LG G Pad 8.3 Is First Google Play Tablet Not From Google
LG G Pad 8.3 Is First Google Play Tablet Not From Google
LG has released a Google Play edition of its G Pad 8.3 Android tablet, a sister device to its existing G Pad 8.3 already on the market. The Google-centric 8.3-inch tablet ($349) is among the first devices that will run the new Android operating system 4.4 KitKat.
See also: 25 Best Free Android Apps
This is the first tablet from a third party to receive the Google
Play treatment. Google has embraced this concept with smartphones
before, including with the HTC Google Play.Unlike the original version, which was announced in September, the Google Play edition comes pre-installed with Google-focused apps such as Google Now, YouTube, Chrome and Gmail.
Similar to the existing model, the new edition features a 1,920 x 1,200 HD display and a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor. It also includes 2GB of RAM and a rear- and front-facing camera (5.0MP and 1.3MP, respectively). It weighs in at 12 ounces, about as heavy as a newspaper, and comes in indigo black.
When the original G Pad 8.3 was first announced at the IFA 2013 trade show in Berlin in September, the company placed great emphasis on tablet size and the fact that more people would use the devices if they fit in their pockets.
“LG’s working relationship with Google has always been strong and our collaboration on the first-ever Google Play Edition tablet is proof of that commitment,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition is a device with hardware and software that has been optimized for a truly consumer-friendly experience. There’s nothing else like it out there in the marketplace.”
LG G2 Rear Buttons
One of the stand-out features of the
G2 is that it has no buttons on the front or side. The only physical
buttons are on the rear of the device. These act as volume buttons and
as quick action buttons to launch the camera and QuickNote.
LG G2 Device Top
The top of the device is flush and slim.
LG G2 Device Bottom
The headphone jack and microUSB ports are at the bottom of the phone.
5.2-inches Of Real Estate
The full HD screen is a mind-boggling 5.2-inches. LG says, however,
that because the G2 is only 2.7-inches wide, it's still comfortable
enough for one-handed use.
We're not so sure. On the one hand, the phone feels physically nearly identical to the Galaxy S4. On the other hand, the Galaxy S4 is still a large phone.
We're not so sure. On the one hand, the phone feels physically nearly identical to the Galaxy S4. On the other hand, the Galaxy S4 is still a large phone.
Camera With OIS
One of the big features of the 13MP camera on the LG G2 is that it
features optical image stabilization (OIS). The great thing about OIS is
that it means that even if you are doing digital zoom -- or have an
unsteady hand -- the image should be more clear and less jittery.
In our brief hands-on tests, that certainly was the case.
In our brief hands-on tests, that certainly was the case.
LG Smart Cover
Just as Samsung has a line of Smart Cover cases for the GS4, the G2 has its own variation of the windowed cover.
Users can select from music, time and call notifications, all within the window.
Users can select from music, time and call notifications, all within the window.
Opening Up the Cover
Opening up the cover shows the full
home screen. When the cover is activated, only the square part of the
window is illuminated. The rest of the display is black to save battery
life.
Weather At Your Fingertips
The smart cover case can also show the weather.
Easy Music Controls
A nice touch with the smart cover design is that you can also control music, complete with album art and track control.
Thin is In
LG repeatedly touted the thinness of the LG G2.
Rear Buttons - Winning or Weird?
We're still not sure if the LG G2's rear buttons are a good design
decision or a bad one. On the one hand, it's a convenient place to go,
especially with a phone this large.
On the other hand, we worry it will make it far too easy to accidentally cover the camear while taking photos/videos
On the other hand, we worry it will make it far too easy to accidentally cover the camear while taking photos/videos
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