Galaxy S5 vs LG G3

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. LG G3: Flagship Smartphone Showdown

In 2014, both Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3 were among the top Android flagship smartphones. While they share similarities in performance and features, they each bring unique strengths to the table. Let’s take a closer look at how they compare in design, display, camera, and overall experience.

Design & Build

  • Samsung Galaxy S5:
    • The Galaxy S5 features a plastic body with a textured, dimpled back that adds grip. It’s IP67-certified, making it water-resistant and dustproof, which adds durability. The phone is relatively lightweight at 145g and comes with a removable back cover that allows access to the battery and microSD slot.
  • LG G3:
    • The LG G3 has a more premium feel, featuring a brushed metallic plastic finish that looks and feels high-end. It’s slightly larger than the S5, weighing 149g, and has a sleeker design with very thin bezels, giving it a more modern look. However, the G3 is not water-resistant like the S5. It also comes with a removable back, giving access to the battery and microSD slot.

Winner: LG G3 for its premium look and sleek design, though the Galaxy S5 wins in durability with water resistance.

Display

  • Samsung Galaxy S5:
    • The Galaxy S5 sports a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1920×1080 resolution (432 ppi). Samsung’s AMOLED technology delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, making it ideal for media consumption.
  • LG G3:
    • The LG G3 boasts a 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS LCD display with an impressive 2560×1440 resolution (538 ppi). The higher resolution results in sharper images and more detail, especially when viewing high-resolution content, but the colors aren’t as saturated as those on the Galaxy S5’s AMOLED screen.

Winner: LG G3 for its higher resolution and larger display, but the Galaxy S5’s AMOLED screen offers more vibrant colors.

Performance

  • Samsung Galaxy S5:
    • Powered by a Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.5GHz with 2GB of RAM, the Galaxy S5 delivers smooth performance for multitasking, gaming, and running demanding apps. It also features 32GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 128GB.
  • LG G3:
    • The LG G3 is also powered by the Snapdragon 801 processor, but it comes with 2GB of RAM (on the 16GB model) or 3GB of RAM (on the 32GB model). Like the S5, it offers expandable storage via microSD, up to 128GB.

Winner: Tie – Both devices offer similar performance with the same processor, but the LG G3’s 3GB RAM variant may handle multitasking slightly better.

Camera

  • Samsung Galaxy S5:
    • The Galaxy S5 is equipped with a 16MP rear camera that features phase detection autofocus, 4K video recording, and HDR. Its fast autofocus makes it excellent for capturing moving subjects, and the camera performs well in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is decent but not exceptional.
  • LG G3:
    • The LG G3 features a 13MP rear camera with laser autofocus for fast and accurate focusing. Like the S5, it supports 4K video recording and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), which helps reduce blur in photos and video. The G3 performs particularly well in low-light conditions due to the OIS, though its overall image sharpness is slightly behind the S5.

Winner: Galaxy S5 for higher resolution and faster autofocus, but the LG G3 excels in low-light photography thanks to OIS.

Battery Life

  • Samsung Galaxy S5:
    • The Galaxy S5 is powered by a 2800mAh removable battery, which provides solid battery life, lasting a full day of moderate use. It also comes with Ultra Power Saving Mode, which can extend battery life by limiting background activity and turning the display grayscale.
  • LG G3:
    • The LG G3 has a 3000mAh removable battery, offering slightly better battery life than the S5, especially when powering its larger Quad HD display. The G3 also includes power-saving modes but lacks a dedicated Ultra Power Saving Mode like the Galaxy S5.

Winner: LG G3 for its larger battery, though the Galaxy S5’s Ultra Power Saving Mode helps conserve power in critical moments.

Software & Features

  • Samsung Galaxy S5:
    • The Galaxy S5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat (upgradable) with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, which offers plenty of customization options but is known for being bloated. It comes with unique features like a heart rate monitor and a fingerprint scanner for added security.
  • LG G3:
    • The LG G3 runs Android 4.4 KitKat (upgradable) with LG’s Optimus UI. The software is less cluttered than TouchWiz, offering a cleaner user experience. It also features Knock Code, which lets you unlock the phone with a custom tap pattern, and Smart Notice, which provides useful notifications based on user behavior.

Winner: LG G3 for a cleaner UI, but the Galaxy S5 has more unique hardware features like the heart rate monitor.

Conclusion

  • Samsung Galaxy S5: Best for users who want a durable, water-resistant phone with an excellent AMOLED display, a fast autofocus camera, and unique features like a heart rate monitor and Ultra Power Saving Mode.
  • LG G3: Ideal for those who prefer a larger, higher-resolution display, sleek design, and great low-light camera performance, along with a clean software experience.

Ultimately, the LG G3 excels in design and display, while the Samsung Galaxy S5 stands out for its durability, vibrant display, and extra features. Your choice will depend on whether you prioritize a larger, sharper display (LG G3) or water resistance and better camera focus performance (Galaxy S5).