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LG G4 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 808 Benchmarked

Posted by samzenpus on from the looking-at-the-numbers dept.

MojoKid writes: LG officially lifted the veil on its new G4 flagship Android phone this week and the buzz has been fairly strong. LG's display prowess is well known, along with their ability to pack a ton of screen real estate into a smaller frame with very little bezel, as they did with the previous generation G3. However, what's under the hood of the new LG G4 is probably just as interesting as the build quality and display, for some. On board the LG G4 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, the six-core little brother of the powerful and power-hungry Snapdragon 810 that's found in HTC's One M9. The One M9 is currently one of the fastest Android handsets out there, but its battery life suffers as a result. So with a six-core Snapdragon and a slightly tamer Adreno 418 graphics engine on board, but also with 3GB of RAM, it's interesting to see where the G4 lands performance-wise. It's basically somewhere between the HTC One M9 (Snapdragon 810) and the Snapdragon 805 in the Nexus 6 in CPU bound workloads, besting even the iPhone 6, but much more middle of the pack in terms of graphics and gaming.

45 comments

  1. The key information . . . by Jdodge99 · · Score: 1

    How much?

    1. Re:The key information . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is exactly what I was expecting to find.

    2. Re:The key information . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank you for this information.

    3. Re:The key information . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Two arms. We are not accepting legs at this time.

  2. Who knew... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So a 6 Core CPU with 3 Gig of RAM goes faster than a Dual core CPU with 1G RAM that is almost a year old..... Huh... and its not going 3 times as fast even though it has 3 times the resources..... huh..... Battery almost twice the size too.... huh

    I guess attention to details and being able to much more with much less has not caught on in all areas of technology.

    1. Re:Who knew... by BorgDrone · · Score: 1

      The single-core performance of the A8 is actually higher than that of the Snapdragon. So while it's faster in a multicore benchmark it's going to be slower in actual real-life use. Especially if you take into account how inefficient Android is.

  3. plenty of performance for almost everyone by Tumbleweed · · Score: 1

    But what's really interesting to me is the camera. I'm really interested in seeing that put through its paces.

    1. Re:plenty of performance for almost everyone by olsmeister · · Score: 5, Informative

      It has a removable battery and SD slot. Unless the camera is complete crap (and I'll bet it's not), this is likely my next phone. My old Samsung S3 is getting long in the tooth.

    2. Re:plenty of performance for almost everyone by locopuyo · · Score: 1

      I would think it would be at least as good as the G3's which is probably the best in a phone. I upgraded from an S3 to the LG G3 and the camera was a huge upgrade. I like pretty much everything about the LG G3, but it is a downgrade in contrast and color saturation going from OLED to LCD.

      --
      The Official Site of 1337 Pwnage
    3. Re:plenty of performance for almost everyone by youngone · · Score: 1

      I understand the camera has RAW support, and manual mode. Sounds like a proper camera, not just a selfie snapper.

    4. Re:plenty of performance for almost everyone by xyra132 · · Score: 1

      Isn't the raw support more to do with the latest version of android rather than the phone itself? I could well be wrong here, I haven't double checked just thought I heard something like that...

    5. Re:plenty of performance for almost everyone by the+plant+doctor · · Score: 1

      The camera in this phone definitely interests me. I'm starting to eye replacements for my XPeria Z. Yes, Z, not Z1, Z2 or Z3.

      Colby Brown has a review of this camera, err, phone that you might find interesting. http://www.colbybrownphotograp...

    6. Re: plenty of performance for almost everyone by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 1

      Why would I care if its LED and not OLED, I only use my phonr for Slasdot.

      --
      Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
    7. Re:plenty of performance for almost everyone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, but most Android phones running Lollipop don't support RAW, even the ones recently released such as the Samsung S6 and Sony Z4.

    8. Re:plenty of performance for almost everyone by danomac · · Score: 1

      Holy crap! A phone that still has a replaceable battery!

      This is definitely my next phone, my GS3 is starting to show its age.

      I really don't give a rats ass about phones being super slim. I want a phone with a user replaceable battery, because they are only good for so many charges and the battery will have to be replaced. I'm already on my second battery in my GS3. Apple's solution of sending in your phone and getting a completely different refurb unit is crap, because you don't know what you are getting. I suppose the GS6 will be doing something similar.

      I still say any device with a battery needs to be user serviceable. Of course the manufacturers don't want that because when the battery dies they want you to buy another device!

  4. No qwerty slider? by taxman_10m · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Do not want.

    1. Re:No qwerty slider? by WaffleMonster · · Score: 2

      Do not want.

      One thing I find particularly senseless and counterproductive is removal of *all* physical buttons.

      The older LG G models had a physical center button and capacitive left and right buttons positioned in the same area of the now useless LG logo at the bottom of the screen of the G4. This new arrangement senselessly wastes display real-estate by taking up screen space which now needs to be dedicated to display of virtual buttons.

      Worse than this center button illuminated for notifications.. you were able to set any colors for different types of events and set it to flash so you could just look over and instantly know if there were any missed messages, tasks or calls without powering on the screen in addition to advantage of physical button for answering calls and working task manager.

    2. Re:No qwerty slider? by paulhar · · Score: 1

      Except this isn't the case. The G3 uses the same technique (only buttons for power/volume on the back, no buttons on the front).
      For games and apps where you want the extra real estate, go into Settings->Display->Home touch buttons.
      Then click on 'Hide Home touch buttons'. A list of all your apps will appear, just tick away.

      Then when you're in an app you've done this with the bottom buttons will vanish but will re-appear when you slide your finger from the bottom/side of the screen where they normally are. For me, it's intuitive.

    3. Re:No qwerty slider? by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      As a G3 owner, I can tell you that there's very useful finger real-estate at the bottom bezel for buttons. Also, as a 16:9 device, you're not really losing any useful space to them when they're "on screen" as that's a fucked up aspect ratio for any kind of real work - way too long and narrow.

      And, fwiw, there is still a fully customizable, full color notification light - it's in the upper left corner. I thought I'd really like having it, but I've turned it off. It mattered back when I only got a couple calls or emails in a day, now it's just on all the time. Besides, when I check the time on the phone (I stopped wearing a watch about 3 months ago) all the notifications are already there in the tray.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    4. Re:No qwerty slider? by Powercntrl · · Score: 1

      Do not want.

      Not sure why you got modded down, you made a valid point. Android used to be all about getting whichever phone had the features that best suited your needs. Now every flagship phone without a fruit on the back, is a freakin' phablet.

      --

      ---
      DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
    5. Re:No qwerty slider? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You must have missed the memo. They are now doing the "my ePenis is bigger than yours" equivalent in screen sizes.

    6. Re:No qwerty slider? by Rob+Y. · · Score: 1

      I have a G2 - also a really nice device. But the notification light is so bright, it lights up the whole bedroom at night. If anybody reading this knows of a way to dim it (not just mute it at night), please comment.

      --
      Posted from my Android phone. Oh, I can change this? There, that's better...
    7. Re:No qwerty slider? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      just use a black waterproof pen? seem very easy :D

    8. Re:No qwerty slider? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      use a black, waterproof marker, i used it for my monitor to keep the power led dimmer.

    9. Re:No qwerty slider? by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      Except this isn't the case. The G3 uses the same technique (only buttons for power/volume on the back, no buttons on the front).
      For games and apps where you want the extra real estate, go into Settings->Display->Home touch buttons.
      Then click on 'Hide Home touch buttons'. A list of all your apps will appear, just tick away.

      Then when you're in an app you've done this with the bottom buttons will vanish but will re-appear when you slide your finger from the bottom/side of the screen where they normally are. For me, it's intuitive.

      I was referring to older models and apologize for "any buttons" what I really meant was the front buttons for navigating the UI not literally a total lack of any physical buttons.

      It is true that anyone can adapt to anything and be happy with it yet my point is the change is not for the better... it doesn't accomplish anything other than requiring people to go through unnecessary hoops. It is a step backwards not forwards.

  5. Re: Android? Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Google didn't make this phone. Lg did

  6. Duh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    While everyone sings the praises of the A57 for being 64-bit almost everyone ignores the fact that it is the first out-of-order, branch predicting ARM core and as such surfers from horrible IPC. While I'm certain ARM will get it right eventually the writing has been on the silicon cave walls since 2011 that this core was nothing to get excited about. Are you surprised that it takes four years for a fabless IP vendor to learn these lessons? You must be new here.

    1. Re:Duh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      While everyone sings the praises of the A57 for being 64-bit almost everyone ignores the fact that it is the first out-of-order, branch predicting ARM core and as such surfers from horrible IPC. While I'm certain ARM will get it right eventually the writing has been on the silicon cave walls since 2011 that this core was nothing to get excited about. Are you surprised that it takes four years for a fabless IP vendor to learn these lessons? You must be new here.

      Can you break this down sesame street style for me there dude? I'm not new, I'm just not half as smart as most of you.

    2. Re:Duh by slaker · · Score: 1

      An AC with some EE/CE knowledge says this iteration of ARM sucks but it might make a better design sooner or later.

      --
      -- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
  7. Finally! by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

    So with a six-core Snapdragon and a slightly tamer Adreno 418 graphics engine on board...

    Fantastic! So does this mean we'll finally get smooth scrolling?

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    1. Re:Finally! by sonicmerlin · · Score: 1

      Lol don't say that to the Android fanboys. Or the Blackberry fanboys (curse my stupid Z10).

    2. Re:Finally! by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      Oh, I hear you - my G3 is *almost* as bad with occasionally stuttering as my old iPhone 5.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    3. Re:Finally! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So with a six-core Snapdragon and a slightly tamer Adreno 418 graphics engine on board...

      Fantastic! So does this mean we'll finally get smooth scrolling?

      Nope. High bandwidth is not the same as low latency.

  8. Nexus 4 user by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Happy Nexus 4 user here - just sent off for a replacement battery after 2 years of use. As much as I like LG (their Gpad tablet is also very good) I've been put off by the screen sizes... the Nexus 4 is perfect at 4.7" and still super, super snappy.
    Real shame LG don't bother with this size now as this is really at the limits of what I'm prepared to hold in my pocket.

    1. Re:Nexus 4 user by Kethinov · · Score: 1

      Where do you get a Nexus 4 battery replaced?

      --
      You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
    2. Re:Nexus 4 user by Rob+Y. · · Score: 1

      The N4 back comes off - it just takes some doing. I learned that when the stupid glass back on mine shattered. But it has a new back now and is still going (realatively) strong...

      --
      Posted from my Android phone. Oh, I can change this? There, that's better...
  9. Plus it has its own song! by Kethinov · · Score: 1

    Plus it has its own song!

    --
    You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
  10. Big whoop by p51d007 · · Score: 0

    I'll bet, except for benchmarking programs, any commonly used app on the google play store, will run just as efficiently on any snapdragon 8xx SOC, as it does on my snapdragon 400 device. People are for the most part, WASTING their money trading in a snapdragon 800,801 device for a snapdragon 808-810 device, just on the basis of performance alone. My 400 device, has a great camera, plenty of ram, LTE, battery that lasts 3 days with 3% left over, but I didn't pay 600-800 bucks for it. Hey, your money, I just don't get the "need" to trade a device 6-9 months after you get it, unless it was a dud out of the box, or you've jacked around with it to the point that it is unstable.

    1. Re:Big whoop by slaker · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't mind moving up to a device with 3GB RAM, as I frequently browse with multiple open tabs and can actually run a 2GB device out of memory. CPU performance isn't a major issue for me and you're right that more or less anything with a Snapdragon 800-series is probably just fine, but extra pixels on screen are great, more RAM is great and support for high capacity microSD is great if you didn't already have it.

      The G4 is the only current-generation flashship phone with both a removable battery and a card reader, so if those things are important to you, this device is still a pretty big deal.

      --
      -- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
  11. Other manufacturers too ... by kbahey · · Score: 1

    Other manufacturers are doing away with physical buttons as well.

    For example, my first Sony, an Xperia X10, had 3 physical buttons at the bottom. So did my next Sony, Xperia Arc.

    Then my current Xperia ZL has no buttons on the front, just capacitive ones.

    You get used to it though, and never miss them after a few weeks of adjusting.

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    2bits.com, Inc: Drupal, WordPress, and LAMP performance tuning.
  12. Bad thing about leather case... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It absorbs all your hand grime and sweat. Eventually it will smell as bad as an old tennis racquet handle. Do not buy a used leather LG G4.

    Personally, I think Qualcomm screwed up big time in 2015. By the time the Snapdragon 820 arrives the Exynos and Mediatek chips will have closed the gap.

    That said, I don't mind fewer cores so things run cooler and the battery lasts longer. We'll find out if that's LG marketspeak or the truth.