharp and natural, but overall it is still close to what you actually see with your own eyes. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is the latest - yes, the smartphone takes pictures instantly even at night; against its background, both the LG G4 and LG G5 take forever to focus, but the pictures themselves on the S7 Edge turn out too artificial: oversharpening, overexposure, everything looks completely wrong in the photographs, like really.

Examples of photos in good weather

Now briefly about the interface. Like the LG G4, there are three shooting modes (for both cameras): easy, basic and manual. The first one is simple, there are no elements or information on the screen at all, you just touch the screen anywhere and the smartphone takes a photo.

The second is basic, with all settings displayed. In this case, to shoot you need to press a key, here you can also change various parameters, from image resolution to shooting mode.



Finally, the third and most important mode is manual. In this mode, you can shoot with automatic settings, but with the creation of two files at once: RAW (DNG extension) and JPEG, as well as in fully manual mode. In the second case, you can adjust the white balance, exposure value (from +2 to -2), shutter speed (from 1/3200 to 30 seconds), ISO (from 50 to 3200) and adjust the focal length. In short, this is a full-fledged manual mode, as detailed as it can now be required in a smartphone camera.




Shooting in manual mode on the LG G5 is a different story. Even taking into account the fact that the first firmware does not reveal the potential of the camera (I am sure this will be corrected in the future), the manual mode allows you to take cool shots in a wide variety of situations and conditions. Perhaps someday I will make a separate article with examples of pictures taken on the LG G5 SE in manual mode.

If you compare the cameras in the LG G4 and LG G5, the main difference comes down to the appearance of an additional wide-angle module. There are slight differences in automatic mode, but overall, in good conditions, the G4 and G5 produce comparable results. The G4 shoots better at night so far, but I hope this will be corrected in future firmware and the G5 will become better.

Video. The maximum recording quality is UltraHD (3840x2160 pixels), the standard is FullHD (1920x1080), in addition to recording at 30 or 60 frames per second, there is recording at up to 120 fps. In video recording mode, autofocus tracking works. The quality of the recorded video is good, however, you can evaluate the video examples yourself.

Front-camera. The front camera with a resolution of 8 MP and an f/2.0 aperture allows you to take good shots, but nothing more. To be honest, I expected much more from the front camera in the LG G5. Just like at one time from the camera in the G4. During the day on a sunny day, the quality can be called acceptable; when conditions worsen or in the dark, the photographs turn into “soap” with very noticeable post-processing.

LG G4 LG G5

Autonomous operation

The LG G5 SE has a removable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 2800 mAh, which is slightly weaker than that used in the LG G3 and G4.

My sample LG G5 SE worked on average until the evening, completely discharging by 17-18 hours under heavy load (for example, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge lasts for about 20 hours in this mode, but I still have to use an external battery). The difference in operating time under normal conditions between the LG G5 SE and last year's LG G4 is within the margin of error; with active use, both smartphones die down in the evening, with moderate use they work a full day.


I can’t say that everything is good, I personally expected progress from the new flagship precisely in terms of battery life, because the LG G4 was by no means a record holder in this regard, but, alas, there is no progress here. Like other manufacturers, unfortunately, they are in no hurry to move in this direction.

In the power settings, you can enable the “energy saving” mode when the charge level decreases below 5 or below 15 percent. In this mode, the brightness is reduced, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, vibration, auto-synchronization of services and the indicator light are turned off.

Platform, memory

The smartphone is built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 platform (MSM 8976) with an eight-core processor: four Cortex-A72 cores with a frequency of 1.8 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. Graphics system (GPU) – Adreno 510. The device has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, as well as a slot for a microSD memory card. Actually, this is, in fact, the only thing that distinguishes the “stripped down” LG G5 SE from the flagship LG G5 – the platform. The flagship runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, has Adreno 530 graphics and 4 GB of RAM on board.

If in the case of the LG G4 the company simply, for a number of reasons, opted for a non-top platform, then for the LG G5 they made two versions - the regular G5 and the slightly simplified G5 SE. It is the latest model that is available in Russia, and the Snapdragon 652 platform in it provides a good level of performance, although it is inferior to other flagships on top platforms in synthetic tests.

Interfaces

The smartphone works in GSM, HSDPA and LTE networks. For LTE there is support for all common bands and frequencies; the device works without problems in Russian fourth-generation networks. The smartphone has one radio module and two slots for SIM cards.

USB. To synchronize with a PC and transfer data, the included USB Type-C cable is used. USB 2.0 interface (in LG G5 – USB 3.0). The USB-OTG and USB-Host standards are supported - you can connect flash drives and other storage devices, for example, a camera, to the smartphone via an adapter to transfer pictures from it to the device’s memory.

Bluetooth. Built-in Bluetooth 4.2 module with support for A2DP, LE (low energy) and Apt-X profiles.

Wi-Fi (802.11a/ac/b/g/n). The LG G5 SE uses a dual-band Wi-Fi module, this interface works flawlessly. Like any other modern Android smartphone, the G5 SE supports the function of sharing mobile Internet via Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi router), as well as DLNA and Wi-Fi Direct standards.

NFC. The standard interface for any Android-based flagship since 2013 is also present in the LG G5 SE. It can be turned on and off in the settings, in the “Sharing and Connection” menu.

Navigation

The smartphone supports GPS/A-GPS and Glonass; searching for satellites takes a minimum amount of time. There is no special navigation software in Android smartphones, and manufacturers usually limit themselves to pre-installed Google Maps; LG G4 is no exception in this sense.

Software features and software

The smartphone runs Android 6.0 with LG's proprietary UX 5.0 interface. Most of the settings and the shell as a whole have undergone virtually no changes compared to UX 4.0 in the LG G4. Of course, the new interface has become even smoother, neater and calmer in design.

One of the innovations in the fifth version of LG UX is that now application icons are located on the desktop, and the application menu is no longer there, that is, the company has switched to the “iOS-like” interface logic. It is important that, if you wish, you can switch to the usual interface display mode with a separate application menu, as it was before.

The rest is a familiar interface and set of programs, almost unchanged compared to the LG G4.

Lock screen. The lock screen displays new notifications and the time in one line, and a number of shortcuts are available in the lower area for quickly jumping to applications. The set of shortcuts can be changed in the settings, and it will not necessarily be the same as the shortcuts in the bottom bar on the desktop.

What upset me most about the LG G3 and G4 was the strange and illogical system of transitioning from notifications on the lock screen to the applications that generated them. For example, I get a notification about a new message in Telegram or WhatsApp, I click on it to open the program, but before I get into the program, I need to swipe my finger again to unlock the screen. You won't believe it, but in the LG G5 this system is back in place! And this despite the fact that in Android 6.0, to switch from the notification card on the lock screen to the notification itself, you just need to double-tap on the card and that’s it. There are no words.

Pre-installed software. The smartphone has a convenient file manager with the ability to view files by category or in general storage, search and sort by criteria. A weather application with animated graphics, if you do not launch it as a widget. Calculator, voice recorder, radio - all these programs are made in the same graphic style as the rest of the interface.

QuickMemo+ lets you create text or handwritten notes.

Like the LG G4, there is a clock and weather widget with a Smart Notice notification panel attached to it. The idea is simple - in the form of short notifications, remind the user about important things: weather changes, calendar events, missed notifications, and so on. True, the functionality of Smart Notice is still limited to notifications of just a few types: weather and new events, as well as tips.

The LG G5 SE has the LG Health service, which counts the distance traveled, number of steps and calories burned.

Replaceable modules

The main feature of the LG G5 and LG G5 SE is the replaceable modules. The lower block is removed, and in its place you can install a special module that expands the capabilities of the device. The basic module with a battery can be considered standard, in addition to this, there are two more - with an amplifier for better music quality and with camera control keys (and an additional battery inside).



This is how beautiful a smartphone looks with the module removed!

Now a little more detail.

The first module is a massive block with camera control keys: a shooting button, a zoom wheel and several other elements. It also has an additional battery built into it. It looks something like this:





The second module, with a separate DAC, branded by Bang and Olufsen, is needed in order to get higher quality sound on the smartphone. As with the first module, this one increases the size of the smartphone, albeit not so much.




The idea of ​​modules itself is interesting and I personally like it, but so far its implementation raises a lot of questions, from the very beginning to specific modules. Why do you need to remove the battery to replace the module, thereby interrupting the operation of the smartphone? If I want to connect a camera module at an important moment, then for half a minute I will simply be left without a working device, this is inconvenient. The modules themselves are large. Why make the camera module so massive? How useful is it anyway? The same goes for the sound module. Finally, why did the company manage to prepare only two modules before the start of sales of the flagship? Were there really no ideas? Honestly, I can't believe it.

Conclusion

After almost a month of using the LG G5 SE, I had no complaints about the quality of signal reception. The volume of the ringing speaker is slightly above average; one speaker is used. In most situations it is clearly audible if the volume is turned up to maximum. The volume of the earpiece is also at a good level; there is a small volume reserve for conversations in noisy rooms. The vibration alert is average in strength.


The official price of the LG G5 SE in Russia is 50,000 rubles (49,990), that is, comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S7, Sony Xperia X Performance, HTC 10 and other flagships. Each of the listed smartphones has its own strengths and weaknesses, of course, like the LG G5 SE. My main complaint about the new LG smartphone comes down to one thing - it turned out to be vague. The company got too involved in experiments, came up with replaceable modules, but never developed this idea fully enough (two modules for release is not serious). Perhaps new modules will appear, but for now everything is like this. The LG G4 had an emphasis on replaceable leather covers and a cool camera, the LG G3 on high screen resolution, the LG G2 on thin frames and compact dimensions. I used each of these devices as my main device for more than six months, which is a significant period of time for a person who has the opportunity to change a smartphone literally once a week. I liked the “tubes” from LG precisely because of their completeness. For my taste, this is exactly what the LG G5 SE lacks. It has a good screen, moderate dimensions, sufficient performance for work (although in SE tests it is inferior to all flagships on top platforms), operating time comparable to competitors, a very high-quality main camera comparable to the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S7, as well as an additional wide-angle camera for different situations, which is something that other manufacturers do not yet have. But still, this smartphone is missing something. Perhaps I was expecting too much careful work to improve the LG G4 in the new flagship, but I received a completely different device, and my conclusions are connected with this. Don't know.

Device type:

Smartphone/Communicator

2G standards:

The mobile communication standard defines the technologies used and the principle of constructing mobile communication networks. Mobile communication networks are usually divided into analog (NMT, AMPS) and digital (D-AMPS, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS), and also classified by generation (generation) stages of development of the standards themselves.
GSM(Global System for Mobile Communications) is the most popular and widespread second-generation 2G cellular communication standard almost all over the world. In our country, as in most European countries, frequencies of 900 and 1800 MHz are allocated for this standard. In the countries of the American continent, it is customary to use frequencies of 850 and 1900 MHz.
The widespread introduction of GSM to replace outdated analogue networks has made it possible to significantly expand the subscriber base and the range of services provided, making cellular communications widely available. However, the specifics of GSM limit the services currently in demand based on high-speed Internet access.

GSM 1800 / GSM 1900 / GSM 850 / GSM 900

3G standards:

3G(Third Generation) - Third generation mobile communication technologies based on packet data transmission. Third generation 3G networks usually operate in the range of about 2 GHz, allowing data transfer at a speed comparable to a dedicated home Internet. In addition to standard voice telephony services, 3G networks are initially focused on various multimedia services, such as video telephony and video conferencing, online viewing of broadcast television and films, listening to Internet radio, etc. The most common third generation communication standard is WCDMA (UMTS) , operating in most European countries, incl. in Russia and CIS countries.

UMTS 2100 / UMTS 900

4G standards (LTE):

4G (Fourth generation)- The fourth generation of mobile communications, characterized by high data transfer speeds and improved quality of voice communications. Fourth generation networks include mobile data technology LTE(Long Term Evolution). Data transfer speeds using the LTE standard theoretically reach 173 Mbit/s for reception (download), and 58 Mbit/s for upload (upload).

LTE 1800 / LTE 2300 / LTE 2600 / LTE 800

VoLTE:

VoLTE (in English Voice over LTE - voice over LTE)- voice transmission technology over the LTE network, which allows you to provide voice services and deliver them as a data stream over LTE. MegaFon is the first telecom operator in Russia to launch VoLTE without restrictions on the type of user: all subscribers in the Capital Region only, regardless of the tariff plan and billing system used, can connect to the HD Voice in 4G service and make calls using the new technology with using mobile devices supporting VoLTE network "MegaFon".

SIM card generation:

Each new generation of SIM cards is smaller than the previous one. Format Mini-SIM(2FF) appeared in the 1990s and is now used primarily in simple push-button phones. Cards Micro-SIM(3FF) have been used in smartphones since 2003 to this day. Nano-SIM(4FF) is the most compact card installed in modern smart devices. eSIM is a chip built into the device onto which a virtual SIM card can be written. This format is not supported by all telecom operators.

Number of SIM cards:

Accumulator battery:

The difference in the chemical composition of batteries determines their physical and consumer parameters.
Ni-Cd(Nickel - Cadmium) and Ni-Mh(Nickel - Metal Hydride) batteries are quite heavy and bulky. Being not completely discharged before recharging, they are prone to loss of capacity (memory effect), and therefore require periodic maintenance (charge-discharge, so-called training).
Against, Li-Ion(Lithium Ion) and Li-Pol(Lithium - Polymer) batteries do not have these disadvantages. However, they lose their charge faster at low temperatures and have poor resistance to drops. Ease of maintenance and comparatively smaller size and weight were decisive factors for their active use.

Li-Ion, 2800 mAh

NFC module:

NFC(Near Field Communication, “near field communication”) is a wireless communication technology that makes it possible to exchange data between devices located at a distance of up to 20 centimeters. There are many possible uses for NFC technology: transferring files between devices, connecting to accessories, using the device as a payment card, etc.

Equipment:

Smartphone, USB charger, USB cable, stereo headset, protective film, warranty card, instructions

Guarantee period:

Memory and processor

Amount of random access memory (RAM):

RAM, which is used for the operation of programs and applications in the device. The speed of the device depends on its size. The actual free memory capacity may differ from that specified by the manufacturer.

Built-in memory capacity:

Built-in device memory- the total amount of memory intended for both storing user data and applications installed by the manufacturer, and also includes a section with the Operating System. The actual free memory capacity may differ from that specified by the manufacturer.

Display and keyboard

Display type:

TFT IPS- High quality liquid crystal matrix. It has wide viewing angles, one of the best indicators of color rendering quality and contrast among all those used in the production of displays for portable equipment.
Super AMOLED- if a regular AMOLED screen uses several layers, between which there is an air gap, then in Super AMOLED there is only one such touch layer without air gaps. This allows you to achieve greater screen brightness with the same power consumption.
Super AMOLED HD- differs from Super AMOLED in its higher resolution, thanks to which you can achieve 1280x720 pixels on a mobile phone screen.
Super AMOLED plus- this is a new generation of Super AMOLED displays, differs from the previous one by using a larger number of subpixels in a conventional RGB matrix. The new displays are 18% thinner and brighter than displays made using the old PenTile technology.
AMOLED- an improved version of OLED technology. The main advantages of the technology are significantly reduced power consumption, the ability to display a larger color gamut, reduced thickness and the ability of the display to bend slightly without the risk of breaking.
Retina-high pixel density display designed specifically for Apple technology. The pixel density of Retina displays is such that individual pixels are indistinguishable to the eye at a normal distance from the screen. This ensures the highest image detail and significantly improves the overall viewing experience.
Super Retina HD- the display is made using OLED technology. The pixel density is 458 PPI, the contrast reaches 1,000,000:1. The display has a wide color gamut and unsurpassed color accuracy. Pixels in the corners of the display are smoothed at the sub-pixel level, so edges are not distorted and appear smooth. The Super Retina HD reinforcing layer is 50% thicker. It will be harder to break the screen.
Super LCD is the next generation of LCD technology, it is characterized by improved characteristics compared to earlier LCD displays. The screens not only have wide viewing angles and better color reproduction, but also lower power consumption.
TFT- A common type of liquid crystal display. Using an active matrix controlled by thin-film transistors, it is possible to significantly increase the performance of the display, as well as the contrast and clarity of the image.
OLED- organic electroluminescent display. It consists of a special thin-film polymer that emits light when exposed to an electric field. This type of display has a large reserve of brightness and consumes very little energy.

Touchscreen:

The touch display is a conventional graphic display, on top of which either a pressure-sensitive substrate or infrared sensors are placed. Such a display reacts appropriately to presses with a stylus (pen) or fingers and is a more convenient way to interface with the device than a keyboard.

Additional display:

As a rule, an additional display is installed in folding phones. Depending on the model of the device, the additional display may display the caller's number, time, signal reception level and battery charge level.

Multimedia

FM radio:

Your favorite radio stations or news programs will accompany you on a long journey and on the way to work. In some cases FM radio tuner Can also be used as an alarm clock.
However, it should be remembered that due to design features, for the radio to work on almost all phone models, it is necessary to connect a wired portable headset.

Photo/Video camera

Main camera:

Thanks to the built-in digital camera It's very easy to capture important moments in life or shoot a video. Modern smartphone cameras are often not inferior in quality to real cameras. Using two, three or even four modules allows you to take wide-format photographs, photograph distant objects and achieve the effect of artistic background blur - bokeh.

Two modules (16 + 8 Mpix)

Autofocus:

Flash:

Designed for short-term and intense illumination of objects during shooting. Cell phones can be xenon (which is based on an electric gas-discharge lamp filled with xenon) or LED (LEDs act as a light source).

LED

Communications and interfaces

WiFi:

WiFi(IEEE 802.11) is a high-speed wireless connection technology aimed at building corporate, private or public networks. The technology is based on the use of so-called multiple access points (hot-spots), to which client terminals are connected. Wi-Fi technology is described by many specifications (standards), which is reflected in their name by the last letter (for example, IEEE 802.11g).
Based on Wi-Fi technology, public Internet access points have been created in cafes, hotels, airports and other places. Connecting a device to such points is as simplified as possible and requires entering a network identifier (SSID), username and password.

802.11a/b/g/n/ac

Bluetooth module:

Technology Bluetooth implements wireless connection of devices via a secure radio channel in the 2.4 GHz range. The technology is based on the use of profiles (services) as tools for performing specific tasks (audio gateway, hands-free, headset, file transfer, dial-up networking, serial port, etc.). Each profile contains a specific set of operations and defines possible areas of interaction between devices.
With a Bluetooth connection, devices can be located at a distance of up to ten meters from each other, and therefore, the development of wireless accessories is one of the prerogatives of this technology.

Bluetooth stereo support:

bluetooth stereo or A2DP(Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) - a Bluetooth profile or service designed to transmit music in stereo sound. Devices that support the A2DP profile allow you to listen to music using wireless Bluetooth headphones, thereby freeing you from the limitations imposed by traditional wired stereo headsets.

Connection to PC:

By connecting the device to a personal computer, you can quickly and conveniently edit telephone entries or organizer notes, save important SMS messages or backup copies of the device’s contents on your PC, download various pictures, melodies, photos or video clips, and access the Internet.
Depending on the characteristics of the device, connection to a PC is carried out using an interface cable, infrared port, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi modules.

Audio jack:

Type of connector for connecting external audio devices (wired headsets, headphones, speakers). Many modern smartphones use a universal connector, such as USB Type-C or Lightning, for audio output, charging and data transfer.

Messages

SMS:

SMS(Short Messages Service) or short text messages are an alternative way to exchange information over cellular networks. Most devices support receiving and sending SMS messages in both English and Russian. Type the desired text, for example, “Darling, I’m home. I kiss you and am waiting for you,” and within a few seconds it will be delivered to the mobile device you specified.
In addition, based on the SMS service, a variety of SMS services are provided, from weather forecasts and exchange rates, to dating and downloading simple melodies or pictures.

MMS:

MMS(Multimedia Messaging Service) is a universal technology for exchanging multimedia messages, which is a development of the idea of ​​short SMS messages. In addition to plain text, an MMS message can contain color pictures and photographs, sound files of various formats or short videos. In addition, MMS messages can consist of several frames, representing a kind of animation.
When sending multimedia messages, GPRS or EDGE packet data transmission is used. You can send MMS messages either to a device compatible with this technology or to email.

Email:

Built-in email client is an analogue of programs for working with e-mail on a personal computer, but in a slightly limited version. As a rule, an E-mail client allows you to send and receive emails, as well as small attachments in the form of files with pictures or ringtones.

Alerts

Vibration alert:

In situations where the use of sound notification is not entirely appropriate or is completely useless, built-in vibration alert will inform you about an incoming call or other event by a slight shaking of the device body. For example, at a lecture or meeting, near a busy highway or at a noisy party.

Additional functions

Sensors:

Accelerometer(or G-sensor) - sensor of the device’s position in space. As a main function, the accelerometer is used to automatically change the orientation of the image on the display (vertical or horizontal). Also, the G-sensor is used as a pedometer; it can control various functions of the device by turning or shaking.
Gyroscope- a sensor that measures rotation angles relative to a fixed coordinate system. Capable of measuring rotation angles in several planes simultaneously. A gyroscope together with an accelerometer allows you to accurately determine the position of the device in space. Devices that use only accelerometers have lower measurement accuracy, especially when moving quickly. Also, the capabilities of the gyroscope can be used in modern games for mobile devices.
Light sensor- a sensor that sets the optimal brightness and contrast values ​​for a given light level. The presence of a sensor allows you to increase the battery life of the device.
Proximity sensor- a sensor that detects when the device is close to your face during a call, turns off the backlight and locks the screen, preventing accidental clicks. The presence of a sensor allows you to increase the battery life of the device.
Geomagnetic sensor- a sensor for determining the direction of the world in which the device is directed. Tracks the orientation of the device in space relative to the magnetic poles of the Earth. The information received from the sensor is used in mapping programs for terrain orientation.
Atmospheric pressure sensor- sensor for precise measurement of atmospheric pressure. It is part of the GPS system, allows you to determine altitude above sea level and speed up location determination.
Touch ID- fingerprint identification sensor.

Accelerometer / Geomagnetic / Gyroscope / Light / Proximity

Satellite navigation:

GPS(Global Positioning System) is a satellite navigation system that provides measurements of distance, time, speed and determines the location of objects anywhere on Earth. The system is developed, implemented and operated by the US Department of Defense. The basic principle of using the system is to determine location by measuring distances to an object from points with known coordinates - satellites. The distance is calculated by the delay time of signal propagation from sending it by the satellite to receiving it by the antenna of the GPS receiver.
Monoblock (regular, classic, brick) is the most versatile and common type of case in a traditional form factor without any opening or sliding parts.
Monoblock with flip(with lid) - a classic type case with an additional lid covering the main keyboard.
Folding(folding bed, book, frog) - a case of this type consists of two halves that fold out together. Typically, the main and, if available, additional displays are located in the upper part, and the keyboard block is located in the lower part.
Slider(sliding) - the body consists of two halves that slide apart relative to each other. Until recently, cases of this form factor were typical for expensive fashion models.
Rotating(rotator) - perhaps the most unusual type of case, when the front half rotates relative to the rear half by 180 or 360 degrees. Due to its design features, it is rarely used.

  • Android 6.0
  • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
    • Display 5.3", 1440x2560 Pix
    • 3 cameras (up to 16 Mpix)
    • 32 GB + MicroSD up to 2 TB
    • GPS, GLONASS

    *Specifications and package contents, including pre-installed or additional software, are subject to change by the manufacturer without prior notice.

    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 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-analog converter with oversampling technology (384 kHz / 32 bits) reproduces high-definition audio. 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 a little weaker - Adreno 510. And here are the results of our tests. 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.

    History repeats itself again: the LG G5 smartphone was released some two months ago, but its price, as in the case of its predecessor, is rapidly falling. Today it can be found much cheaper, so we decided to take a closer look at the new flagship of the Korean manufacturer. Will it be able to become a leader in terms of price/quality ratio?

    You should choose the right moment to buy an LG G5. The smartphone entered the market with a recommended price of 699 euros, but in mid-June it dropped to 399 euros. True, now in Europe the price has been raised again; for the LG G5 you will have to pay from 460 euros. But a new price reduction is probably not far off. The LG G5 H850 has not yet appeared in Russia ().

    With the new smartphone, LG decided to rely on three advantages: a new design, an updated display and, of course, the Magic Slot.

    The G5's display has become partially better

    The screen is interesting not only with its smaller diagonal of 5.3 inches instead of 5.5", but also with the Always-On function. As in the case of Samsung, the display displays important information even when turned off, which allows you to see, for example, the time at a glance and missed calls.Technically, the solution is quite interesting, since LG implemented it on the basis of an IPS panel, although an OLED panel would have been better suited here.But the G5 only lights up one segment of the display, which displays information, which minimizes power consumption.

    There are other differences compared to the G4. The maximum brightness of 404 cd/m² is not the highest, but the G5 gives a fairly high contrast level of 2.030:1. Color temperature has improved in theory, but in practice it doesn't make much of a difference. We get 8.700K instead of 9.500K before, the colors still have a bluish tint.

    The same goes for detailing. LG has not changed the resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, the density has reached 554 ppi, but there is not much difference.

    Snapdragon 820 in G5 does not work at full capacity

    Two clusters, each with two Kryo cores, operate at a maximum frequency of 1.6 GHz and 2.15 GHz, complemented by an Adreno 530 GPU. The 4 GB memory complies with the LPDDR4 standard.

    In tests, the G5 performed as expected. We received about 63,000 and 117,000 points in AnTuTu 5 and 6, 29,300 and 1,900 points in 3DMark (Ice Storm Unlimited/Slingshot), which allowed the smartphone to take the lead. CPU performance in Geekbench 3 was 2,200 and 5,100 points (Single/Multi), in GFXBench 3 GPU performance was 46 and 83 fps in the Manhattan and T-Rex Offscreen tests.

    According to the tests, the LG G5 seems powerful, but the maximum SoC cannot withstand for a long time. As in the case of HTC, the smartphone does not have time to remove the accumulated heat of the Snapdragon 820 under load; the back heats up to 45 °C. To avoid overheating, the SoC has to reset the clock speeds: both clusters cannot withstand peak frequencies for a long time.

    However, any drop in performance in everyday work is not noticeable. Despite throttling, even demanding applications run smoothly.

    Telephony

    The Snapdragon 820 smartphone is a leader not only in computing performance, but also in terms of the X12 modem. It supports the latest 3G and 4G standards and also provides high transfer speeds. However, here everything still depends on the deployed networks. Either way, the G5 can handle download speeds of up to 450 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50 Mbps. In 3G networks we get the usual level of 42.2 Mbit/s.

    The smartphone will not disappoint even in conditions of poor signal reception; in our tests we did not encounter spontaneous data outages or frequent transitions from the 4G to 3G network. During phone calls, the smartphone benefits from good voice quality as well as effective noise cancellation. The speaker on the front side provides high-quality sound. The second speaker, which is used for speakerphone, was less pleasing; it could use more powerful mids and lows. Also, at volume levels above 65%, distortion began to appear.

    The remaining interfaces are implemented perfectly. As you might expect from such a price, there is support for 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC. The LG G5 remains one of the last modern smartphones to support an IR blaster. In Europe, LG mainly supplies the G5 variant with a single SIM card, but in Russia models with two SIM cards are common. The 32 GB of internal memory can be expanded via a micro-SD card, but at the expense of a second SIM card. A modern USB Type-C cable is connected to the smartphone for data transfer/charging, but the old version is USB 2.0.

    LG has placed the fingerprint sensor on the rear panel of the case. Its support is entirely dependent on Google's software implementation - with its own advantages and disadvantages. The speed of fingerprint detection is high, there were no problems in operation. But you should be careful not to press your finger too hard on the sensor. Otherwise, the display may turn off immediately after unlocking, since the sensor also serves to switch to standby mode.

    Magic Slot

    Magic Slot does not mean any external port, but the ability to integrate modules - only two are available so far. LG chose the name based on the technical connection between the smartphone and the module. It offers a Cam Plus camera grip with a separate shutter button and a 1,200 mAh battery, as well as an audio module with a Bang & Olufsen DAC.

    The first module will cost 100 euros in Europe or 4,990 rubles in Russia, the second - 150 euros in Europe or 9,990 rubles in Russia. In practice, we think the camera module is more valuable, and only thanks to the additional battery. But here, too, an external battery (Power Bank) will become a less expensive option.
    

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