LG unveils new flagship G3 smartphone

SINGAPORE — LG today (May 28) unveiled its highly anticipated flagship smartphone, the G3.

Succeeding the lauded G2, the new G3 boasts a 5.5-inch Quad HD screen, offering a resolution of 538 pixels per inch — almost two times higher the resolution than that of a Full HD display.

Sporting a 3,000mAh battery, LG says the phone will not need to be charged for an entire day under normal usage. The thin-bezel phone weighs a mere 150g, and its rear cover is garbed in a fingerprint-proof and lightweight metallic skin.

The phone will come in 16GB or 32GB version,

Equipped with a 13-megapixel rear camera, the G3 touts a laser autofocus, which is also the first of its kind in the smartphone industry.

Its 2.1-megapixel front camera also promises a larger image sensor, higher aperture and easy gesture control when taking a selfie. Simply let the G3 detect your palm, clench your fist, and a 3-second self-timer is activated.

Aside from its emphasis on design, LG says that it has adopted new technologies to enhance users’ experience by adapting to their behaviour.

“Typing is the most common activity,” said Mr Jake Kwon, mobile business director of LG Electronics in Thailand, who noted that the varying size of thumbs affect the typing experience of different users.

But the G3’s Smart Keyboard feature allows users to “control the height of the keyboard” so typing can be more comfortable, Mr Kwon.

LG also said the G3 analyses phone usage patterns and locations to remind users of a phone call they declined earlier, or to remind them to bring an umbrella out.

During my short hands-on with the new smartphone today, I found my experience to be pleasant.

While the smartphone’s camera is capable of focussing on objects quickly, the automated capture mode — which allows you to snap a picture by simply tapping on the subject you want to focus on — isn’t ideal for capturing fleeting moments as there is some obvious lag.

While the gesture control which activates the self timer effortlessly is a plus, it only works with the front camera.

The G3’s adjustable keyboard proved handy, especially for users with “fat fingers”.

The G3 will retail at LG authorised stores in Singapore starting June 28. It will come in three colours: Metallic black, silk white and shine gold.

Two additional colours, moon violet and burgundy red, will be available at a later, undisclosed date.