Smartphones are a little tired of the public, and even Apple fans update their iPhone today less willing than in years past. But manufacturers still don’t make any sudden movements and, for the most part, still are increasing the megapixels and the core in the new models.
LG refused such tactics long before the hysteria cell phones have begun to decrease because the pursuit of the top characteristics they were interested back in 2014 when they released G3. Since then, Koreans have switched from numbers to benchmarks on other matters. First bet on the fashion component so — called “glamorous” G4 leather with exemplary quality camera. Good, and attractive in its own way a model that was not quite popular, because “shy guys” to buy so pretentious gadget geeks and frightened six-core processor.
Then the developers were thoughtful and, for the sake of experiment, has released V10, and a hefty model with the optional display, and even metal and rubber-plastic in case the buyer has accepted with enthusiasm. The story with “fashion a bow” in the new flagship LG has ended, and in their conception prevailed engineers, not designers. Therefore, G5 is what it is — with two chambers, connected by twists, almost like in desktop computers, and most brutal no frills design. Good or bad — find out now.
LG G5 SE
Features
LG G5 SE
Operating system
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
The screen
5,3“, 2560×1440, 554 ppi
Processor
652 MSM8976 Snapdragon processor, 8 cores (4x Cortex-A53, 1.2 GHz + 4x Cortex-A72 1.8 GHz)
Graphics
Adreno 510
Operational memory
3 GB
Permanent memory
32 GB, microSD slot
Communication
4G (LTE Cat.6), 3G, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, GLONASS, NFC, IrDA
Camera
primary: 16 MP, with auto focus, video recording 3840×2160 + additional 8 Megapixel
the front is 8 MP
Battery
removable 2800 mAh
Dimensions
149,4×73,9×7,3mm
Weight
156 g
The price at the time of publication
50 000 rubles
Where to buy
Design and management
Smartphones rarely surprise appearance for the better — all nice and “bezrobocie” usually only comes out initially mounted on the renders. With the G5 the situation is opposite: at the preliminary photos of the smartphone deterred even LG fans — say, what a clumsy crocodile” turned out.
Rear panel LG G5 SE
Live smartphone looks better, though lovers of chrome and plastic bucket metal will be disappointed. Because of the chrome parts here, there is only a tiny strip at the junction of the rear and side panels, and a coat of paint on the back cover no less thick than the layer of chocolate in American bars.
From a practical point of view, LG is doing the right thing — in the case of the first G5 in disrepair will be long and tedious to come paint, and then scratch comes to metal. But the smartphone already looks and not for-flagship modestly, and then there’s the fans take away the Holy “the cold metal of the case”. By the way, before the paint on the metal has practiced with the old Samsung A-series, something quickly abandoned this implementation.
Size 5.3 inch the perfect smartphone does not become a “shovel”, the display will not be called small. Bald head curved at the upper edge of the glass looks good, but glare in the field of front of the camera at every opportunity.
Modest design in the flagship will not please everyone, but the case is very practical
“And this thing is definitely not wobbly?”, — interested friends in disbelief, and probe the junction of the housing and removable bottom panel. No, it sits firmly and not wiggle one bit, “not crunches, creaks” as would say the bloggers on YouTube. As will be further — to predict not taken. Removable fancy modules to us on review is not delivered, and “overcharging” of the battery for a couple of weeks of testing was able to produce 10 times, and during this time the mount was fine.
The batteries can be replaced with the speed reload rifle, if not faster
The power button on the rear panel — a tribute to the traditions, but the volume control wheel on the left side now. So accustomed, and to adjust the volume without picking up the smartphone from the table, it is now possible. But USB-C on the bottom is our inevitable real, long overdue.
Accessories designed for G5 abound, but complete modules, while only two — Plus Cam to control the camera functions through the physical keys and “krutilki” (it is — an additional battery of 1200 mAh) and connect the DAC Bang&Olufsen for audiophile-quality sound. If buying separately each of the modules will cost about 5 thousand rubles, while Cam Plus you can get free if you pre-order the smartphone, for example, in “the Messenger” for 50 thousand rubles.


Favoring practicality LG is also moved to a hybrid slot for memory card and SIM

The top face of the LG G5 SE

The battery is in the housing a hell of a lot of space even with its 2800 mAh

The lower bound LG G5 SE
Screen and sound
LG is one of the most powerful companies in the production of LTPS and OLED displays. However, in the flagship smartphone of the Koreans academically correct picture it would find it — the part characteristics are always “skewed” for the sake of fashion or marketing. The LG G4, for example, good performance was spoiled by a desperate overhead for saturation like AMOLED displays. Which was strange because Samsung, on the contrary, under the wave of criticism has introduced “modes for colorimeter and photographers” with a normal color rendition.
In G5/G5 SE color gamut, too, got beyond sRGB, albeit marginally. Figure DeltaE remarkable — as a professional monitors. Contrast — simply chic! But… what about brightness level?
Display characteristics LG G5 se
The maximum brightness level
320 CD/m2
Contrast
1800:1
Color gamut (sRGB)
>100%
DeltaE
1,6
Gamma
2,1
Color temperature
8500K
It is strange to observe 320 CD/m2 in the absolute maximum ratings of the flagship smartphone. Yes, the Galaxy S7 is not much brighter, but with his “infinite” contrast level, such indicators are forgivable. In the case of LG G5 brightness regularly lacking. Seems to be under the rays of the sun in auto mode, the display can for a couple of minutes to issue up to 800 CD/m2, but as long as your smartphone will display this “second wind”, the owner will walk around and lamenting that at 100% brightness in manual mode most of the flagships will be brighter.
Subjective 100% of the backlight in LG G5 se felt the same as 75% Samsung Galaxy S7 or 60% in mass consumption Motorola X Play. If you do not take into account fans “wow what brightness” in smartphones, the display on the G5 do not dare to call it bad, but the tricks for a good autonomy visible to the naked eye.
The time and notifications are always displayed — conveniently
Display quality, but, by the standards of flagships, is not bright enough
Always-on display with date and notification function is convenient and pleasant. On the IPS-matrix data looks a little duller than the AMOLED, but quite legible, in order not to include all 5.3 inch matrix to check the time or messages.
Handsfree speaker impresses with its power — from subtle not smartphone-phablet deeds do not expect, but through a pair of slots G5 SE gives a very loud and quite legible sound. The lower part (i.e., module) even shakes, if you twist the volume to maximum. Very good sound in Galaxy S7 speaker is noticeably worse, as in the Huawei flagships (minus the Nexus 6P).
The sound is good even without additional audiophile equipment — contrary to rumors, LG did not degrade your audio in G5 SE to force buyers to fork out for the module-DAC B&O. In the browser and music applications — standard for Snapdragon 652 and quite good sound. Higher quality than the current Nexus smartphones (and 5X 6P), a little more balanced than the Huawei Mate 8. The volume level of the smartphone is inferior to this most Mate and the Samsung Galaxy S7 commercials 5-8% that headphone format “downed pilot” can be a problem. However, some Note 4 sounds louder, and for gourmets have a G5 there is a corresponding decision.
Iron
If observations above and below the text can (and probably should) be called chicanery to balance the pros and cons of the models in terms of performance G5 SE certainly deserves criticism. Or rather, not himself, but a furious 50 thousand rubles for the level processor from the Snapdragon 810 and ridiculous performance schedule — as in smartphones 2014 with 801-m Snapdragon on Board (Sony Xperia Z2, HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5). And due to obsolete process technology the chip is more voracious than 7420/8890 Exynos, Snapdragon 820 or even Kirin 950/955.
The power of the processor (Geekbench 3 test)
Gaming performance trends fell back to the level of the LG G3, which is sad. However, in a purely CPU 652 disciplines-th Qualcomm is not bad — slow downs in the menu or not. But there is no “fat” — excess performance, for the future, as is the case with the flagships. And yet thinking about the idea that the processor, is itself a cheap, and was intended for mass models for 30-35 thousand or 20 thousand rubles, nothing flagship there. Many of knowledge – many sorrows, Lord enthusiasts.
Gaming performance (3DMark Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.1)
The processor equal to the power of the flagships of 2015, the accelerator models two years ago
The performance of the entire system (test Antutu Benchmark 6)
Soft
Shell LG UX is now based on Android 6.0.1. Still colorful and “cartoony” compared to the pompous analogues in the Huawei smartphones or even new variations of the Samsung TouchWiz, but this is no tragedy. On the contrary — from the pomp and brown (so it was “expensive and rich”) shades in the Chinese smartphones are already sick, and LG remain a bright promote Korean design.




The Android interface 6.0 in LG G5 SE
Shell LG UX still cheerful and quick
However, the smartphone has lost a separate application menu, in the manner of all those “Chinese” (LG already faced the wrath of users in connection with this in the next firmware will correct the situation), and constantly sticking key to switch between SIM cards is also an eyesore.
But the keyboard is comfortable, and from third-party applications — a modest set of Evernote, Facebook and Instagram. As for the “highlights” — features aggregator calendar, fitness data, music, notes, and other Goodies called SmartBulletin (initially disabled) and “uskoritel-cleaner” Smart Doctor. The rest — no frills, exotic functions or exploding helicopters. I guess it is good.
Camera
The camera interface is little changed since the LG G4 is all the same three shooting modes, from minimalistic to fully manual settings. However, manual mode is now only for photos — edit videos in your way any longer. And yet it is unclear how to force the camera to shoot video at 60 frames per second. Slow-motion at 120 fps or Timelapse — please, and here to force the smartphone to 1080p 60 fps we failed.
Settings full – manual mode by adjusting the focus, color balance, exposure and shutter speed, to color filters, shooting on two cameras immediately, and panoramic shooting, of course.






Example photos taken with rear camera LG G5 SE
The smartphone from two rear camera standard on 16 MP with a viewing angle of 78 degrees, and an additional 8-megapixel wide angle sensor with an angle of 135 degrees. Quality shooting both of them are very good — natural color reproduction, fast focus, good detail, snapshot snapshot saving and low noise in the poor conditions of shooting. Wide angle module at first seems a bit indulgent, but actually comes in handy often — it is called every time when the head of a thought “we ought to step back/to the side in order in the photo fit everything you need”. Now, with an extra camera — not necessary, enough one-click switch to 8 MP-module.
The camera is very high quality and large format module allows you to “grasp the immensity” in the frame
Front camera is decent. Can be better (in the same Huawei Mate 9, for example), but the overall quality is on par with other flagship level.


Example photos taken with the front camera of the LG G5 SE
To the clarity and quality of videos will not carp, but the performance leaves much to be desired. First, when you switch cameras while recording video (and why not, one wonders?) we get a slow motion for a few seconds. But it does not matter, because most smartphones are unable to give us angle shot on the fly. And the trouble is that 4K video LG G5 SE takes too clipped and is constantly losing frames during shooting, which creates the effect of “video card not pulled the game”.
Recorded in 4K video and then twitching
By the way, not the fact that the blame is CPU — platform Alcatel Idol 4S such shortcomings, remember not to suffer.
Autonomy
The level of endurance G5 SE not upset and not happy — smartphone lasts for a day regular use. Of course 2800 mAh in the battery when the 5.3 inches display is not happy, but this is the battery removable (it will be easy to replace after a few years of operation of the smartphone), and even our hero supports charging Qualcomm Quickcharge standard 3.0 — quite a modest compensation capacity.
Duration of work in a mixed load (PCMark test, 200 CD/m2, min)
Competitors
LG G5 SE
Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S6
Operating system
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
The screen
5,3“, 2560×1440, 554 ppi
The 5.1”, 2560×1440, Super AMOLED, 577 ppi
5,1“, 2560×1440 Super AMOLED, 577 ppi
Processor
652 MSM8976 Snapdragon processor, 8 cores (4x Cortex-A53, 1.2 GHz + 4x Cortex-A72 1.8 GHz)
8890 Exynos with 8 cores (4x Mongoose 2.6 GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 1.6 GHz)
Samsung Exynos 7420 8 cores (4x Cortex-A53 1.5 GHz + 4x Cortex-A57 2.1 GHz)
Graphics
Adreno 510
The Mali-T880 MP12
Mali-T760
Operational memory
3 GB
4 GB
3 GB
Permanent memory
32 GB, microSD slot
32 GB, microSD slot
32 GB
Communication
4G (LTE Cat.6), 3G, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, GLONASS, NFC, IrDA
4G (LTE Cat.12), 3G, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, GLONASS, NFC
4G (LTE Cat.9), 3G, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, GLONASS
Camera
primary: 16 MP, with auto focus, video recording 3840×2160 + additional 8 Megapixel
the front is 8 MP
primary: 12 MP, with autofocus, video recording 3840×2160,
front — 5 MP
primary: 16 MP, with auto focus, video recording 3840×2160,
front — 5 MP
Battery
removable 2800 mAh
non-removable, 3000 mAh
non-removable 2600 mAh
Dimensions
149,4×73,9×7,3mm
142,4×69,6×7,9 mm
142×70×67 mm
Weight
156 g
152 g
132 g
The price at the time of publication
50 000 rubles
50 000 rubles
35 000 rubles
Where to buy
Call vertelki:LG G5 SE3inline
Call vertelki:Samsung Galaxy S73inline
Call vertelki:Samsung Galaxy S63inline
Samsung Galaxy S7
After diverse critics of several generations (S3/S4/S5) Samsung flagships I finally felt “any tactic” and stick to it. S7, at first glance, is a modified little things “es-six, but most of these little things enough to not feel deprived after purchase.
Easily soiled case, the “bugs” of the stabilizer when shooting video and a removable battery — here, perhaps, and all the obvious shortcomings of the flagship Samsung compared to the LG G5 SE. Camera in both the smartphones are equally good, CPU in the Samsung is much more powerful, better autonomy, a brighter display, but still the resistance there — with a similar price tag, among other things.
But he doesn’t have the modular design and wide angle secondary camera. On the other hand, the G5 SE — “economy”-version of the flagship. But the economy must be economical, therefore not the fact that the buyers of this model will spend 5 thousand rubles for a little more sound quality or hardware keys to control the camera.
Call vertelki:Samsung Galaxy S73inline
Samsung Galaxy S6
While readers write “how are you tired already campaigning for his Samsung”, arguing his position. Galaxy S6 is an example of how much should cost G5 in “degraded” version of SE. Because the performance of these two smartphones are equal, and for games S6 fits even better. Quality camera if last year’s flagship is lagging behind LG, quite a bit, and autonomy it is preferable.
A removable battery or a memory card slot S6 deprived, the rear camera had one, and even show the time while the display is off an old model can not. But, as a variant of “all at once for cheap” he his 35 thousand rubles worth.
Option “pour me iron cheaper” in the face of Xiaomi Mi5 we will not be considered. Because, with the exception of the processor, this model is worse in everything. Sony Xperia Z5 is already pretty outdated, and the flagships-“Lopatina” is a separate story, today we are talking about models with reasonable size.
Call vertelki:Samsung Galaxy S63inline
Insights
Some things should exist together, not separately: the Executive cars and leather interior, and New year’s salad “Olivier”, Leonid Yakubovich and mustache. And yet — the flagship smartphone and a powerful processor.
For now, the G5 SE can not compete with competitors because of “heart failure” — an archaic CPU spoils the quality of the videos, intensely consumes the battery power and ill-suited for gaming at high resolution. A matter of prestige too, should be considered, especially in Russia, where flagships are buying far less often, and expect from such models work “all the money”.
Europe and the United States buy full LG G5 is cheaper than in Russia is G5 SE
Let’s be honest — we are not G5, and G5 Lite. Nor shamefully reduced in size letters on the body, or “accidentally” lost the SE indices in stores this fact will not hide, because the smartphone is running slower than it’s supposed to at this price.
And still a little confused by the fact that the buyers in USA and Europe acquire LG G5 (not se) for a sum equivalent to 40 thousand rubles. Any Russian citizen can order from the EU G5 on Snapdragon 820 at a price of 40-42 thousand with shipping. This is really great offer for a flagship with a great camera and performance.
As for the modifications of SE — it is worth noting a useful and high-quality large-format camera and is inherited from older version of the modular design. For these services the model receives from us the award for “innovation” — the original flagship in 2016 rightfully deserve it.
LG G5 SE
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
- Vysokokachestvennye camera
- Useful in wide angle rear camera
- Quality audio from the speaker and headphone modes
- Modular design
- Overpriced
- Slow (by flagship standards) processor
- Braking when recording video in 4K resolution
- The average brightness of the display