LG faced a giant challenge in 2016; its new smartphones will have to compete with... Samsung Galaxy S7. To counter Samsung and the ubiquitous iPhone, LG decided to innovate and reimagine the way we use smartphones with the release of the LG G5.
The LG G5 is truly different. This is a phone that has a detachable bottom and battery, a better camera than its predecessors and more High Quality sound. It's a small change, but damn exciting because of what it represents and what it could mean for the future.
For the LG G5 to be successful, people must not only see the potential, but also love the phone. Eclipsing the glories of Samsung and Apple is a mammoth task for LG. Does the G5 have something that will make people buy it and dive into the world of modular smartphones?
The magic of the LG G5 lies inside the slot, the phone's modular port. It is located at the base of the device, where the battery is located. On the right side of the phone there is a small button for hidden mounting. It pops out the bottom of the phone and disconnects the battery, allowing you to remove the entire module. It's all well designed, and wisely done. It’s not easy to unhook the module and let it crash onto the floor. You have to put in some effort if you want to pull it out. It takes a steady hand to remove the battery and a firm final push to secure it into place. None of these steps will happen by accident, so G5 won't figure itself out on its own.
However, it all feels alien because we are used to treating our phones as thin and fragile devices. But, with regards to the G5, rough handling is necessary here, unless of course you want to swap modules. The first few times you do this, you will be surprised, because everything is on the verge of breaking.
The amount of work, thought, effort and commitment that went into creating the LG G5 is amazing.
The first time we swapped modules, we were very afraid of breaking the phone, so we asked another colleague who already had practice and did it. It took several rounds of changing modules to learn how to smoothly and harshly tug and pull on the module.
We would like to have an easier way to replace modules, or for each module to have its own battery and not have to yank it every time you move it from place to place. Alternatively, the battery could be hidden in the rear so that changing modules would not require relocating the battery. Of course, this will annoy those who don't want removable battery.
The LG G4 and V10 are two of the best camera phones ever made, and LG hasn't sacrificed any of the photography features in the G5. The G5 is absolutely fantastic and we can't stop shooting with it. The sensor is almost identical to the V10, with 16 MP and an F/1.8 aperture, as well as laser autofocus and optical image stabilization. There is also a dual lens here, but not for selfies - on the front, like the v10, but on the back.
The first camera provides a regular view of the world, while the second provides an expanded 135-degree field of view, providing ample opportunities for creativity. They are used independently of each other, unless you activate a special mode in which two points are meshed with each other to create strange photo hybrids. This is a feature you won't use often, but it can produce fun collages.
The wide-angle lens is addictive. It changes the look of the camera completely, and changes the way and type of focal points. The results look great, especially when shooting perspectives and wide-open spaces. There is a slight fisheye effect on the G5's wide-angle shots, but again, as long as you put some thought into the final image, it's not distracting.
LG has included its incredibly easy-to-use manual mode for the G5, where ISO, shutter speed, focus and white balance can be adjusted. This manual mode is the most convenient for users. You'll find it very easy to use for adjusting images due to its simplicity.
The front-facing 8MP selfie camera also has a wider angle than other phones like the iPhone 6S Plus and comes with an effective mode for smoothing tones.
The LG G5 camera is a pleasure to use; This is a huge plus for phone sales. The wide-angle lens sets the phone apart from its competitors - and is an improvement over the G4 and V10.
Considering how well the LG G5's camera performs, you might be wondering what the CamPlus module is for. However, after using CamPlus, we can honestly say that it enhances the G5's camera, producing even higher quality images.
The module is not very large, but it has extra battery to keep your phone charged. There is a dedicated photo button, a button for recording video, and a zoom wheel. We compared it to the standard zoom of the Galaxy S7 Edge and iPhone 6S Plus, and the results with both phones were grainier.
The CamPlus module sees things that other smartphone cameras can't, and it's truly impressive. If you take the LG G5 and CamPlus on vacation, you won't need to pack any other camera to take great photos. The addition of a camera button and zoom wheel will also be useful when you're shooting with gloves in the winter. This eliminates the need for touch screen phone to get best quality images, making your G5 feel like a real camera.
For LG G5 there is also a special module for improving audio.
The LG G5 is equipped with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS with some modifications; it differs from previous LG smartphones, primarily due to controversial decisions that are similar to Apple firmware.
Now all your apps are spread across multiple home screens. The list of pre-installed applications is not that long, it includes regular applications For Email, contacts, weather, plus tools such as voice recorder, calculator, task manager and FM radio.
LG G5 is powerful device with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and 4 GB random access memory on board, which allows the smartphone to not heat up so much during processing large quantity data as 810 version.
Let's start with the positive. It's completely replaceable, so if you're carrying a spare battery, it only takes a few seconds to swap out a dead one for a charged one. Try this on any other flagship phone in 2016?
Recharging will have to be done every day, and possibly more than once. If you got into GPS coverage for two hours, took a few photos, and generally used your phone for email, messages, and apps; the battery will “die” at the end of the working day. It's not much different from the Galaxy S7 or iPhone 6S Plus. At least if you have a second LG G5 battery, it's not a disaster.
Charging also features QuickCharge 3.0, which is a step up from the Galaxy S7's standard QuickCharge 2.0.
And finally we come to the sophisticated design of the G5. At first glance it looks boring, but not ugly. Over time, we've come to love the subtle design details of the LG G5.
There are curves in the most unexpected places - the screen slopes back at the top, and there are no nasty sharp edges to make it awkward to hold. The metal is smooth and without seams.
In any case, the design of the LG G5 should not be judged right away. You have to live with it for a while, and you will be grateful to the developers for their well-thought-out design and shape.
LG should also be congratulated, because the embodiment modular system almost unnoticeable on the G5. There are no buttons of unusual shape or size, or stupid drawn arrows on the body, everything is done aesthetically and in the same style.
Although the LG G5 is not much smaller than the LG G4, its streamlined shape makes the smartphone very compact. It's slightly larger than the Galaxy S7 and weighs 159 grams. The display is 5.3 inches diagonally, smaller than the G4 and slightly larger than the Galaxy S7, but it has the same 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. The fingerprint sensor, as is standard for LG, is located on the rear panel, although the volume control on the G5 has been moved to the rear side.
LG usually updates its phones at least once a month, but it's not much better than Samsung or any other Android phone maker. It's a shame and we'd like to see more initiative from phone makers receiving Android updates. Because Android phones do not receive regular updates, are vulnerable to hackers, viruses, and are generally less secure than the iPhone. They also don't get new software features often. LG and others need to work to fix this epic problem.
LG offers a one-year warranty with the G5, so if there are problems, you'll have to send it back to the company for repairs.
It is not known how strong and durable the modules are, if they are replaced over and over again, will this cause problems? But this will be determined over time of use. The LG G5 is not waterproof, which works against it compared to the Galaxy S7. However, when it comes to drops and shock, the G5 will likely win the Galaxy S7's drop tests.
The amount of work, thought, effort and commitment that went into creating the new LG G5 is amazing. While other brands are accused of copying technology, LG has come up with something that will lead to new types of smartphones. It's bold, exciting and full of glorious potential.
However, in this moment, the potential of a modular phone has not yet been fully realized, and there are only a couple of replaceable modules.
However, the LG G5 is undoubtedly one of the best flagship phones of 2016, and you won't be disappointed with it, whether you have the modules or not.
Accelerometer(or G-sensor) - sensor of the device’s position in space. As the main function, the accelerometer is used to automatic change 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 ah for mobile devices.
Light sensor- a sensor that sets the optimal brightness and contrast values for this level illumination 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 atmospheric pressure. Is a part GPS systems, allows you to determine altitude above sea level and speed up location determination.
Touch ID- fingerprint identification sensor.
Accelerometer/Approximation
GPS(Global Positioning System - global positioning system) - satellite system navigation, providing measurement of distance, time, speed and determining the location of objects anywhere on the 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.
GLONASS(Global Navigation Satellite System) - Soviet and Russian satellite navigation system, developed by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The measurement principle is similar to the American system GPS navigation. GLONASS is designed for operational navigation and timing support for land, sea, air and space-based users. The main difference from the GPS system is that GLONASS satellites in their orbital motion do not have resonance (synchrony) with the rotation of the Earth, which provides them with greater stability.
LG Optimus L5 is one of the representatives of the L-Style line. This gadget takes place exactly in the middle between the budget option LG Optimus L3 and the more expensive Optimus L7. Therefore, we can say that this particular model will win the hearts of more people, because it harmoniously combines stylish and laconic design, as well as excellent performance.
The gadget is fully consistent with its model range and therefore looks stylish and strict. High-quality plastic was used as the material for the smartphone body. On the front panel there is protective glass, protecting the device from scratches and damage. Below, on the front part there are standard buttons: “back”, “home” and “menu”. The space above the display is occupied by a speaker protected by an internal mesh. The headphone input and power button can be found on the top edge. And the bottom end is occupied by a microUSB connector and a microphone. The left side “sheltered” the volume rocker, but the right side remained absolutely clean. The camera, flash and two audio speakers are located on the rear panel. Taking off back cover you can find the battery, under which there is a SIM card slot. Overall, the LG Optimus L5 is built very well and reliably. No cracks, defects or play were found. The smartphone feels comfortable and pleasant in the hand, and thanks to the smaller display diagonal compared to the L7, it is also very comfortable to operate. The gadget is presented in traditional colors – black and white.
LG Optimus L5 has a four-inch diagonal display, TFT matrix and a resolution of 320 by 480 pixels. Therefore, the user will still see some graininess, but even with such characteristics the screen shows a good picture. The device has wide viewing angles and very high brightness, which allows you to use the gadget on a sunny day. Gorilla Glass acts as a protective barrier against various types of scratches and damage.
The hardware is fully consistent with budget smartphone options. The “iron heart” is the Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 MSM7225A, and this processor absolutely cannot boast of either the clock frequency or the number of cores: one core and 0.8 GHz. There is also not a lot of RAM - 512 MB, and not a lot of built-in memory - 4 GB. However, the user can increase this volume using memory cards. If we translate all these numbers into ordinary speech, then we can safely say that this gadget is definitely not suitable for modern games and videos on the Internet, but these characteristics are sufficient for solving work tasks, listening to music and general surfing the Internet. For an undemanding user this is quite enough.
5 megapixels, autofocus and LED flash are the only things the LG Optimus L5 can boast of. Despite such a small set, the camera still allows you to take fairly good pictures that are distinguished by excellent detail. If you look at the pictures not on the phone screen, but on the computer, the pictures look even brighter and more contrasty. Regarding the camera in this smartphone, that is, two minuses: lack front camera and a hardware key that allows you to call the camera.
The gadget has a removable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 1540 mAh. This is enough for the smartphone to last for two days without recharging with moderate use. In talk mode, the LG Optimus L5 will work for about ten hours, and if you leave it turned on somewhere on a shelf and not use it at all, the charge will last for a whole month.
Overall, the smartphone turned out quite good. There are no frills or bells and whistles in it. It is simple and easy to use and does a great job with the basic functions of any phone. This model ideal for those who are just getting acquainted with the world of touch phones or for those who do not care about powerful and modern functionality.
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length x Width x Height, mm | 66.5 x 118.3 x 9.5 |
| Weight, g | 123 |
| Display | |
| Matrix | TFT |
| Display diagonal, inches | 4 |
| Display resolution, pix | 320×480 |
| Camera | |
| Main, Mp. | 5 |
| Frontal, MP. | |
| System | |
| operating system | Android 4.1 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 MSM7225A |
| Processor frequency, GHz | 0.8 |
| Number of cores | 1 |
| RAM, GB. | 512 MB |
| Internal memory, GB. | 4 |
| Interfaces | |
| 3G Network | There is |
| 2G Network | There is |
| WiFi | There is |
| Bluetooth | There is |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery capacity, mAh | 1540 |
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 66.5 mm (millimeters) 6.65 cm (centimeters) 0.22 ft (feet) 2.62 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 118.3 mm (millimeters) 11.83 cm (centimeters) 0.39 ft (feet) 4.66 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements. | 9.5 mm (millimeters) 0.95 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.37 in (inches) |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 125 g (grams) 0.28 lbs 4.41 oz (ounces) |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 74.74 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 4.54 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Black White |
| SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, GPU, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their functioning. | Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 MSM7225A |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor. | 45 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | ARM Cortex-A5 |
| Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors. | 32 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv7 |
| Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster as system memory, and other levels of cache memory. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes) |
| Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory. | 256 kB (kilobytes) 0.25 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core performs program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel. | 1 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 800 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphic applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc. | Qualcomm Adreno 200 |
| Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 512 MB (megabytes) |
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends. | TFT |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 4 in (inches) 101.6 mm (millimeters) 10.16 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 2.22 in (inches) 56.36 mm (millimeters) 5.64 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 3.33 in (inches) 84.54 mm (millimeters) 8.45 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.5:1 3:2 |
| Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. More a high resolution means sharper detail in the image. | 320 x 480 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail. | 144 ppi (pixels per inch) 56 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. | 60.76% (percent) |
| Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics. | Capacitive Multi-touch |
| Flash type The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use led flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape. | LED |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, indicating the approximate number of pixels in millions. | 2560 x 1920 pixels 4.92 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record. | 640 x 480 pixels 0.31 MP (megapixels) |
| Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about maximum speed recording (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps. | 30fps (frames per second) |
| Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, and making devices easier to discover and connect. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device. | 3.0 |
| Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols that provide faster data transfer, energy savings, improved device discovery, etc. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here. | A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVCTP (Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol) AVDTP (Audio/Video Distribution Transport Protocol) AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile) FTP (File Transfer Profile) GAVDP (Generic Audio/Video Distribution Profile) GAP (Generic Access Profile) HFP (Hands-Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) HSP (Headset Profile) MAP (Message Access Profile) OPP (Object Push Profile) PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile) SPP (Serial Port Protocol) SDP (Service Discovery Protocol) |
| Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours. | 1500 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices. | Li-Ion (Lithium-ion) |
| 2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network. | 10 h (hours) 600 min (minutes) 0.4 days |
| 2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network. | 900 h (hours) 54000 min (minutes) 37.5 days |
| 3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network. | 9 hours 20 minutes 9.3 h (hours) 559.8 min (minutes) 0.4 days |
| 3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network. | 900 h (hours) 54000 min (minutes) 37.5 days |
| Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics device battery. | Removable |
| SAR level for head (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device next to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard established by the CENELEC Committee in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the ICNIRP guidelines of 1998. | 0.9 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards. | 0.64 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values. | 0.74 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard. | 0.85 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
New touch smartphone Android platform and with large display 4 inches diagonal, 480 x 320 pixels. The E612 smartphone runs on powerful processor Cortex A5 800 MHz and latest version operating room Android systems 4.0. From technical characteristics LG Optimus L5 E612 has the following features: powerful accumulator battery 1500 mAh that supports the phone with a talk time of up to 10 hours and 900 hours of standby time, 3 GB of internal memory, support wireless networks WiFi, 5 MP camera with flash. The E612 smartphone is distinguished by its thin 9.5 mm thick body and original L5-style design. Optimus L5 E612 users have the opportunity to use their smartphone as a real navigator; thanks to CityGuide 7 you can avoid traffic jams, look for quick and convenient routes, learn about speed cameras and save a lot of time. For owners of LG E612, the CityGID navigator is free to use.
