Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs. LG G2: Battle of the South Korean giants

The LG G2 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 were recently unveiled at the IFA among great fanfare. Both these devices feature top notch hardware, software and an excellent display that put them on par. While the LG G2 is a phone, the Note 3 is a phablet with a screen size that is ideal for those who want a midsized tablet with all the functionalities of a phone.

With several high end smartphone handsets, in the Rs 40K - 50K price range, being released around the same time, the competition is going to be tough for all contenders. In such a scenario, with the LG G2 prove to be a tough contender amongst rivals and also make its presence felt strongly in the market? Let us find out.

Design and build:

Available in standard black and white colours, the G2 features a glossy, thin and smooth plastic construct similar to that of the Galaxy S4. Measuring 138.5 H x 70.9 W x 8.9 mm D, the LG G2 is considerably taller. By relocating some of its controls, such as placing the volume rocker under the camera for controlling via the index finger, the G2 is designed for easy access. The power button also rests at the back for delivering a streamlined feel.

The Note 3 sports an angular design with a bigger screen, three button layout and a special compartment to dock the S pen stylus, while keeping the weight light and thin. The Note 3 sports a textured plastic body that resembles leather in appearance complete with the stitching, to deliver a refined look.

Hardware:

The G2 is integrated with the Qualcomm quad-core 2.26 GHz Snapdragon 800 chip with 2 GB LP DDR3 800 MHz RAM for a faster multitasking performance. In India, the Note 3 will have a 1.9 GHz Octa Core Processor (A15 1.9 GHz ＋ A7 1.3 GHz) at its core for 3G users.

With up to 3 GB RAM, the Note 3 allows for smoother performance. Both these devices run on the Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) OS and come with 32 GB of internal storage. While about 24 GB is the maximum available memory for the G2, the Note 3 allows for expansion up to 64 GB via microSD card.

Display:

LG G2 comes with a large 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with an edge to edge display, Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution and 423 ppi pixel density, to deliver an immersive viewing experience.

With a slightly larger screen at 5.7 inches, the Note 3 is equipped with a Super AMOLED screen with 1920x1080p resolution and 386 ppi pixels density for a clear and vivid display.

Verdict:

Both these phones are generally on par with each other where hardware, OS and display are concerned and are priced closely. Unlike Samsung, which enjoys a great market share in India with its budget phones and the Galaxy range of smartphones, LG has yet to taste success here. Will the G2 be able to give LG the much needed break? Only time will tell. With devices like the Nexus 5 set to launch in India, there is a high chance that consumers will go for that device instead.