Android
Galaxy S7 vs LG G5: Early Comparison Based on Rumors
As more and more details continue to leak about the Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5, buyers will have a tough choice to make in the coming months. We know plenty about both already, and below is an early comparison for potential buyers based on early rumors or leaks.
At this point it sounds like both phones will be announced near the end of February at an event called Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. From what we’re hearing both manufacturers will host events on February 21st and try to upstage one another in an effort to steal some customers.
Read: LG G5 Release Takes Aim at Galaxy S7 & More
LG has sent out press events for the announcement on February 21st, the day before MWC starts, and leaks suggest Samsung will do the same. That said, these are only the announcement, and not a release date, but more on that below. Here’s how these two phones will compare and everything we think we know so far.
Rumors about both the Galaxy S7 and LG G5 started picking up in December, and throughout January, and as of right now we have a pretty good idea of what to expect about both. From screen sizes, features, cameras, specs and more. And while a few details remain a mystery, we have enough to compare them for prospective buyers.
LG G5 vs Galaxy S7: Design
Everything we’ve heard from reliable sources like the Korean Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters and more, claim the Galaxy S7 will look nearly identical to the Galaxy S6 from last year. That said, it will be a very different phone that’s better, faster, more powerful, thinner, have better battery life and more.
Rumor has it the Galaxy S7 will come in 2-3 different models (not four) and cater to almost everyone who wants a Samsung Galaxy device. We’re to believe there will be a 5.1-inch Galaxy S7, and a 5.5 or 5.7-inch Galaxy S7 Edge. No smaller Edge model, but we’ll have to wait and see. The image above leaked from internal documents.
LG is taking a completely different approach. The LG G5 is rumored to offer a complete redesign, look nothing like the LG G4, and finally offer an all aluminum design in order to better compete with Samsung or Apple. Multiple leaks from Korea suggest this, and recently leaked images gave us a glance at a metal LG G5 in a protective case hiding the final design.
Both the Galaxy S7 and LG G5 will be premium all metal phones with fingerprint scanners, great cameras (more on that below) and have micro-SD cards. Well, according to various reports that Samsung will return it for the Galaxy S7 and other phones in 2016.
Rumors are back and forth on a few different aspects of the LG G5 screen size, but it will likely be 5.3-inches and have a secondary display above it, or stick to 5.5-inches like past years. Those who want a screen of that size will have to get the Galaxy S7 Edge, as the regular Galaxy S7 is only 5.1-inches.
One big thing separating these phones is the rumors of the LG G5 “Magic slot” which will be some sort of slide-out modular tray for access to the replaceable battery, micro-SD slot, and potentially other accessories. This is still a mystery, but we’ll know soon enough.
LG G5 vs Galaxy S7: Specs
While specs aren’t everything, they are important to many potential buyers. Both phones will have great screens, fingerprint scanners, good cameras and other things, and both likely the same 8-core processor. That said, here’s what we’re hearing will complete both phones spec sheets.
Galaxy S7 Specs (Rumored)
- 5.1-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD Display
- 8-Core Qualcomm 820 Processor with 4GB of RAM (Vary by region)
- 32 and 64GB storage options (Micro-SD reportedly confirmed)
- New 12.3 Megapixel Rear Camera with f/1.7 aperture, OIS and more
- 3,000 mAh battery with Fast Charging, Wireless Fast Charging (3,600 on Galaxy S7 Edge)
- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with TouchWiz
- Fingerprint and Iris Eye Scanner
- IP67 Dust & Water Resistance (Rumored)
- Flat Design (no camera bulge)
- more
The Galaxy S7 could have a pressure sensitive display to rival Apple’s 3D Touch, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, as well as other impressive features outlined above.
LG G5 Specs (Confirmed)
- 5.3-inch 2560 x 1440 Quantum HD Display
- 8-core Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM
- 32GB of storage, micro-SD slot for expansion
- 16 and 8 Megapixel Dual rear cameras, OIS, laser auto-focus and more
- 8 Megapixel front camera
- 2,800 mAh removable and replaceable battery
- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- Fingerprint Scanner on back (buttons moved to side, not on back like prior years)
- Premium All Metal Design
- USB Type-C Charging Port
- more
As you can see both phones have some similarities. They’ll both be fast, powerful, sleek, have great cameras, expandable storage and other things. It may come down to price, personal preference, camera performance or other factors. We’ll have to wait and see what rumors are accurate, and what’s wrong.
Camera
As we said above, these phones will have great cameras. From everything we’re hearing, Samsung will go down from a 16 megapixel camera on the Galaxy S6, to only a 12 megapixel camera on the Galaxy S7. Megapixels aren’t everything, and this will still be an upgrade.
Read: LG G5 Hands-on, Release Date & More
Leaks support rumors of a 12.3 megapixel F/1.8 aperture camera with optical image stabilization. The LG G4 had a fast f/1.8 camera last year, which won some awards, so the race could be really tight this year. The Galaxy S7 12.3 megapixel camera will be great for low-light, take fast and accurate photos with less blur, vivid colors, and probably be among the best available.
We’re not sure what to expect from LG. The G4 had a great camera, and the G5 could be even better. Or it will be the same camera around back but that secondary 8 megapixel rear camera can help with low light, focus, and post-processing effects for some neat and amazing photos. We’ll need more details to comment further, but both should be great.
LG G5 vs Galaxy S7: Release Date
One thing that will be important, but probably give Samsung the lead, is the release date. We’re hearing both will be announced on February 21st, but that the Galaxy S7 will be released between March 4-11th. There’s no release date floating around for the LG G5.
That being said, a few reports suggest LG delayed the G4 release until April and June in order to NOT compete with Samsung’s release, but this year they want to take them head on. Meaning we could see the LG G5 be released sometime in March or April as well, but we can’t be sure. Most likely the Galaxy S7 will be available first, but we’ll have to wait for the announcements to know for sure. The G5 could be worth waiting for, it’s all up to you, the user.
Carriers, Pricing and More
Of course the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will be released on all major carriers, likely in at least 2-3 different color options and storage sizes, but we’ll have to wait for the announcement to know for sure. The LG G5 is rumored to do the same, in 32GB, and be available in Black, Silver and White.
Users can expect all major US carriers to release both phones, but we’re not sure on when. The Galaxy S7 will likely land on all carriers the same day, but LG doesn’t have that same push or power. Expect a spread out release date within a few weeks of each other.
The Galaxy S6 was $199 with a new 2-year contract and $599 outright for the 32GB model from most carriers (or $649 from AT&T and some), then went up with more storage or the Edge curved screen model. We’re expecting something very similar for the Galaxy S7.
However, the LG G4 was $599 or even $499 from some, and LG is quick to offer deals, pair it with a free 200GB micro-SD card, or other lucrative options like we saw with the G4. In fact, LG gave out a spare battery and 128GB micro-SD cards to almost everyone who bought one. If we see that again with the G5, many could choose it over the Galaxy S7. Especially if they’re released around the same time.
For now it’s all a waiting game, but the wait shouldn’t be too long. Expect more details and information to leak as the February 21st announcement nears for both. Which excites you more? A Galaxy S7 with a similar yet improved in every way design full of impressive hardware, or a fresh new LG G5 with a replaceable battery and three cameras? Let us know in the comments below.
Alex
01/28/2016 at 2:35 pm
LG G5 all the way!!! I’ve been waiting for a nice phone with a removeable battery for a while now!!!
jmg
01/28/2016 at 8:32 pm
Lg g5 lag free like the v10!SURLEY IT WILL HAVE TE BEST CAMERA.
Sergio
01/28/2016 at 11:27 pm
Can’t wait for the G5!! Skipped the G4 and it seems it is going to be worth it !
Ashley
01/29/2016 at 3:09 am
Without a doubt the Samsung Galaxy S7 will be a stunner, but I’m much much more interested in the LG G5. Its going to have an effect similar to last year’s Samsung S6 which implemented it’s new drop dead gorgeous design. I have high hopes for LG’s new flagship this year, thumbs up!
Paul Woodall
01/29/2016 at 3:30 am
I had samsung note 3 which was brilliant but now in the UK can’t even get note 5 so I’m changing to lg as soon as the g5 hits the shops
Competition is not a bad thing an samsung have not looked at what customers want as in as much as you can have everything in 4 different types of the same phone . Nice to have choice but choice on battery and sd cards as been taken away
Long live lg an removable batteries and sd cards
Catherineswhitman
01/29/2016 at 11:26 pm
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Tyler Dasilva
01/31/2016 at 7:00 am
The LG G5 is going to have a iris scanner they signed a deal with a company that has developed and used eye scanning technology for years. The galaxy s7 has had very few rumors that indicate that it will in fact have a iris scanner
pj
02/02/2016 at 3:44 am
You can’t beat a LG’s sd slot or removable battery ! bottom line samsung , I had bought a a samsung galaxy s 3 , but will no longer buy your product .
You forgot about the consumer , and wil lose existing customers ?
Moo
02/12/2016 at 9:50 pm
hi
Moo
02/12/2016 at 9:51 pm
Sorry, I just wanted to see how easy it was to post a comment