Following a plethora of leaks and rumors regarding the next LG smartphone, the Korean tech giant has finally made the G Pro 2 official in its homeland. As its moniker reveals, the handset in question is a direct descendant of last year’s G Pro, but as expected, the newer model brings more power and extra features to the mix.
The G Pro 2 is a very interesting device, not only because of the features it offers, but also because LG has decided to announce it ahead of the Mobile World Congress. This gives LG a head start this year in its competition with domestic rival Samsung. The handset also seems to be a “placeholder” for the upcoming LG G3, but at the same time it can surely hold its own.
Raw Hardware Specifications
As usual, we should start off by looking under the hood. The LG G Pro 2 features an IPS Plus LCD display measuring 5.9 inches in diagonal, boasting a resolution of 1080 x 1920. This brings the pixel count to 373 pixels per inch, which is more than enough to deliver a crisp image. The panel is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise given the smartphone’s caliber.
Underneath resides a Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.26 GHz, an Adreno 330 graphics chip and 3 GB of RAM. These specs put the G Pro 2 in the same high-end category as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
Furthermore, the gadget will be offered with either 16 or 32 GB of storage, which can be expanded by up to an additional 64 GB with the help of a microSD card.
Last but not least, the handset draws its energy from a 3,200 mAh Li-Ion battery, which should keep the lights on for a good amount of time.
Multimedia Features
One of LG’s biggest achievements last year was its ability to fit an OIS-enabled (optical image stabilization) camera on the LG G2. The Korean giant took the lead in this regard, at least in the Android segment, as Samsung failed to implement OIS on both the Galaxy S4 and the Note 3.
This year LG pushes the boundaries even further, as it features a 13 MP camera with what the company calls “OIS Plus.” Optical image stabilization improves the camera’s capabilities by minimizing blur thanks to hardware wizardry, but according to LG, OIS Plus does more than that. It uses software algorithms to further improve the final result, and to reduce unwanted blur.
The 13 MP camera is accompanied by an LED flash and is capable of dual-video recording. It can capture 2160p@30fps / 1080p@60fps or 720p@120fps videos.
The sensor is also coupled with a 2.1 MP front-facing sensor capable of 1080p@30fps recording.
That wraps it up for the camera department, but before we close the multimedia chapter, there’s also a noteworthy aspect concerning the smartphone’s audio capabilities. Here, we have more good news for LG enthusiasts, as previous rumors have been spot-on. The LG G Pro 2 does indeed feature a 1-Watt speaker which is said to deliver great low-pitch sounds, increasing the audio quality by roughly 30% when compared with the original G Pro.
Design
Despite the fact that the G Pro 2 packs quite a large display, LG managed to create a device that is not that difficult to hold with one hand. All thanks to a thin bezel that measures only 3.3 mm. More so, the screen accounts for 77.2 percent of the entire front panel’s surface.
The overall dimensions are 157.9 x 81.9 x 8.3 mm, and the entire package weighs 172 grams. The device is 4 grams heavier than the Note 3, but it also delivers a larger screen (by 0.2 inches).
Software
Out of the box, the G Pro 2 comes with Android 4.4.2 KitKat on-board, making it one of the few smartphones out there that take advantage of Google’s latest mobile firmware.
Nevertheless, the presence of KitKat is just one side of the story, as LG has also sprinkled the vanilla Android OS with a new proprietary user interface. Among the features that have been heavily promoted resides “Knock Code”, which –as LG claims- is a better and more secure alternative to fingerprint scanning or eye recognition.
Simply put, Knock Code allows the user to unlock the device directly to the home screen, without the need to press a physical button, after which a password or pattern would be required. With Knock Code, owners can set a code comprised of up to eight digits. Each of these digits will then represent one of eight sections of the screen’s real estate. To unlock the device, the user needs to tap those sections in the right order.
Doesn’t sound that complicated or out of this world, right? Well, here’s the kicker: Knock Code works even when the screen is turned off. All you need to do is “knock” (tap) the right sections of the screen in the proper order, and you’ll have instant access to the home screen. In other words, you won’t need to press a physical button before being able to unlock your device by providing a code or pattern. It cuts the effort in half.
Launch Timeframes
With the LG G Pro 2 being a very appealing smartphone, many gadget enthusiasts now wonder when they’ll be able to buy one, and where.
Thankfully, LG has provided an answer (somewhat). While we don’t have any exact launch dates to report on, the G Pro 2 will hit the Korean market by the end of this month.
Following its debut, the handset will then expand its reaches in other countries in Asia, starting in March. Lastly, the G Pro 2 will continue its journey in Europe and in the US, where the smartphone will go on sale “after March” – at least according to high-level LG officials.
That pretty much wraps everything up, so it’s time to share your thoughts in the comments section. Are you excited for the G Pro 2′s arrival? Will this be your next smartphone? What are the most appealing features offered by LG’s finest? We’re eager to hear from you.
Vlad Andrici is editor for gforgames.com and writes about technology issues. Follow Vlad on Google Plus.