LG G3 Unboxing and Initial Impressions: Simply Breathtaking

Finally we have the LG G3 at the Unbox HQ! — Finally we have the LG G3!

The LG G3 Lands at the Unbox HQ!

Last year we crowned the LG G2 as the best international smartphone for 2013. It had one of the best displays, boasted of incredible battery life, packed monstrous internals, and was priced very competitively versus all the other flagships. The LG G2 definitely won us over and because of our great experience we had with it we’ve we’ve been eagerly waiting for LG’s next premium offering. After a year we finally have it here at the Unbox HQ — the LG G3!

Here’s a quick overview of the specifications of the G3 for your reference and appreciation.

LG G3 Spec Sheet

2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor
Adreno 330 GPU
2GB/3GB of RAM
5.5-inch IPS display, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 1440 x 2560 resolution
16GB/32GB of storage, expandable via microSD up to 128GB
13-megapixel camera with phase detection/laser AF, OIS, dual-LED flash
2.1-megapixel secondary camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, USB OTG, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
3G, HSPA+, LTE
3000mAh battery (removable)
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
SRP: P31,990 (16GB) and P35,990 (32GB)

We’ll definitely put this through the paces in the next few days but for now allow us to kick things off by sharing with you guys our unboxing and initial impressions! We have high hopes for this one. We pray it won’t disappoint.

Unboxing and Packaging

The LG G3 came in a shiny minimalist bronze box. At the front of the box we have LG G3 logo and the winner emblem of the 2014 GSMA Global Mobile Awards. On the back we have the main features listed.

We peeled off the circular adhesive tapes holding the box together and popped open the top lid. The first word that popped in our head when we first saw the device in the flesh? “Wow.”

The bezels along the sides and even the top of the LG G3 is super thin. It’s as if the display is edge-to-edge! The LG G2’s claim to fame was the display and LG definitely got the best that device had to offer, improved them even more, and stuck them all into the G3.

We picked up the phone and set it aside first so that we could dig deeper into the box. Inside we found the following: a micro USB to USB cable, a wall charger, full set of manuals, and the 3,000mAh battery. The obvious thing missing? We didn’t find any earphones in the box.

What's inside the box! — What’s inside the box!

Now that we have the extras out of the way, let’s dive right into our initial impressions!

It’s the Smartphone You Show Around the Office

We’ll be brutally frank. The Galaxy S5 looks like an evolution of the Galaxy S4. The only difference with the design is the textured back. For the Sony Xperia Z2, it’s a refined version of the Z1. The good thing with the LG G3 is that it truly strives to differentiate itself through its design and build.

First let’s talk about the chassis and the back plate. LG used a hard plastic back plate that has a faux metal design. While it may not be as cool as the HTC One M8’s aluminum back, it’s still quite stylish. The use of plastic also makes the device very light compared to the HTC One M8 and the Xperia Z2.

At the center top of the back plate we have the Rear Key which LG first introduced with the LG G2. We’re happy to share that LG was able to make the Rear Key even better! It has a more tactile feel (especially the center button) and much easier to get to.

Curved, lightweight, and ergonomic design.

Since all the keys are at the back, LG was able to make the sides bare and slim which gave an illusion that the phone was thinner than it actually was. The curved arc design also made it very comfortable to hold.

The real star of the show though is definitely the 5.5-inch display. With a resolution of 1440 x 2560, the screen actually has over 500 pixels per inch. The level of detail is just amazing! The brightness and vividness of the colors are also equally impressive. It’s like the icons are floating on top of the glass. If anything LG definitely hit a major home run with the quality of the display of the G3. Two thumbs up isn’t even enough to describe how happy we were with it!

This is only an initial review but we can already say this early that when it comes to displays, the LG G3 whoops the asses of the Z2, Galaxy S5, and the HTC One (M8).

Simply one of the best displays we've ever seen on a smartphone — Simply one of the best displays we’ve ever seen on a smartphone

By the way, the LG G3 crosses over to the “phablet” space with it’s 5.5-inch screen. However It doesn’t really feel like one in your hands. Because of the super thin bezels and the over-all design, it feels more like your usual 5.0-incher than a 5.5-incher. The result? More display without too much increases in bulk and size.

Snappy, Fluid, and Fast

Powered by the 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, the LG G3 is a screamer. There was initial lag after booting up but after a few seconds it was fluid, smooth, and fast. We fired up multiple apps and switched in between them and we didn’t have any problems. We also loved the animations of the new LG software (though we’ll probably just replace all of that with a custom launcher).

In the full review we’ll run a barrage of tests and try out a variety of apps.

Full Review Coming Soon

As far as initial impressions go we’re all praises for the LG G3. It was purposefully made to be stylish, beautiful, and different. It might not be waterproof like the Z2 or as durable like the Galaxy S5 but it still sets itself apart through the display and the unique design/build.

Watch out for our full review soon! The LG G3 is now available for pre-order at LG shops in malls until June 27. If you pre-order you get to accessories for free: the Quick Circle Case and a Wireless Charger (Php3,400 total value).