Camera
This is actually a story about 2 different
cameras with the same function – the story about the promising camera hampered
by disappointing user experience. The Sprint and Korean version of Optimus G use
13MP BSI sensor, 1/3.2 inch with 1.1µm pixel and 5-factor autofocus lens, f/2.4.
Model of AT&T has 8MP BSI sensor with the same 1.1µm pixel, but it’s not
clear whether the lens can be able to focus automatically (13MP module has
wider view field). Both cameras are capable of recording videos at 1080p and
added with only 1 LED flash. User interface is the same on the 3 phones – it’s
visual, customizable and provides full range of settings. You will find HDR,
panorama and burst modes, as well as the features such as “Time Catch Shot”
(buffer images in the background and save 5 images around the time you press
the shutter button) and “Cheese Shutter” (shoot when you say “cheese” or
“whiskey”).
The
Sprint and Korean version of Optimus G use 13MP BSI sensor, 1/3.2 inch with
1.1µm pixel and 5-factor autofocus lens, f/2.4.
The thing that makes the 2 camera makes
both regular users and shooting enthusiasts confusing is the way autofocus is
performed. It’s continuous, but unlike the competitive systems, it’s restart
too often. There’s no way to avoid this – so separate camera two-stage key, no
ability to lock focus and exposure by hitting and holding the shutter button on
the screen and then releasing it to take pictures. While the touch-to-focus feature
is available (touch to focus), it only locks focus and exposure temporarily
before continuing to focus automatically, which just offers you a bit of change
to shoot those special pictures. The other recent LG phones such as Optimus 4X
HD, Intuition and Escape have the same problems. It’s easy to fix just need to
add a setting to disable the auto focus.
How do these camera work? Actually, we’re
pretty satisfied with the images. Both cameras excel with white balance and
exposure. We love softer and more natural colors which are shot by the 13MP
camera – the 8MP sensor usually creates too warm and saturated colors. Lowlight
performance is normally great, but here, the 13MP camera stands out with less
noise. The 8MP lens flash up a little bit when shooting at full light
condition. Recording capability is pretty good, though a little too sharp –
Optimus G records 1080p HD videos at 30fps (10.5Mbps bit rate) with continuous
autofocus and mono sound. In general, the 13MP camera collects a pile of
details and outruns One X and Galaxy S III. The 8MP module falls behind the
rival.
Shot
by LG Optimus G
Software
All 3 phones run the UI 3.0 interface,
which is currently the familiar one of the maker on Android 4,0,4 (Ice Cream
Sandwich). While being a little disappointed about LG releasing Optimus G without
Jelly Bean, we’re told that this will soon be solved. Of course, everyone knows
the profile of the company with the not-good-at-all software update. We have
shared the concerns with the director in the recent trip to Seoul, they
guarantee that LG know this and undertake the timely updates for Optimus G. in
other words, continue to follow. Unlike the innovated industrial design of the
phone, UI 3.0 is still outmoded and boring, as a copy of the cartoon-like Samsung’s
TouchWiz interface which generation is unknown. Or course it won’t bother
anyone, but it’s not attractive. At least, it’s lightweight, with less
influence (if any) to the performance.
We have spoken in detail about UI 3.0 in
our different prior reviews (Optimus L7, Optimus 4X HD and Intuition) but some
modern features are pretty prominent. We love the quick settings menu, an
iconic bar which is able to scroll (and customizable) at the head of the
notification tray providing the shortcuts for many other settings. How strange
it is, the hotspot quick settings icon is disappearing on the version of AT&T
(turns out to be similar to LG Escape). Can it be an effort of the carrier to
stop tethering? The app tray includes some encouraging additions such as the
folders and the ability to classify the icons alphabetically or by the
installation date. “Icon Personalizer” allows you to swap the icons for any
home screen app. “Quiet time” works as “Do Not Disturb” of Apple by defining
the times the notifications are muted. You will also find some tricks which are
dedicated to Optimus G. “Wise Screen” is the same as “Smart Stay” of Samsung and
stop the phone from changing into sleep mode when you’re watching the screen. “Dual
Screen Dual Play” allows you to playback a content on the external screen
connected through MHL or dongle Miracast of LG while you’re performing other
tasks on the device. “Live Zooming” allows pinch-to-zoom throughout the video
playback process (5 fold). Last but not least, “QSlide” covers the videos in a
transparent floating window on any app you’re running – it’s pretty
eye-catching.
We
love the quick settings menu, an iconic bar which is able to scroll (and
customizable) at the head of the notification tray providing the shortcuts for
many other settings.
Optimus G goes with many preinstalled LG apps.
Each model has a slightly different pack, and while the app such as SmartWorld
(the store app of LG) is understandable, the other apps are worth taking a
closer look. QuickMemo is quite similar to S Memo of Samsung – it lets you note
things that pop up on the screen and save the result in images. The app is
enabled by clicking 2 volume keys at the same time or pressing the suitable quick
settings icon. LG Tag+ (called Olleh NFC on Korean model) is used to program
the bundled NFC tags and set up the profiles which then activated by tapping
the phone on the suitable tag. Video Editor (vanish from the phone of AT&T)
and Video Wiz are video editing apps, the former is the same as iMovie of Apple
and the latter provides a fast way to create music videos by combining the
content from the library with your own video clips. The 3 devices also include
Polaris Office 4.0.
Sprint deserves our praise for keeping the
clutters at the min level and only packing 2 app: Sprint ID and Sprint Zone. On
the other hand, AT&T creates a mess for Optimus G by preloading 11
mainly-useless apps that can’t be uninstalled: Amazon Kindle (useful, but
available in Play Store), AT&T Code Scanner, AT&T FamilyMap, AT&T
Locker, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Ready2Go, AT&T Smart Wi-Fi, Device
Help, Live TV, myAT&T and YPmobile. AT&T has chosen the way to
fine-tune the UI 3.0 of LG more. The settings are grouped into the tabs instead
of using the lists which are separated into standard sections of Android, the Gallery
sorting order are set to descending by default (why?) and the default browser
is blown with an extremely meaningless “browsing bar” (luckily, removable).
