LG G2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S4 Smartphones Comparison

LG G2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S4: Flagship Smartphone Comparison

In 2013, the LG G2 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 were two of the most powerful and innovative Android smartphones on the market. Both devices offered impressive displays, strong performance, and unique features, making them stand out in the competitive flagship smartphone category. Here’s how they compare across various key aspects:

Design & Build

  • LG G2: The LG G2 featured a plastic build with a sleek and minimalistic design. Its standout feature was the rear-mounted power and volume buttons, which were placed below the camera, making the device more ergonomic for one-handed use. The G2 had very thin bezels, giving it a nearly all-screen look. Despite the plastic body, it felt solid in hand, though it lacked the premium feel of metal or glass.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4 also had a plastic build, with a more traditional design featuring side-mounted power and volume buttons. It had a slightly smaller footprint compared to the LG G2 due to its 5-inch display but was still quite compact for the screen size. The plastic used in the Galaxy S4’s construction made it lightweight, but it was often criticized for feeling less premium compared to devices with metal or glass finishes.

Winner: The LG G2 wins for innovation in design with its unique rear-button layout and slimmer bezels, while the Galaxy S4 offers a more traditional but equally functional design.

Display

  • LG G2: The LG G2 had a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a 1080×1920 resolution and a pixel density of 424 ppi. The display was one of the best in its class, offering excellent color accuracy, sharpness, and brightness. The larger screen size with minimal bezels made the G2 great for media consumption.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4 came with a 5-inch Super AMOLED display, also with a 1080×1920 resolution and a slightly lower pixel density of 441 ppi. The AMOLED screen provided deep blacks and vibrant colors, which made it particularly striking for watching videos or playing games. However, some users found the colors to be overly saturated compared to the more natural colors on the LG G2.

Winner: This comes down to personal preference: LG G2 offers a larger and more accurate display, while the Galaxy S4 delivers more vibrant colors and deeper blacks with its AMOLED panel.

Performance

  • LG G2: The LG G2 was powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, a quad-core CPU clocked at 2.26GHz, with 2GB of RAM. It was one of the most powerful phones of 2013, delivering smooth and fast performance for multitasking, gaming, and other demanding tasks. The Adreno 330 GPU handled graphic-heavy games without a hitch.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4 featured either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor (in some regions) or Samsung’s Exynos 5410 Octa-core processor (in others). The Snapdragon 600, clocked at 1.9GHz with 2GB of RAM, was a step behind the G2’s Snapdragon 800 in terms of raw performance but still delivered excellent multitasking and gaming performance. The Adreno 320 GPU in the S4 was capable of handling most games, though not as powerful as the G2’s GPU.

Winner: The LG G2 wins with its more powerful Snapdragon 800 processor and Adreno 330 GPU, making it the better choice for performance-intensive tasks.

Camera

  • LG G2: The LG G2 came with a 13MP rear camera featuring optical image stabilization (OIS), which helped reduce blur in low-light conditions or when capturing moving subjects. It produced sharp, detailed images with good color accuracy. The front-facing camera was 2.1MP, adequate for selfies and video calls.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4 had a 13MP rear camera without OIS but included numerous camera features like Dual Shot, Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, and HDR. The S4’s camera was fast, performed well in good lighting, and offered a more versatile shooting experience with its built-in software features. The front-facing camera was 2MP and performed similarly to the G2’s front shooter.

Winner: The LG G2 wins for low-light photography thanks to OIS, while the Galaxy S4 provides more camera features and modes for creative photography.

Battery Life

  • LG G2: The LG G2 came with a 3000mAh non-removable battery, offering excellent battery life. With normal usage, the G2 could easily last a full day, and with light usage, it could stretch into two days. The efficient Snapdragon 800 and larger battery capacity helped the G2 excel in battery performance.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4 had a 2600mAh removable battery, allowing users to swap in a spare battery if needed. While battery life was good, lasting about a day with moderate use, it wasn’t as long-lasting as the G2. However, the removable battery gave it flexibility for power users who preferred carrying an extra battery.

Winner: LG G2 wins for longer battery life, while the Galaxy S4 offers the advantage of a removable battery for added flexibility.

Software & Features

  • LG G2: The LG G2 ran Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with LG’s custom UI on top. While the UI wasn’t as streamlined as stock Android, it introduced several useful features, including:
    • KnockOn: Double-tap to wake the phone.
    • Guest Mode: A secondary profile with limited access for other users.
    • Slide Aside: A multitasking feature that allowed users to swipe apps aside for later access.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4 ran Android 4.2.2 with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. TouchWiz was heavily customized and packed with features, including:
    • Air Gesture: Control the phone without touching the screen.
    • Smart Scroll: Scroll through web pages by tilting your head.
    • Multi-Window: Use two apps side by side.
    • S Health: A built-in health and fitness tracker.

While the Galaxy S4 offered more software features, TouchWiz was criticized for being bloated and causing occasional slowdowns.

Winner: The Galaxy S4 wins for having more features, but users who prefer a more streamlined experience may prefer the LG G2’s simpler interface.

Storage

  • LG G2: The LG G2 came with 16GB or 32GB of internal storage but lacked a microSD card slot for expansion.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4 came with 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB storage options and included a microSD card slot for up to 64GB of additional storage.

Winner: The Galaxy S4 wins for expandable storage via microSD card.

Audio

  • LG G2: The LG G2 provided decent audio quality, but its rear-facing speaker wasn’t as loud or clear as front-facing speakers.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4’s speaker also provided good sound, but it lacked depth. Both phones worked best with headphones or external speakers for serious media consumption.

Winner: Tie – Both phones had similar audio performance.

Conclusion

  • LG G2: Best for users who prioritize performance, battery life, and low-light photography. The innovative rear-button design and KnockOn feature also made it stand out. However, it lacks expandable storage and uses a plastic build.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4: Best for users who want feature-packed software, expandable storage, and a removable battery. The AMOLED display offers more vibrant colors, and the phone includes plenty of creative camera features, but the TouchWiz UI can feel bloated.

Both devices were excellent flagships in 2013, with the LG G2 edging out in performance and battery life, while the Galaxy S4 excelled in software features and expandable storage.