The Google Pixel XL is among the hottest Android smartphones currently available on the market, but it gets some serious competition from the newly unveiled LG G6.
LG officially announced its latest flagship smartphone, the LG G6, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 on Feb. 26. The powerhouse comes with high-end specs and features all around, including a premium, waterproof build, a large HDR display and more neat features to take on the competition.
The LG G6 is all set to go up against other current Android flagships and it might give them a run for their money, so let's see how it stacks up against the premium Google Pixel XL.
LG G6 vs. Google Pixel XL: Design
The LG G6 sports a sleek metal design with a glass finish on the back and boasts IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. It features slim bezels around the display, a circular fingerprint sensor on its back, a dual rear camera and USB Type-C, among the highlights.
The Pixel XL sports a sleek design of its own, rocking a premium metal build with glass on the top third of its back. It has less glass on its back than the LG G6, but it also has wider bezels compared to LG's new flagship. On the other hand, the rear camera setup of the Pixel XL is smoother and more subtle than the LG G6. The Pixel XL fingerprint scanner is also circular and rear-mounted, just like with the LG G6.
Both the Pixel XL and the LG G6 feature USB-Type C, but the LG G6 gets an edge thanks to its waterproofing and slimmer bezels. The LG G6 is also smaller and lighter than the Pixel XL, despite having a larger display.
LG G6 vs. Google Pixel XL: Display
The LG G6 features a 5.7-inch display with a QHD resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels, which translates to a pixel density of 564 pixels per inch (ppi). The G6 also boasts HDR with support for both Dolby Vision and HDR 10 standards, and it displays visuals in an 18:9 aspect ratio.
The Google Pixel XL comes with a 5.5-inch display with a QHD resolution at 534 ppi, lower than the LG G6's pixel density. However, the Pixel XL features a curved display, whereas LG chose a flat screen for the G6. At the same time, the Pixel XL has an AMOLED display that could deliver sharper colors than the LG G6's LCD screen.
To sum things up, the Pixel XL could win in this category if you're looking for a curved-screen flagship with an AMOLED display, but the LG G6 boasts HDR, a wider aspect ratio and greater pixel density.
LG G6 vs. Google Pixel XL: Hardware
Under the hood, the LG G6 packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor paired with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB or 64 GB of native storage space, expandable via microSD. A 3,330 mAh battery keeps things up and running.
The Pixel XL packs the same Snapdragon 821 processor and 4 GB of RAM, but has 32 GB and 128 GB native storage configurations. On the downside, the Pixel XL has no microSD support for additional memory. The Pixel XL draws power from a 3,450 mAh battery, larger than that of the LG G6.
As previously mentioned, both the LG G6 and the Pixel XL have rear-mounted fingerprint sensors and USB Type-C for charging and data transfers. Both smartphones also have 3.5 mm headphone jacks.
LG G6 vs. Google Pixel XL: Camera
The LG G6 has a dual-rear camera system with two 13-megapixel cameras. One of these sensors features a 125-degree wide-angle lens that should deliver the same field of vision as the naked eye. One camera has an f/1.8 aperture with optical image stabilization (OIS) and phase detection autofocus, while the other features an f/2.4 aperture without autofocus. On the front, the LG G6 sports a 5-megapixel selfie cam with an f/2.2 aperture and a 100-degree wide-angle lens.
The Google Pixel XL, meanwhile, sports a 12.3-megapixel rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus and laser autofocus, but no OIS. On the front, the Pixel XL has an 8-megapixel selfie cam with an f/2.4 aperture.
In this category, the LG G6 might get an edge thanks to OIS and the dual-rear camera setup, but the Pixel XL has a higher-resolution front shooter.
LG G6 vs. Google Pixel XL: Software
Both the LG G6 and the Google Pixel XL run Android Nougat out of the box, but there's more to it than just Android version. The LG G6 has the company's own LG UX 6.0 on top of Android, offering a number of neat features to take advantage of the 18:9 aspect ratio and more.
The Pixel XL, meanwhile, runs stock Android Nougat with no bloatware. Like the Nexus line before it, the Pixel series aims to offer a pure Android experience, which means the Pixel XL offers a more refined interface than the LG G6. On the other hand, some users may prefer the extra features the LG G6 brings through its LG UX.
LG G6 vs. Google Pixel XL: Verdict
Both the LG G6 and the Pixel XL are, by all means, premium smartphones with top-notch specs and features. Both feature premium metal and glass designs with sleek form factors, and both have powerful hardware to handle virtually any task to you throw at them. The LG G6 has a bigger display with minimal bezels, HDR and higher resolution, and it also features microSD support and a dual-rear camera setup that the Pixel XL lacks. On the other hand, the Pixel XL offers a pure Android experience, a larger battery and a 128 GB native storage configuration.
The same processor and RAM means the LG G6 and Pixel XL should offer similar performance, so it ultimately comes down to software, design and cameras, depending on personal needs and preferences. Which one would you choose?
