LG G3 vs Samsung Galaxy S5 – The coming battle for specs, price and consumers

The Samsung Galaxy S5 has been launched, and the device is benefiting from aggressive marketing campaigns from Samsung. This however does not ensure a smartphone’s popularity, and based on all accounts, Samsung hasn’t struck gold with the S5. Granted, it’s a good phone, but it’s also a boring concept that we’ve seen before and that brings nothing new apart from dust and water proofing and some slightly updated specs. After all, there’s a reason why the Samsung Galaxy S5 hasn’t been doing so well in Asia. At the time of writing, the LG G3 (a flagship that has been released in Asia, but not in North America) is outselling the S5 heavily in most Asian countries, especially Korea. Is this proof that the LG G3 is better?

Well, based on specs alone, it is. Considerably better, actually. Not only does the LG G3 sport a much better QHD screen, but it also sports a much more interesting design, and somehow feels better built, despite the fact that LG used a plastic casing. This chassis however is much better polished and gives the LG G3 a distinct high-quality feel, something that the Galaxy S5 simply can’t pull off. When it comes to cameras, both are great, but there’s just something about the G3’s laser autofocus that makes it extremely pleasant to use. Granted, the hardware under the hood isn’t that much different. When comparing the 16 GB LG G3 to the Galaxy S5, both seem to perform similarly, having the same amount of RAM, same GPU and same chipset.

Last but not least, there’s the matter of software. Here, the S5 might have the edge, as it’s already planned to receive the Android KitKat 4.4.3 update. So far LG has not provided the same for its G3, and the phone is expected to launch with Android KitKat 4.4.2 out of the box. Still, until it’s launched, LG has plenty of time to refine and adapt the 4.4.3 update and even the odds. Otherwise, it comes down to taste and personal preference. The simplistic UI and nifty features of the LG G3 have captivated us, but if you’re accustomed to Samsung software, you won’t go wrong there either.

Will the LG G3 prove to be as successful in the western world, as it is in Asia? Time will tell, but it’s certainly a better pick over the Samsung Galaxy S5, and if the two smartphones are priced identically, this battle will be pretty much decided (unless you’re a huge Samsung fan, in which case you’re mind was made up from the start). The LG G3 is expected to arrive at US carriers during July. You can view the specs for both below:

LG G3 – Simple is the new smart

• Display: 2560x1440p, QHD IPS LCD, 5.5 inch, 534 PPI
• CPU: 2.5 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 801
• GPU: Adreno 330
• OS: Android KitKat 4.4.2
• Battery: 3000 mAh, removable
• Storage: 16 GB or 32 GB, with microSD support up to 128 GB
• RAM: 2GB/3GB
• Camera: 13 MP OIS+, Dual LED Flash, Laser autofocus, infrared autofocus
• Price: Estimated $700 (carrier-free)

Samsung Galaxy S5 -My Life, powered by Samsung Galaxy S5

• Display: 1920x1440p,5.1 inch Super AMOLED Gorilla Glass 3
• CPU: 2.5 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 801 Krait 400 (LTE version) / Exynos 5 Octa-Core
• GPU: Adreno 330
• OS: Android KitKat 4.4.2
• Battery: 2800 mAh, removable
• Storage: 16 GB or 32 GB, with microSD support up to 128 GB
• RAM: 2GB
• Camera: 16 MP, LED Flash, UHD 4k Video Recording, Autofocus, Image Stabilization
• Price: Around $700 carrier-free (16 GB version),