We’ve only been waiting for iFixit‘s teardown of the LG G4 and now that it’s finally here, we’re delighted to share the photos and findings with you. As we all know, battery replacement won’t be a problem with LG’s latest flagship phone because it is user-replaceable. As usual, the teardown provides more details plus X-rays view of several parts. For those thinking of getting the new G4, this teardown will help you in making a decision.
The LG G4’s repairability is 8 out of 10 (10 being the easiest to repair). Without the use of any tools, the battery and rear panel can easily be removed. Other components are modular so they can be independently replaced as well. If the LCD or the fused display assembly-glass breaks, you need to replace them together. If need to open the phone, you can just use any standard Phillips #0 screwdriver.
Compared to the latest flagship Android smartphones from other manufacturers, the LG G4’s replaceable battery makes it a winner. One of the letdowns of the Samsung Galaxy S6/S6 edge is the battery so some people are thinking twice if they’re going to get one from Samsung. But with the the LG G4 and even without any tool, the battery can easily slide out.
The LG G4 comes equipped with the folllowing: 5.5-inch IPS Quantum display, 2560 x 1440 resolution (538 ppi), 3GB RAM, six-core 1.8 GHz 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset, 32GB built-in storage, microSD card slot for expansion up to a maximum of 2TB, 16 megapixel camera, f/1.8 rear camera with OIS and laser-guided autofocus, and an 8MP f/2.0 front-facing camera. Of course, there’s the standard WiFi, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.1 BLE connectivity. Phone already runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box.
The LG G4 as a premium flagship phone is obviously luxurious. Not just because of the genuine leather back but also because of the 16MP camera module with f/1.8 aperture. iFixit’s X-rays were taken courtesy of Creative Electron.
According to iFixit, no tools were needed in opening the smartphone until the midframe. When they pulled out the motherboard, they finally found the Toshiba-made flash memory, Hexa-core 1.8GHz Snapdragon 808 from Qualcomm, and 3GB RAM from Samsung.
LG says the 3,000 mAh lithium-ion battery lasts longer but no mention of battery life. The 3.85 V battery is rated for a minimum of 11.2 Wh beating the Galaxy S6’s 3.85 V/9.82 Wh and the iPhone 6’s 3.82 V battery with 6.91 Wh energy rating. LG’s replaceable battery makes it a better choice if you’re the type who wants to change the batt after some time. Batteries die so it makes sense that they should be replaceable.
iFixit noted the plastic material of the phone but that is an advantage because it’s so easy to snap off. The NFC antenna is camouflaged somewhere. Qi charging is possible with the LG G4 but only with a specialty case. Inside, the model number LG-H81 is written in plain sight once you open the phone and lift the battery.
According to iFixit, it’s very easy and simple to open the LG G4–very much like the first Android phones. It’s very repair-friendly so there shouldn’t be any problem if you need to repair something. But when it comes to the rear-facing camera, iFixit encountered some difficulty. The image stabilization is more complex. Meanwhile, the headphone jack wasn’t soldered as spring contacts were used instead even for the vibration motor–again, easily replaceable.
In summary, the LG G4 wins if we’re talking about repairability. Most parts can be replaced easily. Phone can be opened easily too with simple tools so if you’re the type who likes to replace components, you can do so with the LG G4. The repairability score of 8 is high for any new Android phone, thanks to LG who decided to go the old route.
SOURCE: iFixit
