LG G4 Beat

As yet another variation on the popular LG G4, the G4 Beat–also known as the G4s–tries to offer a solid mid-tier experience without sacrificing the flair of the flagship G4. Does the price and features balance on this handset line up? Let’s see what the reviews are saying!

While the phone takes cues from the G4 at first glance, reviewers were quick to note that the supple leather backs of the G4 were missed. Many found the G4s to feel cheap and slippery. You’ll find the typical LG arrangement, with buttons on the back of the device instead of the sides. As with previous generations, reviews on the accessibility and ease of use for these are positive.

Heading around front, you’ll find a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display. While it doesn’t sport the QHD beauty of it’s more expensive sibling, reviews noted excellent color accuracy, good viewing angles and sharp text. Unless you’re trying to put together a budget VR kit, 1080p is plenty.

Powering the phone, you’ll find an 8-core Snapdragon 615 processor. Capable of speeds up to 1.5GHz, the phone has the muscles to handle most daily tasks and even tackle the latest games. However, with 1.5GB of RAM, reviews noted that multitasking was slow and larger apps were slow to launch.

The phone includes 8GB of internal storage. However, after Android and LG apps are installed, you’re left with a scant 3.2GB to work with. Plan to pick up a microSD card to expand things if you will install more than the most basic set of apps.

One area where LG didn’t skimp is the camera. The 8 megapixel rear lens is equipped with the same color spectrum sensor, laser autofocus and image stabilization of the pricier G4. The front-facing lens is 5MP–plenty for sharp selfies and video chat. Review on the camera are positive, with Notebook Check saying, “Colors look vivid, and the sharpness is conveniently high as well.”

Reviews indicate one major flaw–battery life. The phone’s 2,300mAh battery barely limped through a full day for most reviews. If you’re a heavy phone user, you’ll need a spare battery or access to chargers throughout the day. Notebook Check says, “The combination of the rather small battery and the high consumption even results in bad idle runtimes. It is good that the battery can be replaced, because it is pretty much a necessity.”

Overall, Notebook Check’s verdict on the device sums up opinions well, saying, “LG does a pretty good job with the G4s and can copy a lot of the glamour from the top model into the less expensive upper mainstream segment. The poor battery runtimes, however, affect the good impression significantly.”