[T-Mobile LG G5 Guides, News, & Discussion] mahst68:
:D

PURPOSE

So 1st and foremost, the plan here is to give you my experience with these 2 phones. Granted, I have only used the LG G5 for about 2 days now and can't say I have truly put it to task. This will be a unbiased look and comparison. I'm neither a fanboy or sheep. No brand affiliation. Not a programmer either, just a pro-sumer Senior Member of XDA willing to get trolled, flamed, etc. for sharing a look at these 2 phones. Hopefully, I can give "the everyday guy / gal look" without getting bogged down in stats, variables or benchmarks. Here goes...

MY BACKGROUND

No one special. Just a guy that likes the latest tech... phones being at the top of the list. I am a nerd. No doubt about that. I think anyone that knows about XDA probably is to some extent. No brand loyalty. Recently, I have had the privilege to try out the following phones:

1. LG G5

2. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

3. Huawei Mate 8

4. Huawei Nexus 6P

5. LG Nexus 5X

6. Samsung Note 5

7. Apple iPhone 6s+

And probably some more, but these are the most recent. Does that make me qualified to make a review... Maybe. It does make me an idiot that likes new phones, though. I am always looking for something that meets my needs but also is a good phone. Currently with TMobile but have been with ATT, Verizon & Sprint at some point 20 years of using cell phones.

MY NEEDS

I drive about 40 miles everyday to work (yes, my work week is currently 7 days a week with a few occasional days off). So, with this in mind and where I drive. I need the minimum requirements:

1. Can Stream Music

2. Bluetooth is fully compatible with my 2016 vehicle

3. An equalizer of some sort since I have only switch out my new cars speakers for better ones and don't plan on changing or adding a better sound system.

4. Decent pictures when needed

5. As a nerd, I like to "mesmerize" people with a pay with your phone app like Apple Pay or Android Pay

6. Works with my Huawei Watch

7. Relatively not laggy - will sometimes do some ROM-ing or some customization but since I tend to get rid of the phones quickly I try not to void warranties or make it too non-stock

THE COMPARISON

I am looking at my experience with the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge under around these requirements and some normal stuff like battery, screen, snappiness, heat, speakers, etc. Here goes:

SOUND OVERALL

Both the S7 Edge and the LG G5 pass my car test. Both successfully hook up with the bluetooth in my Honda and work with the steering wheel controls. Sound-wise through bluetooth, the LG G5 is noticeably louder even with my equalizer app, Bass Boost Pro, overlayed to give my car some nice bass and equalization. The S7 Edge also tends to be less stable with the Bass Boost Pro App sometimes leading it to crash and causing the volume to go insanely high... only bad thing when you use an app not built into the UI of the phone. To note, I could not find a "stock" equalizer in the LG G5 UI. Touchwiz has it own set of equalization but they work horribly, but Bass Boost Pro does work over top of that which was not successful with Lollipop versions of Touchwiz. The S7 edge also tends to "pop" and "crack" every so often too. I listen to heavy metal and hard rock, so I play the stuff loud (Is there any other way to listen? haha). The LG G5 performs better, needs less power to the speakers to be louder and does not have the annoying "your going to go deaf warning" every time you restart the phone. I don't listen to music with headphones because I don't workout with music, run, swim or whatever you kids do know a days that you need a wired headphone. I listen to music the good ole' 'merican way - loud, in my car, with the windows down as much as possible so my devil music infects everyone around it... haha. Seriously, though someone who has experience with headphones can chime in if they want. LG G5's external speakers hands down are just better then the S7 Edge, but that's not saying much considering the speaker on the S7 is like the horn on a 1870's phonograph so it doesn't take much to beat it, basically they are stereo and loud on the G5 so its better.

WINNER: LG G5

BATTERY

Here goes, the LG G5 battery is not as good as the S7 Edge in all accounts. It may come close after being conditioned and after having a few charge cycles but overall it would never last as long as the S7 does. However, its removable and everyone can get a free one with a separate charger. Yes, you will have to carry around 2 batteries to last as long as the S7 Edge but that also means they are replaceable if the battery deteriorates over time. Not going to hit you with stats, battery screen captures, etc. It is what it is and no amount of stats change it.

WINNER: IT'S A TIE AS LONG AS YOU CAN GET A 2ND BATTERY & CHARGER FOR FREE FROM LG, OTHERWISE SAMSUNG S7 EDGE WINS.

HEAT

The LG G5 when taxed does heat up more so then the S7 Edge. During the initial setup when I lit up the Wifi for hours downloading stuff onto the phone it got hot, not going to 3rd degree HTC / Sony burn you white hot but hot nonetheless. The S7 Edge just does not get that hot. (Maybe cause it is underclocked? Just kidding...) Obviously, the metal/plastic body transfers heat to the outside of the phone faster with the LG G5 rather than the glass/ metal combo on the S7... however I did not get a warning like I did on the LG G5 when it was a little hot like I did the couple of times with the S7 Edge. Either way, it seems Samsung's intercooling system "edges" out here (no pun intended... well, maybe)

WINNER: SAMSUNG S7 EDGE

SNAPPINESS

I like to say snappiness rather than "performance" because I am not going to throw up "AnTuTu-ning-Out of this Review Scores" or any other clocking test. Talking real world. Even though both run the same processor with the same amount of RAM, the LG G5 is more snappy and responsive... My reasoning... Touchwiz and bloat. I was even running the S7 Edge with a number of bloat disabled and it still lags here and there. On both, I replaced the stock launchers with Xpirit's HTC Sense 7 for all devices... I like the Blinkfeed Sense Launcher... Yes I'm weird... but I don't really see anyone making a Touchwiz Launcher for all phones thread so I must not be the only one. The only game I play is Clash Royale right now. Both run it fine without heating up too bad. The interface seems to have more customization for the LG G5 UX even though I could not function without the app drawer, thus a custom launcher over top. Stock launcher wise I would give Touchwiz the Edge on that. Why Samsung do you ruin a phone with excessive bloat and unuseful apps that are so deeply entrenched into the UI? I cannot answer that question. I know that the LG G5 does not have a ton of bloat (at least the TMobile Variant doesn't, sorry AT&T customers) and has a bunch of useful additions (like smart settings and the always-on display). Also, things that I disable stay disabled without requiring a special app (I'm "looking" at you stupid LookOut Security) and more so, things can be actually fully uninstalled. With a bunch of different things disabled on the S7 as compared to the G5, it still lags more. When compared to something that really hasn't lag once since setup, it is something to say for the LG G5

WINNER: LG G5

DISPLAY

Ok. Samsung makes good displays. This is known the world over. LG isn't too shabby either. When I look at displays, I look at how they look but also how they work for me. The LG G5 always-on display is awesome and not an after-thought like on the S7. All notifications update on the always on display and in conjunction with the led notification. It's a good 1 - 2 punch. The edge screen is pretty nice too on the S7 just not overly useful. Colors are better on the S7. Auto brightness just works better on the LG G5... can't say why. it just does. I also tie-in the fingerprint sensor here. Its lightning fast on the LG G5 and I like the rear of the phone placement like the Huawei Mate 8 & Huawei Nexus 6P. The one on the S7 is fast when it doesn't lag, thanks again TouchWiz. Both LED's are bright and functional. Yes, the LG G5 has black light bleed on the edge of the phones. You will see people in reviews going crazy over this... I have 2 bags filled with something as to how much this honestly effects me (the something is Dicks). Once again, real world stuff that effects me.

WINNER: FUNCTIONALITY LG G5... PRETTINESS SAMSUNG S7

PHONE DESIGN

Here's where I am going to give a honest opinion and not this knee jerk, I haven't looked at it, Samsung Fanboy comment. Yes, the S7 edge is a pretty looking phone, designed well and has niceties like wireless charging. With that said, the G5 is not an ugly phone, its just a first attempt of something different and completely different direction for LG. With that said, could they have done a little more, maybe. Could they have come clean about the metal / plastic backing before putting it out there that it is all metal, of course they could have. Ergonomically, the G5 feels better in the hand and if I hold it around the edges the screen doesn't go haywire (oops AND I know Samsung is going to fix this). I have the Gold LG G5, which I quickly put a Ringke Slim Black Matte Case on, looks cooler with the case which says that yes the design is a little lacking. Its like looking at Kirsten Dunst... You would bang her if she was right there in front of you wanting it... however, if it was between her and lets say Megan Fox, yeah you would chose Megan Fox.... Not that Kirsten is hideous but she's not Megan Fox. Also much like Kirsten, there's things to like and not like about the LG G5's appearance. I think the "chin" as it is being called is like Kirsten teeth, some find them intolerable others find them cute. The dual camera and sensor setup on the back is not bad looking either but some find it slightly out of place. I don't mind either and with the case it looks a lot better (yes, I know the "pig" analogy here about "dressing up..." kinda of rude to call Kirsten a "pig" though, hahaha)

WINNER: SAMSUNG S7

CAMERA

Last and for some not least is the camera comparison. I place it last because I cannot say it enough... if you want good photos use an actual camera, point & shoot or DSLR. A phone camera is a substitute for a DSLR like Channing Frye is a substitute for LeBron James... yes, Channing might get the job done but in a big game you want LeBron. Cameras on phones are progressing to be better however they will always have 1 thing they can't overcome... that's physics. Plain and simple. You will never achieve what a big camera does because its bigger. Sensor, the lens, etc. is bigger captures more light, bigger surface area for the chip to absorb the image, etc. That's why I place this last. I look at a phone camera to be functional, take good pictures in a pinch or a setting where I can't take a bigger camera or just don't want to. I know what the limitations are and understand that I'm not going to be Ansel Adams with it. Therefore, I have not taken many pictures with either. The lens F-stop is better on the S7 Edge and thus let in more light leading to better overall pictures in low light. Physics not opinion. (thanks $30000 art institute degree) Dual Camera allows for wider field of view on the G5 due to the dual cameras. Once again, physics. At the end of the day, its what you need and how much more you will use it. Like to take pictures in bars of your friends drinking too much and getting wasted, probably the S7 is better for you. Like to take pictures of vistas outside with your phone thinking your Ansel Adams only to realize he use far superior equipment to take his pictures over 70 years ago, the G5's camera is your ticket

WINNER: IT'S A TIE AS I DON'T HAVE A REAL OPINION JUST YET

CONCLUSION

For me, the LG G5 is a nice phone and on par with the S7 Edge. It will work for me until I get to compare it hopefully to the high end M10 from HTC. Will it be everyone's cup of tea, no. And that's why there's options for everyone to choose what they like. Options are like opinions are like something else everyone has... I personally would say from a everyday usage standpoint, the LG G5 wins out. From a Megan Fox, Jennifer Aniston, Emily "To Long for a Jersey" Ratajkowski standpoint, the Samsung S7 Edge is where it is at... just remember though with all that beauty comes some high maintenance. There's nothing wrong with a Kirsten Dunst, Melissa Benoist, Kaley Cuoco phone... in fact, it might even surprise you in the end... (i.e. check out some photos of those 3 on the internet... haha)

As always please comment, thanks again! :good: