LG has launched the Optimus G Pro flagship Android smartphone in India, with a price tag of Rs 42,500.
Two things do stand out immediately – first, the rather delayed launch of the Nexus 4 in India has taken some sheen off what is potentially a very good device. Second, it is taking on much more popular Android flagships that also cost a lot less.
What is the Optimus G Pro?
The Optimus G Pro packs in a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, paired with 2GB of RAM. The phone runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) out of the box.
There is 32GB of built-in storage, along with a microSD slot for expansion. LG has packed this in with a fairly big 3,140 mAh battery.
Check out how the LG Optimus G Pro compares to other rival flagship smartphones in terms of specifications, below:
| Model | LG Optimus G Pro | Samsung Galaxy Note II | HTC Butterfly | Samsung Galaxy S4 | HTC One | Lenovo K900 |
| Power Package | | | | | | |
| Processor | Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 | Exynos 4412 Quad | Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon (S4 Pro) | Exynos 5 Octa 5410 | Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 | Intel Atom Z2580 |
| Cores | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Max Clock Speed (in GHz) | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | Quad-core 1.6 GHz & quad-core 1.2 GHz | 1.7 | 2 |
| RAM | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Graphics | Adreno 320 | Mali-400MP | Adreno 320 | PowerVR SGX 544MP3 | Adreno 320 | PowerVR SGX544 |
| Display | | | | | | |
| Size (inches) | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5 | 5 | 4.7 | 5.5 |
| Type | IPS Plus LCD | Super AMOLED | Super LCD3 | Super AMOLED | Super LCD3 | IPS LCD |
| Resolution (pixels) | 1920 x 1080 | 1280 x 720 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Storage | | | | | | |
| Internal Storage (in GB) | 32 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 16 |
| Expandable (Y/N) | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Memory card Type | microSD | microSD | microSD | microSD | – | microSD |
| Camera | | | | | | |
| Mega Pixels | 13 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 4 (UltraPixel) | 13 |
| Others | | | | | | |
| SIM type | micro | micro | micro | micro | micro | micro |
| OS | Android 4.1.2 | Android 4.1.2 | Android 4.1.2 | Android 4.2 | Android 4.1.2 | Android 4.2 |
| Battery Capacity (in mAh) | 3140 | 3100 | 2020 | 2600 | 2300 | 2500 |
| Weight (in grams) | 172 | 180 | 140 | 130 | 143 | 162 |
Is it THAT superior to the Galaxy Note II?
The general perception is that the Optimus G Pro is directly competing with the Samsung Galaxy Note II. However, it is important to note that the Galaxy Note II has been around for quite a while now, and we could very well see a newer version of the big screen flagship in a few months’ time. Which is why, in a direct comparison, the Optimus G Pro has a distinct advantage in terms of specs.
What? No stylus?
While the LG Optimus G Pro may be called a Note II competitor, it is important to note that the G Pro doesn’t come with a stylus. Yes, there are a couple of apps that believe that your finger is the stylus, but for all purposes, it just isn’t the same thing. For the want of a more a more direct rival, you would have to look at the 5-inch phones instead.
It is just a smartphone then?
So, essentially, the Optimus G Pro is essentially a smartphone just like any other flagship currently fighting for the top spot – the HTC One, the Galaxy S4, and the Lenovo IdeaPhone K900.
How does it compare to the flagships?
Compared to the HTC One, there is a very apparent screen size advantage for the Optimus G Pro. The Snapdragon 600 processor on both devices is exactly the same. Both the 4.7-inch display for the HTC One and 5.5-inch display for the Optimus G Pro have the Full HD resolution. But, while the Optimus sports the IPS Plus display, the HTC One has the Super LCD3. Between the two, the IPS Plus will be more frugal when it comes to battery consumption. The HTC One is the best-built Android phone out there, and that is a debate that ends as quickly as it was opened.
Compared with the Galaxy S4, the Optimus G Pro seems to be at a disadvantage immediately, as you compare the processor details. The quad-core Snapdragon 600 will look at a severe disadvantage when compared to the octa-core monster in the Galaxy S4 (quad-core 1.6GHz & quad-core 1.2GHz). We will only be comparing the actual performance between the two power plants once we get the Optimus G Pro for a detailed review.
The real joker in the pack could be the Lenovo K900 smartphone. This is the first high-end Intel-powered smartphone, and we do find the specs to be rather impressive. However, all judgment and comparisons will be reserved till we benchmark both devices, the review units of which are coming soon.