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Review LG Optimus G Pro E986 Smartphone

Equipped to the teeth. LG launches a new premium smartphone dubbed Optimus G Pro E986 that features impressive equipment. The smartphone's configuration, comprised of a quad-core Snapdragon 600, an LTE module, a 5.5-inch Full HD screen and 16 GB of storage, is to give the competition the shivers.

For the original German review, see here.

The Optimus G Pro E986 enters the race as a new premium model from the Optimus series. It presents itself as a genuine top of the range smartphone with the corresponding features. The configuration and performance of the Optimus G Pro E986 has been enhanced once more compared with the 4.7-inch LG Optimus G E975. The most obvious difference is the 5.5-inch LC-Display that offers a Full HD resolution with 1920x1080 pixels, which the Optimus G E975 did not feature. Besides the much larger touchscreen, LG installs a fast 1.7 GHz Snapdragon 600 from Qualcomm, which works with 4 computing cores and 2 GB of working memory. Other assets are a strong, 3140 mAh capacity battery, 16 GB of storage and a Full HD primary camera with a resolution of 13 megapixels.

Case

The Optimus G Pro E986 features a big 5.5-inch LC-Display.
The Optimus G Pro E986 features a big 5.5-inch LC-Display.

As befitting for a premium smartphone, LG gives the Optimus G Pro E986 an elegant exterior that is not extraordinary at first glance. Its qualities first become obvious when looking closer. Matching that, LG uses conservative colors for the smartphone. A black or a white casing are available.

The polycarbonate casing with rounded edges features a high-quality build, has a size of 150.3 x 76.0 x 9.4 mm and weighs 172 grams. Although the Optimus G Pro E986 will not fit in every jeans pocket, it can be easily stored in a jacket pocket. The smartphone deserves praise for its extreme rigidness. Despite its 5.5-inch, seamlessly inserted screen, the casing does not warp or even produce cracking or other noises of objection even under higher pressure. Only the removable back cover can be dented to a slight degree.

Connectivity

LG's Optimus G Pro E986 is powered by Qualcomm's high-end Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T SoC and thus has a mighty performance foundation. Besides the review sample, HTC's One and Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active rely on this CPU/GPU array. The SoC is built in a structure width of 28 nanometers and features 4 CPU cores that clock with 1.7 GHz. The Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T is supported by an Adreno 320 graphic processor alongside 2048 MB of RAM.

LG furnishes the Optimus G Pro E986 with 16 GB of storage. Although the required space for the Android OS and preinstalled apps has to be deducted from that, the user still has 10 GB left after first use. Should this storage capacity get tight, the smartphone's storage capacity can be expanded by an additional 64 GB via the integrated micro-SD card reader after removing the back cover.

Left: Hot key, volume rocker
Left: Hot key, volume rocker
Right: Power/lock button
Right: Power/lock button
Top: 3.5 mm jack
Top: 3.5 mm jack
Bottom: Charging port/USB 2.0 port, microphone
Bottom: Charging port/USB 2.0 port, microphone

Software

The somewhat older Android version 4.1.2 is installed on the Optimus G Pro E986 and thus lags behind other premium models such as Google's Nexus 4. Like the former Optimus G Pro E975, the review sample uses the S-Class launcher that includes a few visible modifications, such as the lens effect when switching from the lockscreen to the main menu. An app called QuickMemo is also installed and can be opened via the status bar. It enables inputting and saving notes directly with the finger.

LG focuses on office applications in terms of installed software. Consequently, a file and app manager is just as available as a scheduler, the LG Backup tool and Polaris Office 4 office suite.

The GPS module works reliably (App GPS Test)
The GPS module works reliably (App GPS Test)

Communication & GPS 

A Wi-Fi module belongs to the standard equipment of every modern smartphone and the Optimus G Pro E986 is no exception. The review sample transmits and receives data via Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n. Bluetooth 4.0 is also available and it supports NFC. The other communication features do not leave much to be desired either. In addition to the GSM quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and UMTS quad-band (850/900/1900/2600 MHz), the Optimus G Pro also enables wireless connections via LTE (800/1800/2600 MHz). LTE download speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s and upload speeds of a still impressive 50 Mbit/s are possible with a corresponding mobile plan. The maximum UMTS data rate is 42 Mbit/s (HSPA+).

The installed GPS module leaves us with mixed feelings. The smartphone only accomplished a rather imprecise position fixing indoors. However, the GPS module quickly provided an accurate localization and maintained this accuracy even during further usage outdoors.

Telephony and Speech Quality

The Optimus G Pro E986's phone features are almost forgotten in view of the extensive configuration. However, that would be too bad because the smartphone also convinces in this point. The installed phone app can be opened directly on the homescreen and scores with a very simple usage. Also, the volume and speech quality during calls to other mobile networks and landlines were compelling. Background noises were almost inaudible or insignificantly low. 

Cameras & Multimedia

The camera specs of the Optimus G Pro 986 are impressive to read. The primary camera on the casing's back has a resolution of up to 13 megapixels (4160x3120 pixels) and features an LED flash. The front-facing webcam is satisfied with 2 megapixels but manages a Full HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels anyway. Both cameras can also record videos in Full HD.

In practice, the review sample's cameras exhibited a few shortcomings. Apparently LG installs the same units as in the Optimus G E975. The primary camera's picture quality is overall decent but the Optimus G Pro E986 cannot compete with other premium devices when it comes to reproducing details. The taken pictures look darker than on the reference pictures and can thus only offer moderate contrasts. Furthermore, a visible noise quickly becomes apparent on indoor scenes even without zooming.

LG Optimus G Pro E986
LG Optimus G Pro E986
LG Optimus G Pro E986
LG Optimus G Pro E986
LG Optimus G Pro E986
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Reference: Sony Alpha 57
Reference: Sony Alpha 57
Reference: Sony Alpha 57
Reference: Sony Alpha 57
Reference: Sony Alpha 57
Reference: Sony Alpha 57
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Google Nexus 4
Google Nexus 4
Google Nexus 4
Google Nexus 4
Google Nexus 4
Google Nexus 4
Nokia Lumia 920
Nokia Lumia 920
Nokia Lumia 920
Nokia Lumia 920
Nokia Lumia 920
Nokia Lumia 920


Accessories

LG includes a modular power supply, a micro-USB cord and an in-ear headphone for its Optimus G Pro E986. The manufacturer offers various accessories on its website, for example a portable battery, a portable printer and a Bluetooth headset. The accessories are not specifically made for the review sample but can generally be used with all current LG smartphones.

Warranty

LG's Optimus G Pro E986 comes with a 24 month warranty. This period does not cover the entire product because one wearing part is categorically excluded: The manufacturer only includes a 6 month warranty on the battery.

Input Devices and Controls

The virtual keyboard in landscape mode.
The virtual keyboard in landscape mode.

The Optimus G Pro E986 does not know the meaning of delay. The large capacitive 5.5-inch touchscreen of LG's smartphone responds immediately to commands and manages up to 10 simultaneous finger inputs. Stutters, seemingly undue waiting times or other irregularities that interfere with fast usage were never an issue in the test. The soft-touch buttons below the screen, the physical keys and the power button did not give reason for complaint either

The virtual keyboard contributes to the very pleasant usage of the Optimus G Pro E986. The keys feature a sufficient size in portrait mode. Rotating the smartphone's screen to landscape mode is more comfortable for prolific typists or users with "fat finger" syndrome. Although the keyboard uses over half the screen, the keys are even bigger. The additional number row with the digits 0 to 9, which is displayed above the letter field, is handy.

Display

The screen is a vital feature for a smartphone. It literally shows just how much effort the manufacturer invested in this part at first glance. LG did not make compromises and installs a Full HD IPS+ color display in its Optimus G Pro E986. It can reproduce up to 16.7 million colors and displays content razor-sharp with 1920x1080 pixels. Other premium smartphones also feature an HD resolution, such as HTC's One and Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active.

LG's Optimus G Pro E986 supplies a decent result with an average brightness of 386.2 cd/m² and is within a field that can be expected from a smartphone from this price range. However, the LG does not come close to the brightness of HTC's One (488.9 cd/m²) or Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active (423.5 cd/m²). Sony's Xperia SP (389.3 cd/m²) and LG's Optimus G E975 roughly offer the same brightness.

312
cd/m²
395
cd/m²
425
cd/m²
338
cd/m²
420
cd/m²
426
cd/m²
331
cd/m²
403
cd/m²
426
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
TFT tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 426 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 386.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 73 %
Center on Battery: 420 cd/m²
Contrast: 857:1 (Black: 0.49 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 7.52 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.92
ΔE Greyscale 7.32 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
Gamma: 2.72

The screen's rather uneven illumination is a minus point. The Optimus G Pro E986 clearly is in last place with a poor rate of just 73%. LG's Optimus G E975 does a better job here with an illumination of 86%. The other smartphones are significantly better. Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active is the best phone in this category with an illumination of 96%. However, the contrast ratio of 857:1 and the black value of 0.49 cd/m² are good rates.

Our assessments using CalMAN 5 software show how good or bad the color accuracy, color reproduction, color saturation and grayscale reproduction are. LG's Optimus G Pro E986 exhibits a too strong blue but too pale red colors. The screen clearly deviates from the ideal rates of the RGB color space in the measurements with an average DeltaE rate of 7.53. This is continued in the grayscale reproduction (DeltaE: 7.32). Seen subjectively, this imperfect color reproduction is not noticed. All displayed content is always displayed in rich, natural-looking colors and never seems falsified.

Color accuracy
Color accuracy
Color reproduction
Color reproduction
Grayscale
Grayscale
Color saturation
Color saturation

The high contrast and the above-average brightness of the LC-Display easily allow using the Optimus G Pro E986 outdoors. The screen's glare surface could only ruin any such plans when sunlight directly hits the screen and the content consequently becomes almost illegible. But since this inconvenience can simply be remedied by turning the smartphone a bit, it is all thumbs up for outdoor suitability.

The Optimus G Pro E986 reaps in an equally good rating in the next test category. The IPS+ color display provides outstanding viewing angle stability for construction-related reasons and convinces with a stable contrast even from extreme side views. Only the brightness decreases a bit early but remains constant up to very narrow viewing angles then.

Viewing angles: Optimus G Pro E986
Viewing angles: Optimus G Pro E986
LG's Optimus G Pro E986 outdoors
LG's Optimus G Pro E986 outdoors

Performance

LG's smartphone is powered by Qualcomm's high-end Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T alongside the Adreno 320 graphics processor and 2048 MB of RAM. This should actually prevent any performance bottlenecks. We sent the Optimus G Pro E986 through our exhaustive benchmark course to test this.

The Optimus G Pro E986 is on a par with the premium contenders in the synthetic benchmarks. The majority of the compared phones are based on the same or at least a very similar CPU/GPU configuration. Depending on the test, sometimes one or the other device takes the lead but none stand out decisively or accomplish a clear advantage on the whole.

3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Physics (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
9379 Points
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
9087 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
8325 Points -11%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
7305 Points -22%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
9451 Points +1%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Graphics (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
9691 Points
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
10616 Points +10%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
9417 Points -3%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
11541 Points +19%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
11192 Points +15%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
9620 Points
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
10233 Points +6%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
9150 Points -5%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
10224 Points +6%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
10752 Points +12%
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Total Score (sort by value)
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
1831 Points
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
2461 Points
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
2118 Points
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
2332 Points
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
11 fps
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
17 fps +55%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
9.8 fps -11%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
18 fps +64%
Nokia Lumia 925
Adreno 225, S4 Plus MSM8960, 16 GB iNAND Flash
6.3 fps -43%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
11 fps
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
9.3 fps -15%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
8.3 fps -25%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
12 fps +9%
Nokia Lumia 925
Adreno 225, S4 Plus MSM8960, 16 GB iNAND Flash
3.3 fps -70%
Linpack Android / IOS - Multi Thread (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
703 MFLOPS
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
541 MFLOPS -23%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
669 MFLOPS -5%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
225.8 MFLOPS -68%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
733 MFLOPS +4%

Bigger differences are seen in the browser benchmarks. LG's Optimus G Pro E986 is almost always in the lead here and wrestles for the performance crown with HTC's One, Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active and Sony's Xperia SP. LG's Optimus G E975 and Nokia's Lumia 925 fall behind the three leaders marginally, which Google's V8 ver. 7 very clearly illustrates. However, Mozilla Kraken is the territory of Nokia's Lumia 925 and the contenders do not stand a chance here.

Google V8 Ver. 7 - Google V8 Ver. 7 Score (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
1905 Points
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
1479 Points -22%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
2517 Points +32%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
1663 Points -13%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
1899 Points 0%
Nokia Lumia 925
Adreno 225, S4 Plus MSM8960, 16 GB iNAND Flash
787 Points -59%
Browsermark - --- (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
2065 points
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
1316 points -36%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
1643 points -20%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
2091 points +1%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
2152 points +4%
Nokia Lumia 925
Adreno 225, S4 Plus MSM8960, 16 GB iNAND Flash
1721 points -17%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
580 Points
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
545 Points -6%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
611 Points +5%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
507 Points -13%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
683 Points +18%
Nokia Lumia 925
Adreno 225, S4 Plus MSM8960, 16 GB iNAND Flash
335 Points -42%
Mozilla Kraken 1.0 - Total (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
13867 ms *
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
23663 ms * -71%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
12135 ms * +12%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
14972 ms * -8%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
13059 ms * +6%
Nokia Lumia 925
Adreno 225, S4 Plus MSM8960, 16 GB iNAND Flash
43449 ms * -213%
Octane V1 - Total Score (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
2349 Points
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
1163 Points -50%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
2519 Points +7%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
1550 Points -34%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
1986 Points -15%
Nokia Lumia 925
Adreno 225, S4 Plus MSM8960, 16 GB iNAND Flash
593 Points -75%

* ... smaller is better

Owing to a swift memory bus, the Optimus G Pro E986 also exhibits a good performance in the read and write rates and is on a par with Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active that achieves the overall highest data rate. The review sample only takes last place in the sequential write speed and has to allow HTC's One, LG's Optimus G E975 and Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active to pull ahead.

AndroBench 3-5
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
69.5 MB/s
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
60.1 MB/s -14%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
90.3 MB/s +30%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
37.69 MB/s -46%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
58.8 MB/s -15%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
11.48 MB/s
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
13.88 MB/s +21%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
15.33 MB/s +34%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
6.62 MB/s -42%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
16.37 MB/s +43%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
13.31 MB/s
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
11.64 MB/s -13%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
12.35 MB/s -7%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
9.58 MB/s -28%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
11.83 MB/s -11%
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
1.15 MB/s
LG Optimus G E975
Adreno 320, S4 Pro APQ8064A, 32 GB SSD
1.06 MB/s -8%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active I9295
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB iNAND Flash
1.11 MB/s -3%
Sony Xperia SP
Adreno 320, MSM8960T, 8 GB SSD
0.27 MB/s -77%
HTC One
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 32 GB SSD
1.19 MB/s +3%

Games

The Optimus G Pro E986 virtually passes every gaming and multimedia obstacle without stuttering owing to its powerful combination of quad-core processor and Adreno 320 GPU. Classics like Angry Birds, Plants vs. Zombies and Fruit Ninja run just as smoothly as more current games that place a much higher demand on smartphone hardware. Exemplarily tested top 3D games, including Iron Man 3, Real Racing 3 or Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, are no problem for the smartphone and run without frame stuttering or loading delays. The touchscreen responded just as accurately as the accelerometer and position sensor in every tested game and allowed very precise control.

Computing-intensive games like Real Racing 3...
Computing-intensive games like Real Racing 3...
...and Iron Man 3 run smoothly.
...and Iron Man 3 run smoothly.

Emissions

Temperature

The Optimus G Pro E986 reaches up to 40.4 °C during load. The maximum temperature is measured on the upper front side pretty much exactly under LG's logo. The back remains a bit cooler with 39.8 °C. Both rates are within a normal range and are even a bit low in a direct comparison. Only HTC's One is cooler with 36.6 °C. However, Nokia's Lumia 925 (47.0 °C) and Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active (44.3 °C) are perceptibly warmer.

Max. Load
 34.9 °C
95 F
35.5 °C
96 F
38 °C
100 F
 
 36.1 °C
97 F
36.4 °C
98 F
40.4 °C
105 F
 
 35.8 °C
96 F
37.2 °C
99 F
40 °C
104 F
 
Maximum: 40.4 °C = 105 F
Average: 37.1 °C = 99 F
34.7 °C
94 F
36.8 °C
98 F
34 °C
93 F
37.3 °C
99 F
37.7 °C
100 F
33.6 °C
92 F
39.8 °C
104 F
37.5 °C
100 F
35 °C
95 F
Maximum: 39.8 °C = 104 F
Average: 36.3 °C = 97 F
Power Supply (max.)  38.7 °C = 102 F | Room Temperature 23.6 °C = 74 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37.1 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 32.8 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.4 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.2 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39.8 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 34.2 °C / 94 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

The mono speaker installed beside the primary camera of LG's Optimus G Pro E986 does not lead to rapturous applause due to its limited sound qualities. As typical for smartphones, the sound membrane does not reproduce any low ranges at all. However, it played all music pieces and sound clips clearly and did not distort even at maximum volume in the test. In contrast to that, the sound was consistently good when the included in-ear headphone was connected and the user can even enjoy stereo sound. Audio effects, such as Dolby Mobile, a bass booster or treble amplifier, can be added via the music player.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The 5.5-inch screen in the Optimus G Pro E986 alone typically consumes between 70 and 80% of the battery load in maximum brightness according to the battery status. The review sample proves to be quite energy-devouring otherwise as well. The smartphone has an idle power consumption ranging from 1.4 to 2.8 watts, which is twice as much as HTC's One with a maximum of 1.1 watts. The other contenders are also more energy-efficient and, with exception of Nokia's Lumia 925 (2.4 watts), achieve an idle consumption between 1.4 and 1.8 watts.

The power consumption increases to 3.2 to 5.1 watts during load and is neither exceptionally high nor low. Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active (6.5 watts) and Sony's Xperia SP (5.6 watts) consume significantly more. HTC's One (4.0 watts) and LG's Optimus G E975 (3.7 watts) prove to be the most energy-efficient devices.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.6 / 1.4 / 2.8 Watt
Load midlight 3.2 / 5.1 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940

Battery Runtime

The high capacity of 3140 mAh for the battery in the Optimus G Pro E986 rouses hope for long runtimes. The manufacturer also touts that the review sample should achieve a standby time of 23 days and a UMTS talk time of a bit over 15 hours. However, as our battery runtime tests prove, the Optimus G Pro E986 is drained quite soon.

The maximum battery runtime is ascertained via a script that simulates reading a text document using minimum screen brightness, enabled energy-saving functions and all wireless technologies except for Wi-Fi off. The Optimus G Pro E986 achieved a runtime of 12 hours and 57 minutes here, which is below-average compared with identically equipped smartphones. Only Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active achieves a similar time with 12 hours and 5 minutes. HTC's One (23 hours, 51 minutes), Nokia's Lumia 925 (22 hours, 43 minutes) and LG's Optimus G E975 (18 hours, 15 minutes) last much longer.

The opposite is true for the minimum battery runtime with maximum screen brightness and all wireless modules on. LG's Optimus G E986 shows an above-average performance with 3 hours and 35 minutes. Both Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active (3 hours, 29 minutes) and LG's Optimus G E975 (3 hours, 32 minutes) run for almost just as long.

The practical Wi-Fi test using a screen brightness of 150 cd/m², enabled energy-saving modes and a script that opens websites every 40 seconds comes closest to real-life usage. The Optimus G E986 turned off after a poor runtime of 7 hours and 45 minutes. Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active (7 hours, 2 minutes) and Sony's Xperia SP (7 hours, 20 minutes) are not thrilling either. Nokia's Lumia 925 (15 hours, 19 minutes) followed by LG's Optimus G E975 (11 hours, 10 minutes) and HTC's One (10 hours, 53 minutes) achieve a very good result.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
12h 57min
WiFi Surfing
7h 45min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 35min

Verdict

LG Optimus G Pro E986
LG Optimus G Pro E986

LG launches a well-designed smartphone that convinces in virtually every field or at least exhibits an above-average performance with the Optimus G E986. Highlights of the premium-range review sample are its very high-quality build, the high performance of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T SoC and the high-brightness, 5.5-inch Full HD screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. What's more, the Optimus G E986 is future-proof owing to the installed LTE chip as it allows swift data transfer rates. The generous 16 GB storage also has to be noted. Although the useable capacity is reduced to 10 GB, it should nevertheless be more than sufficient for many application purposes.

So much praise does not leave much room for complaint. In fact, our list of drawbacks is quite short. The 13 megapixel primary camera in the Optimus G E986 shoots decent pictures but the comparison with other premium models shows that quite a bit more could have been possible. Deductions are also made for the below-average battery performance that is surely primarily due to the large 5.5-inch Full HD screen.

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In Review: LG Optimus G Pro E986. Review sample courtesy of LG
In Review: LG Optimus G Pro E986. Review sample courtesy of LG

Specifications

LG Optimus G Pro E986 (Optimus G Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T 4 x 1.7 GHz, Krait-300
Graphics adapter
Memory
2048 MB 
, LPDDR2 RAM
Display
5.50 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, capacitive touchscreen, TFT, IPS, TFT Full HD IPS+ color screen, 16,7 million colors, 400 ppi, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB SSD, 16 GB 
, eMMC ROM, 10.1 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: micro-SD memory cards w/ max. 64 GB capacity, Sensors: accelerometer, digital compass, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor
Networking
802.11a/b/g/n (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, LTE/4G (800/1800/2600 MHz), UMTS (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), HSPA+ 42 Mbit/s, GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), NFC
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9.4 x 150.3 x 76 ( = 0.37 x 5.92 x 2.99 in)
Battery
12 Wh Lithium-Ion, 3140 mAh, Talk time 2G (according to manufacturer): 1.9 h, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 1.3 h, Standby 2G (according to manufacturer): 598 h, Standby 3G (according to manufacturer): 550 h
Operating System
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Camera
Webcam: Rear camera: 13 MP with LED Flash (4160 x 3120), Front camera: 2 MP 1080p video
Additional features
Speakers: mono, Keyboard: virtual, Keyboard Light: no, charger, in-ear headphone, USB data cable, quick start guide, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
172 g ( = 6.07 oz / 0.38 pounds), Power Supply: 20 g ( = 0.71 oz / 0.04 pounds)
Price
600 Euro

 

Despite its large 5.5-inch screen, the casing of the Optimus G Pro E986 is very rigid and does not allow warping.
Despite its large 5.5-inch screen, the casing of the Optimus G Pro E986 is very rigid and does not allow warping.
Qualcomm's high-end Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T is under the hood.
Qualcomm's high-end Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T is under the hood.
The QuickMemo function enables making and saving notes directly on the screen.
The QuickMemo function enables making and saving notes directly on the screen.
High-quality build: The polycarbonate casing of the Optimus G Pro E986.
High-quality build: The polycarbonate casing of the Optimus G Pro E986.
Android 4.1.2 is controlled via the three soft-keys below the screen.
Android 4.1.2 is controlled via the three soft-keys below the screen.
An MHL adapter can be connected to the micro-USB 2.0 port for streaming.
An MHL adapter can be connected to the micro-USB 2.0 port for streaming.
A pattern comprised of many squares is visible on the casing's back.
A pattern comprised of many squares is visible on the casing's back.
There are plenty of apps available owing to Google PlayStore access.
There are plenty of apps available owing to Google PlayStore access.
The removable back cover...
The removable back cover...
...conceals the micro-SD slot among other things.
...conceals the micro-SD slot among other things.
A micro-SIM card slot is located right beside it.
A micro-SIM card slot is located right beside it.
The removable battery in the Optimus G Pro E986 provides a total power of 11.9 watt hours.
The removable battery in the Optimus G Pro E986 provides a total power of 11.9 watt hours.
The boxing of LG's smartphone includes...
The boxing of LG's smartphone includes...
...a modular power supply, micro-USB cord and in-ear headphone.
...a modular power supply, micro-USB cord and in-ear headphone.
The capacitive touchscreen can deal with several simultaneous finger inputs.
The capacitive touchscreen can deal with several simultaneous finger inputs.
A lot of apps are preinstalled ex-factory.
A lot of apps are preinstalled ex-factory.
There are many transition effects to choose from for switching from lockscreen to the homescreen.
There are many transition effects to choose from for switching from lockscreen to the homescreen.
The repertory of functions include many energy-saving modes.
The repertory of functions include many energy-saving modes.
The Optimus G Pro E986's battery runtimes are below-average.
The Optimus G Pro E986's battery runtimes are below-average.

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Links

Compare Prices

Pros

+ High-quality build
+ SoC's performance
+ Bright and large Full HD screen
+ 16 GB of storage
+ LTE support
+ NFC module
+ Removable battery

Cons

- Steep purchase price
- Primary camera only middling for a premium device
- Moderate battery runtime

Shortcut

What we like

The nicely comprised overall bundle. In total, the Optimus G Pro E986 is impressive in virtually every field and has really earned the label "Premium Smartphone". The installed LTE module ensures very swift browsing speeds.

What we miss

The strong battery specs (3140 mAh, 11.9 Wh) only look good on paper because the Optimus G Pro E986 cannot compete with its rivals. A somewhat more efficient energy management would boost the smartphone's grade.

What surprises us

The smartphone's rigidness. Despite its large 5.5-inch LC-Display, the Optimus G Pro E986 defies any attempts to warp or twist the casing in the test. Also, the smartphone does not produce any noises that would indicate material weaknesses.

The competition

HTC One
LG Optimus G E975
Nokia Lumia 925
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
Sony Xperia SP

Rating

LG Optimus G Pro E986 - 09/19/2013 v3 (old)
Manuel Masiero

Chassis
89%
Keyboard
59%
Pointing Device
92%
Connectivity
40%
Weight
100%
Battery
94%
Display
80%
Games Performance
44%
Application Performance
60%
Temperature
82%
Noise
100%
Add Points
86%
Average
77%
87%
Smartphone - Weighted Average
Manuel Masiero, 2013-09-26 (Update: 2024-08-15)