LG G Vista
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Though it doesn't quite rehabilitate the tainted Vista name, the LG G Vista has a lot to offer for big-screen fans on a budget. The 720p display is on par with phones in this price range, like the Huawei Ascend Mate2 or HTC Desire 816. You're not getting a ton of power, especially compared with phablets like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, but for most tasks you probably won't notice a difference. Spending that extra $50 for the Note 3 is definitely worth considering, as that phablet has a sharper 1080p AMOLED display and unbeatable built-in stylus. It's also worth noting that at the time of this writing, Verizon lists the G3 at $100 with a two-year contract—it's only slightly smaller with a 5.5-inch display, but blows the G Vista out of the water in every other way.”
“The LG G Vista has three things going for it: a big screen, a big battery, and a small price tag. It's not quite as large as the Samsung Galaxy Mega, but it's got more modern Android software, faster performance, and costs half the price. The G Vista can't hold a candle to the Galaxy Note 3, which is soon to be supplanted by the Note 4, but it doesn't have to at just $50 versus over $200 for the Note 3. The bloatware and low storage is a bummer, but neither are deal breakers by any means. Big-screen junkies on a budget will be well served by the G Vista.”
“If you want a high-end phablet that can do it all, don't buy the LG G Vista. Though it costs more money both on- and off-contract, you're better off with the workhorse Samsung Galaxy Note 3 for productivity and power. Or better yet, wait for the upcoming Galaxy Note 4. Launching next month for $300 on-contract, it will be equipped with a Snapdragon 805 processor, a quad HD display, and a 16-megapixel camera. However, if you want a capable device that's budget-friendly, get the G Vista. Cheaper phablets do exist (the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G costs $300 unlocked, for instance), but of the midrange phablets I've encountered, the Vista is one of the better ones, and it's swifter and more reliable than the ZTE Boost Max. As an Android phone, it has access to a wider range of apps than the Nokia Lumia 1320 and 1520, and it runs a more recent OS than the older Samsung Galaxy Mega. In general, the device offers a smooth user experience and doesn't cost a fortune.”
“The LG G Vista is a bargain. As far as mid-range devices go, it nails just about every feature. The screen is big, and basics such as signal, sound, and battery performance are excellent across the board. The hardware is quite good, and definitely a step above the low-cost competition. The user interface is flexible and allows for plenty of customization. There are a ton of apps on board for finding and consuming content. My biggest two gripes are performance and the camera - but they're minor ones at most. The Snapdragon 400 processor was sometimes sluggish. The camera app is simplistic almost to a fault, especially as far as adjusting the video camera is concerned. Both lack advanced functions, but that's hardly a significant fault.Other than that, the G Vista is a solid effort from LG. Verizon sells it for $50 with a contract, $20 per month for 20 months with Verizon Edge, or $400 at full retail. You'll be hard pressed to find a better dollar-for-value at these price points.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
The phablet market continues to grow and this time LG throws their hat into the ring with the G Vista. As a phablet, the G Vista is not small by any stretch of the imagination. It measures 5.99 inches tall, 3.12 inches wide and 0.36 inches thick. Despite its relatively large dimensions it weighs only 168 grams. That light weight combined with the rounded edges and back gave it a very ergonomic design, according to critics. Still, due to its large size they could not handle it one-handed nor could they easily fit it in their pockets.
The 5.7-inch, 720P LCD display offers a pixel density of 258ppi. While reviewers still consider it fairly sharp, they also note that the lack of a true HD 1080p display is noticeable especially on text-heavy sites and even on the homepage icons. Besides this slight bit of pixilation, experts were satisfied with the other aspects of the display pointing out its wide viewing angles, vibrant colors and overall brightness levels as positives.
At its core is a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1.5 GB of RAM. It might not offer top-of-the-line specs, but reviewers didn’t have run into any performance issues during basic or more intensive tasks. Still, Brighthand points out that mid-tier devices tend to show their age sooner. They add, “Those on a 2-year upgrade cycle will likely be cursing the Vista G by…2016. There will likely be…high-end apps it won’t be able to handle.” Included on the device is 8GB on onboard storage, and of that, only 3.76GB is actually available out of box. Luckily, it does support microSD cards up to 64GB.
Battery-wise, it comes with a very large 3,200mAh battery. Thanks to the relatively lower resolution display and weaker processor, reviewers were able to get a full day of light usage and around 6 hours during their battery draining tests.
The 8MP rear-facing camera comes with the same autofocus feature as on the LG G3 phone. Experts point out the image quality isn’t quite as good as the G3, but in good lighting they were satisfied with the sharpness and color fidelity of their photos. Unfortunately, it fell flat under indoor and low light and critics were only able to produce smudged, slightly noisy images though colors remained accurate.
Although it has a couple faults, reviewers still consider the G Vista a decent mid-tier phablet for consumers looking to get their first smartphone. Android Headlines states, “If you really want a big screen, but don’t want the price tag, then the LG G Vista is the one to get…I loved everything about [it]…” CNET adds, “…if you want a capable device that’s budget-friendly, get the G Vista…the device offers a smooth user experience and doesn’t cost a fortune.”
What people actually want to know
When was the LG G Vista released?
The LG G Vista was released on July 31, 2014.
How long does the battery last on the LG G Vista?
The LG G Vista has a 3,200 mAh battery.
Does the LG G Vista support wireless charging?
No, the LG G Vista does not support wireless charging.
Does the LG G Vista have a headphone jack?
Yes, the LG G Vista has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the LG G Vista have NFC?
Yes, the LG G Vista has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I download the LG G Vista manual?
You can view and download the LG G Vista manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
Have a question about the LG G Vista? Ask it here and we'll email you as soon as someone answers. Readers have answered 5,000 questions across PhoneCompass.
Finish the security check above to post your question.
Your name shows with your question.
✓ Question submitted. We'll notify you when someone answers.
We sent a verification link to . Click it to publish your question.
Can't find it? Check your spam folder.
New phones, honest scores.
One email when something worth knowing changes. No deal spam, no filler.