MOBILE

LG Optimus G - A Quad-Core Flagship With Nexus Aspiration (Part 3)

6/20/2013 11:31:44 AM

Camera

This is actually a story about 2 different cameras with the same function – the story about the promising camera hampered by disappointing user experience. The Sprint and Korean version of Optimus G use 13MP BSI sensor, 1/3.2 inch with 1.1µm pixel and 5-factor autofocus lens, f/2.4. Model of AT&T has 8MP BSI sensor with the same 1.1µm pixel, but it’s not clear whether the lens can be able to focus automatically (13MP module has wider view field). Both cameras are capable of recording videos at 1080p and added with only 1 LED flash. User interface is the same on the 3 phones – it’s visual, customizable and provides full range of settings. You will find HDR, panorama and burst modes, as well as the features such as “Time Catch Shot” (buffer images in the background and save 5 images around the time you press the shutter button) and “Cheese Shutter” (shoot when you say “cheese” or “whiskey”).

The Sprint and Korean version of Optimus G use 13MP BSI sensor, 1/3.2 inch with 1.1µm pixel and 5-factor autofocus lens, f/2.4.

The Sprint and Korean version of Optimus G use 13MP BSI sensor, 1/3.2 inch with 1.1µm pixel and 5-factor autofocus lens, f/2.4.

The thing that makes the 2 camera makes both regular users and shooting enthusiasts confusing is the way autofocus is performed. It’s continuous, but unlike the competitive systems, it’s restart too often. There’s no way to avoid this – so separate camera two-stage key, no ability to lock focus and exposure by hitting and holding the shutter button on the screen and then releasing it to take pictures. While the touch-to-focus feature is available (touch to focus), it only locks focus and exposure temporarily before continuing to focus automatically, which just offers you a bit of change to shoot those special pictures. The other recent LG phones such as Optimus 4X HD, Intuition and Escape have the same problems. It’s easy to fix just need to add a setting to disable the auto focus.

How do these camera work? Actually, we’re pretty satisfied with the images. Both cameras excel with white balance and exposure. We love softer and more natural colors which are shot by the 13MP camera – the 8MP sensor usually creates too warm and saturated colors. Lowlight performance is normally great, but here, the 13MP camera stands out with less noise. The 8MP lens flash up a little bit when shooting at full light condition. Recording capability is pretty good, though a little too sharp – Optimus G records 1080p HD videos at 30fps (10.5Mbps bit rate) with continuous autofocus and mono sound. In general, the 13MP camera collects a pile of details and outruns One X and Galaxy S III. The 8MP module falls behind the rival.

Shot by LG Optimus G

Shot by LG Optimus G

Software

All 3 phones run the UI 3.0 interface, which is currently the familiar one of the maker on Android 4,0,4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). While being a little disappointed about LG releasing Optimus G without Jelly Bean, we’re told that this will soon be solved. Of course, everyone knows the profile of the company with the not-good-at-all software update. We have shared the concerns with the director in the recent trip to Seoul, they guarantee that LG know this and undertake the timely updates for Optimus G. in other words, continue to follow. Unlike the innovated industrial design of the phone, UI 3.0 is still outmoded and boring, as a copy of the cartoon-like Samsung’s TouchWiz interface which generation is unknown. Or course it won’t bother anyone, but it’s not attractive. At least, it’s lightweight, with less influence (if any) to the performance.

We have spoken in detail about UI 3.0 in our different prior reviews (Optimus L7, Optimus 4X HD and Intuition) but some modern features are pretty prominent. We love the quick settings menu, an iconic bar which is able to scroll (and customizable) at the head of the notification tray providing the shortcuts for many other settings. How strange it is, the hotspot quick settings icon is disappearing on the version of AT&T (turns out to be similar to LG Escape). Can it be an effort of the carrier to stop tethering? The app tray includes some encouraging additions such as the folders and the ability to classify the icons alphabetically or by the installation date. “Icon Personalizer” allows you to swap the icons for any home screen app. “Quiet time” works as “Do Not Disturb” of Apple by defining the times the notifications are muted. You will also find some tricks which are dedicated to Optimus G. “Wise Screen” is the same as  “Smart Stay” of Samsung and stop the phone from changing into sleep mode when you’re watching the screen. “Dual Screen Dual Play” allows you to playback a content on the external screen connected through MHL or dongle Miracast of LG while you’re performing other tasks on the device. “Live Zooming” allows pinch-to-zoom throughout the video playback process (5 fold). Last but not least, “QSlide” covers the videos in a transparent floating window on any app you’re running – it’s pretty eye-catching.

We love the quick settings menu, an iconic bar which is able to scroll (and customizable) at the head of the notification tray providing the shortcuts for many other settings.

We love the quick settings menu, an iconic bar which is able to scroll (and customizable) at the head of the notification tray providing the shortcuts for many other settings.

Optimus G goes with many preinstalled LG apps. Each model has a slightly different pack, and while the app such as SmartWorld (the store app of LG) is understandable, the other apps are worth taking a closer look. QuickMemo is quite similar to S Memo of Samsung – it lets you note things that pop up on the screen and save the result in images. The app is enabled by clicking 2 volume keys at the same time or pressing the suitable quick settings icon. LG Tag+ (called Olleh NFC on Korean model) is used to program the bundled NFC tags and set up the profiles which then activated by tapping the phone on the suitable tag. Video Editor (vanish from the phone of AT&T) and Video Wiz are video editing apps, the former is the same as iMovie of Apple and the latter provides a fast way to create music videos by combining the content from the library with your own video clips. The 3 devices also include Polaris Office 4.0.

Sprint deserves our praise for keeping the clutters at the min level and only packing 2 app: Sprint ID and Sprint Zone. On the other hand, AT&T creates a mess for Optimus G by preloading 11 mainly-useless apps that can’t be uninstalled: Amazon Kindle (useful, but available in Play Store), AT&T Code Scanner, AT&T FamilyMap, AT&T Locker, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Ready2Go, AT&T Smart Wi-Fi, Device Help, Live TV, myAT&T and YPmobile. AT&T has chosen the way to fine-tune the UI 3.0 of LG more. The settings are grouped into the tabs instead of using the lists which are separated into standard sections of Android, the Gallery sorting order are set to descending by default (why?) and the default browser is blown with an extremely meaningless  “browsing bar” (luckily, removable).

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