Unlike its compatriot Samsung, LG has never really managed to be one of the big boys in the phone market in any category. Not that the South Korean company hasn’t been experimenting and innovating (the G5 modular flagship phone is the latest example of LG’s innovation), but then they appear to have fallen short in having the right mix.
With its new K series (that succeeds L series) LG is seen as attempting to undo some of its past wrongs while packing in premium looks and features at affordable prices. The phones were first unveiled at CES earlier this year and LG has just launched the K7 and the K10 for the Indian market at Rs 9,500 and Rs 13,500 respectively.
The K10 lives up of LG’s promise of premium looks. The glossy pebble finish does give it an understated elegance that is accentuated by the fabric-patterned back, which also improves the grip. The 2.5D arc glass design, where the front glass is curved at the edges gives the phone a smooth feel devoid of sharp edges.
The size of the phone is also quite comfortable for single-handed use and the curved design makes it appear much slimmer than it actually is.
Our review unit was the K10 LTE black and blue variant (model number: LG-K420) with Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor (1.2 Ghz quad-core), 2 GB RAM, Adreno 306 310MHz GPU, 16 GB of internal storage of which 11.7 GB is user accessible (expandable to 32 GB via microSD card) and a 2300 mAh battery. The screen is 5.3-inch with 1280x720 pixels.
LG K10 owners are also eligible for 100 GB of free storage on Google Drive for two years.
While a 1280x720 screen has become a bare minimum for phones priced even lower, where the K10 scores is with its in-cell display that noticeably cuts down on reflection making the screen appear more vivid. The touch response is what we refer to as ‘makkhan’ in north India. Add to it the ease KnockOn (double tap screen to wake). LG is known for its display tech and it is on full display in the K10.
On the performance front, the K10 is as good as what is specs promise. Though other lower-priced competition sport a better processor. Nothing extraordinary, but good enough to carry on with most everyday tasks without major hiccups.
The K10 includes LG-characteristic rear buttons that are undoubtedly more convenient to use than traditional side buttons and that’s the reason why LG’s is still continuing with the innovation it first introduced back in the LG G2.
The middle power/lock button has vertical ridges that made me, for a while, believe that it also doubled as a scroll. But then, LG might be holding on to that innovation for some future phone.
It is a dual-nano SIM phone and thankfully doesn't include one of those hybrid trays that can accommodate either a second SIM or a microSD card. LG also includes an easy SIM switch icon on the home touch buttons. This, however, is removable.
The battery in the K10 is a moderate 2300 mAh but in our tests it did run though a full day on moderate use.
One tiny tweak that I liked in the K10 is that when plugged into a PC (via USB) the default mode is ‘Media device’ and not ‘Charge phone,’ unlike in many other phones, as most of the times I connect the phone to the PC is for file transfer and not to charge it.
The K10 comes running on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop in India. Interestingly, in some other markets such as the Philippines, LG is selling the K10 with Marshmallow. An Android 6.0 update therefore should be on its way for the K10s in India soon. LG has simplified its UX to bring it closer to native Android (though not as close as Motorola’s).
The cameras in the K10 isn’t as great as LG would want us to believe. In bright outdoor conditions the camera results are good but indoors where the light isn’t always shining bright the results are sub-par. The same is true for the front camera.
The camera app is also quite basic and doesn’t even include features such as panorama. It, however, supports what LG calls “Cheese shutter,” that are essentially a set of 5 voice commands (Cheese, smile, whisky, kimchi and LG) to click a photo. The Gesture shot allows clicking of selfies with hand gestures.
(Photographs shot with the LG K10. Zoom in and pan to explore these unedited images)
Rear camera: Indoor
Rear camera: Outdoor
Rear camera: Outdoor
Front camera: Indoor
The speaker at the rear bottom produces loud and clear sound and I like that the earphones that come with the set include a built in clip so that the microphone can stay set at a desired position while you move about talking.
While I am not a great fan of phone covers, the Voia Quick Cover that comes with the K10 has a transparent strip on the right that displays notifications and other info when the phone is on standby and is also touch enabled to take or reject incoming calls. This does takes away a bit of inconvenience that additional covers bring along.
A few months ago such specs (and looks) at a price point of Rs 13,500 would have appeared to be a steal, but the smartphone market is evolving at a faster pace than many manufacturers can adapt. The K10 in itself appears like a very viable deal but not so if we put it against some of the other phones in the same price range for other more nimble brands.
Rating: 3/5