The LG G4 remains one of the most interesting mid-decade Android flagships ever released, and if you are considering picking one up secondhand or simply want to understand its legacy, this guide covers everything you need to know. Launched in 2015, the LG G4 delivered a genuinely compelling package: a hand-stitched leather back, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, a 16-megapixel rear camera with a wide f/1.8 aperture, and a removable battery at a time when most manufacturers were sealing their devices shut. For buyers evaluating the G4 against other options from that era, or researchers studying smartphone evolution, this complete analysis breaks down performance, camera quality, display, build, and long-term value honestly and thoroughly.
Design and Build Quality
The LG G4 arrived with a visual identity that stood apart from its contemporaries. LG offered two primary back panel options: a genuine hand-stitched leather cover and a polycarbonate plastic shell. The leather variant in particular earned widespread praise from reviewers and users alike, providing a tactile warmth and grip that glass-backed rivals simply could not match.
The phone features a slight arc along its vertical axis, a design choice LG described as ergonomic. In practice, the curve does make one-handed use more comfortable, and the device sits naturally against the cheek during calls. At 149 grams with a leather back, the G4 feels substantial without being burdensome.
One of the most celebrated design decisions was the retention of a removable battery and a microSD card slot. In 2015, Samsung had already moved away from removable batteries in its Galaxy S6 lineup, making LG’s choice feel almost rebellious. For power users who carried a spare battery or needed to expand storage beyond the built-in 32GB, these features were genuinely meaningful.
The rear-mounted volume and power buttons, a signature LG design element, divided opinion. Some users found the placement intuitive once they adjusted, while others never fully warmed to it. The buttons themselves are tactile and well-spaced, reducing accidental presses.
Display Performance
The LG G4 uses a 5.5-inch IPS Quantum display with a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels, delivering a pixel density of roughly 538 pixels per inch. IPS technology was LG’s alternative to Samsung’s AMOLED panels, and it brings its own set of tradeoffs.
Color accuracy on the G4’s display is genuinely impressive. Whites appear neutral rather than blown out, and the panel handles gradients smoothly. Viewing angles are wide, with minimal color shift when tilting the screen. Brightness reaches levels comfortable for outdoor use in most conditions, though direct sunlight can still be challenging.
The display does not offer the deep blacks of an AMOLED screen, which matters primarily for dark-theme applications and media consumption in low light. However, for users who prioritize color accuracy over contrast extremes, the G4’s panel is satisfying. LG also included several display customization options in the settings menu, allowing users to adjust color temperature and sharpness to their preference.
Processor and Performance
LG equipped the G4 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor paired with 3GB of RAM. This was a deliberate choice. The more powerful Snapdragon 810 used in several competing flagships that year was plagued by well-documented thermal throttling issues, and LG opted for the slightly less powerful but far more stable 808.
In everyday use, the G4 handles multitasking, web browsing, social media, and media playback without meaningful hesitation. Application launch times are reasonable, and the 3GB of RAM means the system holds more applications in memory before clearing them, reducing reload times when switching between tasks.
Gaming performance on the G4 is capable for titles from its era, with the Adreno 418 GPU handling casual and moderate 3D games without issue. More demanding titles may exhibit frame drops, but the device manages most games released at the time of its launch adequately.
The most significant performance concern associated with the G4 is bootloop failure. A hardware defect affecting a subset of units causes the phone to enter an infinite restart cycle, rendering it unusable. LG acknowledged this issue, and replacement programs were offered, but the problem affected the device’s long-term reliability reputation considerably. Anyone considering a used G4 should verify the unit has not exhibited bootloop symptoms and, where possible, seek a device that has already had its motherboard replaced.
Camera System Analysis
The camera is arguably the LG G4’s strongest selling point and the feature that earned it the most sustained attention from photography enthusiasts. The rear camera uses a 16-megapixel Sony IMX234 sensor behind an f/1.8 aperture lens with optical image stabilization. At the time of release, this combination was among the best available in a consumer smartphone.
The wide aperture allows noticeably more light to reach the sensor compared to competitors using f/2.0 or narrower lenses. In low-light environments, this translates to cleaner images with less noise, and the optical image stabilization reduces blur from hand movement during longer exposures. Portrait shots benefit from natural background blur at close focusing distances, a characteristic that was not yet universally available in smartphones of this period.
LG also built a full manual camera mode into the G4, providing direct control over ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and focus. The app presents these controls in a layout reminiscent of a traditional camera interface. For users interested in learning manual photography or extracting maximum quality through careful settings, this feature set was ahead of many competitors.
Raw file capture support allows images to be exported as DNG files for editing in software such as Adobe Lightroom, preserving far more tonal information than compressed JPEG files. This capability was relatively rare in smartphones at the G4’s price point.
The front-facing camera is an 8-megapixel unit with an 80-degree wide-angle lens. It performs respectably for video calls and selfies in good lighting, though it lacks the optical image stabilization of the rear camera.
Video recording tops out at 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, with 1080p recording available at 60 frames per second for smoother motion. Audio capture is handled through three microphones, providing reasonable stereo separation in recordings.
Battery Life and Charging
The G4 uses a 3000mAh removable lithium-ion battery. Removability was a defining feature, and LG sold official spare batteries allowing users to carry fully charged replacements rather than relying solely on power banks or wall chargers.
Real-world battery life on the G4 is adequate for moderate use. A typical day involving calls, browsing, social media, and some camera use generally gets through the day, though heavy users will find themselves reaching for a charger by evening. The Snapdragon 808 is notably more power-efficient than the 810 it replaced, which benefits endurance meaningfully.
Charging is handled via the included charger that supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology, reducing full charge times compared to standard chargers. The device uses a microUSB port rather than USB-C, which reflects its 2015 origins.
For users who keep a spare battery, the charging situation is more flexible than most sealed smartphones of any era. Swapping a depleted battery for a fully charged one takes roughly 20 seconds and requires no proprietary accessories beyond the battery itself.
Software and User Interface
The G4 shipped with Android 5.1 Lollipop and LG’s UX 4.0 interface layered on top. LG subsequently released updates bringing the device to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which was the final official update for most regional variants.
LG’s software skin adds a variety of features beyond stock Android, including a simplified home screen mode for new users, a Smart Notice widget offering contextual suggestions, and deep integration of the manual camera controls described above. The interface is functional, though it carries the visual weight typical of manufacturer skins from that period, with some redundant applications that cannot be removed.
Performance of the interface is generally smooth, though users accustomed to modern Android versions will notice the age of the software stack. Custom ROM communities have produced updated versions of Android for the G4, with options available through communities such as XDA Developers, extending the device’s functional life for users comfortable with custom firmware installation.
LG G4 vs. Competitors: Spec Comparison
Understanding where the G4 sits relative to its direct competitors helps contextualize its strengths and weaknesses. The following table compares the G4 against the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Sony Xperia Z3 Plus, two notable flagships from the same period.
| Feature | LG G4 | Samsung Galaxy S6 | Sony Xperia Z3 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 5.5 inches | 5.1 inches | 5.2 inches |
| Display Type | IPS Quantum LCD | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 808 | Exynos 7420 / Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 810 |
| RAM | 3GB | 3GB | 3GB |
| Rear Camera | 16MP f/1.8 with OIS | 16MP f/1.9 with OIS | 20.7MP f/2.0 |
| Removable Battery | Yes ‑ 3000mAh | No ‑ 2550mAh | No ‑ 2930mAh |
| MicroSD Slot | Yes | No | Yes |
| Raw Photo Capture | Yes | Yes | No |
| Launch Storage | 32GB | 32GB / 64GB / 128GB | 32GB |
The comparison highlights how the G4 positioned itself as the feature-rich, photographer-friendly option, trading the premium glass construction of the Galaxy S6 for practical utility features. For users who valued expandable storage, removable batteries, and manual camera controls, the G4 was the logical choice among its peers. You can review the official LG G4 specifications on the LG US product page.
Long-Term Value and Legacy Assessment
Evaluating the LG G4 in 2024 requires acknowledging both its achievements and its limitations honestly. On the positive side, the manual camera controls, the wide aperture lens, removable battery design, and genuine leather back option represented thoughtful engineering choices that many users genuinely valued. The G4 helped demonstrate that mid-decade Android could compete with iOS devices on camera capability, a conversation that GSMArena’s comprehensive testing of the period documents well.
On the negative side, the bootloop defect casts a long shadow. Hardware failures of this nature undermine trust and reduce the appeal of used units significantly. Software support ended years ago, meaning the device runs an outdated Android version with known security vulnerabilities. For anyone considering the G4 as a daily driver today, the security posture of an unsupported Android version is a serious practical concern.
As a collector’s piece or secondary device, the G4 retains genuine appeal, particularly the leather-backed variant. The build quality of surviving units with functioning hardware is high, and the camera system still produces pleasing results in good lighting conditions even by current standards.
LG ultimately exited the smartphone market in 2021, as reported by BBC Technology, making devices like the G4 part of a closed chapter in smartphone history. The G4 stands as one of the more innovative devices from a company that consistently took risks on design and feature sets, sometimes brilliantly and occasionally with costly consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the LG G4 bootloop problem fixable?
The bootloop issue stems from a hardware defect where solder joints on the motherboard crack over time due to thermal stress. In some cases, temporary fixes involve applying heat to reflow the solder, but this is rarely permanent. A lasting repair typically requires motherboard replacement. Devices that have already had this repair performed are generally preferable when buying used units. Given LG’s exit from the smartphone market, official support is no longer available, though independent repair shops familiar with the G4 can sometimes address the issue.
Can the LG G4 run modern applications?
The G4’s hardware is capable of running a wide range of applications, but its software age presents challenges. The device maxes out at Android 6.0 Marshmallow officially, which means many modern applications either will not install or will not function correctly due to API requirements. Custom ROMs can extend Android version support, but this requires technical comfort with custom firmware installation. For essential applications like messaging and web browsing, functional alternatives often exist, but Google services and many contemporary apps increasingly require newer Android versions.
How does the LG G4 camera compare to modern smartphones?
The G4’s camera hardware was excellent for its time, and the f/1.8 aperture with optical image stabilization still performs respectably in controlled conditions. However, modern smartphones benefit from computational photography advances including multi-frame processing, machine learning-based noise reduction, and night mode algorithms that the G4’s hardware cannot replicate. In good lighting, the G4 produces images that remain technically solid. In low light or challenging conditions, the gap between the G4 and current flagships has grown considerably. For casual photography on a budget, the G4 is still functional. For serious photography work, a modern device will deliver meaningfully better results.
Is the LG G4 worth buying used today?
The honest answer depends on your specific needs and budget. If you need a reliable daily driver with security updates and modern application support, the G4 is not an ideal choice. If you are a collector, a vintage Android enthusiast, or need a secondary device for specific limited purposes, a verified working unit, particularly in leather, can still offer genuine satisfaction. Always test thoroughly before purchasing, verify the unit has no bootloop history, and price accordingly given the hardware age and software limitations.
What were the LG G4’s main competitors at launch?
At launch in 2015, the G4’s primary competitors included the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the HTC One M9, the Sony Xperia Z3 Plus, and the OnePlus 2. In camera performance and feature flexibility, the G4 compared favorably, particularly against the HTC One M9 which received widespread criticism for its camera. Against the Galaxy S6, the contest was closer, with Samsung offering superior build materials and display technology while LG countered with practical features like the removable battery and expandable storage. You can read The Verge’s original G4 review for a contemporary perspective on how it was received at launch.