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LG G3 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3: 5 Key Differences

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is an impressive smartphone that arrived at the end of 2013 and has a lot to offer, but coming soon later this month is the all-new LG G3 to give it a little competition.

The LG G3 and upcoming Galaxy Note 4 are two of the biggest names of the year when it comes to a smartphone, and consumers are likely wondering what the new LG G3 has to offer, and how it stacks up to other current flagship smartphones like the Galaxy S5 and Note 3.

Read: Galaxy S4 vs LG G3: What We Know So Far

With those consumers in mind, here we take a look at how the Galaxy Note 3 compares to the rumored LG G3, a device that is expected to be one of the top Android smartphones of 2014. The LG G2 was an excellent smartphone last year, one which we found to seriously compete with the Galaxy S4, but in 2014 the LG G3 is taking on the Galaxy S5 and Samsung’s Note lineup at the same time. Finding a perfect middle ground with the specs, so lets take a look.

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The all-new LG G3 is quickly approaching, and before the smartphone arrives consumers will be looking around for what to expect, not to mention how it compares to some of the other smartphones currently on the market.

The LG G3 has already been confirmed by LG, and the company even announced the release date will be before the end of June. LG will take the stage on May 27th and officially announce the LG G3, but before that happens, below is what we know so far, and how everything it has to offer will compare to the Galaxy Note 3.

Read: LG G2 vs LG G3: 5 Things Buyers Can Expect

Design

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 arrived last year with some pretty impressive specs, and a slightly changes design from previous models that turned some heads. Overall there was nothing overly different from previous devices, and aside from an excellent 13 megapixel camera and the S-Pen the faux-leather design on the rear was the only compelling design feature. The LG G3 however, takes design to a completely different level.

With the LG G2 we received the first smartphone with all the buttons on the back rather than the sides. This was an attempt to get users to tap buttons with the natural placement of the index finger while gripping a device. It was a daring move, but one that paid off, as consumers now love it and are highly anticipating the arrival of the LG G3.

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The Galaxy Note 3 was another device in a long line of very similar Samsung devices, and had nothing really different from years prior. While we expect the Note 4 to change dramatically, this is about the Galaxy Note 3 and those who may be considering it. For more details check out our full Galaxy Note 3 Review.

The LG G3 will have a large 5.5-inch display, but be much smaller in size than the Note 3. The design has a fake metal design to give it a premium look, and the buttons on back (and fingerprint scanner) give the design a leg up over the aging Note 3.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Note lineup was the first popular device in the “phablet” sector, but now nearly all Android devices are approaching the 5-inch limit and we don’t consider anything a phablet these days. The Galaxy Note 3 however, is the biggest of the bunch coming in with a 5.7-inch 1920 x 1080p full HD display.

The Galaxy Note 3 screen looks great, it’s large and crisp, but most likely won’t compare to the LG G3. When the LG G3 makes its debut it will sport a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD display, making it nearly 4x that of a 720p screen from the Note 2. No device has arrived in the US with this type of eye-blistering resolution, even though many expected Samsung to offer one, and instead LG will be first.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S5 received a lot of praise over the quality of the display, but all reports suggest LG is taking direct aim at the Galaxy S5 display with its new LG G3. At the same time, that battle will take on the slightly larger Note 3 at the same time, and most likely surpass it in all areas except for sheer size.

The extremely thin bezels around the LG G3’s 5.5-inch screen means it won’t be much bigger than the 5.2-inch LG G2, but offers tons of additional screen space. We haven’t seen any comparisons yet, but it’s safe to assume the LG G3 will be much smaller and more portable than the Note 3, even though it still has a massive 5.5-inch Quad-HD screen.

Specs

While general specs and quad-core processors at certain speeds don’t fully matter to the average user as much as performance does, many still want to know the cold hard facts. And while the Note 3 and LG G3 will both be extremely fast and powerful flagship smartphones that last for years, LG takes the gold in this category as well. LG’s late release schedule allows for top-end hardware under the hood, and here’s what we’re hearing will debut later this month.

LG G3 Specs

  • 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 “Quad HD” display
  • 2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805 with 3GB RAM
  • 32GB internal storage (Micro-SD expansion support)
  • 13 Megapixel camera with Optical Image Stabilization+ and 2MP front
  • Android 4.4.2 KitKat with LG UI changes
  • Infrared sensor for remote, and Infrared laser for enhanced camera
  • Brushed Aluminum-like plastic design
  • Buttons on the back, fingerprint scanner for security
  • 3,200 removable battery (wireless charging)
  • 3 Colors at launch: Black, Silver, and Gold

Galaxy Note 3 Specs

  • 5.7-inch 1920 x 1080p HD display
  • 2.3 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 800 with 3GB RAM
  • 16GB internal storage (Micro-SD expansion support)
  • 13 Megapixel camera and 2MP front
  • Android 4.4.2 KitKat with TouchWiz (after update)
  • Rear speaker, infrared sensor for remote
  • Plastic housing and faux-leather design
  • 3,200 mAh battery

It is clear that aside from having a slightly larger display (at the cost of a much larger device) the Galaxy Note 3 doesn’t compare to the LG G3. Of course it is nearly a year newer, so that’s expected, but given the high price of Galaxy Note devices the LG G3 could arrive just in time to steal any last sales, not to mention give the Galaxy S5 and even the upcoming Galaxy Note 4 a tough battle.

Software

Another key difference between these two phones will be the software on board. Over the past few months all Galaxy Note 3 devices have slowly received Android 4.4.2 KitKat, and are covered in Samsung’s somewhat laggy and overrated TouchWiz user interface.

In the past many of LG’s phones appear to try and copy Touchwiz, and their user interface hasn’t been extremely popular either. However, following the trend from last year the LG G3 will have a refined user interface that LG can call their own, and tons of new features and changes. The image below is a screenshot of the redesign, as well as a glance as the LG virtual assistant popup appearing below the weather widget.

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From LG’s KnockCode and KnockOn features, to Slide Aside, and now this new virtual assistant LG should have plenty of unique software features in the G3 to turn some heads. Both devices will be on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, and surely will receive timely updates in the future to new versions of the Android operating system.

LG has been slow with software in the past, but the LG G2 received top tier treatment and received Android 4.4.2 KitKat before many US carriers delivered the same update to the Note 3.

Of course Samsung’s Note 3 has the S-Pen stylus, and those looking for more business features or content creation, the Note 3 can’t be beat.

Price

One major factor for most smartphone buyers is the price, especially when you’re signing a 2-year contract at the same time. While contracts are slowly disappearing, smartphone prices continue to climb. A prime example is the Galaxy Note 3, which still costs $299 with a 2-year contract, vs $199 for almost any other smartphone.

The LG G2 launched at $199 with a new 2-year contract, and quickly dropped to $99 making it an excellent option, and we’re expecting the same from the LG G3. The Galaxy Note 3, now that it’s nearly 9 months old, has also been lowered to a more pocket friendly $199 from some carriers, but not all.

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However, if you’re not looking to sign a contract the huge $699 price of the Galaxy Note 3 could be a major concern for some users, especially considering the LG G3 will likely come in around the $599 mark.

These days many users opt for no contract, or monthly payment options with Verizon Edge or AT&T Next, but either way the Galaxy Note 3 is still a more expensive device.

Both the LG G3 and current Galaxy Note 3 are excellent smartphones that will last and treat any consumer extremely well, but simply given the age of the Note 3 and the improvements to the LG G3, we’d have to recommend the LG G3. The device will be announced on May 27th, and will be available on all five major US carriers by the end of June. This means the wait is almost over.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Richard Yarrell

    05/15/2014 at 12:17 pm

    The Lg G3 will be nothing more than a large screened smartphone matching the Galaxy Note 3 in every category.

    Note 3 arrived September 2013 has 32gb internal storage, 4.4.2 Kit Kat, industry leading productivity and multitasking abilities unmatched by any handset on the market.

    All LG did was match specs of the 8 months old Note 3 and put on a better screen at 1440p which will past by the upcoming Galaxy Note 4 in October.

    3200mah battery pulling 1440p is not a great battery people will find that out soon. 13meg camera doesn’t beat the Note 3 only matches it, same 3gb of ram, same battery expect Note 3 is better.

    If you own a Galaxy Note 3 you are doing just fine wait for the Galaxy Note 4 it will trash the Lg G3 so easily it’s comical.

    • joemama

      05/15/2014 at 7:16 pm

      This beats that..and that beats this. You should beat it fanboy.

    • Hal

      07/16/2014 at 6:22 am

      Looking at this 2 months later, Richard was spot on. The LG G3 is great, but the battery life suffers because of the way too high (and completely unneeded) resolution.

  2. guy

    05/15/2014 at 12:28 pm

    Actually I dont think the g3 is a phablit. Therefore I would compare the two. But thats my opinion. Phablit would have the pen and be larger. 5.5 is big but not too big imo. And of course the leap frog effect will continue with devices because they will always add the latest technology. Thats why the lg g3 will top the gs5 and note 3 right now. Im sure your phablit n3 is operating perfectly fine for you. I wouldn’t go from n3 to g3 if youre happy with it. But if youre using a gs3 like me its time for a new device.

  3. guy

    05/15/2014 at 4:55 pm

    Wouldn’t^^^↑↑ compair.

  4. rnmarcus

    07/10/2014 at 12:46 pm

    Where did you all get your embarrassingly WRONG information— TOTALLY WRONG INFORMATION THAT THE NOTE 3 HAS ONLY 16gb OF MEMORY??? seriously– WHERE DID YOU GET THAT FROM???? That was really careless!

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