LG Optimus G Pro finally introduced in PH

LG is no stranger to the phablet scene, and just recently, the firm introduced the LG Optimus G Pro. It’s the Korean company’s next large-screened offering after the 5-inch Optimus Vu, which has an odd 4:3 aspect ratio instead of the traditional 16:9 affair. 

The Optimus G Pro packs a 5.5-inch IPS display, and this time, LG got things right on the aspect-ratio department by opting for a 1,080 x 1,920 resolution (16:9). 

Where it goes awry is the timing: The device is only making its way to Philippine shores now, whereas comparable top-of-the-line Androids like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Sony Xperia Z have been on the local market as early as April. That's an eternity in the highly competitive tech space.

On a positive note…

Besides flaunting some of the thinnest bezels around, the Optimus G Pro also features an illuminated physical Home button and a rear panel with the same holographic checkerboard design as the LG Optimus G. 

But whereas the latter rocks a unibody design, the former has a removable back cover that peels off to reveal a 3,140mAh battery.

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The device is armed with a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 chip from Qualcomm, Adreno 320 graphics, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal memory with microSD expansion for up to  of extra storage.

‘Smart’ features

The LG Optimus G Pro has two cameras: a 13-megapixel rear cam and a 2.1-megapixel front-facer that can record 1080p videos. Both can be used simultaneously to capture stills or footage, meaning you can use the device to include both the subject matter and you, the user, in one frame, thanks to its dual-camera, picture-in-picture feature.

Another LG-made software enhancement is Smart Video. Briefly put, it tracks your eyes and pauses a video when you look away from the display—just like Samsung's Smart Pause.

>>SEE ALSO: Battle of the flagship smartphones in the Philippines

There's also VR Panorama, LG's take on Google's Photo Sphere, for creating 360-degree panoramas in any direction.

The LG Optimus G Pro comes with QRemote 2.0, and this, coupled with an IR blaster, lets you control your TV, set-top box, audio system, Blu-ray player, and other home electronics.

Like the Optimus G before it, LG's latest phablet ships with Android Jelly Bean 4.1 out of the box and supports LTE. If all this sounds rather alluring to you, then be ready to shell out P27,990. 

Specs:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chipset
1.7GHz quad-core CPU
Adreno 320 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
microSD card slot up to 64GB
5.5-inch full-HD IPS display (1,080 x 1,920 resolution)
13-megapixel rear camera
2.1-megapixel front camera
3,140mAh battery
Android Jelly Bean 4.1