LG G3 has arrived: here’s all you need to know

The LG G3 has finally arrived, ushering us into the era of super high-res, Quad HD (2560 x 1440-pixel) displays, and what LG calls “smart simplicity”. LG, however, has worked on making its G3 a beast not only on the inside - outwards, the 5.5-inch handset looks surprisingly compact, with almost zero bezel, and it’s got a nice metal-like finish and curvature that give it an appearance resembling the premium HTC One (M8).

What’s the LG G3 all about, though? We have summed up everything that you need to know about LG’s new flagship darling, along with specs, price and release date.

An evolution in design

The LG G3 builds up on the solid base of the G2, with similarly positioned buttons on the back and no physical keys up front. LG listened to feedback from customers and replaced the glossy plastic of the G2 with a matte finish on the G3, though, and this should contribute to less fingerprints on the back of the phone.

Moreover, LG has put what it calls a ‘metallic’ layer on the back of the phone and has graced the G3 with a brushed-metal like look, but at its core the material used is still polycarbonate.

LG’s new interface look: flat, simple

Probably the biggest change that you’d notice immediately is the new interface that the LG G3 rocks.

It’s still very colorful, in the best traditions of LG’s Optimus skin, but this time with a preference for pastel tones, with a bit toned down appearance, and round and flat icons. LG claims it draws inspiration from its own logo winking circular for this new look, and at first look the change definitely looks welcome.

LG also introduces quite a few new features in the G3. Smart Notice, for instance, would remind you about missed calls that you have not returned. LG's new Smart Keyboard also comes with rich customization options - you can resize it and it learns faster from your typing. There's also the Smart Security features including the improved Knock Code and Content Lock that hides your private files from prying eyes.

Laser auto-focus and OIS+ in an improved 13-megapixel camera

One of the coolest sounding new features of the LG G3 is its laser auto-focus. Apart from the cool factor of having laser anything in your phone, the IR laser beam actually helps the G3 achieve the fastest auto-focus of any smartphone so far. LG nailed the point in its presentation, saying that it’s faster than competitors (cough, Galaxy S5, cough) with 276ms auto-focus.

The 13-megapixel main camera of the G3 also makes use of optical image stabilization plus (OIS+) tech that we saw in the G Pro 2 phablet. We’ve already seen how much more stable videos shot with it look compared to the G2, so the evolution here is also substantial.

LG's QuickCircle Case: do more without taking your phone out of the case

LG introduces a bunch of new accessories with the G3, but it's the QuickCircle case that really captures the eye. It's the first time we see a round cut-out for quick-peek operation of a phone, and in the G3 the number of things you can do from this tiny window (and without having to flip off the cover) is much larger. You can not just control music - you can also open the camera, call and text people, see your step count for the day, and access settings.

LG G3 in the big world of Android: comparisons and articles

LG G3: price, carrier availability and release date

After reading about all the cool features of the LG G3, you might be wondering when and where can you get it. Unless you are lucky enough to live in Korea, where the phone launches tomorrow, on May 28th, the rest of the world seems to be getting it in late June and early July.

The LG G3 price is said to be a surprisingly low for its class $549 off-contract (but this can vary), but we still expect it to cost no less than $199 on contract in the United States. At least in the beginning!

Below, you’d find a list of carriers and retailers who have confirmed they will carry the new LG G3.

Confirmed:
Verizon Wireless
AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile