Why You Shouldn’t Buy the LG G3 Right Now

The new LG G3 is not only one of the best Android smartphones on the market right now, it’s one of the best smartphones period. However, if you can wait, we suggest waiting a few weeks at least before buying the LG G3.

Last year, LG released the G2, a successor to the company’s Optimus G and a device that quickly emerged as one of the top smartphones on the market thanks to a beautiful display, minimalistic software, a fantastic camera, and great battery life. There was only one problem. The LG G2 emerged long after top Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One so it didn’t get the recognition that it truly deserved.

LG did not make the same mistake this year. Less than a year after it released the LG G2, the company debuted its successor, the all new LG G3. The LG G3 was released just a few weeks back in July and it has quickly become one of our favorite smartphones on the market. And we’re not talking just among Android smartphones either.

The LG G3, plain and simple, is one of the best smartphones that money can buy. It has a fantastic 5.5-inch QHD display, it comes with a speedy processor and durable design, and it comes with a great camera that can be seen in action in the video below. It’s a device that we would recommend to you if we were in any other part of the year.

Right now is the absolute worst time to buy any smartphone be it an iPhone, a Galaxy S5 or an LG G3. That’s because we’re hitting the tail end of the yearly smartphone cycle. The devices that arrive in the next two months or so will likely represent the top smartphone options until the cycle begins anew in the beginning of 2015.

So what does this mean for prospective LG G3 buyers? Well, there are four reasons why we think you should hold off on buying the LG G3 right now. And here they are.

Galaxy Note 4

Maybe the best reason to hold off on buying the LG G3 right now is the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, one of the year’s biggest (literally) smartphones, is just over the horizon. We’re talking mere weeks from now.

That video above will get you up to speed but in case you’re unfamiliar with the Galaxy Note 4, here’s what you need to know. Earlier this month, Samsung confirmed the Galaxy Note 4 release and pegged it with a September 3rd launch date. While Samsung still isn’t talking about its announcements, this date is set in stone.

What this means is that in just a few short weeks, we’re going to see another Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphone option emerge. This only happens once a year. And if rumors are correct, the Galaxy Note 4 could be a pretty big step up from the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Note 2 as Samsung looks to compete against the LG G3 and Apple’s iPhone 6.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is expected to deliver a number of changes including a better 5.7-inch QHD display, a more efficient Snapdragon 805 processor, an upgraded camera with optical image stabilization, a UV sensor, a fingerprint sensor for added security, and a design that could combine sleek looking plastic with a metal frame. In other words, it could match the LG G3 in most of the key areas you’re probably looking at.

In addition, the Galaxy Note 4 should come bundled with the company’s S Pen stylus, a stylus that can be used for far more than just writing and drawing on the screen. The S Pen lets you take advantage of some remarkable applications including a powerful note taking app called S Note that is perfect for business meetings and class.

Galaxy Note 4 rumors present a pretty interesting LG G3 alternative. And while you may not wind up buying the Galaxy Note 4 over the LG G3, we suggest waiting a few weeks so that you can weigh them both next to each other.

iPhone 6

You may have heard but in case you didn’t, the Galaxy Note 4 isn’t the only major device slated to arrive in September. Apple’s iPhone 6 launch is expected to take place on September 9th. That date isn’t confirmed but Recode’s John Paczkowski is a solid source and we expect to see invites sent out sometime in the next three weeks or so, perhaps in and around the Galaxy Note 4′s launch date.

This year’s iPhone could match up very well with the Galaxy Note 4 and the LG G3. It’s rumored to have two new screen sizes, 4.7-inches and 5.5-inches, both of which will provide more screen real estate for gaming, the web, getting work done, and television shows and movies.

In addition to the screen size changes, the iPhone 6 is also rumored to have a higher-resolution display, a slimmer and better protected design, a camera that’s improved over the iPhone 5s’, and an A8 processor that could deliver better performance and battery life. The device is expected to be a significant step up from the iPhone 5s and could present a real challenge to the success of the LG G3.

So by holding off on an LG G3 purchase in the next few weeks, you’ll not only run into a new Galaxy Note but you’ll probably also be able to weigh the LG G3 against a brand new iPhone. Apple’s iPhone is another device that only comes around once a year so it’s certainly worth holding out if you can.

Moto X+1

For whatever reason, Motorola decided to schedule a press event for September 4th, or, the day after the Galaxy Note 4 launch. It’s there that the company is expected to announce its next Moto X model, the Moto X+1. As we’ve noted, the Moto X+1 looks like it will pick up where the Moto X left off and offer some fantastic hardware specs and software features to consumers.

The Moto X+1 is expected to be another key Android contender, the Moto X was a legitimate LG G2 opponent last year, and it’s another device that you’ll likely have access to in the month of September as Motorola looks to keep pace with its rivals.

Deals

If three major smartphone launches in early September aren’t enough to convince you, consider this.

There is a very good chance that the arrival of Galaxy Note 4, iPhone 6 and Moto X+ will set off a chain reaction of price drops amongst current Android smartphones, including the LG G3. The LG G3 is already on sale for a mere $99 on-contract but we would not be surprised if that price, and the price of other top notch devices including the iPhone 5s and Galaxy S5, drop even lower to compete.

Even if we don’t see the prices drop dramatically, the LG G2 will still be on sale and there’s a very good chance that that $99 price point will hold as retailers aim to maintain the device’s attractiveness.

So, if you’re not in any hurry to replace your current smartphone and you aren’t one hundred percent sold on the LG G3, I highly recommend waiting, at least until September. In September, you’ll have three more options to weigh against LGs flagship and you should also have access to cheaper devices which could include a cheaper LG G3.

We understand that every situation is different. Phones break, money appears, whatever. If you simply can’t wait, make sure that you don’t pay a ton for LG G3. There are a number of great deals that drop it well below its usual $199.99 asking price.