Review LG G Pad 8.3 Tablet

Software

We appreciate that LG apparently spent time and development effort to further improve the user-friendliness of the usual Android UI. It is even more pleasing that it largely works.

The system is based on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which is not the newest version since version 4.4 is already available and with it many new features. Furthermore, we have even already heard first rumors about Android 4.5. Therefore, the user has to do without several convenience functions. At least Android is still easy to use and responsive.

This is also because of the improved UI mentioned above. In detail:

- QSlide: allows multiple transparent windows, and thus multi-tasking

- Slide Aside: makes it possible to switch to another active app by sliding on the edge of the screen

- Multi-User: access to private data and certain domains can be blocked from other persons using the tablet.

- KnockOn: the tablet can be reactivated from stand-by mode and stand-by mode can be activated by double tapping the screen.

To summarize, those frequently running multiple tasks at once, will especially benefit from the enhanced UI. Acer and Samsung have already developed convincing solutions for their tablets, too. But, the KnockOn gesture is really reasonable, intuitive and handy.

Among the additional apps and features, QPair is especially noteworthy. The tablet actually gets an enhanced smartphone with it: Although calls cannot be accepted, it allows rejecting calls during a meeting and directly sending the caller an SMS that you are busy at the moment. You can reply to SMSes from the tablet. Furthermore, you can continue reading links or watching videos recently used on the smartphone. In addition, memos are synchronized between smartphone and tablet and Internet sharing is possible via QPair. Generally, the QPair app works on all Android smartphones, but several features might be limited.

Furthermore, the LG includes Polaris Office5, a translator, and a video editor. Overall, the software bundle is very extensive and quite useful.

Cameras & Multimedia

The rear camera is quite inconspicuously incorporated in the top part of the frame. It has a resolution of 2560x1920 pixels, i.e. 5 MP, and does not feature an LED-flash. The colors of the photos look slightly dull and the images quickly get noisy in bad lighting conditions. The sensor masters back-lit photographs quite well, but bright areas often look too bright here. The front camera does not shoot good photos, but it is sufficient for video telephony and popular "selfies".

Accessories

Only the usual accessories are included: data cable, USB charger, quick guide. You will not find specific accessories for the G Pad 8.3 on LG's web site, but you can buy generic add-ons, e.g. portable batteries, which allow charging the tablet on- the move or a mobile printer.

Warranty

The included warranty information reports a warranty period of a maximum of 27 months from the date of production and 24 months from purchase date. You can register for repairs via a hotline or online via their website.

The capacitive touchscreen of the LG G Pad 8.3 works reliably. This is also true for the corners. The surface is pleasantly smooth. All Android functions work reliably, only the "KnockOn" gesture added by LG, which allows waking the tablet from stand-by mode, should not be done too quickly.

Thanks to the display size, typing on the virtual "LG keyboard" is very comfortable. The usual Android keyboard cannot be selected, but, this is not a big problem, since the LG version is intuitive. In addition, there are many smileys, emoticons and symbols, with which you can create colorful emails or other messages.

LG also provides many other input options: handwriting, voice input, or swiping over the keyboard. You need to get used to them first, but they are useful in some situations and work quite reliably.

LG uses an 8.3-inch IPS display with a Full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels), which outperforms many competitors'. Only the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 and the Google Nexus 7 also feature Full HD displays.

Distribution of brightness as well as brightness are poor. With an average brightness of 291.7 cd/m², the G Pad 8.3 performs worse than all comparison devices: The average brightness of the Google Nexus 7 display is above 200 cd/m² higher! A brightness distribution of 78% is very uneven. Such brightness differences can be seen with the naked eye in big white areas.

It is difficult to read from the screen in bright environments because of the low brightness and the glossy display. But, we did not face problems with the G Pad 8.3's display indoors.

Temperature

In landscape mode, the tablet always remains comfortably cool on average. As the performance components are obviously near the edges, the G Pad 8.3 gets slightly warmer there. The measured maximum temperature is 38.4 degrees Celsius (101.1 Fahrenheit). Are there tablets that remain cooler? Sure - e.g. the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 in our comparison group. But, the Amazon Kindle HDX 7 performs better at the expense of a higher waste heat and gets significantly warmer than our test device in all parts.

Overall, the LG G Pad 8.3 can be used comfortably in all scenarios and does not get hot. While idle, the tablet only gets imperceptibly warmer.

As a result, the battery life is not pleasing. The battery capacity of 17 Wh is slightly bigger than the Google Nexus 7's or the HP Slate 7 Plus'. But this is necessary because of the high power consumption of the tablet. In all three tests, the battery life of the LG G Pad 8.3 is nearly always shorter than the comparison devices'. For example, our WLAN test ends after 5:16 hours on the G Pad, while all comparison devices last at least one hour longer.