Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the powerful Motorola DROID Turbo goes up the new LG G4. The DROID Turbo armed with a QHD AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 805 processor and huge 3900mAh battery will battle the LG G4’s QHD LCD display, Snapdragon 808 processor and 3000mAh battery. Both devices are unmistakably true to their heritages – the DROID Turbo has its familiar ‘chin’ and Kevlar backing and the LG G4 with its curved metallic looking back and small bezels is following its LG G3 design and build. This will be a tough decision today between these two powerhouses – let us hope that by the end of the comparison a clear winner will emerge.
Both devices are similar in size, as are their displays of 5.2-inch for the DROID Turbo and 5.5-inch for the LG G4, which are both QHD, although different technologies. They both use a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, but one is a 32-bit (DROID Turbo) and the other is 64-bit, although they each have access to Quick Charge 2.0 because of those Qualcomm processors. Both devices have 3GB of RAM and a 32GB internal storage option. They both have the usual suspects – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (4.0 on DROID Turbo and 4.1 on LG G4), GPS, are NFC capable, use a microUSB port for charging and data transfer and quick charging. The DROID Turbo has built-in Qi Wireless Charging and the LG G4 offers it as an option.
Please take a deliberate look at the detailed Specifications Comparison chart below and here you will see just how these two great devices stack up against one another – click on the “View Full Comparison” link at the end of the chart to expand the details. After that, we will look at each individual device in greater detail and point out some of its pros and cons. From all of this information we will try to determine the winner based on specs and execution of design and functions.
Motorola Droid Turbo
The Motorola DROID Turbo is a new entry to the Verizon DROID ‘collection,’ there is no mistaking it for anything but a member of the Verizon DROID family with the same Kevlar backing and DROID ‘chin’ there to greet you, although there is a model that has a parachute-like material on the back on the extra-cost 64GB model. It is typical Motorola – rugged, well-built and good-looking in a masculine sort of way. It feels good in your hand and is just the right size.
The display hits that sweet spot that most users love with a 5.2-inch display, but Motorola sweetened the pot with a QHD AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 565 pixels-per-inch (PPI) – a wee bit more than the 538 PPI of the LG G4. The Turbo used the best processor Qualcomm made at the time – the 32-bit Snapdragon 805 quad-core clocked at 2.7GHz. This compares quite nicely to the Snapdragon 808 hexa-core 64-bit processor in the LG G4…except that it is a 64-bit unit. They both come with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory – the DROID Turbo has a 64GB model as well, although there is no room for expansion. The LG G4 offers only a 32GB model, but allows the user to use a microSD card to expand an additional 128GB.
Motorola, never known much for their cameras, really upped the stakes on the main camera to a 21MP sensor, then added autofocus and a dual-LED flash – no OIS – but the camera does a nice job taking photos…not quite up to the 16MP that includes OIS and a wider aperture of f/1.8 on the LG G4. The front-facing camera (FFC) is only 2MP, compared to the 8.0MP FFC with the f/1.8 aperture found on the LG G4. The DROID Turbo comes with a huge 3900mAh non-removable battery that will certainly last a day or TWO. When you need to charge it, you have the wireless charging option or the Turbo Charger that will get you up and running in no time. The smaller removable 3000mAh battery in the LG G4 will also last the entire day and offers quick charge and optional wireless charging as well.
The Droid Turbo has a few extra features thanks to its Motorola heritage – it has a nano-coating for resistance to water, it comes with a Motorola Turbo Charger (get 6-8 hours of battery charge in only 15-minutes), it has built-in wireless charging and a large, single, front-facing speaker. The DROID Turbo is currently running 4.4.4 KitKat, but should get its Lollipop update any day. Because it is a DROID device, it is a Verizon exclusive, and the current price for the 32GB model is down to $100 on a two-year contract or $500 off-contract.
LG G4
The LG G4 is an evolutionary update of last year’s popular LG G3, no earth shattering changes here, but why mess with a good thing. However, LG greatly improved the display by adding more brightness and designed it to use less power. The device is slightly larger and LG added a slight curve to the entire device – not a LG G Flex 2 kind of curve – but just enough to make it more comfortable to hold. Along with an improved metallic plastic backing and for $50, you can special order a real leather back that even has stitching and comes in several colors. The LG G4 does resemble last year’s model, but yet it somehow has a more premium look about it.
The LG G4 sports a 5.5-inch QHD LCD Quantum display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 538 PPI…and in line with the DROID Turbo’s QHD display with 565 PPI. LG claims their improved display allows for a 25-percent brighter display with a 50-percent increase in the contrast and 56-percent improvement to the color accuracy…and you can really tell the difference over the duller display on the LG G3. The panel is much brighter than last year’s and the colors really pop, much like they do on an AMOLED display. LG chose Qualcomm’s 64-bit Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor after deciding to pass on the Snapdragon 810 (found in the new LG G Flex 2). The 808 is slightly below the 810, but LG optimized it for the LG G4 and should be easier on its battery. It is packing 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, but also has room for expansion via a microSD card. The DROID Turbo offers up the 32-bit Snapdragon 805, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage…you can even get a 64GB model, however, it has no way to expand its memory.
For the past couple of years, LG has graced their flagship devices with excellent cameras and the LG G4 is no exception with a 16MP sensor, their fast laser autofocus, dual-tone LED Flash, and a wide f/1.8 aperture for better shots in low light and includes OIS+. The LG uses a large 8MP FFC camera that also includes the wider f/1.8 aperture lens and it should take excellent selfies and provide great video chatting. The DROID Turbo surprised everybody by using a 21MP sensor that actually takes great pictures. The DROID Turbo uses a much smaller 2MP FFC camera for its selfies and video chatting. The LG G4 uses a removable 3000mAh battery, compared to the non-removable 3900mAh on the DROID Turbo.
The LG G4 has controls that are easily accessible on the back of the device, includes a built-in FM radio and IR Blaster. It also incorporates some great software features like knock-knock and split screen multitasking. The LG G4 comes in a variety of colors, both metallic and leather. It will cost you about $200 on a two-year contract and about $650 off-contract.
…And The Winner Is…
Summary
I told you from the beginning that this was going to be a tough decision, but I think we have to go with the LG G4 as the winner of this specification comparison. The DROID Turbo put up a great battle – its QHD AMOLED display is beautiful, as is its ruggedness, its nano-coating for water resistance, already present wireless charging and Turbo Charger, front-facing speaker and huge 3900mAh battery – however, in the refinement of things, the LG G4 just had a little bit more.
The LG G4 has a newer 64-bit processor to take advantage of the 64-bit architecture of Android 5.0 Lollipop, it has the ability to expand the internal storage by an additional 128GB via a microSD card slot. The LG G4 has a much more sophisticated camera area with great software to run it, such as a true Profession Mode that allow the user to make manual adjustments. The LG G4 also throws in a FM stereo radio, a removable battery, an IR Blaster and a touch of elegance with an optional leather back…and it does this all for a reasonable price.
You could be very happy with either one of these devices – at only $100 on a two-contract, the DROID Turbo is a steal, but if you are really into the best specs and photography, then the LG G4 should definitely be your choice of the two devices.
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