Battle of the flagships: Samsung S8 vs LG G6

If you can’t decide between the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8, which we know is a tough choice. These android phones represent the best from LG and Samsung by breaking new benchmarks in design and refining core features along the way. We find how these phones compare head-to-head on a handful of essential buying points.

Now it is an exciting time to be shopping for a smartphone, reason being there are numerous choices to go for. Android phones are many with price starting from Rs 5,999 to upwards of Rs 60,000, Apple has also slashed their prices which now start from Rs 25,500 for the iPhone 6.

The new design of powerful flagships from LG and Samsung are now taking handsets in a new direction with dramatically altered displays, high-end designs and materials, and blistering performance. Looking for something which best suits you, here are some core points to compare between the LG G6 and the Samsung Galaxy S8:

Screen

Both LG and Samsung have dropped their display standard of 16:9 aspect ratio and have gone for a new aspect ratio which is now taller, and narrower this year. The G6 measures 5.7 inches across the diagonal with resolution at 2,880 x 1,440 pixels, while the S8 measures 5.8 inches across the diagonal with 2,960 x 1,440 pixel resolution. The screen on the LG is a clean 2:1 (or 18:9) aspect ratio and looks at home unlike the 18.5:9 aspect ratio for the Galaxy S8. Display quality resolution is locked in Quad-HD which is the gold standard, which makes the displays bright, sharp, and impressive to look at.

The smartphone industry has showed where company is headed, thus splitting the difference between the aspect ratio used by television (16:9) and film content (2.35:1) while also ensuring the devices can be used as VR devices. This also helps keep the devices a bit narrow, which improves in-hand usability. The taller screens also boost multi-tasking, too, making it easier to run two apps on the screen at a time.

LG has stayed with its tried-and-true LCD panel technology, while Samsung kept to its much acclaimed Super AMOLED. LG’s decision means the G6 is not compatible with Google’s DayDream virtual reality headset which is a shame. G6 owners will be limited to Google’s cardboard. On the flip side, Samsung’s AMOLED display is set to work with DayDream. Moreover, Samsung has also released a second generation VR headset with a controller. Wider compatibility with VR headsets along side Samsung’s Oculus-developed VR headset and added 360-degree content means the S8 has a huge advantage over the G6.

Camera

LG sports two 13-megapixel cameras on the rear of the G6. One has a standard field of view and the other has a wide-angle field of view. The main lens has an aperture of f/1.8 for low-light performance and optical image stabilization to help improve focus, while the low-light performance and optical image stabilization to help improve focus.

The other lens is a wide-angle lens with an aperture of f/2.4. The front facing camera is a 5-megapixel unit with a wide-angle f/2.2 lens.

Samsung however, carried over the 12-megapixel sensor unit from the last year flagship Galaxy S7. It has a standard field of view, an aperture of f/1.7, and optical image stabilization. The front camera is a 8-megapixel shooter with an aperture of f/1.7 for best possible low-light selfies.

However, the S8 does not come with a wide-angle option like the G6. The S8’s camera also does outperform the G6 in low light conditions, but the added wide-angle element of the G6 is worth the trade-off.

Battery

The battery life of any device has many variables other than the capacity of the battery itself. The major draining factor of any smartphone is the battery. The brighter it is, the more power it drains from the battery. Processing power can burn through battery life, and so does gaming, media consumption, GPS use, and more. This means manufacturers to maintain a balancing act in order to deliver an experience which is good enough for most people. At the same time, include software controls which allow the users to make power choices which are right for them.

The LG G6 has a 3,300 mAh battery and the Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 3,000mAh battery. Normal usage tests have shown the G6 surpassing the S8 and interestingly, even the S8+ in battery tests which shows a bigger battery is not everything.

Design

Along with taking a different path for screen ratios, LG and Samsung both took new paths with their design trajectory and all new aspect ratios. LG had switched to a all glass and metal design last year with the G5. The G6 is made from high-end components that are assembled well. The S8 from Samsung refines the company’s motto of merging technology with art. The S8 is mostly made up of glass and thin aluminium frame providing the backbone. It is a work of art and Samsung’s technical achievement.

LG, although having worked on their device, it is not as seamless as the Galaxy S8’s curved design. The phone looks mainstream with its brushed aluminium and glass protection.

Durability

It is said that the design is in the eyes of the beholder, but durability is fairly concrete. The reason being accidental drops onto hard surfaces can be unforgiving and expensive.

LG chose a thick aluminium frame to form the chassis for the G6. Moreover, the curved nature of the display itself means that, when dropped, the phone can handle more punishment in the corners. In fact, LG states the design is so effective in dissipating energy that it was able to use Gorilla Glass 3 on the G6 rather than their much expensive siblings Gorilla Glass 4, or 5.

The S8 is nearly all glass with the front and rear surfaces partially curve around the side edges to meet the thin aluminium frame. This means the phone is more susceptible to damage when dropped. The S8 has curved corners meaning the display is at a much higher probability of breaking which means more damage — despite the Gorilla Glass 5.

Specs

On talking for spec-to-spec basis, the G6 and S8 are on even ground. Both flagships have IP68 certifications making it dust and water resistant, with both relying on USB-C and both include 3.5mm headset jacks. Other shared features include new, fast iterations of LTE, rapid charging, and HD voice.

There are a few areas where the G6 and S8 differ, however, and these may be deal breakers for some. For example, the G6 has 32GB of storage standard while the S8 jumps to 64GB standard. Both include 4GB of RAM and support memory cards. The G6 has an FM radio whereas the S8 does not. Chipsets for the G6 is a Snapdragon 821 while the S8 is a Exynos 8895 which by contrast is a tad faster than the 821 chipset.

Security

Security on the G6 is a fingerprint scanner at the back, placed in a spot which we would call ‘normal’. Placed right in the middle and easy to find. Samsung however, pushed the fingerprint reader high up the back surface right next to the camera. Moreover, it slid the reader over to the right, which makes it harder for left-handed people to find. Samsung claims the included iris scanner and facial recognition tools on the front make up for the odd fingerprint placement, but they are awkward to use at best. Multiply awkward by 150 instances of unlocking your phone each day and awkward may become unusable.

Price

The LG G6 went on sale in India starting today and will be available online via Amazon exclusively, apart from offline retail stores across the country at a retail price of Rs 51,990, which means it is cheaper than its South Korean counterpart Samsung Galaxy S8 which retails at Rs 57,900 and Rs 64,900 for the S8+.

The difference in price is not huge considering the both are flagships with similar specs. Either choice you make, you will be pleased.