Hands-on with the LG G3

During the launch of the LG G3, members of the media got to play around with the device and its accessories for an hour or so before we headed back to our respective hotels. We took this opportunity to be up close and personal with the new handset and give you guys a brief overview of LG’s new flagship smartphone.

LG clearly had one thing in their mind when they were designing the G3; SIMPLICITY. Gone are the over-the-top trappings you’d typically see on flashy flagship devices. Instead you’re left with a simple, yet elegant handset that’s almost all-screen at the front and has a curved back panel (“Floating Arc”) which makes it easier to grip it despite of having a fairly large display.

The LG G3 inherits the “Rear Key” button placements of its predecessor, albeit more refined and fits perfectly into the overall design of the device. These buttons, as well as the other notable components such as the 13MP rear camera and the accompanying LED flash, are surrounded by a removable polycarbonate case which is treated with a thin sheet of scratch-resistant coating.

Not only does this back cover prevent light scratches, it emulates the feel of a brushed metal finish which adds a hint of sophistication to the otherwise glossy plastic back panel.

In comparison with the previous model, the LG G3 is slightly taller and wider to accommodate the larger display. It also has put on a little bit of weight, but it’s not really that noticeable when you hold the phone.

The LG G3 feels very nice to the touch thanks to its “Floating Arc” design and the faux-metal finish of its back cover. Also, because of these new design implementations, navigating through the phone’s various menus and settings is possible (and comfortable, if I may add) without the need to hold the phone with two hands.

LG G3 official specs:
5.5-inch QHD IPS display @ 2560 x 1440 screen resolution, 538 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor
2GB/3GB DDR3 RAM
16GB/32GB internal storage
Expandable up to 128GB via MicroSD card
13MP rear camera with OIS, laser autofocus, and dual LED flash
2.1MP front camera
4G LTE
NFC
Wi-Fi 802.11ac, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast
Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX support
GPS w/ A-GPS support
Wireless Charging support
1-watt Speaker with Boost AMP technology
3000mAh battery
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9mm
149g
Colors: Metallic Black, Silk White, Shine Gold, Moon Violet, Burgundy Red

We really have to give it to LG for stepping up their game in designing their new flagship smartphone. From the choice of materials, down to every nooks and crannies, you can easily tell that the company really went out of their way to make sure that their latest creation will be a stand out.

It’s still early, but we think we got a keeper on the LG G3. It’s got great looks to match its very respectable feature set that brings it at par, if not ahead, with the rest of the flagship smartphones in the market. Needless to say, we’re really excited to spend more time with the LG G3 and share with you guys our full review.