G Pro 2 - is this something?

[s44]

No huge surprises except that the announcement was yesterday.

It's slightly wider and taller than the Note 3, with .2" more screen but no pen. Some of that screen space is taken by buttons, though.

LG has gone a bit Samsung, though: the 3200mah (same as the Note 3) battery is removable, and there's a microSD slot. And there was much rejoicing...

 

[Rdmkr]

Another major advantage over the Note 3 is the non-pentile matrix display; 2 subpixels per pixel is not something you can just get away with on sizes like these.

On the other hand you're back down to earth with a non-infinite contrast ratio and you trade in a broad color gamut for color accuracy* (a matter of preference).

29% more screen area with a battery only 6.66% larger probably means this isn't going to have nearly as good battery life as the G2. Then again, the G2 had quite a bit of leeway; I don't expect it to be terrible on this.

I personally prefer the design of the Note 3.

* although this depends on whether LG doesn't calibrate the screen for oversaturation anyway; I've heard some claims that they did do that with the G2

 

[Dari]

No huge surprises except that the announcement was yesterday.

It's slightly wider and taller than the Note 3, with .2" more screen but no pen. Some of that screen space is taken by buttons, though.

LG has gone a bit Samsung, though: the 3200mah (same as the Note 3) battery is removable, and there's a microSD slot. And there was much rejoicing...

What is this nonsense? I always knew you were a Samsung shill. I have the Optimus G Pro and it also has a removable battery (3140 mAh), 32GB of space and a mSD slot. They haven't "gone Samsung" and there is certainly no "rejoicing" for that. And not everyone cares about a stupid pen that will rarely be used. That is why no one else offers them. What a stupid comment.

As for the OGP 2, I will not get it because it's mainly just larger than the one I already have. If they increased the resolution I would've bitten. But not with these specs. I'll wait and see what SONY has.

 

[Dari]

Another major advantage over the Note 3 is the non-pentile matrix display; 2 subpixels per pixel is not something you can just get away with on sizes like these.

On the other hand you're back down to earth with a non-infinite contrast ratio and you trade in a broad color gamut for color accuracy* (a matter of preference).

29% more screen area with a battery only 6.66% larger probably means this isn't going to have nearly as good battery life as the G2. Then again, the G2 had quite a bit of leeway; I don't expect it to be terrible on this.

I personally prefer the design of the Note 3.

* although this depends on whether LG doesn't calibrate the screen for oversaturation anyway; I've heard some claims that they did do that with the G2

I don't know. LG, along with Sharp, have some of the best displays in the business. And the OGP screen is extremely bright and crisp. I have the OGP and my wife has a Note 3 and my phone, even at 50% brightness is very very nice whereas hers, while more colorful, is very dim. I'm simply amazed at how people can tolerate such a dim screen. I'm sure it would hurt my eyes after using it for a while.

 

[dawheat]

Another major advantage over the Note 3 is the non-pentile matrix display; 2 subpixels per pixel is not something you can just get away with on sizes like these.

On the other hand you're back down to earth with a non-infinite contrast ratio and you trade in a broad color gamut for color accuracy* (a matter of preference).

29% more screen area with a battery only 6.66% larger probably means this isn't going to have nearly as good battery life as the G2. Then again, the G2 had quite a bit of leeway; I don't expect it to be terrible on this.

I personally prefer the design of the Note 3.

* although this depends on whether LG doesn't calibrate the screen for oversaturation anyway; I've heard some claims that they did do that with the G2

I'd hesitate to call the non-pentile matrix a major disadvantage as the N3 screen still meets the 'retina' threshold, but I do agree that there is some room for improvement, especially with asian text. It'll take next year's N4 2K screen IMO to reach the point of no more benefit.

I wouldn't worry about the battery either, though I am a bit surprised that LG wasn't able to fit a bigger one in with their stacked battery tech (like the G2) considering the real estate they had to work with.

I have to say I really like this design - I never understood having thick bezels and then not using the free space to put buttons (like Samsung). On screen buttons just ate up more usable screen real estate. To do OSB right, the bezels should be tiny, and this (along with the G2 and Moto X) are IMO the phones to do it right. With KK having the full screen mode too, it's even better. Frankly, I really do think even Samsung is going to go this route - if not this year, certainly by next year.

Anyone know what this 'metal mesh' back is? Is it truly textured metal or is it plastic made to look like metal?

<edit> One other note about HTC and Sony phablets - as a multi-year user of phablets, I feel like they don't get it. With phones this large as daily drivers (not secondary devices), you have to do everything you can to shrink the overall package as even the Note 3 is on the verge of being unwieldy. The G Pro 2 gets it, but the One Maxx doesn't, nor the Z Ultra (though that's just way to big IMO as a daily driver). Having a 5.9" screen and then big ass bezels is just a recipe for irrelevancy.

 

[dawheat]

I don't know. LG, along with Sharp, have some of the best displays in the business. And the OGP screen is extremely bright and crisp. I have the OGP and my wife has a Note 3 and my phone, even at 50% brightness is very very nice whereas hers, while more colorful, is very dim. I'm simply amazed at how people can tolerate such a dim screen. I'm sure it would hurt my eyes after using it for a while.

Have her try Lux Dash on her Note 3 - I've found that the Note 3 can get bright enough to be perfectly legible in bright sunlight, but the auto-brightness ramping is a bit low for my taste. Lux IMO does a better job of picking the right brightness for ambient conditions (and even if it's still a little low for her tastes, can easily increase the ramping curve through their settings).

In a household with a Note 3, iPhone 5, G2, iPad Air, Nexus 7, and Nexus 4 - I don't feel the Note 3 gives up anything screenwise to the other devices.

 

[Dari]

Have her try Lux Dash on her Note 3 - I've found that the Note 3 can get bright enough to be perfectly legible in bright sunlight, but the auto-brightness ramping is a bit low for my taste. Lux IMO does a better job of picking the right brightness for ambient conditions (and even if it's still a little low for her tastes, can easily increase the ramping curve through their settings).

In a household with a Note 3, iPhone 5, G2, iPad Air, Nexus 7, and Nexus 4 - I don't feel the Note 3 gives up anything screenwise to the other devices.

She mainly uses it for work and Google maps so that would come in handy. Thanks.

 

[Red Storm]

I see no reason to get it when the Note 3 has a pen.

 

[s44]

I wouldn't worry about the battery either, though I am a bit surprised that LG wasn't able to fit a bigger one in with their stacked battery tech (like the G2) considering the real estate they had to work with.

They went from sealed to removable for this one.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I wonder if this is part of why LG and HTC are doing so poorly. It's like they have bad timing or something. 1080p and Snapdragon 800 are common specs for phones released last Fall 2013. And yet here are LG and HTC releasing their flagship phones with those specs just on the even of Samsung probably announcing their 1440p and Snapdragon 805 or Exynos 6 phone.

 

[dawheat]

They went from sealed to removable for this one.

S44 - thanks, forgot about that, though the potential battery space you lose seems bigger than I thought. I guess the S5 will show whether LG got a little lazy or whether removable really has a large trade-off as it's rumored to have a 2900mAh+ removable battery.

Ravynmagi - I'd put a little more pain on HTC for apparently using not even top of the line hardware. LG at least seems to be using the best available at any given time. It helps you sometimes, it hurts you.

IMO the G2 put the hurt on the S4 as it was able to get the S800 and other benefits less than half a year later. On the other hand, the Note 3 got all the newest goodies (3GB RAM, etc) and the G Pro 2 is using in essence 6 month old tech. As long as their cycles are off each other, each will get their time in the sun.

 

[cronos]

It looks like LG is really aiming to be 'the poor man's Samsung'. They know they are playing catch-up though so maybe this is their strategy. The G Pro was a great alternative to the Note 2 last year if you don't need S-pen, and it's much cheaper. This looks to be similar.

 

[Dari]

They went from sealed to removable for this one.

More nonsense. The Optimus G Pro has a removable battery. This guy just pulls stuff out of his arse.

 

[dawheat]

More nonsense. The Optimus G Pro has a removable battery. This guy just pulls stuff out of his arse.

Dari you got to chill out sometimes. S44 and I were talking about the G2 battery vs. the G Pro 2.

The G2 has an unusually large battery for its size compared to its direct competitors. The G Pro and G Pro 2 both have average batteries for their size compared to their direct competitors.

My question was why didn't LG continue their all conquering battery size with the G Pro 2, but I forgot that unlike the G2, it has a removable battery.

 

[ChronoReverse]

More nonsense. The Optimus G Pro has a removable battery. This guy just pulls stuff out of his arse.

Calm down, sometimes it's just a mistake and not something you need to do anything more than simply correct.

[edit]Or it's simply a discussion about a different product

 

[ponyo]

I wonder if this is part of why LG and HTC are doing so poorly. It's like they have bad timing or something. 1080p and Snapdragon 800 are common specs for phones released last Fall 2013. And yet here are LG and HTC releasing their flagship phones with those specs just on the even of Samsung probably announcing their 1440p and Snapdragon 805 or Exynos 6 phone.

I'm skeptical about 1440p for Galaxy 5. It will be awesome if true but I'm expecting 1080P nonpentile. We shall see soon enough. I see the benefit of 1440p for AMOLED. I'm not so sure about benefit for LCD.

 

[Ravynmagi]

To me 1440P isn't a must have... but if someone has it and someone doesn't, I'm probably going to side with the someone that has it.

However the bigger issue, I think LG and HTC should have waited for the Snapdragon 805. Maybe there is a reason they aren't, like Samsung is hogging all the 805s or something.

 

[jacktesterson]

I see no reason to get it when the Note 3 has a pen.

Except most people who own the Note phones don't use the Pen - read it in a study recently. Will try to find it.

I'd fall in this category for sure.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Except most people who own the Note phones don't use the Pen - read it in a study recently. Will try to find it.

I'd fall in this category for sure.

The problem is these phones will probably be the same price on contract. I see the Note 3 is $200 and I'm guessing the G Pro 2 will be the same price. So whether you need the pen or not, it's a harder sell for LG because of the lack of brand recognition and lacking a feature (even if unused) that the competitor has.

 

[Dari]

Dari you got to chill out sometimes. S44 and I were talking about the G2 battery vs. the G Pro 2.

The G2 has an unusually large battery for its size compared to its direct competitors. The G Pro and G Pro 2 both have average batteries for their size compared to their direct competitors.

My question was why didn't LG continue their all conquering battery size with the G Pro 2, but I forgot that unlike the G2, it has a removable battery.

Calm down, sometimes it's just a mistake and not something you need to do anything more than simply correct.

[edit]Or it's simply a discussion about a different product

Could be, but the loaded OP makes me wonder...

 

[dawheat]

Except most people who own the Note phones don't use the Pen - read it in a study recently. Will try to find it.

I'd fall in this category for sure.

I've always been a proponent of the S-pen and use it pretty regularly to take notes.

Regardless of whether I'm the exception or not, for a phone that's going to be available 6 months after the Note 3, it is surprisingly similar.

Internals are a match, screen is generally a match though I will give a small edge to this IPS screen, battery is a match. Button placement is more a matter of preference, both phones will have KK 4.4 (Note 3 roll-out is on-going). Camera should be better than the Note 3, but you don't get the s-pen and digitizer. LG has been a bit slower than Samsung in rolling out updates (G2 hasn't started rolling out 4.4 yet).

So a great phone for sure, but about the same as the Note 3. I picked up my second Note 3 for about $650 so I'd expect this to be priced initially at $699 and then probably drop down relatively quickly, though not as fast as the G2 which quickly become the best bargain IMO. But there's no leapfrogging of the Note 3 and for sure the Note 4 will be a step forward.

 

[Dari]

I've always been a proponent of the S-pen and use it pretty regularly to take notes.

Regardless of whether I'm the exception or not, for a phone that's going to be available 6 months after the Note 3, it is surprisingly similar.

Internals are a match, screen is generally a match though I will give a small edge to this IPS screen, battery is a match. Button placement is more a matter of preference, both phones will have KK 4.4 (Note 3 roll-out is on-going). Camera should be better than the Note 3, but you don't get the s-pen and digitizer. LG has been a bit slower than Samsung in rolling out updates (G2 hasn't started rolling out 4.4 yet).

So a great phone for sure, but about the same as the Note 3. I picked up my second Note 3 for about $650 so I'd expect this to be priced initially at $699 and then probably drop down relatively quickly, though not as fast as the G2 which quickly become the best bargain IMO. But there's no leapfrogging of the Note 3 and for sure the Note 4 will be a step forward.

Yep, it's like they're constantly playing catchup. However, given the rivalry, I think LG wanted to dip their toes into this market before leapfrogging Samsung with features. I do have to disagree with you on one point, though. LG's software update has been terrible compared to Samsung. The OGP is still at 4.2.

 

[Ryan]

The problem is these phones will probably be the same price on contract. I see the Note 3 is $200 and I'm guessing the G Pro 2 will be the same price. So whether you need the pen or not, it's a harder sell for LG because of the lack of brand recognition and lacking a feature (even if unused) that the competitor has.

(note, these prices are based off of ATTs regular prices)

IIRC, the OG Pro has almost always been competitively priced. It started off at $200 subsidized and $549 unsubsidized.....and that price dropped very quickly. The phone was $99 subsidized by last summer and $449 unsubsidized, and can be bought now for $49/$369. The ATT LG G2 was originally $199/$549 when introduced, now it can be bought for $99/$464

The funny thing is, both of these phone can be bought for a penny on Amazon right now....lol. With the OG pro/G2 used a history, I see no reason why LG won't price the G Pro 2 any differently. I foresee it being $199/$599 when introduced, but dropping quickly within a month or two to become the better deal.

The Note 3 was launched at $299/$724. That's fucking NUTS!

 

[Ravynmagi]

I guess the Note 3 can launch at $300 on contract when it's phablet competitor, the G Pro 2, doesn't launch until half a year later.

 

[dawheat]

Yep, it's like they're constantly playing catchup. However, given the rivalry, I think LG wanted to dip their toes into this market before leapfrogging Samsung with features. I do have to disagree with you on one point, though. LG's software update has been terrible compared to Samsung. The OGP is still at 4.2.

Damn, that's horrible. No idea the OGP was that bad at updates for a 'flagship' phone at the time. The 4.4 update for the G2 is "expected" at the end of March I believe - hopefully they're not abandoning the OGP.