LG G3 vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Battle of Quad-Core Giants

Samsung currently dominates teh smartphone landscape but at the high end it is facing increased competition from the likes of HTC, Sony and of course Apple.

Now LG is making its big play for 2014 with the launch of the G3, which will go head to head with Samsung's Galaxy S5 which was launched earlier this year.

LG will be hoping to build on the success of the last year's G2 with new features like a high quality screen and laser-enable focusing on its camera.

But which comes out on top? Let's find out:

LG G3 vs Galaxy S5: Display

The LG G3 features a 5.5in screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels giving it a pixel density of 534 pixels per inch (ppi), which is incredibly sharp and combined with the IPS technology used by LG, this is likely to be one of the best displays ever seen on a smartphone.

The Galaxy S5 retains the same resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels from the Galaxy S4, while bumping the screen size from 5in to 5.1in. As a result, its display pixel density falls slightly from 441ppi to 432ppi.

Both the Galaxy S5 and the G3 features protection from Corning's Gorilla Glass 3.

LG G3 vs Galaxy S5: Design

The LG G3 uses mostly plastic in its construction which puts it on a par with the all-plastic Galaxy S5.

The LG G3 would seem a bit larger than usual, thanks to its bigger screen size (5.5in) in contrast to S5's 5.1in screen with smaller body dimensions (142 x 72.5 x 8.1mm).

Given its bigger size, the G3 is tad heavier at 160g as opposed to the S5 that weighs in just 145g.

The G3 measures 146 x 75 x 8.9mm (compared to 142 x 73 x 8.1mm) which would make it a bit unwieldy compared to the slimmer S5.

Apart from the dimensions and looks, the G3's biggest design feature is the placement of power button and volume keys on the rear of the cover to enhance the ergonomics of the phone, based on user feedback received by LG.

LG G3 vs Galaxy S5: Hardware

Both the Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3 feature the fastest mobile processor chipset, the Snapdragon 801 from Qualcomm, which is an enhanced version of the Snapdragon 800 found on the G2.

Featuring a quad-core Krait 400 processor clocked at 2.5 GHz, the Snapdragon 801 is a powerhouse meant for faster multitasking capabilities, especially with graphics applications such as video games and high-definition videos.

Coupled with up to 3GB of RAM and Adreno 330 GPU, both the S5 and the G3 are tailor-made for handling graphics and multitasking with ease.

On the storage front, the G3's built-in storage comes in 16GB and 32GB variants - though with the option to upgrade via microSD card.

The Galaxy S5 on the other hand comes in two storage variants: 16GB and 32GB, with support for microSD expansion up to 128GB.

The G3 comes with the usual set of data and wireless connectivity options featured on the S5 including Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and support for Cat-4 4G/LTE networks.

LG G3 vs Galaxy S5: Battery Life

The G3 retains the same 3,000mAh battery which is found on the G2. But, given its bigger screen size and higher resolution, the G3 could struggle to maintain the G2's great battery life.

The Galaxy S5 features a smaller 2800mAh battery that gave us a full day and a half of typical use during our review, and the ultra power saving mode will extend that even further.

LG G3 vs Galaxy S5: Camera

The G3 retains the 13 megapixel rear camera used in the G2, but the new smartphone features the world's first Laser Auto Focus System which promises to enhance low-light performance while also capturing finer details of the subject in photos and videos.

The Galaxy S5 features an improved 16 megapixel rear camera with typical features including autofocus, optical image stabilisation, dual-video recording, touch focus and simultaneous HD video and image recording.

LG G3 vs Galaxy S5: Software

On the software front, the LG G3 runs Android 4.4.2 just like the Galaxy S5 but both feature their manufacturer's own software skins on top.

LG's Optimus UI and Samsung's proprietary TouchWiz UI both offer tweaks to the typical Android operating system with some neat touched - especially LG's new QuickCircle feature - but neither offer enough to improve on the native Android experience.

LG G3 vs Galaxy S5: Which Should I Buy?

The LG G3 features a huge screen with an incredibly high resolution, it comes with the most powerful processor and a new unique laser-enhanced auto focus system for its camera.

The Galaxy S5 features similar hardware on the inside, and while it may have a smaller screen and a more plastic construction, it still features a great screen and a more compact design, as well as being dust and waterproof.