LG G5 deals and reviews

Alphr | Alan Martin, Jonathan Bray

The LG G5 is one of the most interesting smartphones I've seen since the days of the LG Optimus 3D, and for that, I find myself predisposed to liking it. The trouble with the G5 is that, although ingenious, I'm not convinced it's enough to get consumers to switch from the tried and tested.

Expert Reviews | Katharine Byrne

The G5's surprisingly attractive when you get up close, and its smooth metallic coating feels great in the hand... LG's handset delivers where it counts, as it not only has a fantastically flexible camera, but its speed and raw processing power make it just as capable... It's also got a beautiful display and its interchangeable batteries give it a big advantage over its sealed competitors.

IT PRO | Alan Lu, Adam Shepherd

Question marks hang over this phone's modular capabilities, but that aside this is still a high quality smartphone with plenty to recommend it.

What Hi-Fi?

We give LG full marks for innovation. That camera is a joy to use, and the modular components are a brilliant idea that we hope will get more attention.

Stuff | Robert Leedham

..while still being an awesome phone to begin with. It's a big, ballsy move, and one that we hope pays off in the long run. Technology is meant to inspire you and the G5 does that in spades.

TechAeris | Kyle Funk

The LG G5 is LG's newest flagship with a metal build and a design that's different from previous LG flagship devices. The phone comes with two rear facing cameras, a modular design for adding additional attachments such as changing out batteries or using a modular camera.

Toronto Sun | Adam Swimmer

Overall, the LG G5 is a solid device and a good option if you're looking to buy a new phone.

Know Your Mobile | Richard Goodwin

It has enough new features, attributes and quirks to really stand out from the crowd in 2016 and for me is one of the most interesting releases in recent times.

TechRadar | Matt Swider, John McCann

The LG G5's modular party pieces are yet to be fully realized, but away from that you've got a supremely solid flagship smartphone - if only the battery was a bit better.... It's not like there's a shortage of features then, but somehow the G5 doesn't quite feel complete. There's nothing inherently wrong, the battery could be better, but it's lacking that final layer of finesse to pull everything together into a tidy package.

Mobile Choice | Sunetra Chakravarti

If you are one of those people who love the zaniest, whackiest piece of tech and call yourself an 'early adopter', then the G5 is for you. The modular design doesnt do enough and even though the phone is sold on the premise of its 'friends', the availability of just two modules is baffling.

Recombu | Chris Barraclough

Even if you have no interest in LG's modular functionality (which is yet to prove itself worthwhile), the G5 is still well worth considering as your next full-time smartphone. The dual camera setup is brilliant, offering impressive flexibility, while performance is up there with the best. And in terms of media performance, the G5 again does its job, offering strong, striking visuals.

NotebookCheck | Daniel Schmidt

The combination of a good display, proven camera and decent battery runtimes is a solid foundation. We really like the new design and the modular concept of the LG G5 offers interesting additional modules.

Android Authority | Nirave Gondhia

The G5 is a step in a new direction for LG and brings a brand new design, dual cameras, and modular capabilities while still staying true to what an LG phone should be. With the new modular concept, it's not just about what the G5 can do now but rather, what it's capable of doing in the future, and that alone makes the LG G5 one very compelling smartphone.

ZDNet | Matthew Miller

The LG G5 is fast, the battery lasts most of a very long day, the camera is fantastic, it feels good in the hand, and the curved glass front looks cool. The back metal appears to have some flaws, the curves around the camera and fingerprint scanner give it a bit of an unfinished look, and there is a rather sharp bezel around the sides.

phoneArena | Chris P.

At the end of the review process, we're feeling kind of empty in that we can't quite place our finger on what it is that isn't feeling exactly right with the G5. Despite this, we're still drawing the line at a short distance behind competing devices like the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Apple iPhone 6s.

Engadget | Chris Velcazo

LG had to somehow build a smartphone that's both functional and powerful now and easy to improve later. Alas, LG didn't quite clear the high bar it set for itself.

AndroidPit | Shu On Kwok

It is a flagship that can take on a Samsung Galaxy S7 and probably also with the HTC 10. I personally would like to see if modular design takes off.

Firstpost | Anirudh Regidi

The LG G5 is priced like a true flagship, and on paper, is also built like one. Unfortunately, reality paints a different picture.

Eurogamer | Damien McFerran

Take into account the powerful internal tech, smooth user experience and likeable UI and you've got a flagship phone which LG has every reason to be very proud of.

Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman

If you're in the market for a high-end Android phone, the G5 should be on your shortlist. I like that LG is forging its own path rather than following a more well-worn road. The G5 isn't perfect, but the promise of the swappable modules and all-around good performance make the G5 worth recommending.

Digital Trends | Andy Boxall

While its competitors play the game, the LG G5's modular design changes it... The LG G5 is a great buy, but isn't our favorite Android phone yet.

International Business Times | Alistair Charlton

I really respect LG for trying something new with the G5. The wide angle camera is great and something I've really enjoyed using (despite the megapixel shortfall), but the modular design, while clever, feels unfinished.

Android Headlines | Nick Sutrich

This is another solid release from LG that's just in need of a few patches, but one that stands toe-to-toe with the best in many areas.

NDTV Gadgets | Ali Pardiwala

Although LG has finally gone with an all-metal build for its flagship device, the G5 doesn't quite feel as good to hold as many of its competitors. The significant difference in alignment between the module and the body of the phone means that the G5 feels a bit tacky and poorly designed. That aside, you're unlikely to have any other problems with the LG G5 despite its high price.

Neowin | Timi Cantisano

LG's bet on creating something different, was bold, but its execution is poor. The modular components left a handset that has fit and finish issues and something that clearly can't compete. Although the modular design is currently a crux, if LG can find a way to better offer the components and meld it with a handset that can stand on its own, they might have a powerful combination in the future.

Trusted Reviews | Max Parker

The LG G5 is a really good phone, but in a year of really great phones it can't quite match the impressive standard set the by the HTC 10 and Samsung Galaxy S7.

The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs

Fun dual cameras, modular design, fast processor and great screen are undercut by build quality and battery life that aren't quite as good.

Pocket-lint | Mike Lowe and Chris Hall

The LG G5 is a flagship that's going to split the crowd; it's certainly had us bouncing from pillar and post. That module-based design is such a radical shake-up of the flagship market that we want to be excited, we really do, but we're just not. Because we just can't see that primary feature and the 360-camera/hi-fi/VR units ever getting explicitly used.

Mashable | Raymond Wong

Even if you ignore its gimmicky 'modular' design, the LG G5 has two desirable features its main competitors don't: A useful ultra-wide secondary camera and removable battery. LG's lost a lot of users, but if the company keeps focusing on these meaningful features, maybe it can claw back some customers.

pocketnow | Jaime Rivera

For geeks like us, phones shouldn't be average. If anything I feel that the LG G5 is too early for its time, not because the technology isn't there, but because LG clearly needed more time to polish its manufacturing and tune the display.

T3 | Spencer Hart

I like the LG G5 a lot, it's a real joy to use. Not because it's a perfect smartphone, but because it's innovative. If you want the most interesting smartphone in 2016 - the LG G5 is perfect (because it's not perfect).

The Verge | Vlad Savov

LG decided that what mattered most with the G5 was for it to be new and different and exciting - and it achieved all of those objectives. The Korean company has ably differentiated itself ... [but] being different by itself isn't enough.

MobileTechTalk | Mark Ramos

The G5 is a highly competent device that can do any task you ask of it and it will do it to a high standard. Still it's a little soulless, not just acoustically, it's just not got anything that captures your attention.

TechSpot | Tim Schiesser

Despite a poor Android 6.0 skin, there is enough to like about the LG G5 to class it as a 'good' smartphone. My main issue with the device, though, is that I can't really recommend it over the Galaxy S7.

Gadgets Now | Rajat Sharma

...surely one of the most innovative smartphones in the market right now but I would recommend users to wait for it's successor as it will be more refined and better value for money....the smartphone did give certain features that potential buyers might not use ever, like the multi-view mode, pop-out features in camera...the...price tag too could become a deal breaker for many.

Australian PC World

We have to applaud LG for taking so many risks-overhauling battery extraction, ditching the app drawer, adding a second camera, and beating other manufacturers to the modular accessory punch. But each of these innovations is flawed to one degree or another, casting a dark shadow on a phone that otherwise does have a lot of offer.

Mobile Syrup | Ted Kritsonis

The G5 is a solid phone, despite the identity it is saddled with. The fingerprint sensor is great, the camera is superb, the software much improved and the feel of the handset more than comfortable. The main trappings are there, however many didn't get to experience them so far.

Tom's Guide | Cherlynn Low

On its own, the G5 is a solid phone, offering superb performance and a useful dual-camera setup that's great for landscape photography. However, I wish the G5 lasted longer on a charge, and that it looked sexier.

AnandTech | Matt Humrick

Ultimately, the G5, like the G4, ends up feeling like an upper mid-range phone rather than a true flagship. It does have a nice array of features, including a removable battery-a true rarity these days-and microSD support, along with excellent performance, but many of its features are poorly executed.

Brighthand | Dragan Petric

The LG G5 has the performance to match the best of the best, along with a unique modular design and excellent rear camera. It's not as slick as other Android smartphones, but it should appeal to those that want something a little different.

The Telegraph | Rhiannon Williams

It's a slick, competent and well-performing smartphone that is carried by its outstanding camera and let down by its bloated software, average frame and the modular aspect, while great in theory, currently feels a bit underserved with just a Hi-Fi booster and camera grip currently available.

V3 | Matt Farrington-Smith

The LG G5 is never going to win prizes for good looks, but it excels in quirky innovation with a modular design and dual rear-facing cameras (one of which is wide-angle).

Android Central | Phil Nickinson

The large sloped glass on the front of the phone is gorgeous. The fingerprint sensor works flawlessly. The dual-camera system is very well done... This isn't an awful phone to use. Not by any stretch of the imagination. It's just that there are better phones out there - and also really good phones for less money.