14 DAY TRIAL // LG is one of the few companies that have decided to change quite a lot of things over its previous flagship smartphone. Samsung might be doing the same thing, but we won't know for sure until the South Korean company makes its Galaxy S8 official next month.
Anyway, the new G6 is completely different when it comes to design, but LG also changed the user interface (UI) and added a couple of new features like Google Assistant.
More importantly, despite the fact that it boasts a much larger display, the G6 is not much larger than the G5. Even the weight of the LG G6 is almost similar to that of the G5, so it looks like the handset maker made some progress in its R&D labs.
LG G6 comes with a special 5.7-inch Full Vision display that features an unusual 2880 x 1440 pixel resolution. The phone's panel is compliant with Dolby Vision and HDR10 technologies, something that we usually find in modern TVs.
Another major difference between the two phones is the UI, as the G6 ships with Android 7.1 Nougat with LG UX 6.0 UI, whereas the G5 has the previous UX 5.0 version included. It's unclear whether or not LG will bring the new UI to older models like the G5.
Since it comes with a larger display, it makes sense for LG to add a bigger battery inside. However, unlike the LG G5 that comes with a removable battery, the G6 drains energy from a non-removable battery.
Also, thanks to its compact form factor, the LG G6 features IP68 certification, which means it's dust and water-proof, something that LG G5 lacks due to its semi-modular design.
The configuration of the dual-camera setup has been changed a bit, and the front-facing camera has been downgraded as well. You can read below about all the other differences between the two flagship smartphones, and decide if it's worth the upgrade.
Specifications table
| LG G6 | LG G5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm 5.86 x 2.83 x 0.31 in |
149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm 5.88 x 2.91 x 0.30 in |
| Weight | 163 grams / 5.75 oz | 159 grams / 5.61 oz |
| Display | 5.7" QHD+ (1440x2880), IPS LCD 564ppi Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Dolby Vision/HDR10 compliant Always-on display LG UX 6.0 UI | 5.3" QHD (2560x1440), IPS LCD 554ppi Corning Gorilla Glass 4 LG UX 5.0 UI |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Adreno 530 |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 32GB/64GB | 32GB |
| microSD slot | Yes, up to 256GB (uses 2 sim slot) | Yes, up to 256GB (uses 2 slim slot) |
| Rear camera | Dual 13 MP (f/1.8, OIS, 3-axis) + 13 MP (f/2.4), laser autofocus, LED flash, 1/3" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR | Dual 16 MP (29mm, f/1.8) + 8 MP (12mm, f/2.4), laser autofocus, OIS (3-axis), LED flash, 1/2.6" sensor size @ 29mm, 1/3.2" sensor size @ 12mm, geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, HDR |
| Front camera | 5 MP, f/2.2, 1080p | 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size, 1080p |
| Battery | 3,300mAh (non-removable), wireless charging (US only) | 2,800mAh (removable) |
| USB | USB 1.0 Type-C (version 3.1) | USB 1.0 Type-C (version 3.0) |
| Network | LTE Cat.12 (600Mbps) | LTE Cat.9 (300Mbps) |
| Unlock | Fingerprint scanner | Fingerprint scanner |
| Software | Android 7.1 Nougat, Google Assistant | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, upgradeable to Nougat |
| Design | IP68 certified - dust/water proof over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes Water resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes |
Semi-modular |