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Even though LG was behind last year's Google-backed Nexus 4, that wasn't enough to launch it into the Android spotlight. What the company needs is a standout phone—something that differentiates it from the Samsungs and the HTCs. It's on the right track with its focus on solid performance and a high-resolution display, but if you took a quick look at G2, you wouldn't find much to set it apart from the crowd.
Devil is in the (design) details
Image: Michael Homnick
Almost nothing about the G2's design stands out. It features an edge-to-edge screen, rounded corners, and an easy-to-hold chassis, but it looks like a stock phone. On its back you'll find—in place of the Nexus 4's glittery hexagonal design—a muted, striped pattern.
IMAGE: Michael HomnickLG's rear-facing buttons are oddly placed.
LG decided to put the volume and power buttons on the rear of the device rather than on the side, supposedly to make the phone easier to use one-handed. It doesn't work. You can hold down on the screen with your thumb to press the buttons on the back, or you can risk dropping the phone by cradling it and reaching one finger back. It's weird, and more than once I managed to double-press a button by accident.
At least LG made the smart design decision to put the headphone jack on the bottom. If you're using it as music player, this makes the process of pulling out the phone from your pocket a little easier.
Image: Michael Homnick
IMAGE: Michael Homnick
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