LG G3 vs LG G2- Comparing the upgrade with its sibling

LG has been making Android based smartphones for some time until it finally hit the jackpot with two amazing devices, namely the LG G2, known then for having the biggest display compared to the other flagships, and the Nexus 5, Google’s request for LG to make their smartphone. LG G2 was and still is a very wanted smartphone, but LG decided it was time for an upgrade and introduced the LG G3, the new flagship that represents a real challenge for both its predecessor and the other flagships on the market.

LG G2

The LG G2 was released last year in September, but it’s still a very appreciated phone even if since then, the market got filled up with newer and perhaps, better devices. The smartphone has a very pleasant appearance, being bigger than other smartphones, it’s still pretty easy to handle. It measures 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 mm and weights 143 g, as you can see we’re dealing a rather big smartphone. Its True HD-IPS + LCD display with multi touch measures 5,2 inches and has a 1920 x 1080 resolution with a 424ppi pixel density, well protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 2.

Regarding its hardware, the LG G2 features a Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 processor, a quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400 CPU, a Adreno 300 GPU and 2GB RAM. The smartphone also comes with two internal storage options, 16 GB and 32 GB, all these powered by a non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery. The G2 runs Android OS, v4.2.2 Jelly Bean,which is now upgradable to v4.4.2 KitKat.

It has a 13 MP primary camera with a resolution of 4160 x 3120 pixels, featuring autofocus, optical image stabilization and LED flash. Video footage is also pretty decent, due to its 1080p@60fps, optical stabilization, HDR and stereo sound rec. Other features that make the G2’s camera a very acceptable one are the simultaneous video and image recording, geo-tagging, face detection and HDR, plus, the G2 also comes with a secondary camera that has 2,1 MP and 1080@30fps.

LG G3

The new LG flagship was probably one the most expected and rumored smartphone of the year. Now that the G3 is finally here, we can easily compare it with other flagships, including its predecessor. You’ll notice that the G3 is bigger than the G2, measuring  146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm and weighting 149 g, it’s also heavier, thus getting close enough to being called a “phablet”. It has a 5,5-inch True HD-IPS + LCD capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and a pixel density of 534 ppi. Nothing else to say, only that this smartphone has an outstanding display that on top of all things, features the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to keep it safe. 

The LG G3 comes with a Qualcomm MSM8975AC Snapdragon 801, quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 GPU. It comes with two internal storage options, the 16 GB version comes with 2 GB RAM, while the 32 GB version comes with 3 GB RAM, also featuring microSD card slot for storage expansion up to 128 GB. The G3 runs Android OS, v4.4.2 KitKat, like many other flagships.

The camera isn’t different from the one the G2 features, a 13 MP camera with a resolution of 4160 x 3120 pixels, phase detection/laser autofocus, optical image stabilization and dual-LED flash. Video taking is also pretty good due to the 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30fps, optical stabilization, HDR, stereo sound rec., but the G3’s camera has some other great features like 1/3” sensor size, simultaneous video and image recording, geo-tagging, face detection and HDR. The secondary camera is the same as G2’s, having 2,1 MP and 1080@30fps. Not a big upgrade, if we may say so. 

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Comparison verdict

As expected, the G3 is better than the G2, but that’s only the result of natural progress rather than an actual upgrade. Yes, the G3 has some cool new features, a better display with an incredible resolution and pixel density, but apart from being bigger and adding some features almost every other flagship has isn’t quite an improvement. By the time the G3 was released on the market, only in its mother land at first, the G3 was indeed something new and attractive, but compared to its predecessor, it has only a few improvements that we’ve mentions before.

We could say we expected more from a device that was rumored to be the ultimate upgrade, not that the smartphone isn’t worthy to be called a flagship, but as rumors kept surfacing months before its official release, everyone, including us, believed the G3 will have everything improved, not only the display and the storage options. Whether the G3 is an upgrade or not is debatable, but leaving all aside, both devices are remarkable, with great features that allow you to enjoy high-end smartphones. Whatever your choice is, you can be certain you chose well, and considering the G2 has already received the KitKat upgrade, there’s practically no reason to go for a new and more expensive LG smartphone. What do you think?