LG’s G4 is finally here. After weeks of online teases and leaks, the Korean electronics company officially unveiled its new flagship Android phone on the top of 1 World Trade Center in New York City.

As expected, the G4 is indeed a smartphone powerhouse that boasts significant improvements over last year’s well-received G3. Its monster camera is especially noteworthy.

The smartphone runs Android 5.1 Lollipop and features a 5.5-inch Quad HD resolution display (2,560 x 1,440). It has a Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

The camera has been beefed up from the G3’s 13-megapixels to a 16-megapixel with optical-image stabilization. Not only does the camera have a higher resolution for sharper pictures, but the f-stop — a.k.a. the lens aperture — is an f/1.8 one, which means it can take better low-light photos without triggering the LED flash.

LG also added manual controls to the camera software, allowing advanced shooters and professionals to control shutter speed, ISO and white balance. The camera also shoots pics in RAW, a feature usually reserved for pro-grade cameras.

But most importantly, and most relevant to hardcore power users, is the inclusion of two features that Samsung ditched with its Galaxy S6 this year: a 3,000 milliamp-hour removable battery and microSD card slot for storage expansion.

Aside from all the killer hardware, the G4 is also LG’s first smartphone to feature a vegetable-tanned leather back.Unlike the fake leatherette that Samsung’s used on its Galaxy smartphones for years, the G4’s leather is the real deal — similar to the kind Motorola uses on its Moto X.

If leather isn’t your style, the G4 also comes in plastic, albeit done up in a metallic finish to give the illusion of metal. Disappointingly, there are no actual metal models, which is a shame considering how 2015 is clearly the year of premium metal phone designs.

 

Author: Raymond Wong

Source: Mashable