LG G3 Review - Shelly Palmer

If I had to buy an Android phone today, I'd would run to the store and pick up an LG G3. It is, without question, the best Android-powered smartphone available today, July 18, 2014. This may or may not be true tomorrow or in a week or a month, such is life in the world of connected devices. But for today, the LG G3 is my smartphone of choice. Why? It's a very balanced mix of power, features and benefits.

HARDWARE SPECS:

• 5.5-inch screen with quad HD resolution (2560x1440).
• Snapdragon 801 processor with up to 3GB of RAM.
• 32GB of storage with room for a microSD card.

Just like the G2, LG placed the G3's physical buttons on the back of the device. But now, they're bigger and easier to use. Also returning is the Knock Code, which lets you unlock your phone by tapping a unique pattern on its screen.

Not Exactly The Latest OS

The phone comes loaded with Android 4.4.2, which is a recent version of Kit Kat. Google hasn't officially announced Android L yet, but it's likely that update will land on the G3. BTW: If always having the latest version of Android on your phone is a requirement, you'll want to get a phone from HTC or Google. They are the only two handset makers that are guaranteed to offer the latest version of Android as they become available.

Smart Notice: The G3's Best Feature

The LG G3 was built around a feature called Smart Notice – a personal assistant unique to the G3. LG says Smart Notice will stand out from Google Now and Siri because of its "natural language capabilities."

Smart Notice reminds you when you need to call someone back, highlights unused apps you can uninstall to free up space and even tracks the weather to let you know if you should grab an umbrella on your way out the door. Smart Notice also offers flexible multitasking; you can either split-screen your phone or enable QSlide, which creates little pop-up like windows that hover over your main app. It's proprietary to LG, it will take a minute to learn, but... it's awesome!

Next-Gen Photography

The phone's other great feature is its laser autofocus camera, which will change the way you take pictures. The 13-megapixel camera comes with optical image stabilization, but it's the new autofocus system that really stands out. Tapping on the G3's screen focuses and shoots at the same time, which means you'll capture the exact moment you want to save. The phone can shoot 4K video and is also able to play it back on its exceptional screen. My daughter likes to say that her, "camera is her primary smartphone." If this describes you, the LG G3 is your phone.

Selfie Lovers Rejoice

For selfie fanatics out there, LG's added a couple of features to the G3 that will make this the phone you'll want to own. The front-facing camera now has gesture recognition so you can take hands-free selfies whenever you want. Even better, the phone has a "selfie flash" feature that turns the screen white to illuminate your face in low-light situations.

The Feature That Seals The Deal

The LG G3 has a removable battery, which for me, is a requirement. I carry two extra batteries with me at all times – this makes the phone usable for the better part of a day (four to six hours per battery).

Other Stuff

The G3 looks like it's made of metal, but it's actually plastic. While metal is always better than plastic in the world of smartphones, the G3's plastic case still feels great in your hand. If you're going to use a case (like the Otterbox Defender) the case material is a non-issue.

As I am writing this, the LG's G3 is my choice for the best all-around smartphone and it's finally available in the U.S. It'll run you $199 with a two-year contract on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile.

Do I Like It Better Than A Samsung Galaxy 5 or an HTC One (M8)

Yes. Will you? Yes.

Should You Break Your Contract To Purchase a G3?

No. I paid full retail for mine because I did not have an upgrade available and it was time for my Samsung Galaxy S4 to retire. There is nothing about this phone that should (or would) make you break your contract to purchase it. But, if you're due for an upgrade or if you're new to Android and need a phone this week, this is the phone to buy.

Shelly Palmer is Fox 5 New York's On-air Tech Expert (WNYW-TV) and the host of Fox Television's monthly show Shelly Palmer Digital Living. He also hosts United Stations Radio Network's, ShellyPalmer Digital Living Daily, a daily syndicated radio report that features insightful commentary and a unique insiders take on the biggest stories in technology, media, and entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group, LLC an industry-leading advisory and business development firm and a member of the Executive Committee of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards). Palmer is the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV 2nd Edition (York House Press, 2008) the seminal book about the technological, economic, and sociological forces that are changing everything, Overcoming The Digital Divide: How to use Social Media and Digital Tools to Reinvent Yourself and Your Career; (York House Press, 2011) and Digital Wisdom: Thought Leadership for a Connected World (York House Press, 2013). For more information, visit shellypalmer.com.

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