Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the popular LG G4 goes up against the new OnePlus 2. The tried and true LG brand competes with the always-controversial OnePlus brand. LG is a huge company and has been making mobile phones for years and their new LG G4 model is a work of art from its QHD display to its top-notch camera area. OnePlus is a small Chinese smartphone company, founded less than two years ago and while they put out a great product for the price, they have found it hard to get their smartphone built and out into the market at a fast enough pace. OnePlus has promised that the OnePlus 2 model will be easier to obtain, which will be good news for both the company and their loyal band of followers.
These two devices have a solid build and premium look to them, especially if you include one of the optional backs. Despite their heritage, the LG G4 and the OnePlus 2 do share a few common specifications. For starters, they share the same size display at 5.5-inches and because of that, they are also almost identical in physical size, although the OnePlus 2 weighs about 20 grams more than the LG G4. They both use a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon, but different models. The memory configurations are straightforward with the LG G4 – 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage with room to expand. The OnePlus 2 comes in two configurations – 3GB of RAM and 16GB and 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage with no room to expand. OnePlus tells us that only the 64GB model will be available at launch.
The usual suspects are all here along with a couple of observations – they both have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS and microUSB ports for charging and data transfer…the LG G4 has the more familiar USB 2.0 and the OnePlus has the newer USB Type-C. One glaring absence on the OnePlus 2 is no NFC capability – meaning that its fingerprint sensor is only good for unlocking the device.
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.
Specifications
LG G4
The new LG G4 is an evolution of last year’s popular LG G3 and is improved everywhere the original was lacking. The device is slightly larger and they included a slight curve to the entire device…not like the curve of the LG G Flex 2, but just enough to make it a pleasure to hold in your hand. Along with the improved ceramic-coated metallic plastic backing, making it easier to grip, you can use a genuine leather back in one of several colors…complete with stitching.
The QHD display on the G3 was impressive, but it was rather dull looking so LG concentrated and improved the display on the LG G4 by switching to a new IPS Quantum display technology. LG claims this improvement creates a 25-percent brighter display with a 50-percent increase in the contrast and 56-percent improvement to the color accuracy. The new LG G4 sports a 5.5-inch QHD LCD Quantum display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 538 pixels-per-inch (PPI)…this compares to the FHD display and 401 PPI found on the OnePlus 2.
LG made a smart decision when they decided to pass on the Snapdragon 810 that they used in their LG G Flex 2. They stayed with Qualcomm, but opted to use the 64-bit Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor in the G4. Optimized by LG and Qualcomm for the LG G4 it should offer the user a dependable experience and be easier on its battery. In contrast, OnePlus decided to use the Snapdragon 810 in the OnePlus 2 and ratcheted down the speed to keep it from getting hot. The LG G4 and the OnePlus 2 are both packing 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage in the G4 and 16GB in the OnePlus 2, although it is also available in a 4GB and 64GB. The LG G4 also has room for expansion via a microUSB card.
The LG G4 has a top-rate camera area with a 16MP sensor, laser autofocus, dual-tone LED Flash, a wide f/1.8 aperture and OIS for their main camera. LG also included a huge 8MP FFC with the f/1.8 aperture that should take excellent selfies and provide great video chatting. The OnePlus 2 has a 13MP main camera and a 5MP FFC – it does come with laser autofocus as well. The G4 uses a 3000mAh removable battery, compared to the non-removable 3300mAh on the OnePlus 2 – both batteries should get you through a day.
The LG G4 does offer optional wireless charging, a FM Stereo radio, a built-in IR Blaster, NFC capable and comes with controls that are easily accessible on the back of the device. It also incorporates some great software features in the camera app and on the device itself. The LG G4 is available in a variety of colors in either the standard ceramic-coated plastic back or genuine leather. It is running the latest Lollipop, will cost you about $200 on a two-year contract and about $550 off contact, and is available on all major US carriers.
OnePlus 2
The new OnePlus 2 is somewhat an upgrade from the OnePlus One, but did OnePlus go far enough? It is difficult to build a flagship smartphone while trying to keep the cost down. Its build quality is about as good as it gets with a solid metal frame and trim, but OnePlus carried over the same FHD display, the same size camera then added 1GB of RAM and increased the battery from 3100mAh to 3300mAh. They added a fingerprint sensor, but took away the NFC – meaning the fingerprint sensor can be used for nothing more than unlocking the phone.
The OnePlus 2 sports a 5.5-inch LTPS LCD FHD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 401 PPI versus the QHD display on the LG G4 with 538 PPI. OnePlus picked the 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz that goes up against the LG G4’s 64-bit Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor clocked at 1.82GHz. The OnePlus has two options when it comes to RAM/Memory – 3GB/16GB or 4GB/64GB – although the 4GB/64GB is the only one available for a while. There is no room for expansion in the OnePlus 2. The LG G4 has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of memory with a microSD card slot for expansion.
The camera in the OnePlus 2 retains the same 13MP sensor as the previous model, but they did add laser autofocus, a dual-LED flash and OIS. For the FFC OnePlus included a 5MP camera for selfies or video chatting. This goes up against one of the best smartphone cameras available – a 16MP main camera and a large 8MP FFC. The OnePlus 2 increased the non-removable battery size from 3000mAh to 3300mAh to go up against the removable 3000mAh battery in the LG G4, which also has a quick charge option and optional wireless charging.
The OnePlus 2 does have a fingerprint sensor that the LG G4 lacks, and a great sound ‘system’ built-in to the device. It is also using a newer USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer that uses a nice, reversible plug. It is running OnePlus’ own OS called OxygenOS 2.0 over Android Lollipop 5.1. LTE works on AT&T and T-Mobile and the OnePlus 2 will cost you $329 for the 16GB model and $389 for the 64GB model.
…And The Winner Is…
Summary
I was completely surprised by my selection…I really thought I would choose the new OnePlus 2 as the winner, but I simply cannot. For starters, I cannot find anywhere that the OnePlus 2 is superior to the LG G4 spec wise. The LG G4 has a superior display and certainly a superior camera. When it comes to processors, I know that the OnePlus 2 is using the Snapdragon 810 octa-core versus the Snapdragon 808 hexa-core in the LG G4, but OnePlus lowered the clock speed to 1.8GHz to prevent overheating while LG has optimized the 808 for the G4 and it makes no apologize to its big brother, the 810. The G4 has NFC so you can use it to make payments, it has an FM stereo radio, a built-in IR Blaster, fast charging capabilities, optional wireless, a removable battery and room to expand internal memory.
The OnePlus 2 is a great device – it is beautifully design with terrific build quality and also has the optional backs to further customize your smartphone. As far as it being the “flagship killer,” that is a bit of an exaggeration – maybe a 2014 killer, but not in 2015 or 2016. The price is great for the quality you get, but leaving out NFC is just not smart with mobile purchasing about to explode with Android Pay and Samsung Pay. No optional wireless charging, no microSD slot, no removable battery and still sporting a FHD display versus the QHD display on the LG G4 and a fingerprint scanner that is only good for unlocking your phone…all of these things swayed me to pick the LG G4 as the winner of this comparison.
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