Now before I start with this review, let’s make one thing clear, I have never been a big fan of high-end LG devices.
The LG G7+ ThinQ was given a muted launch in the country, so much so that most people didn’t even know about its availability.
The phone, priced at Rs 39,990, is probably the most sensible product from LG in a long time. Trouble is, you’ve got competition like the OnePlus 6 and even the recently launched Poco F1 to tackle in this hyperactive segment. We tried out the phone to see whether LG has pulled a trick out of its hat.
Pros:
- Compact form and size
- Sharp and crisp screen
- Water and dust resistant
- Performs as expected
- Top-notch built-in audio speakers
- Impressive rear camera
- Good value for money
Cons:
- Software needs some work
- Average battery life
- Face unlock is sluggish
- LG’s branding could work against it
What’s Good?
It’s easy to ridicule when things are bad, but we do make a point to appreciate when a product delivers. The G7+ ThinQ is pretty late to launch in India. Having said that, it has the dimensions of a phone that I’d prefer using.
This is something I had mentioned during my review of the Nokia 6.1 Plus earlier this year. The phone’s QHD resolution screen has a notch, which can be customised to get a second screen or in simple words, cover up the notch. You can easily see the display in bright outdoor conditions and the adaptive brightness comes in handy for that.
The design of the phone is further solidified with Corning Glass 5 on the back and the front, but be careful while using it.
The 6.1-inch form factor is not only easy to use, but also offers a screen that is high on sharpness but not that great on contrast. Avoiding the use of AMOLED screen could be the reason here and we don’t mind it.
The phone, unlike the OnePlus 6, gets IP68 certification, making it dust- and water-resistant.
We’ve lamented LG for overpricing its phones but this one for its price, gets Snapdragon 845 processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, which is further expandable.
This hardware means nothing but solid performance, be it while gaming or regular mobile usage. Enough has been written on that front and we’ll keep it short. It’s good and we’ve got no qualms with it.
We’d also like to give special mention to the phone’s built-in speakers that support the Quad-DAC feature and in addition to that you get other audio tweaks like DTS:X 3D surround for wired headphones.
The resulting audio has clarity and carries a certain amount of bass that adds to the viewing experience on the phone.
We’ve also got a lot to say about the rear cameras, which get aperture f/1.6 and f/1.9 wide-angle lens. Pictures in broad daylight get ample detail and even in low-light, the images turned out to be decent. However, we would have liked optical image stabilisation (OIS) on both the lenses.
- 01/03Food pictures clicked with the G7+ ThinQ(Photo: The Quint)
- 02/03Wide-angle shot with the G7+ ThinQ(Photo: The Quint)
- 03/03Shot in low-light(Photo: The Quint)
When you round up all of this and put a price tag of around 40K, that’s probably the best LG could have done.
What’s Bad?
The phone’s software could use some work though. The customised interface running over Android 8.1 Oreo is sluggish and most of its reliability is because of the chipset in tow.
It has some bloatware too, which honestly needs to go, or at least the buyers should be able to make the decision for themselves. The software issue also results in lesser use of RAM, even though you’ve got 6GB of those available. The software is also the reason behind LG’s face unlock feature being sluggish. Thankfully, you can switch to fingerprint reader, if the other biometric option doesn’t suit you.
The phone also has another problem and LG using a 3,000mAh battery for a 6.1-inch phone with QHD screen has a lot to do with it. The battery life is average at best and while you can keep it running for a work day, getting 24 hours juice on a single charge will definitely be a challenge. Hopefully, LG has some software updates around the corner to make this issue less painful.
Somehow LG feels obligated to offer a physical button to access Google Assistant. You can remap the button to do anything else, which for us, makes it a pointless addition.
Also, special mention for LG who are quite absent-minded with software updates. Please make sure this phone gets Android P, at least before Google announces Android Q.
Why Buy It?
The LG G7+ ThinQ has the right size, with a top-notch screen that’s bright and sharp. You got Snapdragon 845 with 6GB RAM that takes care of your heavy usage with ease.
The dual rear cameras are capable of shooting quality images in bright and low light conditions. Having said that, the battery life is average and won’t last 24 hours, the software could get a bit lighter which could also enhance the performance further.
For Rs 39,990 this phone has every right to stand up against the OnePlus 6 and is worth looking at if you’re looking for a phone with added durability and wireless charging also to your liking.
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