LG G5 Review: Samsungs Galaxy S7 Beaten By LG G5 Smart Design

Does the LG G5 stack up against the best Android has to offer? The short answer is yes. But with two caveats: a worrying battery problem and a modular design that could prove to be either a genius or disastrous gamble.
Here’s how I got on with the device after a few weeks of use. If you’re looking for a condensed version of this review, check our my new series “The Breakdown”.
Design
LG’s game-changer and it’s primary weapon over its competition: the Samsung Galaxy S7. The slide-out rear is more than just a quicky design feature: it’s also the first ever modular design to feature on a commercialised smartphone. That’s quite an accolade.
The modular design appears to have been stumbled upon by LG as a solution to a problem, rather than a long-planned premeditated design change. The issue for LG was maintaining the brand’s removable battery – thus maintaining some individuality in an age of sealed identikit devices – while upgrading to an all-metal design. The rest, as they say, is history.  LG’s leap to all-metal has had an immediate and obvious impact on how the G5 looks. The fact that it’s one material all over brings a welcome sense of solidity, better reflecting the money you’ll pay for it.

LG has finally upgraded to an all-metal design. Image credit: Jay McGregor

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But, as YouTuber JerryRigEverything found, the G5 doesn’t have a particularly metallic feeling to it. Although the G5 is aluminium unibody, there’s a reasonably thick layer of primer on top of it and just under the coat of paint. So it won’t feel like a slab of metal like the Nexus 6P or iPhone 6S. But who honestly cares?
Elsewhere some small changes have taken place that some eagle-eyed LG fans will notice. In particular, the new home of the volume rocker from the rear to the left-side of the device: a good move, considering how awkward it was to take a screenshot (or even locate those buttons) on previous LG flagships. The fingerprint scanner remains on the back, which is more natural to use (as opposed to below the display) since you hold your phone in the palm of your hand. This does mean, however, authenticating fingerprint payments when the back of the phone is placed on a terminal will be awkward. Of course, you can always place the phone face down; but then you can’t see the screen and you risk scratching the display.
Strangely, the G5 has pretty similar dimensions to the G4, but it looks and feels smaller. This is in part due to the fact the curve on the G4  (missing on the G5) gives it an extra width. But it is largely down to another minor design change: the G5’s rounded edges, which give the appearance of compactness.
The modules (sold separately) that are available from launch significantly affect the design of the phone.  For example, the Bang & Olufsen audio amp, with its  32-bit DAC and built-in amp, adds extra centimetres to the bottom of the device and is also a totally different colour. Lack of colour coordination perhaps isn’t a big drawback, but when LG put so much emphasis on the upgraded premium design, it seems a bit odd that it’s so easily thwarted.
The modular design actually works very well. The discreet button to the left of the display unclips the mechanism and the bottom slides out with a small tug. Inside is the removable battery and the bottom module or “Friend” as LG describes it. These can be switched out as and when necessary.
The modules add an extra flavour to how the device looks, but they do so much more when put to the test.
Modules
I tested out the only two modules currently available: the Hi-Fi Plus and the Cam Plus. LG is hoping that more third parties will start making them and keep the G5 relevant and fresh for months – even years – to come. That’s a distinct possibility, and there are lots of very exciting possibilities if manufacturers take up the challenge. It’s also an interesting litmus test for the inevitable crossover to modular handsets. We’re waiting with baited breath to see if the modular concept sinks or swims….

Image credit: Jay McGregor

In the meantime, we’ve got these two modules designed by LG. first up, the Hi-Fi Plus, which was made in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen. The idea is simple, it’s a DAC (digital to audio converter) and amp in one that supports music playback up to 32-bit/384KHz. The G5 already supports playback up to 24-bit thanks to the Qualcomm 820 chipset, but the improvement in sound between the G5’s playback and B&O module playback is noticeable. Decent headphones and high-res music to play just add to the fun (although the external playback through the module is surprisingly good too).  The nice thing about Hi-Fi Plus is that it can be used as a DAC for other devices, so you can enjoy high-res music through any other device provided it connects.
The Cam Plus brings less functionality, but one useful add-on: additional battery power. It adds an extra 1200mAh battery, but with the caveat that it adds a fair amount of bulk too. The hump also gives your G5 physical controls for your camera: so you can zoom in, take and record videos with the buttons. It all works well enough, but I don’t really see the point of physical controls for your smartphone camera. The additional battery power is always welcome though.

The G5 CamPlus module adds a lot of extra bulk to the device. Image credit: Jay McGregor

Camera

The G5′s two camera setup. Image credit: Jay McGregor

There are actually two cameras on the rear of the phone, an 8MP wide-angle lens and a standard 16MP lens. You can easily switch between the two in the camera app. and both of which continue LG’s excellent record in smartphone photography.
Having a built-in wide-angle lens wasn’t a feature I realised I needed. Until now. Why? Because the wide-angle lens has a 135 degree field of view, which is wider than the field of view on my Nikon wide-angle lens (104 degrees). That meant capturing a lot more in a shot than I normally could without having to either do a panorama or stand far, far away. There is an obvious issue in the drop in quality because the 8MP lens captures less detail than the 16MP. But for particular shots, it’s worthy trade-off.

From the 16MP lens. Image credit: Jay McGregor

From the 8MP wide-angle lens. Image credit: Jay McGregor

The 16 MP lens, however, takes some truly excellent pictures. A rapid auto-focus means the G5 is an excellent point-and-shoot camera. It’s not as fast as the Galaxy S7, but it’s quick enough to capture a focussed picture without having to tap the screen.
LG’s in-depth manual controls make a comeback too, with options to tinker with the white balance, ISO and shutter speed. The auto mode also has a fair amount of additional tweaks, with the ability to switch image stabilization or HDR on or off. 
In low-light, the front and rear cameras perform well, and video (which shoots up to 4K) benefits from image stabilization so it’s not a wobbly nightmare. If you’re so inclined, spend some time playing around with the in-depth manual controls – you might discover your inner photographer.  This level of granular control is something that simply isn’t an option (at least to this level) on other devices.

The G5′s manual controls. Image credit: Jay McGrgregor