The LG G4 series offered a range of options, and the Stylus and Beat were two popular choices. Both aimed to deliver a premium experience at a more accessible price point, but they differed significantly in their features and performance. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide which one was the better buy.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The LG G4 Beat generally edges out the Stylus thanks to its superior Snapdragon 615 chipset and more consistent performance. While the Stylus boasts a stylus and larger screen, the Beat's smoother operation and better camera make it the more compelling option for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (optional) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - H631 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - H635 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 40 - H630D | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, April. Released 2015, May | 2015, July. Released 2015, August |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 154.3 x 79.2 x 9.6 mm (6.07 x 3.12 x 0.38 in) | 142.7 x 72.6 x 9.9 mm (5.62 x 2.86 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | · Micro-SIM - H631, H635, MS631, H542· Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) - H540, H630D | Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) | 139 g (4.90 oz) |
| | Stylus | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~258 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~423 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 89.6 cm2 (~73.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.2 inches, 74.9 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 - H631, H635, H630D, MS631Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A7 - H540 | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) - H631, H635, H630D, MS631Mediatek MT6592M - H540 | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 306 - H631, H635, H630D, MS631Mali-450MP4 - H540 | Adreno 405 |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop) | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM (H635,H540,H630D,H542), 16GB 2GB RAM (H631,MS631) | 8GB 1.5GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, HDR, panorama, dual-LED flash (H631, H540, H630D, MS631), LED flash (H635) | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, OIS (H631, H540, H630D, MS631)
8 MP, f/2.4 (H635) | 8 MP
13 MP, AF (Latin America) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP | 4.1, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 432 h (3G) | Up to 380 h (2G) / Up to 380 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 18 h (3G) | Up to 15 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 2300 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Metallic Silver, Floral White | Metallic Gray, Ceramic White, Shiny Gold |
| Models | H540, H631, MS631, H635, H540, H630, H542, H630D | H735, H736 |
| Price | About 250 EUR | About 160 EUR |
LG G4 Stylus
- Larger 5.5-inch display
- Stylus for note-taking and drawing
- Larger battery capacity (typically)
- Expandable storage via microSD
- Slower performance, especially with Snapdragon 410
- Can feel sluggish
- Image processing not as good as G4 Beat
LG G4 Beat
- Faster and smoother performance
- Better camera image quality
- More efficient processor
- Compact and easier to handle
- Smaller display
- Smaller battery capacity (though often comparable battery life)
- Less screen real estate
Display Comparison
The LG G4 Stylus features a larger 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, while the G4 Beat has a 5.0-inch IPS LCD. Both offer decent color reproduction, but the Stylus's larger size provides more screen real estate. Resolution is similar, around 720p on both, so pixel density is slightly higher on the Beat.
Camera Comparison
The G4 Beat generally has a better camera. While both feature a 13MP rear camera, the G4 Beat's Snapdragon 615 chipset provides better image processing capabilities. The Stylus's camera performance is adequate but can struggle in low-light conditions. Both have a front-facing camera around 5MP.
Performance
This is where the G4 Beat shines. Its Snapdragon 615 chipset with octa-core processor (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) significantly outperforms the Stylus's varying chipsets (Snapdragon 410 or MediaTek MT6592M). The Beat handles multitasking and demanding apps with greater ease, resulting in a smoother overall experience. The Stylus can feel sluggish at times, especially with the Snapdragon 410 variant.
Battery Life
The LG G4 Stylus typically has a larger battery (3000 mAh) compared to the G4 Beat (2400 mAh). However, the G4 Beat's more efficient processor often results in comparable or even slightly better battery life in real-world usage due to reduced power consumption.
Buying Guide
The LG G4 Stylus is ideal for users who prioritize a large display and the added functionality of a stylus for note-taking and drawing. The LG G4 Beat is a better choice for those seeking a more responsive and fluid user experience, particularly for everyday tasks and photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the LG G4 Stylus worth buying now?
Given its age and performance limitations, the LG G4 Stylus is generally not recommended unless you specifically need a large screen and stylus functionality and can find it at a very low price.
❓ Which LG G4 model is the most powerful?
The LG G4 (non-Stylus or Beat) is the most powerful model in the series, featuring the Snapdragon 808 chipset.
