Does the LG G6 still have a chance of success after the Samsung Galaxy S8 announcement? Someone will say that this is not a competition in the major league of the world Android, but a beating of babies, but perhaps everything is not so simple?
Based on materials from phonarena.com
In truth, last week it was literally not a breath of news about the latest flagship Samsung Galaxy S8. But now, when the passions have subsided a little, you can try again to look at another spring flagship of 2017 – LG G6.
After failures with the modular LG G5, the company's mobile division desperately needed a winning move, and the successor in the face of G6 perfectly confirms this. This is a traditional flagship, designed to provide an overall good user experience, rather than attract with its chips, like its predecessor. But maybe it's too traditional? The Galaxy S8 is definitely a brighter device, and as the main competitor in the market, it is capable of causing problems LG.
But instead of head-on comparisons of features and functions, let's take a look at both flagships through the eyes of the average buyer. Has LG succeeded in creating a potential king of the mainstream, or will the comparison with a competitor inevitably deprive the G6 of that throne?
Design
Surprise surprise, people like things that look good. In fact, appearance can play a decisive role in the choice of a particular device by the buyer, and this is especially true for phones. It is not hard to understand why this is happening. A smartphone is an object around which the life of a modern person is literally concentrated. And who likes to stare at an ugly device for hours every day?
LG clearly took this into account, judging by the appearance of the G6. Unlike the G5, which looked like a bloated version of the creepy Nokia Asha 311, the G6 is slim and stylish. Obviously, the largest display with the smallest possible bezels around it remains a trend when creating a smartphone, and the latest flagship LG is becoming a pioneer in this area.
However, being the first does not mean being the best. The design of the G6 is definitely great, but it pales in comparison to the most chic device from Samsung – the Galaxy S8. Even though the rounded bezels around the screen have been around for a long time, this is the first time they feel like an integral part of a design, rather than an extra feature. As a result, the S8 looks several years ahead of its time, while the G6 is more naturally evolving design principles from the past.
Again, this is just a matter of personal preference, and chances are the average user will prefer the G6's more familiar design. Also, for a number of users, it is fundamental to have regular rather than rounded edges, or vice versa. But ultimately, for many buyers, form is more important than function when it comes to device design.
Thus, it is impossible to give an objective assessment in this matter, and the answer to the question which of the phones looks better is, in essence, absolutely subjective.
Marketing
Most people will likely deny this, but advertising plays a vital role in everyday life. And since people are bombarded every day with huge streams of advertising, only the best examples will be noticed. In the case of a smartphone, making it visible in an already oversaturated market requires a good marketing campaign that sets it apart from the competition. And it seems LG forget about it …
Has anything caught your attention? No? Indeed, this ad is simply unbearably boring. And worst of all, it came out literally a day before the Galaxy S8 was announced. For LG it was a great chance to prove their phone was better than a competitor, but the company didn't take advantage of it. Compare to Samsung's brilliantly comical ad for their new Gear VR:
Yes, this is not an advertisement for the Galaxy S8 itself, just a compatible virtual reality headset. But if Samsung makes such a high-quality product just to promote an accessory, then it is clear that in the case of the new flagship, it will go all out. And if LG doesn't make any efforts soon enough, chances are that the G6 will be forgotten as quickly as its predecessor, no matter how high-quality the phone is.
Prices
Another important factor when choosing any smartphone, let alone a flagship, is the price. And here LG G6 seems to be winning. But the difference is too small to seriously argue that buying it will save money compared to the Samsung Galaxy S8. Official prices for Russia are 52 thousand rubles and 55 thousand rubles. Yes, you will have to pay 60 thousand rubles for the Galaxy S8 +, but he LG G6 is not a competitor at all, but the minimum cost at the start of sales differs by only 3 thousand rubles. It is unlikely that someone, choosing a smartphone for 50+ thousand, will consider such savings as a factor in favor of one or another device.
Another thing is that outside the Russian Federation, the difference in cost between these models is much more significant. LG will cost a hundred bucks less, making it a lot more attractive. Especially for buyers who will not be guided by virtual parrots in benchmarks or looking for a smartphone with a virtual assistant. In this case, Samsung, which has set the price tag $ 100 higher than last year, may lose.
Conclusion
It may be a little early to announce a winner in this competition, but one thing can be said: LG is at a somewhat disadvantageous position. The company correctly identified the Galaxy S8 as the main threat in the market and therefore launched its own device a month early to gain an edge. But that may not be enough to ensure the G6 is a sales success.
Of course, our comparison is not entirely fair, and no one seriously expects that LG will instantly overcome the G5 crisis and start selling smartphones in quantities close to Samsung. But in any case, the G6 was very popular at launch, and if LG does enough to adjust the current marketing strategy, there is a non-illusory chance that the hype will last longer and generate more sales.
To summarize: while the S8 is more likely to win the race Android of this year's flagships, the G6 is still a strong contender, which will be further bolstered by a lower price tag. And if geeks are more likely to opt for the offer from Samsung, they can LG prove to ordinary buyers that their smartphone is no worse.