LG Optimus G for AT&T and Sprint review: Double impact

Double impact

GSMArena team, 16 November 2012.

We put the quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro to the test

The LG Optimus G is the first device to hit the market with a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, meaning it has four Krait cores clocked at 1.5 GHz each, the Adreno 320 GPU inside and the whole package is aided by 2 GB of RAM. Suffice to say that currently it's widely regarded as king of the hill, supposedly mincing all its contemporary rivals.

We've performed an array of benchmarks on the Optimus G and pitted it against some of the top smartphones currently available on the market.

First up was BenchmarkPi, which tests the calculative performance of the processor cores. It's all about the architecture here and the Optimus G comes on top, though not by much, compared to the 32nm cores inside the Galaxy Note II.

Benchmark Pi

Lower is better

  • LG Optimus G
    285
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    305
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    330
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    344
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    362

Linpack gives the multi-threaded performance of the S4 Pro CPU a run for its money. The Optimus G once again comes out on top by miles ahead of the Exynos Quad inside the Galaxy Note II.

Linpack

Higher is better

  • LG Optimus G
    608
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    214.3
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    189.1
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    177.1
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    160.9

GeekBench 2 is an all-round benchmark, which gave the nod to the Exynos chipsets inside the Galaxy Note II and S III. The Optimus G is a close third just above the Tegra 3-flaunting HTC One X.

Geekbench 2

Higher is better

  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    2000
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    1845
  • LG Optimus G
    1723
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    1634
  • Apple iPhone 5
    1601

Vellamo hits the HTML 5 and CPU points of a smartphone. The Optimus G didn't quite make the cut here finishing second to last, even behind its "outdated" predecessor, the 4X HD.

Vellamo

Higher is better

  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    2418
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    2078
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    1890
  • LG Optimus G
    1522
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    1468

AnTuTu is another all-round benchmark. The LG Optimus G failed to make a serious impact in the performance rankings.

AnTuTu

Higher is better

  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    13562
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    12288
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    11820
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    11633
  • LG Optimus G
    11226

Quadrant is a rather self-minded benchmark, often times pushing some devices ahead of others, which are obviously better. Still the Optimus G got over 7 thousand points, putting it in first place.

Quadrant

Higher is better

  • LG Optimus G
    7439
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    5952
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    5916
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    5450
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    5170

Next up is an array of GPU-stressing benchmarks, in which the Optimus G got on to a flying start. GLBenchmark Egypt off-screen tests show the GPU's RAW power while ignoring the screen reolution. The Optimus G's Adreno 320 got a good 113 fps, slightly beating the Mali GPU's inside the Galaxy S III and Note II.

GLBenchmark 2.1 Egypt (720p offscreen)

Higher is better

  • LG Optimus G
    113
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    105
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    103
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    80
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    64

GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

  • LG Optimus G
    29
  • Apple iPhone 5
    27
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    17
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    13
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    9

JavaScript is handled by SunSpider and BrowserMark. The Optimus G didn't really make a strong name for itself here, although it isn't half bad either. The Apple iPhone 5 tops both benchmarks with ease, showing the effort that went into optimizing iOS 6 for browsing.

SunSpider

Lower is better

  • Apple iPhone 5
    915
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    972
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    1304
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    1312
  • LG Optimus G
    1353
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    1468

BrowserMark

Higher is better

  • Apple iPhone 5
    189937
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    185034
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    158953
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    158404
  • HTC One X (Tegra 3)
    140270
  • LG Optimus G
    118126

So, did the LG Optimus G kick the door in and slapped around the top names in the smartphone world? No. But it did carve a serious claim for the S4 Pro chipset as one of the best, if not the best around. Keep in mind that these benchmark scores will surely move up a notch once Android Jelly Bean gets to land on the Optimus G.

Reader comments

  • hemz
  • 14 Aug 2014
  • KIq

I have lg e970 ....When I call on Skype it stops and come to main screen Can I use Skype on this cellphone Anyone help me !

  • Mamaw
  • 07 Aug 2014
  • jBu

I've had the LG Optimus LS-970 for 9 months,till about 2 weks ago I loved it,my husband has an i-phone,& he is always stealing mine to browse the web.Says mine is better than his. Heres my problem,itwon't hold a charge,takes 8-10 hours to charge....

  • no magnets
  • 07 Dec 2013
  • wfF

To the person complaining about having to take the phone back after a week, did you buy a phone case with a magnet? The same thing happend to my phone after 4 days of buying it i brought a phone case with a magnet thinking nothing of it but after a f...