As with most high-profile Android phone launches lately, there was little we didn't know about the G2 before executives got up on stage with giant person-sized mock-ups of the hardware. Still, LG is doing some interesting things within the bigger-better-faster template that's becoming the standard for flagship Android launches.
First there's the design, which has changed substantially since the first Optimus G. That phone was a barely rounded rectangle with a glass back. As someone who uses an iPhone 4S and a (similarly glass-backed, LG-made) Nexus 4 on the regular, I can say that glass backs look very nice for the 20 seconds between when you take the plastic off and when you begin smudging and scratching it.
LG officially unveiled the G2 during a launch event Wednesday in New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center venue. A member of the Vienna Boys Choir performed at the end of the event. The G2 features ringtones and other sounds recorded by the choir.
The South Korean company, which has struggled to compete with bigger rivals such as Samsung, has started to gain some traction in the market. It shipped a record 12 million smartphones in the second quarter, and data released Wednesday by International Data Corp. shows it was the second-biggest Android vendor in the second quarter, albeit with only 6.5 percent share compared with Samsung's 39 percent share.
In terms of other hardware specs, however, LG packed the phone with Hi-Fi audio and a 3,000 mAh battery specially designed for the device by sister company LG Chem. The company estimates the battery should allow the device to last 1.2 days on a single charge.
To help with battery life and improve performance, the G2 includes dedicated RAM for graphics, known as GRAM. The memory reduces the display's energy use by up to 26 percent on a still frame and increases overall usage time on the device by approximately 10 percent. There's no battery life improvement when doing tasks like watching movies.
The screen is a 5.2-inch 1920×1080 IPS display, which is bright, colorful, and clear. I've spent the last few days with both the Google Play edition Galaxy S 4 and the Moto X, both of which have AMOLED screens. By comparison, the G2's screen has colors that pop without being too saturated or harsh as they can be on AMOLED.
Finally, let's talk about the camera, which is a 13MP shooter that comes with optical image stabilization (OIS). OIS is becoming commonplace on Nokia's camera-centric Windows phones of late, and we're definitely glad to see it making an appearance on a flagship Android phone. LG had a camera-shake demonstration that showed the feature in action, and the company also claims this feature will help produce better shots in low light.
The G2 will be available on all four major US carriers later this year, but LG didn't announce a price and a specific release date today. We'll pass this information on as soon as we have it, and we'll give the phone a more thorough review when we're able to spend additional time with the final hardware.
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From: http://blog.she.com/blogs/preview/21045915