LG G3 Beat
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Though its 5-inch display is anything but small, the LG G3 Vigor is still a miniaturized flagship in the same vein as the HTC One Remix. But unlike that phone and older, small-screen options like the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, the G3 Vigor carries an aggressively low price tag with relatively few compromises. It's a reliable performer with specs that outmatch the majority of phones in its price class, like the outdated S4 mini, which AT&T currently sells for $29.99. The G3 Vigor is an excellent choice for entry-level smartphones on AT&T. If you prefer a larger canvas, be sure to check out the LG G Vista, which carries the same $49.99 price on this carrier.”
“Though its 5-inch display is anything but small, the LG G3 Vigor is still a miniaturized flagship in the same vein as the HTC One Remix. But unlike that phone and older, small-screen options like the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, the G3 Vigor carries an aggressively low price tag with relatively few compromises. It's a reliable performer with specs that outmatch the majority of phones in its price class, like the underwhelming $29 Kyocera Hydro Vibe. The G3 Vigor is an excellent choice for entry-level smartphones on Sprint. If you have a bit more room in your budget, consider the $99 HTC One E8, which delivers real flagship specs and features at a reasonable price.”
“The LG G3 Vigor nicely combines premium, must-have features with a wallet-friendly price tag. The phone is well built and it's comfortable to hold, giving it an expensive feel. Likewise, the design, which is close to the LG G3, makes it unique and I'd be proud to show this phone off.Though the processor is a bit underpowered and the camera could be better, the Vigor makes up for that with abundant helpful software features and solid performance. For all of those reasons, I recommend the LG Vigor, especially if you don't want to spend too much on a smartphone, yet still want something impressive.However, if you're willing and able to put out a bit more money, you should go for the LG G3, which is the top of the line for LG. On both Sprint and AT&T, it costs around $25 per month for 24 months without a contract.”
“For the most part, its specs are reduced compared to the original G3 to reflect its entry-level status, but it’s relieving to know that several features have been retained – like its IR blaster, the microSD card slot, and several software enhancements.Not surprisingly, it’s an inexpensive option that for the most part delivers an inviting experience. However, if we’re to look at its outright pricing, it’s hard to vouch for the phone knowing that the comparable Moto G (2014) is sporting a hard-to-beat outright cost of $179.99. Stick with the Vigor if you plan on being with your carrier long term, but if not, the Moto G (2014) is still the option to pick up.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
In order to corner the different smartphone markets, LG has stripped down their flagship phone, the G3, to offer a more affordable phone- the G3 Beat. The Beat takes a lot of design cues from the G3 with its thin-bezel, curved back and buttons on the rear. It even simulates a brushed metal appearance on the back cover though it is made entirely of plastic. While it isn’t made of premium materials, experts were impressed with the overall build quality. They add the curved back made the phone easy to hold, but the plastic material and location of the buttons made it fairly slippery and prone to drops.
As a mid-tier device, the G3 Beat sports a 5-inch, 720p IPS display. For the most part, reviewers had no issues with the phone commending its color reproduction, viewing angles and bright light legibility. While overall it offered them a decent experience, they note phones like the Micromax Canvas or Huawei Honor 6 have better displays and fall within the same price range.
Armed with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM, the G3 Beat didn’t top any of the standard benchmark tests. Real-life testing echoed these results with the device generally running smoothly for reviewers when handling a couple basic tasks. They started experiencing lag once they had more than three tasks running in the background and even when playing basic games. The G3 Beat’s one strong point is its battery life. The 2,540mAh battery lasted experts a day of moderate gaming, internet and LTE usage.
Experts were able to produce fairly detailed pictures in daylight with the G3 Beat’s 8MP rear camera but the quality dipped once indoors or in lowlight situations. In addition, critics noticed that color balance and reproduction was not always consistent with NDTV stating, “…a clear blue sky…came out looking grainy and artificial.” Besides taking pictures, the camera can also take 1080p videos.
While not a horrible phone, reviewers have a difficult time recommending it. Digit states, “The LG G3 Beat is a decent phone…BUT it is priced above phones with similar features, specs and performance…you should consider the alternatives.” Indian Express adds, “…the G3 Beat total fails to justify its price.”
What people actually want to know
When was the LG G3 Beat released?
The LG G3 Beat was released on September 23, 2014.
How long does the battery last on the LG G3 Beat?
The LG G3 Beat has a 2,540 mAh battery.
Does the LG G3 Beat have a headphone jack?
Yes, the LG G3 Beat has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the LG G3 Beat have NFC?
Yes, the LG G3 Beat has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I download the LG G3 Beat manual?
You can view and download the LG G3 Beat manual on our dedicated manual page.
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