LG is a unique brand, just as Samsung is a giant identity. Both companies had a devastating fourth quarter of 2016; a period which saw Samsung call off the Galaxy Note 7 production and sale, as LG fell short on profits with numerous financial woes, amidst poor sales of their then flagship phone – the G5.
Time has flown past, fast enough to let us view yet another set of releases of flagships. With Apple still a mile away from showcasing the iPhone 8, the talking points are the LG G6, and the Samsung Galaxy S8.
Brief Breakdown
Smartphones are taking a design direction that features bezel-less phones. This is a significant feature on both these devices, in addition to their wider screen display. The competition has seen LG drop the removable battery in the G6, a move that Samsung has long practiced. Below are some of the key differences.
Infinity Display Vs Full Vision
Both are taller than their predecessors. The G6 was the first phone to switch from the standard 16:9 aspect ratio to the ‘FullVision’ 18:9, which uses LED rather than the OLED technology. The S8 comes in with the same Univisium standard, though with an improved 18.5:9 Infinity Display, and AMOLED screen. Both support Quad HD, and both have mobile HDR capabilities, offering a stronger contrast between light and dark colours. Unlike the G6 that has no ability to accommodate virtual reality, the S8’s screen fits perfectly with the Gear VR headset and it comes with a hand-held controller for the best user experience. A flight outside the usual is worth it, and they have opened the door much wider for smartphone multitasking.
They are both built in Corning Gorilla Glass 5 back panel, with an IP68 certification on dust-water-proof. The headphone jack is still available with active noise cancellation with dedicated mic.
Battery Life and Processor Speed
The S8 was released to silence critics on the ‘Battery talk’, and it is only time to tell. It comes with a 3000mAh battery, 3500mAh for the 8+, with a hope that the phones will ensure consumer safety. LG decided to drop the removable battery and adopt the non-removable improving from the 2800mAh, which the G5 could accommodate, to a more powerful 3300mAh.
Both devices run on 4 GB of RAM, the difference being in the employment of processor chips. LG opted for the Snapdragon 821 chip-set, in a bid to avoid sailing on unknown waters, while Samsung is adopting the new Snapdragon 835 which tests approve as a much faster and more reliable option. With a more efficient chip on board, the Galaxy S8 could still beat the G6 to a better battery life.
The Camera
Many phone users have a thing for devices with good cameras. A good camera will capture the best of your precious moments, and give a better opinion of the memories. The G6 offers this way beyond the S8’s capability.
The Galaxy S8 retained its predecessor’s camera setup, with a fast autofocus credited to Samsung’s DualPixel technology. It can capture sharper shots with less blurring utilising the new multi-frame image processing. The G6, meanwhile, has identical 13MP-sensor twin cameras on the rear; One having a standard field of view, with the other having a 1250 wide angle lens. These two cameras are just above the fingerprint sensor, which also doubles as a power button to the device. The front camera is a 5MP sensor, a low from the 8MP that the S8 has, but gets a wider 1000 lens for selfie action.
Similarity between the Galaxy S8 and LG G6
They all run on Android 7.0 Nougat OS and each has a storage capacity of up to 64 GB, with SD card extension available. The S8 is the first device with Bluetooth 5.0 and Gigabit LTE speeds for connectivity, as the G6 incorporates v4.2. Both come with similar GPS, NFC and WLAN support specifications. They also support USB v3.1, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, and USB On-The-Go.
The S8 spots iris scanning and facial recognition application that lets users unlock their phones by just looking at them, with the LG only sharing points for the fingerprint scanner at the rear. Also to note is that LG has neglected to include wireless charging for G6 models bought in the EU. Samsung, however, has offered wireless charging in all markets, including the UK.
Time should judge on which of these two makes the year for customers, as we await for an answer from Apple.
