LG G3 to be unveiled today: All you need to know about LG's next flagship

The 2014 Android flagship line-up is nearly complete and all that’s left is LG’s offering. The LG G3 is all set for a global unveiling which will take place tomorrow, May 27, at 6PM in London (10:30PM IST).   The G3 is no secret anymore. Thanks to the steady flow of rumours these past couple of weeks, we pretty much know everything there is to know about it. For those not in the loop though, here’s a quick breakdown of what we should expect tomorrow.   What is it? LG will be unveiling the G3, their flagship Android smartphone which will go on to replace the G2 ( **Read full review** ). The G3 will go on to compete with the likes of the **Samsung Galaxy S5** , **Sony Xperia Z2** and **HTC One M8** , as far as high-end Androids go.   Is it made of plastic? Quite the opposite actually. We’re not sure if the G3 will boast of a almost-full metal chassis like the M8, but rest assured, there’s going to be lots of it. This marks a huge upgrade from the G2 that launched last year. From the teaser videos, we can see that the chassis will be derived from milled aluminium or stainless steel. It will also feature the same brushed metal look like the M8. This might make it heavier than the G2 but we know for a fact that it will have the same depth of 8.9mm (thanks to a leaked slide).     What about the display? When LG launched the G2 last year, they went on about how 5.2-inches was the ideal size and anything bigger was too big. They seem to have forgotten that bit since the G3 will sport a 5.5-inch IPS display. However, instead of Full HD (1920 x 1080p), the G3 will be the first mainstream phone to sport a Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440). Apart from the crazy pixel density of 538ppi, it also supports the full sRGB colour spectrum. So far, the Galaxy S5 has had the most impressive display of late according to DisplayMate, so LG has their work cut out for them.   While we like nothing more than higher resolution displays, it’s also a bit of concern when it comes to battery life. However, we assume LG will be using the Graphic RAM technique used in the G2, to squeeze out more juice.   How does it compare with the current flagships? In terms of core specifications, it’s not wildly different from the current crop of flagships, simply because there are only that many high-end components one can choose from. The G3 will be running Android KitKat 4.4.2 along with LG’s refreshed Optimus UI. The phone is will support LTE, although we’re yet to see if the initial model will be TDD-LTE compatible.   In terms of power, we have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset with 3GB of RAM. You’ll also get 32GB of onboard storage. This looks like a standard offering since there’s no mention about a microSD card slot anywhere. [caption id=“attachment_224434” align=“alignnone” width=“550”] The leaked slide which bears it all[/caption]   In terms of imaging, we have a 13MP camera with Optical Image Stabilisation, like we did on the G2. It’s possible that LG has made some tweaks to the sensor, but for the most part, it seems identical to the one on the G2.   The G3 will also feature something called ‘1Watt Booster Amp’. This will mostly be used to drive higher impedance headphones and possibly for the loud speaker as well.   LG made their **QuickCircle case official** , which gives us a much clearer glimpse into the new look of the OS. The accessory could be bundled along with the phone as an introductory offer and lets users access frequently used apps like the camera, music, messaging, calls, settings and their fitness app dubbed LG Fitness. The latter will tie into LG’s **recently announced** LifeBand Touch and HeartRate earphones, which went on sale in the US on May 18.   Is the G3 worth the wait? We’d reckon, yes. There’s a lot to like in the G3, not to mention, it’s quite a significant upgrade over the G2. The biggest advantage the G3 has over the current competition is the new display, aluminium chassis and the camera with OIS. You probably won’t be able to tell 538ppi apart from say, 432ppi on the S5 but it should be stunning nonetheless. The G2 really impressed us with its display and G3 is once again set to bowl us over. The phone might not have a 16MP or 20.7MP sensor like the rivals but it has Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), which neither of them do. This should give you steady shots during low-light and stable video even in motion.   What about pricing? According to ZDNet Korea, the G3 will probably launch at a higher price as compared to the current flagships. They estimate a launch price of 920,000 won or $897 USD. This roughly translates to Rs 54,000. We’re not sure if this will be the MRP or the actual selling price once it hits India. The G3 should be an interesting addition to the current crop of flagships and its biggest rival is undoubtedly the HTC One M8. We sure hope the G3 supports expandable memory as none of the rumours hint at it having one.   The LG G3 will be unveiled tomorrow and we will be bringing you all the details from the launch as it happens.