What buying an LG G3 taught me about the 5.5-inch 'iPhone 6'

Earlier
this week, I did the unthinkable. I purchased my first smartphone that
wasn’t an iPhone. No, I didn’t replace my iPhone 5s. Rather, I needed to
add a line to my account, and in doing so decided to purchase an LG G3.


AppAdvice is an Apple-centric website, so I’m not about to offer a
full review of LG’s latest flagship device. I’m also not going to use
this post to criticize Android or compare it to iOS.


What I am going to do is briefly discuss my views on the LG G3’s
display, and how that likely affected my “iPhone 6” buying decision.

The LG G3

Announced in May, the LG G3 is now launching around the world. In the
United States, the handset is available at AT&T, Sprint, and
Verizon. The Android-powered smartphone is notable for being the first
to offer a 5.5-inch LCD screen with 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, for a pixel
density of 534 ppi.


By contrast, the iPhone 5s includes a 4-inch Retina display with 1,136 x 640 pixels, with a resolution of 326 ppi.

The display screen size

Like many in the Apple community, I’ve been concerned about the
likelihood that Cupertino is about to release a 5.5-inch iPhone 6. I
have worried that this screen size is too large for a smartphone. This
hesitation is one of the reasons I decided to buy an LG G3.


My fears were unwarranted.


Thanks to the LG phone’s incredibly thin bezels, it doesn’t feel all
that much different than an iPhone 5s in my hands. And that was my
biggest fear about carrying around a 5.5-inch iPhone 6.


Can I use the LG G3 in one hand? Yes, I can. Do I look like a goof
carrying around such a large device? That will be up to others to
decide, but I don’t believe that I do. One caveat: my hands are slightly
larger than average. Those with smaller hands may have some problems.


This doesn’t, of course, take into account the actual bezel size on
the 5.5-inch iPhone 6. Historically, Apple’s bezels are large.

Is it all about the pixels?

This brings us to the LG G3 screen’s industry-leading pixel density
of 534 ppi. Yes, it is impressive. However, I’m starting to think we’ve
reached the point where more pixels don’t make all that much of a
difference anymore.


I spoke to other LG G3 buyers at my local AT&T store. It seems
the pixel differences between the new handset and the iPhone 5s really
stood out with younger buyers and/or with those who didn’t wear glasses.
I’m definitely middle aged, and have been wearing glasses since the
fourth grade, so go figure.


Did I find the screen on the LG G3 better than the Retina display
found on the iPhone 5s? Yes, I did. Would, or should this affect a
buying decision? Absolutely not.


Of course, this could change when comparing one 5.5-inch screen to another. For now, that comparison isn’t possible.

One final note

Battery life is always an issue with smartphones, and even more so as
screen sizes have grown larger. The LG G3 features a 3,000 mAh Li-Ion
removable battery. The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is rumored to include a battery between 1,800 and 1,900 mAh.


These possible 5.5-inch iPhone 6 specs are already causing some
concern in China. I have the same concerns based on my experience with
the LG G3.


Even with moderate use, I found that the 3,000 mAh battery on the LG
G3 needs to be recharged at least once before the end of the day. This
isn’t a problem — assuming that you’re near a power outlet or have
a spare charged battery.


Because a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will almost certainly not come with a
removable battery, be prepared to spend some time recharging it each
day.

Summary

My purchase of an LG G3 phone has convinced me that a 5.5-inch screen
isn’t too large for a smartphone. However, the trade-off for that
larger screen is likely to be poorer battery life. Bezel size, and even
the weight of the device, could also be factors.


If the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is anything close in size to the LG G3, I’ll
go with the larger iPhone. Otherwise, I’ll select the long-rumored
4.7-inch model.



BY Bryan M. Wolfe