So, LG opened pre-orders for the G5 in Indonesia earlier this week. First big mistake: taking too long to release the phone. The S7's been out since March 25.
Second mistake: The G5 here is the SE variant, model number H845. The SD652 has smooth CPU performance, but reportedly struggles with graphics-intensive tasks, and is a high-tier, but not flagship chip, AT best.
Third mistake: the G5 is launching here merely 300,000 IDR (~21USD) cheaper than the S7 at off-contract prices (~586 USD), which is just expensive for an LG flagship. I know plenty of people who've bought LGs in the past because of their affordable pricesm, but that ain't happening this time around. As points to compare, the G4 launched at ~623 USD, but had so many pre-order discounts, bonuses and rebates that a friend of mine secured one at ~490 USD at launch, while my dad bought the G2 at ~500 USD a week after it launched. Both of these people have told me they bought an LG over Samsung simply because the price was cheaper. Not because the LG was a better phone (which was arguably true back during the G2 days).
Last year, LG also had the unique advantage of shipping the first dual SIM flagship on the market (Indonesians go nuts over dual SIM phones because no single provider has great coverage: one comes close; it's the one I use; but they all have plenty of room for improvement), and the benefit of shipping with microSD support when Samsung had just dropped it. Samsung now has both on its S7 (not both at the same time though, not sure about LG)
Now, the general consensus is that the S7 is far and away the better phone. The G5 (SE) is shipping two months late with an inferior chipset and none of the advantages the G4 had, which already didn't do that well. All LG has is a slightly better camera, removable battery and a minor price advantage to back it up, while Samsung has name recognition, better battery life, IP68 water resistance, the most powerful mobile chip on the market, much wider availability than LG does, the support of the nation's largest carrier, a huge advertising budget and not to mention trade-up events that rack up huge lines and press coverage every so often, keeping people locked into its ecosystem. LG also had the advantage of getting Marshmallow out the door earlier than Samsung, but that's likely not gonna happen this year with it being the less widely-released SE model. Had LG at least come out with the SD820 model at the same price, my tune may have been different, but not so.
It's not that I'm hating on LG. I love the company - my first Android phone and tablet were BOTH LG-made, and I think the V10 was the best Android smartphone you could buy last year. I'm also looking forward to that phone's successor. But LG's Indonesian arm better prepare for a disappointment.
Second mistake: The G5 here is the SE variant, model number H845. The SD652 has smooth CPU performance, but reportedly struggles with graphics-intensive tasks, and is a high-tier, but not flagship chip, AT best.
Third mistake: the G5 is launching here merely 300,000 IDR (~21USD) cheaper than the S7 at off-contract prices (~586 USD), which is just expensive for an LG flagship. I know plenty of people who've bought LGs in the past because of their affordable pricesm, but that ain't happening this time around. As points to compare, the G4 launched at ~623 USD, but had so many pre-order discounts, bonuses and rebates that a friend of mine secured one at ~490 USD at launch, while my dad bought the G2 at ~500 USD a week after it launched. Both of these people have told me they bought an LG over Samsung simply because the price was cheaper. Not because the LG was a better phone (which was arguably true back during the G2 days).
Last year, LG also had the unique advantage of shipping the first dual SIM flagship on the market (Indonesians go nuts over dual SIM phones because no single provider has great coverage: one comes close; it's the one I use; but they all have plenty of room for improvement), and the benefit of shipping with microSD support when Samsung had just dropped it. Samsung now has both on its S7 (not both at the same time though, not sure about LG)
Now, the general consensus is that the S7 is far and away the better phone. The G5 (SE) is shipping two months late with an inferior chipset and none of the advantages the G4 had, which already didn't do that well. All LG has is a slightly better camera, removable battery and a minor price advantage to back it up, while Samsung has name recognition, better battery life, IP68 water resistance, the most powerful mobile chip on the market, much wider availability than LG does, the support of the nation's largest carrier, a huge advertising budget and not to mention trade-up events that rack up huge lines and press coverage every so often, keeping people locked into its ecosystem. LG also had the advantage of getting Marshmallow out the door earlier than Samsung, but that's likely not gonna happen this year with it being the less widely-released SE model. Had LG at least come out with the SD820 model at the same price, my tune may have been different, but not so.
It's not that I'm hating on LG. I love the company - my first Android phone and tablet were BOTH LG-made, and I think the V10 was the best Android smartphone you could buy last year. I'm also looking forward to that phone's successor. But LG's Indonesian arm better prepare for a disappointment.
