The LG G2 vs. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom – Not as Clear-Cut as You Would Think

Most of us these days have a mobile phone. Many jobs require a mobile, and many people are giving up the expense of a home land line phone in favour of going mobile, making cell phones more of a necessity than a luxury item. But you're going to be spending a fair amount of money on your new mobile phone, with top end new releases going for around the five hundred pound mark, so you are going to want to make sure that you make a good decision. And with so many new mobiles on the market to choose from, knowing which device is the best for you can be tough. Not only is there a plethora of options available to you, but the technical jargon surrounding mobiles means that the average shopper has a rough time deciphering what exactly it is that they're buying. So how can you effectively choose a great mobile phone? We're here to make your decision a little easier. We've taken some of the hottest new releases on the mobile market and put them to the test, matching two devices in a head to head battle to find out exactly how they compare and what their differences are. So, if you're looking at getting a great new mobile phone, read on to find out more about today's two competitors...

Our Two Devices...

LG might not be the first brand that leaps to mind when you think about getting a great new phone, in fact they're probably better known for their home electronics such as televisions than for their mobiles. But the manufacturers have been making some pretty decent mobiles recently, tending towards putting high end features into mid-priced models. The LG G2 is the latest release from the company, and it definitely doesn't disappoint when it comes to specs, but can an LG phone really compete with a model from the mobile giant Samsung? Samsung's Galaxy series is one of the best-selling lines of phones on the market. The Galaxy S III was widely considered the best phone of 2012, and the Galaxy S4 look set to become the best phone of 2013. However, the S4 is a pricey device, which is why Samsung have released a few “mini” versions that retail more cheaply. Each of these smaller S4 versions specialises in a different area, and the Galaxy S4 Zoom is a dedicated photography phone, perfect for the amateur mobile photographer. But is it worth buying a phone just to take pictures with?

The Prices...

The LG G2 is going to cost you around about five hundred pounds, though that price isn't definite yet as many operators have yet to release pricing information. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom goes for a little cheaper, about four hundred and fifty pounds. There isn't a huge price difference, but in today's economy every little bit can help...

What the LG G2 Has to Offer...

The LG, as we'd expect from this manufacturer, has some seriously impressive advantages over the Samsung. It does run the faster processor, coming with a huge 2300 MHz processor, one of the fastest on the market, as compared to the mere 1500 MHz model on the Samsung. So the G2 is more powerful and more responsive too. It also has the larger screen, getting the full five inch screen versus the smaller 4.3 inch screen on the Galaxy. That larger screen means that viewing is better, especially when it comes to having to scroll around web pages, but also that on screen typing is a lot easier and more comfortable. The display is also higher quality, getting around four times higher screen resolution and about seventy per cent more PPI (pixels per inch), so the LG's screen is brighter, clearer and sharper than the Samsung's. There's a lot more internal storage on the G2, since it comes with a 32 GB internal memory as opposed to just 8 GB on the Galaxy, so you'll have plenty of space to keep all your music, photos, games and other data. And despite having a larger screen, the G2 is the smaller phone. It's around thirty per cent smaller overall than the Samsung, as well as about forty per cent thinner. Plus, it's a lot lighter, weighing in at just 143 grams versus the 208 gram Samsung Galaxy. All of this means that the LG G2 is just more portable and far easier to carry around with you all day.

What the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Has to Offer...

The Galaxy S4 Zoom does have a couple of advantages. Obviously, it does have the better camera. It has a 16 MP camera rather than the 13 MP cam on the LG, and it also has an optical zoom, so you can capture more fine detail which results in higher quality pictures. The camera also shoots high resolution full HD video, which the one on the LG doesn't. The S4 Zoom is a 4g capable device. 4G phones get faster mobile internet speeds than older 3g models, though you will need a specific 4g data plan with your operator in order to use 4g phones to their full capabilities, and not all operators have these plans. Finally, the S4 Zoom does have a Super AMOLED screen rather than the older LCD technology used on the LG, so colour reproduction is a little better.

Which One is Best?

Whilst the Samsung Galaxy S4 is an incredible phone, the Galaxy S4 Zoom just isn't, to be frank. Sure, it's got a nice camera, but there are other mobiles that have even better cameras and that make better buys than the S4 Zoom. The LG G2, on the other hand, has a faster processor, bigger and better screen as well as more internal storage. All of those things combines just mean that the G2 is a far better device and a better buy, even if it does mean spending an extra fifty pounds.

Phil Turner wanted to know if 4G phones would be a better deal for him. uSwitch and similar comparison sites had all the information that he needed to find out.