LG G4 and LG G2: Worth Upgrading?

Now that the brand new LG G4 has been announced and will be out soon, many smartphone owners are looking at potential upgrade options between the Galaxy S6, HTC One M9 and many other smartphones available today. Owners of the aging LG G2 are approaching the 2-year upgrade mark, and below we’ll compare it to the new LG G4 for those considering a switch.

After months of rumors and speculation, LG took the stage in NYC last week and finally announced the all-new and improved LG G4. The overall design and look hasn’t changed much from the G3 in 2014, but it’s a completely overhauled phone to offer potential buyers, and for those who own the G2, it’ll certainly be a welcome upgrade, and here’s why.

The LG G2 was the company’s first major smartphone aimed at competing with others like Samsung, and it was LG’s first phone with buttons on the back. It’s been a staple and selling point of their designs ever since, among other things, and all this and much more is coming soon in the G4.

The LG G2 was announced in August 2013, then a little over a month later it was released at the end of September. Since then, every new LG G smartphone has preceded its predecessor, and now the G4 seems to be the fastest versions of the LG G3 arriving in June compared to its mid-July release date. The company hopes that an earlier version and some striking new features will turn buyers away from Samsung, and those who own the LG G2 will want to consider the latest G4 before deciding on a manufacturer replacement.

When it comes to which smartphone is actually “better” between the G2 or the LG G4, there are a lot of things that come into play. That said, of course the newer option has to be better. user choice matters, and since they’re both LG, you know what you’re getting in terms of software. Not to mention that one is several years newer than the other. While we don’t have all the answers and don’t know what every user needs or wants, below are five or so key features or differences that separate the two and can help consumers decide if it’s worth upgrading to the latest G4.

view

Many consumers choose a smartphone based on screen size and price. One of the biggest differences between the G2 and G4 is the screen size and resolution, but it’s an all-around better device.

Back in 2013, the LG G2 had a sizable 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080p HD display, which was fine on paper but not in real life. It was pale, viewing angles were poor, and colors were not the best. Every new phone has gotten better and the G4 is the best ever.

According to an LG press release, this new 5.5-inch Quad-HD display for the G4 has made a “quantum leap” in color gamut and brightness. They call it a “Quantum HD display”. The new LG G4 display will be brighter, with extremely rich and striking colors. Moreover, it is more efficient and easier on battery life. Provide enhanced touch functionality and sensitivity while being thinner.

It features new, advanced In-Cell Touch technology that allows it to respond to touches even when there is water on it. Finally, it is expected to display more accurate colors than last year’s QHD panel on the G3, offering a 120% color gamut, a 50% contrast increase, and a 30% brightness increase. That means it’s much better than the older LG G2. It may not be as good as the Galaxy S6, but it will certainly offer a better experience than last year’s LG G3 and most devices released in the past year or two.

The brand new LG G4 has a bigger, higher resolution display with more brightness and better colors, and it comes in an almost identically sized package thanks to thin bezels and sleek design. If you want a bigger or better screen and the same LG experience, the G4 is the best choice for you. Our app above talks more about the screen and is one of the best out of all the smartphones released in 2015.

Design

When it comes to design, LG focuses on a few areas. These have buttons on the back and a large bright HD display front and center for users. Just like the G2, the G4 has buttons on the back, sleek bezels make for a huge screen in a small pocketable smartphone, but better than the G4 in every way. They have introduced a new ceramic-infused plastic design in three colors and a brand new genuine leather back option that you must try to fully enjoy and be convinced. It may not look great, but it’s great in the hand and fun to use. Below is G2, then G4.

As you can see above, the LG G2 has a rather unique design. The rear-mounted buttons didn’t line up and had quite the bump that many people complained about. Besides that, it had a great 13-megapixel camera, single LED flash, and tons of other impressive design cues. However, it felt very cheap and plastic. Below is the new G4 and you’ll instantly notice the many differences.

The G4 features a flat design for a more ergonomic grip, a beautiful leather design with six options and three textures, as well as an aluminum-look plastic option in three colors. Overall, it’s a big change, a welcomed change, and a much better device. If you’re satisfied with the LG G2, look no further than the G4. An attractive device with a lot to offer.

Overall, the LG G4 feels better in every way than its predecessor, and it’s even better when compared to the aging G2. It has a more durable, comfortable and higher quality look and feel. The screen has a slight curve to keep it face down away from the desk, something that also improves viewing angles and colors, and is excellent overall. The overall design is the same as the G2, but small improvements make a big difference. However, it is the information below that will make you want to switch.

Camera

The LG G2 had a very capable camera back in 2013 that came with a 13-megapixel lens and optical image stabilization, one of the first in Android smartphone space. New to the LG G4 is a much more advanced 16-megapixel f1.8 camera lens with optical image stabilization, dual flash, laser autofocus, and our first impressions are overwhelmingly positive. It might be better than the Galaxy S6, and it will definitely have a better camera experience than the G2, which is already pretty good considering how old the phone is.

Most phones are above 2.0 with f-stop, which is the speed of the sensor and how well it captures details and light. LG has the fastest f1.8 lens in the G4. This week we used both the LG G4 and Galaxy S6 for average user “quick shots” without a tripod, no messing with settings, just snapping them and taking pictures around NYC, and the link below is our comparison. The final results are astonishing and show that the G4 is extremely capable, if not one of the best we’ve ever used.

If the camera on your smartphone is something you value, or if you think the LG G2 camera doesn’t live up to its initial claim, know that the LG G4 does and will be one of the best cameras of all smartphones released in 2015. I’ve seen it take some great photos and it will be way better than the G2 from 2013.

Features

While specs aren’t as important as having a device that’s fast, fluid, and will work for years, it’s still something many people consider when buying. That said, the LG G4 has some of the latest tech and is two years newer, so it has a lot to offer and is an extremely powerful smartphone capable of running the latest games and apps.

The G2 was a good phone, but with a new 6-core processor, more RAM, higher storage options, and a micro-SD slot, users can add as much storage as they want (not to mention the camera), and it’s a big upgrade worth signing off on a new 2-year contract. . The G2 is starting to show its age and the LG G4 should deliver improvements in every area including battery life and should get better in every area that G2 owners are complaining about.

If you’re discussing upgrading to the Galaxy S6 or iPhone 6 instead, we recommend waiting a few weeks and trying the new G4 in stores before upgrading. It’s a stunning phone that looks and feels great, it’s fast and fluid, and it’s an all-around great phone. The G2 was LG’s first phone that we thought could compete with Samsung and Apple, the G4 was developed for two years and will definitely give you the best bang for your buck.

Price

We won’t talk much about the software as they are basically the same and both run Android Lollipop, but the G4 has tons of software and features that the G2 will never have. Like manual camera controls and so on. However, the G4 runs the latest Android 5.1, while the G2 is on 5.0.2 Lollipop. One thing buyers will want to consider is the price, which we’ll explain below.

So, last but certainly not least is the price. Since the LG G4 is brand new, it will likely come with a price tag of $199 with a new 2-year contract. That means the G3 will see hefty discounts to its already $99 price tag, and sometimes even less or free. This may have some G2 owners looking at the G3, but with carriers offering a zero down payment plan, the G4 is your best bet.

Most likely the LG G4 will be $199 on a new 2-year contract from all major carriers, and Verizon may offer $99 as it did with the G3 to steal customers from the competition. Then of course almost all options come with payment plans in the United States, most notably T-Mobile. This $199 contract will get you more storage, as the default option is 32GB, a micro SD for expansion, and it’s an all-around great phone.

If you already own the G2, it’s still a great phone, but it might be a good way to spend $199 and sign a contract for the new G4. It has a lot to offer like a better camera, better battery life, and a sleek new genuine leather design. Is it worth the upgrade? It’s up to you to decide. The G2 is starting to show its age and some of LG’s updates have frustrated many users and want to try another one like Samsung, so the choice is yours.

final thoughts

If you’re looking for a new phone right now, you’re probably trying to decide between the Galaxy S6 and the upcoming LG G4. This is another discussion entirely. That said, if you own an LG G2, Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5, see that the LG G4 is one of the best phones released this year; We think it’s definitely worth it.

For now, we hear that the LG G4 release date is set for late May, but most carriers in the United States probably won’t offer it until the first week of June. However, all five major carriers will offer it. It’s about a month. Hopefully it will be in carrier stores by then so you can try it out for yourself and then make the best decision possible. If you own a G2, trust us when we say the LG G4 is one of the best phones ever in 2015 and will make any buyer extremely happy.