During my two-week stint with the LG Optimus G Pro, Samsung unveiled the latest iteration in its phablet series, the Galaxy Note 3. The South Korean multinational also lifted the lid on its wearable tech, called Galaxy Gear.
Sony released its newest waterproof smartphone, the Xperia Z1, in addition to showcasing various add-on lenses that can be used with the device.
Also over this fortnight, Apple under-whelmed the world with the iPhone 5S, and released its first "budget" device, the iPhone 5C.
Yes, my opportunity to review the LG Optimus G Pro just so happened to coincide with a particularly busy period for the world's leading mobile device manufacturers, but the fact that several new products were unveiled all while I was reviewing one of the most recent offerings from another brand illustrates the extent of the competition in the mobile device space.
Look and feel
The phablet market is set to grow to 208 million units by 2015.
According to ABI Research's senior analyst, Joshua Flood, the fact that people are spending more and more time on their phones - be it through browsing the Web, reading articles, using social networks or simply navigating their journeys - makes this niche market an attractive one. Flood notes that larger screen sizes add to the user's experience, essentially making the device more dynamic.
Although its 5.5-inch display and weight of just over 170g firmly establishes the Optimus G Pro as a player in the phablet sandbox, I really didn't find it that big. Yes, it didn't fit perfectly in the palm of my hand or in the back pocket of my skinny jeans, but that didn't really bother me too much. Perhaps this is because I, like many others, am becoming accustomed to the ever-increasing size of modern-day smartphones.
Design wise, the LG doesn't make any bold statements, unless you consider the checkerboard pixel pattern on the rear cover as bold. The Optimus Pro's plastic body felt sufficiently sturdy, albeit a little slippery at times.
Interface, performance and connectivity
The Optimus G Pro runs on Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2. Despite being a little outdated, the OS should be quite familiar to most Android users. LG has added its Optimus UI overlay on top of this version of Android, which allows users to customise the device according to their preferences and offers a few nifty features.
I quite liked the QuickMemo app, which one can access by pushing a button on the top left of the device. The app allows you to doodle or scribble notes on top of a screen shot. When working in overlay mode, the app lets you jot down notes while running another app. While I am not particularly partial to using a stylus, I do think this kind of application just screams for one - which the Optimus G Pro lacks.
The LG phablet also boasts "QSlide apps", which reside on top of the application that is currently running, and offer access to a calendar, calculator and video player.
With a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, an Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB RAM, this smartphone is able to handle pretty much everything you throw at it without a shudder. Bluetooth-, NFC-, 3G-, LTE- and WiFi-enabled, whether I used the standard Android browser or Google Chrome Web, my Web experience was trouble-free.
The LG handset features 16GB internal user memory. For those looking for a little extra space, the Optimus G Pro has microSD compatibility up to 64GB.
Display, video, camera
If I could hand out an award for the most-valued feature (MVF) on this device, that award would undoubtedly go to its spellbinding display. Yes, I just used the word 'spellbinding'.
With 1080p full HD IPS, delivering a resolution of 1 920x1 080 pixels at 400ppi, the Optimus G Pro offers bright colours, sharp images and wide viewing angles. As can be expected, browsing the Web and watching HD video on this large-screened device is nothing short of spectacular.
And the runner-up MVF prize goes to the Optimus G Pro's video-editing applications, which, coupled with the impeccable display, are quite cool additions. The video-editing application lets users cut and paste video clips and be a little creative with the content they have recorded.
Using the Video Wiz Guide, one can add themes and music to clips, essentially allowing you to make your own music videos. Twelve-year-old me, who so very badly wanted to be in a Britney or Spice Girls music video, would have loved this little feature. Twenty-five-year-old me does too.
In addition, the dual camera recording functionality makes it possible to capture pictures or videos using both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, offering a picture-in-picture view. Although I am not too sure when one would actually need this, it was fun to play around with.
For still image aficionados, the rear 13MP camera and front-facing 2.1MP cameras do not disappoint. I had a lot of fun with the VR Panorama feature, which takes 360-degree horizontal and vertical shots. One can also use the voice-activated shutter functionality to take pictures, using voice commands like "cheese", "smile" and "whiskey".
Apps, multimedia features
The Optimus G Pro ships with all the usual suspects as far as apps are concerned, but there are a few useful extras. The Backup application keeps your information safe in case of data loss or replacement. For the forgetful among us, the app has an option to set up automatic data backups, which pre-schedules backups for a specific date and time in the future.
The Remote Call Service, which connects you with an LG representative who will remotely diagnose your problem, is also pretty cool. For the safety conscious, the Safety Care app will automatically alert your friends or family if you are in an emergency situation.
The Dictionary and Quick Translate apps translate phrases and words into a language of your choice and should be useful for travel buffs.
The 3 140mAh battery is removable and can handle a standard working day worth of use on a single charge. Should you need a little extra gas, LG offers a Power Saver mode, which optimises various functions to extend battery life.
In a nutshell
The Optimus G Pro proves a compelling contender for anyone in the market for a phone-tablet hybrid. For me, its performance and display give many of the phablets and flagship devices on the market a run for their money.
That said, the current pace of the mobile industry means that today's must-have is tomorrow's has been. And if the last two weeks are anything to go by, LG will have to keep pulling out all the stops should it want to really compete with current market leaders Apple and Samsung.
The LG Optimus G Pro retails for R7 999.
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