Hands On: The G3

CEBU, Philippines – As the latest addition to LG's game-changing G Series, the G3 maintains the winning form-and-function points set by the product line, matched with novel features that are built around the needs of today's constantly-on-the-go electronic consumer.

Globally unveiled in May and launched in Cebu in the third quarter of 2014, the phone is essentially an update of last year's well-received G2 - which was then hailed as the "new king of Android" and "smartphone of the year" by local and international tech pundits.

Given the stellar success of the G2, questions delving into the "worthiness" of its successor have been raised by netizens and prospective users - mostly wondering if the G3 really is an update or simply a combination of rehashed parts.

Does the G3 really have the chops to best the accolades garnered by the G2? Is its status as an updated version of last year's model its only edge over the competition?

Looks. Sporting Quad HD display that measures 5.5 inches, the G3 is designed with the G Series' take on button ergonomics - where its key physical buttons are conveniently positioned on its back, as opposed to its sides.

This button positioning may not sound much, but as anyone who owns a more-than-5-inch-size smartphone would agree, it is actually smart, practical and convenient for left- or right-handed use, considering the device's size.

Button ergonomics aside, the phone is physically smaller if compared to chassis of other smartphones of its class, but its actual screen real estate is comparably as big, if not bigger.

Lightweight, thin and sturdily built, the G3's overall design doesn't really stray far from the general look and feel of the G2, save for some welcome cosmetic enhancements.

Software, functions and features. As with any smart device running on Android, the G3's functionality can be enhanced by installing Google Play's spectrum of customization and function-specific apps.

It does, however, tout smart and intuitive built-in features that are difficult to ignore - let alone not use.

Like the G2, the G3 comes with LG's "Knock On" function - a function that brings the phone from active or standby states by directly tapping on its screen. This function conveniently complements the phone's button ergonomics, enhancing its easy-to-use points.

The phone also comes with a nifty "auto selfie capture" feature, a gesture-based feature that simplifies the "chore" in taking self-portraits. With this feature, users simply have to clench a fist prior to taking a selfie, and an automatic camera countdown will be launched.

The G3 also comes with a "Smart Notice" function, one that offers suggested responses to certain notifications - like a call log-based reminder for missed calls, or an interactive low battery alert that asks a user if he/she would want to activate the phone's battery save mode.

Hardware specs. In terms of processing performance, the G3's 2.5GHz quad-core processor (the G2 came with a 2.25 GHz quad-core processor) is not liable to encounter problems running the current generation of social media apps, mobile productivity suites or games.

Its imaging capacities is also quite enhanced, with its primary 13 Megapixel camera touting optical image stabilization with laser auto focus features, backed by a dual-LED flash.

Unlike the G2, the G3 is not a "uni-body" phone, which means that its battery is removable or replaceable. The G3 also comes with a microSD slot for additional storage space - perfect for those who feel that 16 or 32 gigs of internal storage is too small.

These hardware specs are essentially the main differences between the G2 and its successor, as G3 maintains the "hits" and covers the "misses" incurred by its predecessor - adding new "hits" in the process.

All in all. Sleek in terms of looks, fast in terms of processing speed, and robust in terms of battery life, the G3's edge does not lie in raw hardware specs alone, but in LG's careful curation of stellar software and hardware components that makes it perfect for mobile web browsing, gaming, getting some work done, and more.

As it is, the G3 is an impressive smartphone by itself - worthy of earning its own share of distinctions and awards.