Introduction
Man, this is going to be a toughie – the new LG G3 and the OnePlus One – both great looking devices. These two devices have so much in common and you have to ask yourself, can the display of the LG G3 offset the pricing of the OnePlus One. Both devices have a 5.5-inch display, the exact same processor, 3GB of RAM in both One models and 3GB in the 32Gb G3 model. They even both have a 13MP main camera with Dual-LED Flash, both are using Android 4.4 KitKat as a base, but the One is using a CyanogenMod version, and both have almost the same size battery – 3000mAh (G3) and 3100mAh (One). We are also waiting for both devices here in the U.S. – hopefully it will be very soon.
Please take a look at the specifications below see how close these two devices really are and then we will look at each one individually, point out the features and the drawbacks within each device, and then proceed to choose a winner in this very tight comparison.
Specifications
LG G3
Here we go with a look at the mighty LG G3, the newest flagship from LG that we cannot wait to get our hands on for a full review. It is a nice looking device – smooth, curved, minimalist – a little smaller of the two devices even though they have the same size screen. It was a little surprising that LG choose a 5.5-inch display – Phablet size indeed – when they already have the LG G Pro series to handle that category…normally a flagship device is more in the mainstream of closer to 5.0-inches. It does have a beautiful QHD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution and an amazing 538 pixels-per-inch (PPI). The device itself is made from plastic, but coated with a “metallic” finish on the back – it looks great, but we will have to see how it holds up in day-to-day usage. The G3 does sport a microSD slot to add up to an additional 128GB of internal storage to help out with the 16GB or 32GB that comes on the device. Both devices use very sophisticated cameras and the LG G3 has upgraded their OIS to an OIS+ which is supposed to help even more with the stabilization. They also included laser auto focus for faster and more precise focusing…especially in low-light situations. Another nice thing the LG G3 has going for it is availability – it is not yet available, however, when it is the G3 will be available on all the major U.S. carriers – probably around $200 on contract and $600-$650 off contract. At $349 – off contract – for a 64GB model, the OnePlus One does have a great price advantage.
OnePlus One
The long awaited OnePlus One smartphone was officially announced April 22, but there is almost always a delay between the announcement and the devices arrival – we are still waiting, but the word is that it will become available widespread later in June. The outside of the device is modern and good looking and is made of magnesium. Both models, 16GB and 64GB, use 3GB of RAM. We mentioned that both devices use an upscale 13MP camera – the One uses a Sony 6-lense f/2.0 aperture affair with a dual-LED flash like the G3, and throws in a 5MP wide-angle FFC for tremendous videos and selfies. The OnePlus One also took a clue from HTC and included dual-stereos speaker, but mounted theirs on the bottom on the device, rather than taking up room on the front. They are a Bose design and promise to give the HTC One M8 a run for its money, and should certainly outclass the 1-watt single speaker on the back of the LG G3. The One, like its G3 competitor uses Android 4.4 KitKat, however, the One uses a custom firmware called CyanogenMod 11S – hailed by many to take the best of pure Android, but ‘spruces it up’ somewhat. The pricing is where the OnePlus One really shines…the off-contract 64GB model will run about $349 – cheaper than Google’s own Nexus 5 device.
…and the Winner is…
Summary
A Tie you say – how can this be! This was really a difficult decision, so I chose not to make one! Not really, but BOTH devices have a lot to offer and the price of the OnePlus One is very hard to overlook and if you can pull yourself away from the QHD display, you can see why this is such a dilemma. Not everybody, in fact MOST people, do not care about the QHD display like you or I do – once you take away the display, the OnePlus One begins to look very good, competing in all other areas.
I would say if you MUST have a QHD display and you want availability on all major U.S. networks, and money is no object, then grab the LG G3 and run. You will be getting a quality device that should take great pictures and have tremendous battery life.
If you are looking for true value, and you are happy with a Full HD display with 401 PPI, and you are willing to use it on AT&T or T-Mobile, then I would grab the OnePlus One. This appears to be a quality smartphone with a true metal body, same size 5.5-inch display, the same processor, 3GB of RAM, dual stereo speakers, the dual-LED flash, the wide angle 5MP FFC – almost every spec as good as or better than the LG G3 – other than the QHD display – and for one-half the price of the LG G3, off contract…then the OnePlus One is your device.
Please hit us up on our Google+ Page and let us know what you think about these two devices and which one you like and why…as always, we would love to hear from you.