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LG G2 review

8.4/10 AVG.
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LG G2
LG G2
LG G2
LG G2
LG G2
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8.4/10
Informr score
The LG G2 currently has an Informr score of 8.4 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 49 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Beautiful display
  • Great camera
  • 1080p video at 60 frames per second
  • Plenty of power to age well

What's bad

  • No microSD card
  • Non-removable battery
  • Materials feel cheap
  • Weak loudspeaker

Much like it's predecessor, the LG Optimus G, the G2 pushes the specs of Android devices to the max. With a 2.3-gigahertz quad-core processor, 5.2-inch 1080p display, 13-megapixel camera and 2GB of RAM, the phone is ready for anything you might throw at it. Coupled this power with a sleek design and the phone is certainly near the top of the pack for next-gen smartphones. GSMArena described the phone best as a “beautiful monster.”

Packing all of these features into a light, compact smartphone required LG to break the mold when it comes to case design. To keep the phone as thin as possible, the power and volume buttons were placed on the back of the phone. While this takes a little time to get used to, it works quite well. A combination of long presses and short presses provide a variety of shortcuts to phone features. Hubert Nguyen of Ubergizmo said, “It is not as strange as it may appear. Unlike most smartphones today, it is a completely ambidextrous system so lefties will be happy.”

Another useful feature is Knockon. Tap the screen twice and the phone wakes up. Speaking of screens, the 1080p IPS LCD display is stunning and does not suffer from the outdoor visibility issues of many of its AMOLED counterparts.

Unfortunately, there are a few concerns to keep in mind about the G2. Though the curves and case design of the phone are pretty, the phone has a cheap, plastic feel when handled. The high-gloss case and screen are prone to fingerprints and smudges as well. While the 3,000-mAh battery offers respectable battery life, it is not removable. For the power users out there, this means carrying a phone charger with you and hunting for charging ports.

Brian Klug of Anandtech summed up the G2 well when he said, “It's built on a great platform, with great battery life and includes a number of design decisions that show honest to goodness innovative thinking on LG's part.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.26 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.26 GHz
5.2"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.2"
13+ MP
Camera
Camera
13+ MP
3000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

Were it not for the hardware keys on the backside of the device, you would be surprised to learn that the G2 and its mini-version were from the same product line.

- Daniel Schuster, Notebookcheck
Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping

Though it doesn’t do anything exceedingly novel, the LG G2 is a solid phone that performed among the best on many of our lab tests. With top-notch processing power and an eye-catching 5.2” display that is great for consuming media, the G2 is a solid Android choice.

- Good Housekeeping team, Good Housekeeping
BitBitByte
BitBitByte

You see, if all you care about is stock Android and timely updates, the LG isn’t the best phone for you. If, however, you’re also looking for other things such as battery life, a camera that doesn’t suck and some (at times) genuinely useful software additions, the LG G2 is quite th...

- Mike Norris, BitBitByte
BitBitByte
BitBitByte

That title will either resonate well with you or get discarded as a load of B.S. You see, if all you care about is stock Android and timely updates, the LG isn’t the best phone for you. If, however, you’re also looking for other things such as battery life, a camera that doesn’t su...

- Mike Norris, BitBitByte
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

As I'm readying my Nexus 4 for its upcoming return to service, I couldn't help but return to this piece one last time for a proper conclusion. Whether you'll like a certain phone or not is predicated upon a confusing myriad of intertwining and sometimes downright conflicting collection of factors. A...

- Chris P., PhoneArena


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the LG G2 user manual here.


LG backs up the G2 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your G2 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact LG support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find LG's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Screen Size
5.2"

The LG G2's screen size is 5.2 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.26 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Quad core 2.26 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean (Update Available: 5.0.2 Lollipop) operating system (OS).

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 13+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16/32 GB

Internal memory is 16/32 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
3000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 3000 mAh battery. LG's performance ratings are 1501 minutes, 682 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

LG G2 Specs

Overview
Release Date September 12, 2013
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean (Update Available: 5.0.2 Lollipop)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Quad core 2.26 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.81 W/kg
Body: 1.06 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO Rev. A, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared Yes
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Zoom
8x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Multi-shot, Self-timer, White balance, Exposure compensation, HDR, Voice activation
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, DivX
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 60 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 423 pixels
Size 5.2 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 3000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 711 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 682 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 642 minutes
Talk Time Up to 1501 minutes
Standby Time Up to 29 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.8 x 7.1 x 0.9 cm (5.4 x 2.8 x 0.4 in)
Weight 155 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voicemail Key: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Auto Answer: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
TV Out Info: HDMI
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MP3, MP4, M4A, WMA, WAV
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, DivX, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Radio: Yes (FM)
Viewable document types: XLS, PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX, PDF
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Weather, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): LG D802
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Manual (PDF)
LG G2 Reviews
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