LG G6 vs LG G5 review 2017

Introduction

Note: This comparison was made using a pre-production LG G6 running close-to-final software. While not much is expected to change for the final version of the phone, we've still decided not to display any benchmark results or charts. We'll update the comparison as necessary once we receive the finalized software release.

If I had a dime for every time I saw someone using an LG G5 in public, I doubt I’d have enough cash to get me a bottle of soju. The phone didn’t sell as well as its maker hoped, and even though technically it wasn’t a poorly made device, its modular design didn’t strike a chord with the average consumer. That’s probably why the new and much-refined LG G6 skips on modules entirely, instead focusing on bringing practical improvements that the majority can benefit from – a move in the right direction, I’d say. So, why even bother with this comparison then? Well, because there’s a few very good reasons why a G5 is still worth considering. 

Design

But design probably isn’t one of these reasons. Placed next to the LG G6, the LG G5 does indeed look like a last-generation product, seeing how the newer model makes much better use of the real estate up its front. Although the G6’s screen is 0.4 inches larger in diagonal, both handsets have pretty much the same footprint. 

While looks are a subjective matter, I’m going to go ahead and say that the G6 is the more appealing handset. True, there’s already more than enough phones combining a glass back with a metal frame, but the look achieved by LG for its new flagship feels modern and stylish, especially with how the camera hump has been practically eliminated. 

Display

Notice something unusual about the G6’s display? It is special in many ways, and not only with its curved corners. The phone’s so-called FullVision display employs an unusual aspect ratio of 18:9 as opposed to the traditional 16:9 ratio used by most other phones, including the LG G5. In other words, it is slightly narrower, but also taller than other screens of similar size.

There are several benefits to LG breaking the status quo, the most important of them being that the new display proportions allow the G6 to provide a large display area while remaining easy to operate single-handedly. On the downside, most online video content isn’t optimized for these new proportions, while some apps and games might not be able to fill the screen properly without manual tweaks. That’s why the G5’s traditional 16:9 display is still relevant, and will be for many years to come.

On the technical side of things, the two displays are equally sharp and detailed, packing a very similar number of pixels per inch. But the G6’s screen has the benefit of being brighter, thus potentially easier to use outdoors. It also has Comfort View – a blue light filtering feature intended to be used at night to reduce the strain on your eyes and mind. The screen is also capable of displaying HDR video content, which is something I’ll cover in depth in the Multimedia section of this comparison.

Interface and functionality

It should come as no surprise that the LG G6 and LG G5 have a lot in common when it comes to software. Both run Android 7.0 Nougat – the former out of the box and the latter after receiving an update not long ago – so neither feels lagging behind in this respect. Both come with Google’s Assistant built right in. Both skip the app drawer and go for a more iOS-like app organization approach (although you still have the option to bring the drawer back). Both let you rearrange the on-screen navigation buttons and add new ones, such as the extremely useful button for bringing down the notifications shade. Both support split-screen multitasking. Both let you modify the size and layout of the on-screen keyboard. And the list goes on. 

I can’t deny the fact that the LG G6, being the newer model and all, feels more polished when it comes to software, but the differences aren’t all that striking. You’ll find it better than the G5 at side-by-side multitasking, but the entire scope of this feature still feels limited. The G6 also comes with a prettier weather app, but as the G5, it does not include hourly forecast for some reason. And while the G6 has an advanced search bar for searching within installed apps (pull down on your home screen to access that), I rarely find myself actually needing to use this feature.