Preview: LG Optimus G Pro | TechTree.com

Preview: LG Optimus G Pro

Finally, the Samsung GALAXY Note II faces some serious competition.

 
Preview: LG Optimus G Pro

After announcing it in February, the Korean brand LG has finally brought the Optimus G Pro to India. Considering the popularity of oversized phones in our country, LG has high hopes from its latest 5.5" offering sporting a Full HD screen. No prizes for guessing that the Optimus G Pro will take on Samsung's GALAXY Note II. LG showcased its latest phone in a grand (pun intended) event in Delhi. We did get our hands on the device, and here’s what we think about it.

Aesthetics
Those following LG's smartphone portfolio closely, will notice that most of its recent handsets follow the Prada 3.0 phone's design language. It's hard to ignore the sharp edges and contours found in the Optimus 4X HD and L-series phones. However, with the Optimus G Pro, LG has taken a complete U-turn from its design philosophy.

The handset's rounded corners and Home button placement are similar to that of Samsung's GALAXY phones. That said, the Optimus G Pro's construction feels a lot sturdier when compared to its nemesis, the GALAXY Note II. A thin bezel has helped reduce its footprint, but on the flipside, it causes inadvertent interaction with the touch screen. What bothers me more, is that this handset too large for single-handed usage.

 

There's an LED around the home button that notifies you of alerts such as missed calls and messages. There's even as option to set different hues of LED for particular alert. The handset's back panel has a Nexus 4-esque texture pattern that sparkles under lights.

Display And Specs
The Optimus G Pro sports a 5.5” screen with 1080x1920 pixels. LG likes to call this display IPS Plus LCD. We wonder what difference does that additional "Plus" makes, but the screen is fantastic; especially the colour reproduction is superb. The screen is sharp and offers wide viewing angles. A nice touch here is that the screen is slightly curved, as seen on the Nokia Lumia 800. The only thing that it isn't up to the mark, is the level of blacks. During the launch event, LG's Marketing Head, Amit Gujral, claimed that at 400 nits, it's the brightest screen on a smartphones. It seems that he didn't do his homework well, because the company's own Optimus Black has been marketed around its 700 nits bright display.

Of late, quad-core CPUs have become a norm for the high-end Android phones, and the Optimus G Pro is no exception. It's powered by a 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core CPU. For photography, there's a 13 mp camera, and a 2.1 mp front-facing snapper to make video calls. Other features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS, microSD card slot, and 3140 mAh battery.

UI And Apps
The Optimus G Pro runs Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) with LG's customised UI on top of it. Thanks to a powerful CPU, the transition effects are virtually lag-free. Taking advantage of the screen area, LG has provided an option to add large toggle buttons for Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth to the notification bar. Keep in mind though; it's almost impossible to pull down the notification bar with one hand.

Similar to Samsung's gimmicky TouchWiz features, LG offers numerous UX functionalities. Some of the interesting ones that I got to check out during the event are as follows:

QSlide: Using this function, you see two or more screen layers simultaneously, and you can easily adjust the transparency of each.

QuickMemo: This feature allows users to write, draw, or jot down a memo with their finger directly on the screen.

QRemote: Much like the HTC One, Sony Xperia Z, and GALAXY S4, this latest flagship from LG comes with IR remote functionality.

Camera
The 13 mp autofocus camera is accompanied by an LED flash. The Korean company has added a host of features such as the VR Panorama, which is LG’s version of Photosynth. In case that doesn’t give you a clear idea, this new feature enables the user to create 360 degree views of the surroundings. Then there are a few features ripped directly from the S4 such as dual-camera recording. Judging from the test shots taken at the venue, the camera quality is very good.

Closing Thoughts
The Optimus G Pro goes toe-to-toe with the Samsung GALAXY Note II. Both phones have their strengths. For instance, the Note II gets an edge with its feature-packed digitiser pen. On the other hand, the Optimus G Pro trumps its competitor in terms of camera and raw power.  At the end of the day though, the pricing is going to be decisive factor. And even with complimentary induction charging accessories, the Optimus G Pro's pricing is a bit too high at Rs 42,500.

Specifications:

  • Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean).
  • 5.5" full HD IPS display with 1080x1920 pixels.
  • 1.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU.
  • 13 megapixel rear camera, and a 2.1 megapixel front camera; supports Dual Recording.
  • 2 GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage, Up to 64 GB microSD card support.
  • 3G, LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS.
  • 3140 mAh battery.


Tags : Mobile Phones, Android, LG, Optimus

 
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