KEY FEATURES
- 5.3-inch IPS QHD screen
- Snapdragon 820 processor & 4GB RAM
- 32GB onboard storage and microSD slot
- 2,800mAh battery
- USB Type-C v3.0 port
- Fingerprint sensor
- 16-megapixel rear camera & 8-megapixel front camera
- Additional 8-megapixel wide-angle rear camera
- LG UX 5.0 on Android Marshmallow
- Manufacturer: LG
- Review Price: £529.00
Our LG G5 review now includes additional speed, battery life and camera tests in three separate comparison videos you'll want to watch below.
The LG G5 is a massive change of pace for the South Korean firm. It's done away with the cheap plastic and confusing leather finishes of the LG G4 in favor of a full metal body, while keeping fan-favorite features like a removable battery and microSD card.
That's a big deal, because Samsung disappointed a vocal minority when it ditched its swappable battery and expandable storage hallmarks for the Galaxy S6, although it realized the errors of its way as it reinstated microSD support in the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge a year later.
The LG G5 may not be as ornate as Samsung's glass-and-metal-fused phone, or Apple's aluminum iPhone 6S, but it's a step in the right direction after the questionably styled G4.
- LG G5 tips and tricks
Not only does it include perks for power users, LG's changed the way we access the battery with a cartridge-like input so you don't have to remove the back cover.
This 'magic slot' is located in the bottom frame of the phone and doubles as an accessory port. Add-ons so far include a battery grip with physical camera controls and a Hi-Fi audio module.
You don't really need either of these accessories to enjoy the camera or audio, though. LG G5 has a dual-camera setup on the back, with one lens that provides extra-wide photos.
The front is highlighted by an always-on, 5.3-inch display. It never goes to sleep, with the time, date and notification icons visible when the phone is off.
When it comes to price, you're looking at around US$650 (£500, AU$890) SIM-free for the LG G5, which puts it slightly below the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6S - although they're all pretty much in the same ball park.
There are lots of parts to the LG G5 - but do they all add up to make a best phones contender? Let's explore, as I put it through the in-depth review process.
Design
The LG G5 looks and feels completely different to the G4, and that's thanks to the all-metal body that rightfully kicks the plastic to the curb.
It feels suitably smooth, although the G5 struggles to feel as premium the likes of the iPhone 6S or Samsung Galaxy S7. That's thanks to a relatively thick layer of primer-paint mix which LG has used to the color the G5.
Initially I thought the G5 felt more like plastic, and it can be deceiving, but the sturdy aluminum frame becomes more apparent the more you use it. This doesn't mean the G5 feels cheap, far from it in fact, but the finish doesn't sing in your hand.
The slender metallic rim which rounds round the edges of the handset on the rear adds an extra layer of class, but it also feels a little sharp. It's not as cutting on my final unit compared to the pre-production model I had, but it's not exactly smooth.
Unlike Apple's handset the LG G5 won't be notorious for antenna lines. It doesn't have any of those unsightly bands, instead relying on Micro-Dizing to cover up antenna slits.
This allows you to enjoy color of the device, and in the G5's case you get a choice of four: silver, titan (grey), pink and gold. The pre-production handset I used was pink, and the color is rather muted. It's not as dazzling as Apple's rose gold, but at the same time it seems a little apologetic.
The hue will likely appeal to some, but for me it doesn't really work. The final review unit I received came sported the silver paint, and it's more agreeable to the eye.
Another big difference between the design of the LG G5 and its predecessor is the fact that the curved design has been ditched.
Gone is the bananaphone style of the LG G4 and its even curvier cousin, the LG G Flex , and in returns the flat frontage which is the norm in the mobile market.
I say flat - it's almost there, but LG couldn't help itself, with the G5's front sloping away from you at the top and bottom. It's a slightly odd finish which offers little in the way of aesthetic grace or practical use.
LG's reason for the switch is simple - consumers preferred the flat designs of rival handsets over its own curved offerings.
And I'd agree. The LG G5 feels more balanced in the hand and it's easier to slip into a pocket.
LG G5 Price ReviewingPrices are starting to appear now, and it seems we were bang on with our prediction. For example, you can pre-order the 32GB model in Titan grey for £499 from Mobilefun.
However, that initial price had been bumped up to £529 which is in-line with Amazon but the retail giant has already dropped it to £499.
Camera: Two cameras are better than one
The G5 has two cameras in the back: a 16-megapixel camera with a standard 78-degree wide lens and an 8-megapixel camera with a wide-angle, 135-degree lens. The wider lens lets you capture more space within each frame.
At first I wasn't too excited about this. I thought a wide-angle lens made more sense on the front (like how the LG V10 had it) so you can include more people in your group selfies. Turns out that having a wide-angle lens on the back is useful if you're more into sweeping landscapes than selfies (which I am). And because you can seamlessly switch between the lenses by zooming in and out on the camera's interface, it's easy to quickly snap two versions of every scene I wanted to capture.
