LG G6 review: Cutting corners... Like a pro

Cutting corners... Like a pro

GSMArena team, 16 March 2017.

Telephony

The LG G6 will be available in both single-SIM and dual-SIM versions, only not in all markets. Ours is the single-SIM one.

Nougat offers native number blocking and call screening. You can block numbers based on their initial or final digits or just specific numbers. Third-party apps can ask Android which numbers are blocked, so apps that use them to identify users (like WhatsApp and Viber) can also reject calls and messages from those numbers.

The Dialer with smart dial - LG G6 review Blocking calls - LG G6 review call settings - LG G6 review call settings - LG G6 review
The Dialer with smart dial • Blocking calls • call settings

Loudspeaker

The G6 scored a Good mark in our loudspeaker test. This puts it on par with the G5 and V20, as well as the iPhone 7 Plus, Galaxy S7 edge, and OnePlus 3T. The Pixel XL can pump out more decibels, though. Output quality is good all the way to the max setting, but bass isn't particularly boomy.

Speakerphone testVoice, dB Pink noise/ Music, dB Ringing phone, dB Overall score
HTC 10 (Theater mode) 61.9 66.0 62.1 Below Average
Sony Xperia XZ 61.6 65.5 67.6 Below Average
Sony Xperia X Performance 63.4 65.8 67.8 Below Average
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) 65.5 72.2 65.2 Average
HTC 10 (Music mode) 63.1 66.7 74.3 Average
Samsung Galaxy Note5 66.9 67.1 71.8 Average
OnePlus 3T 61.0 69.3 78.3 Good
LG G6 66.8 68.8 74.5 Good
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge 70.0 69.1 71.8 Good
LG G5 68.7 70.9 73.5 Good
Apple iPhone 7 Plus 68.3 72.2 72.9 Good
Lenovo Moto Z Force Droid 69.5 68.0 77.6 Good
LG V20 68.2 68.6 80.9 Good
Huawei Mate 9 Pro 67.2 72.4 79.5 Very Good
HTC U Ultra (Theater) 67.3 73.1 80.6 Very Good
Huawei P10 67.7 70.0 83.6 Very Good
HTC U Ultra (Music) 61.7 73.1 86.7 Very Good
Google Pixel XL 73.4 72.1 84.1 Excellent
Huawei Mate 9 83.1 74.5 85.0 Excellent

Text input

The LG keyboard offers extensive customizations. You can change its size, hide/show the number row, add/remove some buttons and more.

The keyboard - LG G6 review Settings - LG G6 review Customizing the keys - LG G6 review Changing the keyboard's height - LG G6 review Emoji - LG G6 review
The keyboard • Settings • Customizing the keys • Changing the keyboard's height • Emoji

In landscape you get two possible layouts - either spread across the whole width of the screen, or condensed in the middle. The third, and most logical split option is a separate setting that needs to be enabled. Once you do, swiping out from the center of the display with both thumbs brings the keys closer to the edges.

Landscape keyboard - LG G6 review Landscape keyboard - LG G6 review Landscape keyboard - LG G6 review
Landscape keyboard

Other apps

The G6 may not have the V20's three mics, but two of them are obviously enough for the HD Audio Recorder app. It adjusts the source mic depending on orientation, so when you hold it in portrait it's the top one only, while in landscape both mics work.

Concert mode optimizes the mics' response for extremely loud environments, while in Studio mode you can record voice over an audio file (say, a vocal track for your new song) and you can use headphones to monitor the sound.

The quality is top notch - uncompressed WAV and compressed FLAC are available at up to 24-bit and 192kHz. Going to Custom gives you manual control over Gain, Low cut filter (75Hz/150Hz) and Limiter (prevents clipping of low-frequency sounds).

HD Audio recorder: Welcome screen - LG G6 review HD Audio recorder: Walkthrough - LG G6 review HD Audio recorder: Normal mode - LG G6 review HD Audio recorder: Concert - LG G6 review HD Audio recorder: Saved recordings - LG G6 review
HD Audio recorder: Welcome screen • Walkthrough • Normal mode • Concert • Saved recordings • Custom mode

LG's backup app is now part of LG Mobile Switch. It has two main functions - backup and transfer. Using the latter, you can copy most data off your old phone onto the G6, simplifying the upgrade process. Backups store personal data and settings, data from the internal storage and downloaded apps. There's no cloud backup solution, though - you have to manually upload the backup file to your cloud storage provider of choice.

LG Mobile Switch - LG G6 review LG Mobile Switch - LG G6 review LG Mobile Switch - LG G6 review
LG Mobile Switch

Smart cleaning takes care of your storage and battery. It can free up both RAM and internal storage. It also serves as a portal to Android's battery saving features. Diagnose goes a bit further and will look for issues with apps, network connectivity, storage and battery and point you to the right section of the online Help documents.

A quick glance at your phone's health - LG G6 review Optimization in progress - LG G6 review Sensor check-up - LG G6 review Battery stats - LG G6 review
A quick glance at your phone's health • Optimization in progress • Sensor check-up • Battery stats

Reader comments

  • M.i
  • 21 Dec 2024
  • Py$

In my lg g6,the camera was not clear as like screen resolution.pls tell me how i fix it, Only that other was a good fone it was.i like lg g6.

The cell phone is still worth it, its processor acceptable, camera But the average battery only goes up to Android 9-10

  • Donald
  • 22 Mar 2022
  • Nhx

My camera seems to be corrupt how do I reinstall or download another one