LG G4 and Galaxy S6: What We Know So Far

Last year the LG G3 wowed us with its sleek bezels and impressive 5.5-inch Quad HD display, but this year the company promises to present the LG G4, a similar device that’s better in every way imaginable. And he will have to be if he wants to get the completely redesigned and impressive Samsung Galaxy S6, which was released on April 10.

With the LG G4 launch event set to be announced on April 28 approaching, here we want to take a look at how LG’s latest phone stacks up with the Galaxy S6, based on what we know so far, leaks, rumors and some more. details LG has confirmed about the LG G4 before its release.

The Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 are both readily available and two excellent smartphones, but the LG G4 is shaping up to be a great alternative. It will have a lot to offer and will have to compete with both of these devices, all of which will be released in a month if not more. Read on for more details on the LG G4 and how it compares to Samsung’s latest model.

All the attention has been on the Galaxy S6 lately, and LG is quietly lurking in the background, building a pretty impressive phone that has the potential to steal some of Samsung’s sales even if it comes around two months later. The launch is set for April 28, and we’ve heard that a version will be released in May, and these will be two of the best Android phones available in 2015.

When it comes to which smartphone is actually “better” between the Samsung Galaxy S6 or LG G4, there are a lot of things that come into play. user preference, software or hardware needs and of course the size of the device are things for each user to decide. While we don’t have all the answers and don’t know what every user needs or wants, below are as many as five key features or differences that separate the two and can help consumers make the right choice.

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Many consumers these days choose a smartphone based on screen size. An example where this is a leading factor is when Apple finally moved the iPhone to a larger 4.7 inch screen with the iPhone 6. This year, both Samsung and LG kept the screen the same size as last year, but improved it overall.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 has a 5.1 inch 2560 x 1440 Quad HD AMOLED display. Honestly, I think it’s the best display of all the smartphones I’ve ever used. Colors, saturation, sharpness, viewing angles and natural whites make it a stunning device. Last year the G3 had a 2560 x 1440 Quad HD display, but it was blurry, viewing angles were poor and not the best. But that will change in 2015.

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. It may not be as good as the Galaxy S6, but we’ll have to wait and see. These numbers sound possible, but we won’t know until we see them on April 28.

Samsung’s Galaxy S6 is as impressive as ever, and having a smaller screen with the same Quad-HD display means more pixels per inch and potentially sharper and crisper text and images. The S6 will likely have a better display, but LG has made great strides in this area, so be on the lookout for a comparison when it launches.

Design

Both Samsung and LG have been making plastic smartphones for years that “look” like aluminum but aren’t. The ring around the Galaxy S5 is actually plastic but looks like chrome and the brushed aluminum design on the LG G3 is nice but attached to a plastic shell. This year the Galaxy S6 has been completely redesigned and made of aluminum with reinforced glass on both the front and back. It’s the best quality Galaxy smartphone ever released and it’s been getting lots of accolades so far. However, the battery is no longer removable and there is no micro SD slot to expand storage. A big problem for many potential buyers.

LG did not do such a thing. The G4 (according to leaks and LG’s own teaser images) will retain the same plastic design with an elegant diamond-designed aluminum look, but will still be plastic. However, they introduced and made fun of six genuine leather-stitched rear battery covers, one of which is removable. It still has a removable battery and user expandable storage with a micro SD slot. The leather looks beautiful in some colors, but weak in another. We’ll have to see if the same design with some minor tweaks will be enough to give it an edge over Samsung’s latest model.

This is the new leather-clad LG G4

However, there are a few big differences between these two phones. One of the LG G4 has all the buttons on the back while the second Samsung’s Galaxy S6 lacks a removable battery or expandable storage as we mentioned above. This is key for many buyers and will give the LG G4 an instant edge when the carrier hits the shelves.

Overall, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are fascinating devices in our opinion, but we’ll reserve our judgment until we get our hands on the new leather-wrapped LG G4 at the end of the month.

We’ll have to see if the leather options, removable storage, and a few other minor changes will be enough for buyers to choose LG over Samsung.

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. Below are the hard numbers for those interested, but all these devices are nearly identical except for a few minor changes and the software will play the biggest role in the performance of each device.

As you can see from the breakdown above, these devices are extremely similar. Essentially, buyers’ main concerns should be the camera, screen size, or which manufacturer has the best software and design. And these are in no particular order. Any of these could and could be the deciding factor. The G4 may not be that high quality, even with leather, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Camera

The Galaxy S6 has the best camera of any smartphone we’ve ever used. The 16-megapixel lens has a fast f.19 aperture, image stabilization, and some of the best software tweaks ever. It shoots stunning images and gives any device value for money. However, LG claims it takes Samsung a step further, and its 16-megapixel camera has an even faster f1.8 shutter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZdWPqpVbEk

Most phones are above 2.0 with f-stop, which is the speed of the sensor and how well it captures details and light. So both Samsung and LG are the leaders here. Even LG today posted a bunch of G4 sample photos This is not representative of real-world use, as it is professional and was shot under the best possible conditions, but it is impressive nonetheless.

The G4 has laser autofocus, and this is the third year they have introduced optical image stabilization, while OIS on the Galaxy S6 is the first Galaxy S phone to have such a feature. These should technically be two of the best camera phones of 2015, so choose wisely.

Price

We won’t talk much about the software as it is a personal preference. Both run Android 5.0 Lollipop, but have an all-encompassing manufacturer skin. So it all depends on what you prefer, and a comparison won’t do much until we’ve both got it.

So, last but certainly not least is the price. Unfortunately, there are no winners here either, and you will have a difficult choice to make. However, the LG G4 will be the cheaper of the two as it only comes in 32GB and has a micro SD slot as we assume it will be $199 on contract. Then, if you want to get the phone for free and pay every month, of course all carriers offer monthly payment plans.

Verizon will try to underline the others with contract and direct pricing, but nothing has been disclosed. However, the Galaxy S6 costs $199, $299 and $399 with a 2-year contract for 32, 64 and 128GB storage options. So the one tap option is to choose the 32GB model as they are the same price. For anyone who chooses LG, grab a cheap 64GB micro-SD card and instead of shelling out $100 or more to a carrier, you’re all set.

Both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the new LG G4 will likely be two of the best smartphones of 2015, so you really can’t go wrong with either option. That aside, read everything mentioned above and try both for yourself before making a decision.

final thoughts

In closing, the only major advantage Samsung has is that the Galaxy S6 is now available from carriers around the world and the LG G4 has yet to be announced. The launch date is April 28, and we’re hearing of a very late May release date, which could be pushed back to June.

Potential buyers will have to decide if the Galaxy S6 is right for them or if they want to wait a month or two for the LG G4 to launch from all major carriers in the US and around the world. The Galaxy S6 Edge is another viable option that LG can’t compete with unless you’re looking at the LG G Flex 2. We’ll update next week when the LG G4 is announced.