Following the LG G6 Day event here in Barcelona we got the chance to get a quick hands-on with the newly announced LG G6. We weren’t able to get our hands on a take home unit immediately so here’s our impressions from the show floor.
LG has definitely achieved a slightly different look for their LG G6, which in a world of increasingly same same devices is an achievement in itself. The new 18:9 screen ratio combined with the rounded corners of the display, think bezels and a very small “chin and forehead” does give the G6 a distinct visual look all of its own.
The metal sides, Gorilla glass front and curved glass rear panel along with the G6’s in hand feel definitely makes this device deserving of the term ‘premium’. The engineering tolerances are as you would expect from a top flight device and the in-hand feel is great, partly because it is that little bit thinner.
For those who haven’t seen the full specs here they are.
| Key Specifications: | LG G6 |
|---|---|
| Release date | February 2017 |
| Screen size | 5.7-inch |
| Screen technology | LCD |
| Resolution | 2,880 x 1,440 |
| PPI | 564 |
| Rear camera | 13MP Wide (125°) + 13MP Standard (71°) |
| Front camera | 5MP |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 821 |
| Core config | - |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage |
|
| MicroSD | Yes, up to 2TB |
| Battery | 3,300 mAh |
| Battery removable | — |
| Connector | USB C |
| Headphone Port | Yes |
| Headphone Location | Bottom |
| Speaker Configuration | Bottom |
| NFC | Yes |
| Android OS | Android 7 Nougat |
| Vendor skin | LG UX 6.0 |
| Dimensions | 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm |
| Weight | 163g |
| Colours |
|
In our discussions with the on the floor staff, we’ve also been able to confirm that the G6 will NOT be Daydream compatible. We also found out that the display is an LCD so we’re guessing that with a Snapdragon 821 and 4GB of RAM it’s the screen that led to this.
Unfortunately, the devices on the show floor weren’t configured and there wasn’t any connectivity so we weren’t able to test out much of the phone, especially the inclusion of Google Assistant, the first non-Google Phone to include this feature.
Apart from that, the software was distinctively LG with the main settings menu being sorted via tabs and not a complete list. However, a quick trip to the overflow menu and you’ll soon be back to the stock appearance. LG’s normal touches are elsewhere but this didn’t seem to be too heavy-handed.
I had a quick play with the camera and it definitely zoomed in and out very smoothly and the wide format mode on both the front and rear sensor is a differentiation that does bring some advantages. Having the choice which mode to use and how “zoomed” in to be is really a nice feature.
We really need to get some more quite hands-on time with the G6 to get a good idea of how this device performs, however from my quick time with it I’m quietly hopeful. Telstra has announced that the LG G6 will be exclusively available through them and will launch in the coming weeks.
This will be a carrier exclusive, though. Either at launch or shortly after, you may be able to buy the LG G6 outright from other retail outlets. We have asked LG Australia and will let you know what we find out.
