What's good
- Display offers good viewing angles and bright colors
- Smooth processor performance
- Long battery life
What's bad
- Too large to fit in pockets or use one-handed
- Slightly low resolution display
- Slight noise and smudges in low-light photos
The phablet market continues to grow and this time LG throws their hat into the ring with the G Vista. As a phablet, the G Vista is not small by any stretch of the imagination. It measures 5.99 inches tall, 3.12 inches wide and 0.36 inches thick. Despite its relatively large dimensions it weighs only 168 grams. That light weight combined with the rounded edges and back gave it a very ergonomic design, according to critics. Still, due to its large size they could not handle it one-handed nor could they easily fit it in their pockets.
The 5.7-inch, 720P LCD display offers a pixel density of 258ppi. While reviewers still consider it fairly sharp, they also note that the lack of a true HD 1080p display is noticeable especially on text-heavy sites and even on the homepage icons. Besides this slight bit of pixilation, experts were satisfied with the other aspects of the display pointing out its wide viewing angles, vibrant colors and overall brightness levels as positives.
At its core is a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1.5 GB of RAM. It might not offer top-of-the-line specs, but reviewers didn't have run into any performance issues during basic or more intensive tasks. Still, Brighthand points out that mid-tier devices tend to show their age sooner. They add, "Those on a 2-year upgrade cycle will likely be cursing the Vista G by…2016. There will likely be…high-end apps it won't be able to handle." Included on the device is 8GB on onboard storage, and of that, only 3.76GB is actually available out of box. Luckily, it does support microSD cards up to 64GB.
Battery-wise, it comes with a very large 3,200mAh battery. Thanks to the relatively lower resolution display and weaker processor, reviewers were able to get a full day of light usage and around 6 hours during their battery draining tests.
The 8MP rear-facing camera comes with the same autofocus feature as on the LG G3 phone. Experts point out the image quality isn't quite as good as the G3, but in good lighting they were satisfied with the sharpness and color fidelity of their photos. Unfortunately, it fell flat under indoor and low light and critics were only able to produce smudged, slightly noisy images though colors remained accurate.
Although it has a couple faults, reviewers still consider the G Vista a decent mid-tier phablet for consumers looking to get their first smartphone. Android Headlines states, "If you really want a big screen, but don't want the price tag, then the LG G Vista is the one to get…I loved everything about [it]…" CNET adds, "…if you want a capable device that's budget-friendly, get the G Vista…the device offers a smooth user experience and doesn't cost a fortune."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Jamison Cush, BrighthandThe LG G Vista is the phablet for those with modest smartphone needs and a modest smartphone budget. At launch, it’s a perfectly functional device that cuts the right corners. Yes, its plastic build feels greasy, the display resolution is a bit low, and the camera is merely acceptable, but tho...
- Lynn La, CnetGiven its midrange specs, the LG G Vista for AT&T and Verizon is a solid buy if you want a big "phablet" at a low cost.
- Eugene Kim, PC MagazineThe LG G Vista has three things going for it: a big screen, a big battery, and a small price tag. It's not quite as large as the Samsung Galaxy Mega, but it's got more modern Android software, faster performance, and costs half the price. The G Vista can't hold a candle to the Galaxy Note 3, which i...
- iTechTriad team, iTechTriadThe G Vista is definitely not a bad device, but I would only recommend it to a select group of people. That group would be those who are on Verizon, and aren’t going anywhere else, who want a phone with the screen size of the Galaxy Note 3, but can’t quite afford the Galaxy Note 3. You c...
- Eugene Kim, PC MagazineThough it doesn't quite rehabilitate the tainted Vista name, the LG G Vista has a lot to offer for big-screen fans on a budget. The 720p display is on par with phones in this price range, like the Huawei Ascend Mate2 or HTC Desire 816. You're not getting a ton of power, especially compared with phab...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the LG G Vista user manual here.
LG backs up the G Vista with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your G Vista 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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Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- LG G Vista Manual (PDF)
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