Our inaugural Smartphone Studio review features the LG G5, a flagship device release in April 2016. It runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and is reported to receive an upgrade to 7.0 Nougat by early 2017. LG has put its own UX 5.0 skin on top of Google’s OS, adding additional features and changing its look and feel.
This dual-camera device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor and Adreno 530 GPU. It has 4GB of memory, and expandable storage up to 256GB. The phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi direct and DLNA. The LG G5 also has GPS, an Infrared port, NFC and the latest Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD support for enhanced audio quality. The 5.9 inch tall device has all of the sensors you would expect in a flagship device: gyroscopes, accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometer, color spectrum and a fingerprint sensor on the back for added security and convenience.
While the phone’s battery life is inconsistent getting through a full day, the device makes up for it with a Type-C USB port for fast charging. The “unibody” smartphone’s battery is also replaceable, which brings up the device’s single biggest differentiator: modularity. The bottom bezel of the device can be detached from the screen, allowing users to slide out and replace the battery. That part of the phone can also be replaced with “Friends,” or alternative modules. Those on the market include a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for higher quality sound, and a camera grip with extended battery. While the device has generally been well received, it’s sales have been less than hoped for. LG has not expanded the number of available modules since the LG G5 released, and finding those that do exist can be tricky.
Additional features of the LG G5 include:
- 5.3 inches IPS display (1440 x 2560 pixels)
- Dual 16 MP (29mm, f/1.8) + 8 MP (12mm, f/2.4)
- 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30fps video capture
- 24-bit/192kHz audio
Watch our video review to see what we think of the device, and where it ranks among premium devices.