LG Optimus L3, L5, L7 and now L9 are the company's designer line of smartphones called L-Style. But L9 is the first in the line, capable of satisfying both connoisseurs of beauty and those who like to play heavy games. Before us is the flagship of the L series, which is seriously superior to the lower models in the line, and in some places even gives a head start to the best of LG on the European market - Optimus 4X. This is a smartphone with pronounced advantages and with only one serious omission that can be corrected over time.
So, we have before us a top-end smartphone from LG’s designer line, but not the flagship among all the company’s smartphones; the L9 is positioned as a middle-class smartphone. Today's flagship of the company is Optimus 4X, since Optimus G cannot yet be purchased anywhere except in the manufacturer's homeland. This may not seem professional to you, however, I want to compare some points of the L9 with the 4x, despite the different classes of devices. The fact is that I have had Optimus 4x for several months now, and if I were to buy a smartphone today, I would choose the L9 among these two, for several reasons:
- Better layout of controls
- Better main camera
- Better autonomy
Appearance and design
...I would like to see a little metal at least in L9, but I understand that this is impossible, since even Prada is plastic
In this case, I do not undertake to discuss the design. It clearly exists and they definitely worked on it. I can’t say that I liked the Optimus L9 at first sight and don’t want to let it go, but it’s a nice smartphone.
The body is completely plastic and I have to admit, I would like to see a little metal at least in the L9, but I understand that this is impossible, since even Prada is plastic. However, the design is good, there are no such childhood problems as in the L5 and L7, where the back cover creaked. I can’t call the body completely monolithic in feel, because even dismountable smartphones can be like this, but the assembly is good.
LG Optimus L9 is needed by those who will read, watch videos, play, and perhaps even do some out-of-office work on a smartphone; it is convenient to do this on a large display. But you should be prepared that this is not a small fashion gadget; although the smartphone does not look like a shovel, it is still big.
The size of the smartphone is almost identical to that of the Optimus 4x, and the L9 also has a 4.7″ display. The resolution is lower - 960x540 pixels, but even at this diagonal it looks extremely nice, grain is not visible at all. Of course, if you look closely, text clarity is better on Optimus 4x, but the difference is not very big. For example, the screen in the Motorola Droid RAZR (Panasonic Eluga, Asus Padfone) looks very bad, but against the background of the IPS display in the L9.
L9 feels and seems not as bulky as 4X, I won’t say why this is due.
Unfortunately, there is no need to talk about good display protection; Gorilla Glass is the privilege of older models. But these are facts; it feels like the quality of the coating is not inferior to that of Optimus 4X, and practice will show how well the protection will perform in real life.
The front VGA camera is located above the display and this can be considered a disadvantage; in this price category there are smartphones with better cameras for video calls. Another unpleasant moment was the light sensor - there is none. There are three control keys under the display: central, home, and mechanical. This seems to be better than the touch button in 4X, but the button is too narrow, pressing it is not very convenient, however, after a few days of use you get used to it.
There are two chrome edges running along the entire side surface of the smartphone; in my opinion, they look nicer than in the Optimus 4X, but it’s too early to talk about the reliability of the coating; on the 4X I had a chip near the MicroUSB connector. The volume key practically does not protrude from the body, so it is quite difficult to find it at first. It is located on the left.
At the bottom there is the main microphone and MicroUSB connector, at the top there is a 3.5mm headset jack and a second microphone responsible for noise reduction.
It is very correct that the display lock key has been moved to the right side. With this size of the case, it is not comfortable to reach the top edge with your index finger.
The body design is the same as in Optimus 4X, the back cover is removable. It has a pleasant texture and does not stain at all, sits well in its place, I did not notice any creaks or play even with strong squeezing. At the back there is a 5 MP camera that can shoot video in a maximum resolution of 1080p, a flash and a main speaker.
The camera, by the way, pleased me, unlike the 4X. Moreover, the flagship doesn’t just outperform its main competitors; even the Optimus L9 takes better photos. 1080p for the middle class is not yet a standard, although it is not an isolated case.
Photo examples
Video examples
Under the back cover we see a battery with a capacity of 2150 mAh and this is very good. The company's flagship has 100 mAh less.
There are also two slots: for a standard SIM card and for a MicroSD memory card.
Security optics
I like LG because they are always trying new things. The new G8 ThinQ has a front-facing Z-camera, and it is called “Z Camera”. This is an 8-megapixel lens with an f/1.7 aperture, next to which there are special infrared sensors that help measure depth and also recognize faces.
Will this unlocking method be safe? Yes, look at the phone - and it's unlocked. But, for now this option cannot work for payment authentication, but this will be fixed soon. The technology is claimed to be able to work in extremely low light conditions, but I doubt it as the LG G8 ThinQ couldn't accurately recognize all my attempts even in good lighting.
Not enough for you? There is also Hand ID. This is the third option, after the fingerprint scanner and facial recognition. Essentially, the Z-camera remembers the hand pattern, which is identified using an infrared sensor. It also determines the parameters of hemoglobin in blood cells. Yes, it sounds weird and funny, but LG claims that this unlocking system is very difficult to fool.
Once you've set it up, place your palm over the Z-camera and a light animated bar will appear at the top of the screen indicating that the Z-camera is activated. Then slowly raise your hand and the phone will wake up. You will have to get used to this approach, because it will be convenient in one case - when the phone is on the table and you are too lazy to pick it up. Nevertheless it works.
BY
I look at the same version of the OS and understand that after it 4.1 and 4.2 JB were released, this means that the software in the new smartphone is already very outdated
Google is putting pressure on smartphone manufacturers quite heavily. So, just recently, during the review of Optimus L7, we called Android 4.0.4 an advantage in it. Now I look at the same version of the OS and understand that after it 4.1 and 4.2 JB were released, this means that the software in the new smartphone is already very outdated. However, like other vendors, LG smartphones come pre-installed with their own proprietary shell on top of Android - Optimus UI. The add-on allows you to customize the lock screen, any of the desktops, you can choose a theme, although there are only four of them and there are no huge differences between them.
Hardware performance
The LG G8 ThinQ is a flagship phone in all respects. It received the most powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor to date with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory, there is even a slot for microSD up to 2 TB.
You definitely won't have to worry about a lack of power. The Snapdragon 855 can handle any task, even if you try to load it to its fullest in multitasking mode.
Specifications
Quite good performance indicators of the smartphone in synthetic tests, and in practice the smartphone showed itself to be excellent
The processor in the LG Optimus L9 is a rather old TI OMAP 4430. This is a dual-core processor with a clock frequency of 1 GHz, which we saw in the first generation LG Optimus 3D. The processor is paired with PowerVR SGX540 graphics. However, the RAM is 1 GB and all this together ensures fairly good performance of the smartphone in synthetic tests, and in practice the smartphone showed itself to be excellent. If last year we could take the top-end SGS2 and be surprised that the interface slows down here and there, but today the software doesn’t even work on the latest hardware, this trend is encouraging. Even the Optimus L7, which has the weak MSM7227a installed, works diligently.
And here I would like to return to the idea that I partly like the L9 more than the Optimus 4x. The latter has Nvidia Tegra 3 installed and this platform is faster than L9. But in practice, I did not see any advantages over the TI OMAP 4430: neither in interface speed, nor in applications, nor even in games. Yes, we can say that in ShadowGun DeadZone the graphics are not as cool as on Optimus 4X, but the smartphone does not get hot during gameplay. And for those who don’t need anything more serious than casual games on their smartphone, this is a serious advantage, since the 4X heats up noticeably even while playing Angry Birds.
The built-in memory is the bare minimum - only 4 GB. But hardly anyone will complain, since a memory card of the size you need will solve all your problems.
- Dimensions: 131.9 x 68.2 x 9.1 mm.
- Weight: 125 g.
- Operating system: Android 4.0.4 ICS.
- Processor: dual-core TI OMAP 4430, 1 GHz.
- Graphics : PowerVR SGX540.
- Display: IPS, 4.7″, 960x540.
- Memory: 4 GB flash, expandable.
- RAM: 1 GB.
- Camera: 5 MP, video recording in 1080p, front - VGA.
- Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0.
- Interface connectors: 3.5 mm headphone jack, MicroUSB.
- Battery: Li-Pol battery 2150 mAh.
Camera
LG smartphones have always been inferior in terms of camera quality. This model was no exception, although in some situations the camera is still capable of producing good results. The HDR mode was removed from the settings, but the number of voice commands for shooting was added.
You can evaluate the quality using the following examples
Comparison with LG Optimus 4x HD
LG Optimus L9
LG Optimus 4x HD
Example of Full HD video shot by LG Optimus L9 smartphone
Conclusion
The smartphone has very good qualities: autonomy, display, camera
Overall, I liked the smartphone; it’s good that the main complaint concerns the cost. It’s clear that this is a new device and the cost is appropriate. If you delve into the portfolio of almost any manufacturer, you will find quite a few situations where a new product costs more than a year-old smartphone from the same manufacturer, but with better characteristics. You can also compare it with other models on the market and it turns out that the one-year-old Galaxy Nexus is more affordable, more productive and has the latest OS version. However, like any other model, Optimus L9 will most likely lose a little in value and then everything will fall into place. Even today, if you search through price comparison services, you can find the L9 for $420-450. The smartphone has very good qualities: autonomy, display, camera and more, so success in the market depends only on pricing.
Smartphone display
The front panel of the LG G8 ThinQ is almost entirely occupied by a 6.1-inch OLED screen with Quad HD+ resolution (3120×1440). The display is very bright and has high contrast. It will definitely be convenient to use even in sunny weather, and it is also protected by Gorilla Glass 6.
The G8 ThinQ's screen has HDR10 support, so colors look very vibrant and blacks are truly black. When watching movies, this allows you to get a fantastic picture.
LG C9 Lab Test Results
The C9 model demonstrates excellent quality, but sometimes manufacturers configure TVs in such a way as to achieve beautiful pictures at the expense of accuracy. Thus, the screen may display colors that are too saturated and brightness too high to create an attractive picture. Luckily, LG's OLED displays not only look great, but also deliver high fidelity and impressive image performance.
Supporting 10-bit color, the C9 features a wider color gamut than most other 4K TVs. When we tested the C9 using a spectrophotometer and calibration software, the display was able to reproduce 132.14% of the Rec 709 color space, far exceeding the standard in terms of spectral breadth. This score is slightly higher than the Sony A9F (130.83%) and significantly higher than any premium LCD TV, such as the Sony X950G (99.87%) or Samsung Q90 QLED (99.83%).
The wide range of colors results in excellent image quality in 4K films such as Blade Runner 2049, where moving clouds of fog look extremely realistic and neon lights colorfully illuminate people and buildings. The C9 delivers smooth color transitions and true-to-life hues in fog-heavy scenes where other TVs suffer from dramatic drops in color depth (posterization).
The C9 OLED model is also one of the best in terms of image accuracy, measured using Delta-E, which calculates the deviation of the displayed color from true color. The lower the Delta-E value, the better. The C9's test score was an impressive 1.88 in the most accurate mode, which LG calls ISF Expert. This is slightly better than the standard screen mode score of 2.15, but nevertheless, such high accuracy of a home TV is worthy of praise. While this is not a perfect result, it beats the Delta-E values of the next-ranking Sony X950G (2.56), Sony A9F (3.5) and Vizio Quantum (3.6). The only TV that was ahead of the C9 in this parameter was the Samsung Q90 QLED (1.5), but visually the difference between them is not distinguishable.
Bottom line
The LG G8 ThinQ is a powerful smartphone with a nice design and a good camera. I think that many will like the Air Motion gestures - you can stick with the option for a long time, however, it still needs to be improved. In all other respects, this is a versatile and capable smartphone.
LG has not yet announced pricing for the G8 ThinQ, which will be available in black, silver and red. But, I think that the device will cost somewhere below the price range of $800 (RUB 51,000). I also cannot yet say when it will appear in Russia.
But I know that the LG G8 will not support 5G connectivity; for this there is the LG V50 ThinQ, which the Korean company also announced at MWC 2020. It will support the next generation of mobile networks, although they will appear only in the summer.
Advantages
- Nice screen.
- The Z-camera is impressive.
- Excellent build quality.
- High performance.
Flaws
- Hand functions like Air Motion, Hand ID are not particularly important.
Fingerprint scanner, face unlock and Hand ID
LG G8 offers three biometric unlocking methods. On the back of the case there is a classic fingerprint scanner. It's fast, reliable and familiar. There is a face unlock that takes advantage of the Time of Flight Z camera module on the front. A detailed three-dimensional map of your face is created, so recognition cannot be fooled using a video or photograph of the smartphone owner. Hand ID uses the same array of sensors to scan the unique vein pattern of your palm.
Face unlock works well. All three methods can be used simultaneously, but it was decided to use only facial recognition for a couple of days. The number of failed recognition attempts was very low. This usually happens when you are not looking directly at the camera. Face unlock works reliably both in the sun and in complete darkness. If you don't shave for a week, recognition doesn't get any worse. If you wear glasses, you'll need to go to Settings and select the "Enhanced Facial Unlock" option to scan your face a second time, with and without glasses. With a scarf around your neck, the number of unsuccessful attempts may increase. We also tested face unlock with six different pairs of sunglasses. Recognition did not work with four, and there were problems with the rest as well. However, the “Enhanced Face Unlock” option helps here too.
Activation is supported when rising a. It does not work every time, but usually there are no problems. There is also an option “Unlock the device with a gesture”, which can be enabled in the “Facial Unlock” section. When using the fingerprint scanner, the device unlocks instantly, but if you want to see notifications on the lock screen first, it's better to use facial recognition and then swipe to go to the home screen.
Hand ID helps you unlock your device without touching it at all. The method is very reliable and it is almost impossible to hack the device through it. True, from a practical point of view it is completely inconvenient. Recognition will not occur if the palm is too close or too far from the screen. The distance should be about 15 cm directly in front of the camera. It also doesn't work with wet palms.
Using LG C9 for video games
When we connected an Xbox One X console to the TV to test its quality as a gaming display, we were pleasantly surprised by the new experience we received.
The LG C9 not only supports all of today's 4K gaming features - 10-bit color, any frame rate, HDR10 and Dolby Vision - but also offers new features. With more precise settings, Xbox gaming comes with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) functionality. The LG C9 also offers a feature that can quickly automatically switch your TV to Game Mode without having to fumble for the remote or change screen settings. This switch happened as soon as we turned on the console. These new features are made possible by HDMI 2.1 ports, which have a higher bandwidth than the HDMI 2.0 ports found on most 4K TVs.
The video game playback quality was excellent. The input latency we measured was 21.2 milliseconds, which is the best value we've seen in a premium TV. And thanks to the C9's stunning display, we had a fantastic video game experience. Racing in Australia in Forza Horizon 3 is an exciting combination of sun, sand and supercars. Exploring Ancient Egypt was no less exhilarating in Assassin's Creed: Origins.
Acoustics
The LG C9 is equipped with a surprising amount of audio equipment for its sleek body.
A pair of 40-watt speakers at the bottom of the cabinet provide decent volume. The acoustics are enhanced by two 20-watt subwoofers, delivering a low-frequency energy level you wouldn't expect from this sleek design. Overall, sound volume is quite high and bass levels are higher than most other TVs. However, you should take into account the effect of sound reflection from the design of the stand used under the TV. Therefore, the acoustic quality in your home may differ from our test results. We also noticed some distortion as the volume approached its maximum level. Both of these issues can be eliminated if you purchase external speakers for your TV.
Another reason to buy an external audio system is support for Dolby Atmos technology. The LG C9 is capable of decoding Dolby surround sound, but the best Atmos experience can be achieved with a set of speakers.
Among many other smart features, LG also offers acoustic enhancement using artificial intelligence (AI Sound). This automatic process uses the microphone in the remote control to detect the sound coming from the TV and correct it. Self-learning artificial intelligence adapts to room acoustic conditions and provides significant improvements in sound quality through unique settings and 5.1 audio simulation.
LG C9 design
LG's OLED TVs boast some of the best designs in the world. The company leverages the unique features of OLED technology to create a surprisingly thin and elegant display, consisting of a glass screen and a layer of LEDs, enclosed at the back by a stylish brushed aluminum housing.
Excluding the stand, the dimensions of the test unit are 145 cm x 84 cm x 4.6 cm
.
At the bottom, the case thickens, but is within 5 cm, to accommodate internal equipment and speakers. And the top part is impressively thin and fits just 25mm. It’s hard to take your eyes off such elegance, even if you’ve seen the design of a dozen premium TVs. In this regard, the C9 is surpassed only by the Wallpaper model and the rollable display model from LG itself, which represent new heights of innovation. For comparison, the dimensions of the Samsung Q90 LCD TV are 145 cm x 84 cm x 4 cm
, but the thickness is uniform over the entire height. With largely the same components, the LG C9 offers a sleeker design.
The C9's stance is lower than most other models, thanks to the same elegant brushed metal design that contrasts slightly with the panel's dark body. It is solid and flat, occupies a central position and protrudes slightly back, providing a wide area of contact with the installation surface. At the back there is a recess for discreet cable routing. Compared to the large body, the stand looks modest, but nevertheless provides reliable stability, and this is not surprising, since it weighs almost 9 kg!
The TV weighs around 25kg without a stand and can be wall mounted using a 200mm x 300mm VESA mount. The stand attaches easily to the case with a screwdriver, but you will need to place the TV on a safe surface to mount it. It's best to have someone help you do this, since most of the 34-pound mass is on the fragile glass screen.
