The 2017 LG K8 smartphone is a representative of a series of budget gadgets from the South Korean brand, which are distinguished by a representative design and a balanced price-quality ratio.
Excellent ergonomics
Compared to competitors in the budget price category, LG K8 is distinguished by a stylish body and well-thought-out ergonomics. A high-quality body with a textured coating and 2.5D glass on the screen create the most pleasant impression. The smartphone fits in your hand like a glove due to its thin 8.1 mm body and low weight (147.8 grams), and it’s simply impossible to find fault with its appearance.
The power button is located on the rear panel. Although this is unusual for classic budget smartphones, you get used to this placement instantly.
Expanding the capabilities of the public sector employee
Perhaps the main feature of the LG K8 is its equipment with an advanced NFC module and USB OTG function. The ability to make contactless payments, as a rule, goes to top flagships. In gadgets of the mid-price category, it occurs only once in a while, and for state employees such a function is not considered at all. However, LG understands that even an affordable smartphone must meet modern requirements, so the NFC module here works quickly and without glitches.
Another extremely useful feature is USB OTG, with which you can connect your smartphone to a scanner or printer, and also use it as an external drive.
The amount of internal memory is quite respectable for a smartphone that can be bought for 7 thousand rubles. Initially, you have 16 GB available, which can be expanded with an external card up to 32 GB. However, tests have shown that the smartphone is able to recognize a 64 GB card.
Screen, cameras, hardware - something that pleasantly surprises
The smartphone is equipped with a high-quality 5-inch IPS screen with HD resolution, which is capable of producing high-quality images even at wide viewing angles. The 4-core Snapdragon 425 processor at 1.3 GHz and 1.5 GB of RAM works quickly and without lag. And the Adreno 308 graphics chip will provide good performance in games at medium settings.
The smartphone uses 13 and 5 MP cameras with the most necessary functions. For example, you can quickly process a finished photo using filters and publish it on social networks.
January 31st company LG Electronics gathered us at the so-called round table to present K-series smartphones 2017 with updated cameras and user-friendly features inherited from premium models. The line is represented by devices LG K10 2017, LG K8 2017 And LG K7 2017 and belongs to the middle price category - i.e. below 20 thousand rubles.
The manufacturer considers the main pride of the K-series to be the improved front camera, which will delight selfie lovers. As LG representatives themselves admitted, it was communication with journalists that inspired them to make some modifications. Firstly, the top-end K10 has a wide-format selfie camera: an angle of 120° will allow you to fit a large group in one frame or capture yourself against the backdrop of some landmark. If the situation is not favorable, you can make the frame narrower, “more private.”
All K-smartphones now have the popular “Auto Selfie”, “Time Lapse Shooting by Hand Gesture” and “Virtual Front Camera Flash” functions, and you can now take “selfies” using the convenient multifunction button on the back cover.
At first glance, the K10, K8 and K7 are very similar, especially from the front, but the back covers differ in design. However, all three, with their plastic shine, lightness, streamlined shapes, and “soft” corners, evoke strong associations with some kind of funny toys. These unpretentious things are devoid of unnecessary pretensions to flagship elegance and chic: they look simple, cute, democratic and original in their own way.
An interesting point is that all devices have a removable battery, just like in the good old days. A rare design solution these days will allow you to easily replace the battery when it stops holding a charge normally, and will also give you a chance to save your phone if it gets wet.
As for the differences in hardware, functionality and other details, now we will explain everything.
LG K10 2017
New LG K10. fingerprint sensor and interesting design - a good offer in its price category. (In any case, the fingerprint scanner built into the control button is clearly borrowed from flagships and is rarely found on smartphones costing 15-17 thousand rubles.)
The LG K10 2017 differs from the K8 and K7 in a more austere design and an almost smooth lid, faster hardware and a new OS - Android 7.0 Nougat with individual modifications from LG. The interface allows you to connect a flash drive to your smartphone via a special adapter for exchanging information, as well as type text messages and letters using an external keyboard.
SpecificationsLG K10 2017
- Processor: 8-core 1.5 GHz (MT6750)
- Display: 5.3" HD In-cell Touch (1280 x 720 / 277 ppi)
- Memory: 2 GB (RAM) / 16 GB (built-in) / microSD (up to 32 GB)
- Camera: front 5 MP (widescreen) / main 13 MP (standard)
- Battery: 2,800 mAh (removable)
- Operating system: Android 7.0 Nougat
- Dimensions: 148.7 x 75.3 x 7.9 mm
- Weight: 138 g
- Networks: LTE / 3G / 2G
- Color: black / titanium / gold
- Additionally: fingerprint scanner, Auto Selfie mode, Hand gesture time-lapse function, Front camera Virtual Flash, One-touch shooting, 2.5D display glass
LG K8 2017
LG K8 2017 A little simpler than the “Ten” in terms of hardware and characteristics: it no longer has a fingerprint sensor and runs simple Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). But “Interval shooting by hand gesture”, “Virtual flash” and the same 13 MP main camera are available.SpecificationsLG K8 2017
- Processor: 4-core, 1.3 GHz (MT6737)
- Display: 5.0 inches HD (1280x720) with On-Cell Touch technology
- Memory: 1.5 GB (RAM) / 16 GB (built-in) / micro SD (up to 32 GB)
- Camera: front 5 MP / main 13 MP
- Battery: 2,500 mAh (removable)
- Dimensions: 73.2 x 147.1 x 8.2 mm
- Weight: 147.8 g
- Networks: LTE / 3G / 2G
- Connections: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.2 / USB 2.0
- Colors: indigo/gold
- Additionally: one-touch shooting, “Time-lapse photography by hand gesture”, “Virtual flash” of the selfie camera
LG K7 2017
LG K7 2017- the most democratic representative of the series: the main camera is 8 megapixels, the front one is 5 megapixels, there is “Virtual flash” and “One-touch shooting”. However, a 4-core 1.1 GHz processor and 4G LTE support will be enough for comfortable Internet surfing, posting photos and videos on social networks, watching videos on YouTube, online games and downloading content.SpecificationsLG K7 2017
- Screen: 5.0-inch FWVGA On-Cell Touch
- Processor: 1.1 GHz 4-core
- Camera: Main 8 MP / Front 5 MP
- Memory: RAM: 1 GB ROM: 8 GB
- Battery: 2,500 mAh
- Operating system: Android 6.0 (Marshmallow)
- Dimensions: 145.8 x 74.1 x 8.1 mm
- Weight: 143 g
- Network: LTE/3G/2G
- Colors: titanium / mocha
- Additionally: “Time-lapse photography by hand gesture”, One-touch shooting, “Virtual flash” of the selfie camera
Results
According to statistics, up to a million selfies appear on the Internet every day, so many people, when buying a smartphone, focus specifically on the number of megapixels and the quality of shooting. Yes, the best characteristics are found in expensive flagships with sophisticated hardware... But if a person just needs good photos on Instagram and communication on social networks, and is of little interest to the smooth running of 3D games? LG K-series smartphones are designed for this type of consumer. There are no exorbitant characteristics, but the emphasis is on the most used functions.As for the thick black frames that consumers don’t like so much, they exist here - there’s no escape... However, journalists asked to look into this problem. The previous proposal for a 120° selfie camera was implemented in just six months. Let's hope that this time LG will promptly take note of the good advice from the press.
During the round table, LG representatives were actively interested in what phone colors would please consumers. If you have any thoughts, write them in the comments!
Overall, “satisfactory” - the LG K8 (2017) mobile phone did not surprise us with anything special based on the test results. The tested device did not receive a single excellent rating - in any of the test categories, according to the results of our laboratory measurements, this smartphone was not absolutely convincing. In the “Equipment” test discipline, it performed even worse than many competing models and did not impress our testers. However, the price-quality ratio for the LG K8 (2017) was quite good at the time of testing.
Advantages
good battery life (8 hours)
replaceable battery
Android 7
Flaws
only 1.5 GB of RAM
unconvincing camera
The 5-inch display has a resolution of only 1280x720 pixels
- Price-quality ratio
Fine - Place in the overall ranking
145 out of 200
- Price/quality ratio: 66
- Productivity and management (35%): 66
- Equipment (25%): 42.4
- Battery (15%): 78.5
- Display (15%): 74.6
- Camera (10%): 54.5
Editorial rating
User rating
You have already rated
Performance, battery and build quality
The LG K8 (2017) mobile phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, which operates at a clock speed of up to 1400 MHz. The chip has 4 cores. In addition, the device has 1.5 GB of RAM. Of the total internal memory, after deducting the space occupied by the operating system and pre-installed applications, another 9.5 GB remains free for use.
The technical specifications won’t tell you how fast a smartphone really is, so we test the speed ourselves. In this area, the LG K8 (2017) received a "very good" rating from us after laboratory measurements.
The smartphone draws its energy from a 2500 mAh battery, which allows the device to last 8 hours 16 minutes in online testing mode. Using the included charger, which is connected to the phone via a micro-USB 2.0 connector, you can fully restore energy reserves in 3 hours and 15 minutes. For wireless data transfer, the smartphone offers, among other things, WLAN 802.11 n and Bluetooth 4.2.
Other key characteristics: The total weight of the LG K8 (2017) is 143 grams, and at the thickest point of the case you can measure 8.6 mm. Dimensions - 145x73 mm. For its appearance, we gave this device a “good” rating - here it is not the design of the device that is much more important, but the quality of workmanship and the choice of materials used.
Display and camera
The LCD display of the LG K8 (2017) has a diagonal size of 5 inches and a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. Thus, the device has a pixel density of 295 ppi. In addition, during the test the display showed a maximum brightness of 337.4 cd/m2. With the main camera of LG K8 (2017), you can capture the scene you are interested in with a resolution of 13.0 megapixels in 0.98 seconds. But the distance to the subject must be at least 9 centimeters so that the camera can focus.
For selfie lovers, the device also offers a front camera with a resolution of 4.9 megapixels. Using laboratory measurements, we clearly record the speed of the camera, its resolution and noise level. But to fully evaluate a photograph, a “trained eye” is always required. And this is what our experts’ opinion was: “satisfactory.” Among other equipment related to the camera, we note the ability to record video with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and an LED flash.
Test shot taken with the LG K8 (2017) camera Alternative: LG X power (K220)
Our alternative is a smartphone that costs about the same but performed better during the test and offers significantly better value for money.
LG K8 (2017) test results
Characteristics and test results of LG K8 (2017)
| Price-quality ratio | 66 |
| OS during testing | Android 7.0 with LG UI |
| Current OS | Android 7 |
| Is there an OS update planned? | no data |
| App Store | |
| Weight | 143 |
| Length x Width | 145 x 73 mm; |
| Thickness | 8.6 mm; |
| Expert design review | Fine |
| Expert assessment of work speed | Fine |
| Download speed: PDF 800 KB via WLAN | 10.8 s |
| Download speed: main chip.de via WLAN | 0.9 s |
| Download speed: chip.de test chart via WLAN | 22.2 s |
| Sound quality (speakerphone) | Fine |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 |
| Processor architecture | |
| CPU frequency | 1.400 MHz |
| Number of CPU cores | 4 |
| RAM capacity | 1.5 GB |
| Battery: capacity | 2.500 mAh |
| Battery: easy to remove | Yes |
| Battery: surfing time | 8:16 h:min |
| Battery: charging time | 3:15 h:min |
| Fast charging function | - |
| Charger and fast charging cable included | |
| Battery: discharging time/charging time | 2,5 |
| Wireless charging function | - |
| WLAN | 802.11n |
| Voice over LTE | |
| LTE: frequencies | 800, 1.800, 2.600 MHz |
| LTE: Cat. 4 | up to 150 Mbit/s |
| LTE: Cat. 6 | - |
| LTE: Cat. 9 | - |
| LTE: Cat. 12 | - |
| Screen: type | LCD |
| Screen: diagonal | 5.0 inches |
| Screen: size in mm | 62 x 110 mm; |
| Screen: resolution | 720 x 1,280 pixels |
| Screen: Dot Density | 295 ppi |
| Screen: max. brightness in a dark room | 337.4 cd/m² |
| Screen: staggered contrast in a bright room | 35:1 |
| Screen: staggered contrast in a dark room | 142:1 |
| Camera: resolution | 13.0 megapixels |
| Camera: measured resolution | 1,579 line pairs |
| Camera: expert assessment of image quality | Fine |
| Camera: VN1 noise | 1.3VN1 |
| Camera: minimum focal length | 3.5 mm; |
| Camera: minimum shooting distance | 9 cm; |
| Camera: Shutter Time with Autofocus | 0.98 s |
| Camera: optical stabilizer | - |
| Camera: autofocus | Yes |
| Camera: flash | LED |
| Video resolution | 1.920 x 1.080 pixels |
| Front camera: resolution | 4.9 megapixels |
| LED indicator | - |
| Radio | Yes |
| SIM card type | Nano-SIM |
| Dual SIM | - |
| Protection against dust and moisture (IP certificate) | - |
| Fingerprint's scanner | |
| User accessible memory | 9.3 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes |
| USB connector | micro-USB 2.0 |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Headphone output | 3.5 mm; |
| HD Voice | Yes |
| SAR | 0.43 W/kg |
| Firmware version during testing | NRD90U |
| Test date | 2017-04-21 |
Editor's Choice
Lightweight flagship: LG K8 (2019) smartphone review
With its K series, the company has tried to combine an affordable price with decent cameras, a removable battery and an attractive design.
This strategy worked with the K10 (2017), and now we'll look at the lighter version of the K8 (2017).
In addition to the fact that the smartphone has a smaller display size, it is equipped with a slower LTE module.
It also has a weaker processor and less RAM, but at the moment it costs about $50 less than its “big brother.”
At first glance, there seems to be no difference in the cameras.
We compared it with other smartphones in this price segment, taking Asus Zenfone Go ZB500KL, Gigaset GS160, Huawei Y6 II Compact, and Lenovo K6.
We didn’t notice much of a difference, so the smartphone deserves a full review.
Specifications
- Processor: Quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6735
- Screen size: 5 inches,
- Screen resolution: 1,280×720,
- Rear camera: 13 megapixels,
- Front camera: 8 megapixels,
- Storage space: 16GB,
- Wireless networks: 3G, 4G,
- Dimensions: 145x72x8.7mm,
- Weight: 157g,
- Operating system: Android 6.0.1
General view
Comparing with other products from this manufacturer, we can say that the smaller brother has a high-quality plastic body that fits comfortably in the hand.
It's ergonomic. Despite its small size, the LG K8 phone turned out to be quite weighty.
It's only 8.1mm thicker than the K10, meaning it's still quite thin.
The devices are available in two colors: titanium and gold. This only applies to the color of the back cover and frame, the front remains black.
The smartphone is designed with a removable back cover, which means the user can open it and change the battery.
This is not an entirely unusual factor for gadgets in this price class, but, for example, in the Lenovo K6 the battery is not removable.
I don’t think that the average user will pay attention to this, but we tried to bend the phone, and a clear creaking was noticeable.
Front and rear it is quite pressure sensitive: even with light pressure we can see the formation of waves on the LCD display.
Peculiarities
16 GB of space is a completely normal parameter in this price range. 1.5 GB of RAM is also quite average for this class of devices, although there are currently many variations with 2 GB. A USB-OTG cable is included.
Features include support for Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi Direct, and .
The list of features is quite comprehensive for this class and price.
Although a fingerprint sensor is becoming more and more interesting to potential buyers, LG has decided not to install it on this version.
In addition, the storage can be expanded using a card.
The manufacturer indicates that the maximum possible volume that the device supports is 32 GB.
We installed a 64 GB card and it was accepted. Therefore, this is more of a marketing issue rather than an actual limitation.
Software
It's good that LG decided to upgrade to Android 7 even for such an inexpensive smartphone.
Security patches have been released since January 1, 2017, which means there is a chance that the device will be updated from the current 6th version to the 7th.
During our testing, the update was not yet available. It’s just logical that the manufacturer is in no hurry to release a free update for inexpensive devices.
LG doesn't use "stock" at all. They install their own user interface, which differs in some details.
The user gets advanced features such as a special code to unlock apps and slightly advanced customization options.
The kit comes with several pre-installed applications that support smartphone control and provide advanced functions.
LG offers the user only three pre-installed applications, including Facebook. Everything else is customizable.
Communications and GPS
Although the SoC module supports 802.11ac WLAN, the WLAN layer on this device is limited to 802.11 b/g/n bands.
During testing, it became obvious that the reception speed is even slightly faster than most devices from the comparison list.
Subjectively, all pages load quickly, and even when scrolling, the image practically does not freeze.
But, if there are ten meters and three walls between the smartphone and the access point, then noticeable problems appear: pages load noticeably slower and pictures are often not displayed when scrolling.
There is no need to talk about video quality at such a distance.
The LG K8 (2017) supports LTE, which is now standard even for cheap smartphones.
The maximum speed that can be achieved slower than that of the LG K10 (2017): 150 Mbit/s for downloading and up to 50 Mbit/s for uploading.
Of course, in a country with more stable LTE coverage, the difference in speed will most likely not be noticeable.
Inside city buildings the reception is decent, we always had at least half a signal when connected to Vodafone.
In closed buildings, satellite location determination does not work. On the street, the satellites quickly determined our coordinates with an accuracy of 9 meters, which is an average result.
Having compared the smartphone's performance with the professional Garmin Edge 500 navigator, we noticed many inaccuracies in location detection.
Often the graph appears as just a straight line if the satellites are unable to determine the location for a long time. Therefore, when navigating, you should not rely on the accuracy of this smartphone.
Telephone and call quality
The stock calling app has been slightly tweaked by LG, but basically, in terms of features, it works just like the stock call app from .
The call quality is surprisingly good and better than that of the LG K10 (2017), and also: the earpiece clearly conveys the voice of the interlocutor.
Sensitive and even conveys words spoken in a whisper. Speech that is too loud is slightly distorted. The speakerphone mode worked perfectly.
Cameras
The smartphone stands out with its 13-megapixel rear panel. Many manufacturers claim similar characteristics, but in practice everything does not look so impressive.
No, we were pleasantly surprised by the clarity of the image.
Sharpness is quite passable, although autofocus concentrates too much on close subjects, even if they are at the very edge of the image.
Everything else looks blurry. But if necessary, it can be manually adjusted. The remaining parameters are pleasing, the color rendition is good.
In the focusing area, the image sharpness was also pleasing.
In low light conditions, pictures from the main camera quickly become very grainy and therefore appear blurry.
Videos can be recorded in HD format.
The quality is good: even in dark areas, details are still recognizable; exposure quickly adapts to new conditions, only from time to time you need to manually adjust the focus.
The front camera, 5 megapixels, takes fairly sharp pictures.
Exposure is good, but detail is quickly lost in lighter areas. The front camera can also record Full HD video, and the quality here is also excellent.
Sharpness is good; The lens adjusts quickly and the dynamics are decent. Zoom step can be changed in one click
After testing the main camera under controlled lighting conditions in our test lab, the rating is Good.
The emphasis is deliberate, right, since the image only has one level of depth.
However, text in front of a colored background is always accompanied by small colored edges. At the edges of the image, the clarity is clearly lower.
Colors are reproduced slightly lighter than in reality.
Examples of photos on LG K8
Accessories and Warranty
Unlike the K10 (2017), the K8 does not include headphones. A charger and USB cable are included.
LG's website does not include additional accessories.
The manufacturer provides a 24-month warranty for LG K8 (2017).
Input and processing devices
The virtual keyboard developed by LG is perfectly supported by this device.
Anyone who prefers the standard Google app can download it for free from PlayMarket.
The touch screen is very well designed. In games you can control both corners and edges.
The menu buttons are on the screen, but can be hidden if desired.
The hardware buttons are located on the left side of the case.
And on the back cover under the camera there is a Standby button. The location is a little unusual, but after a while it becomes intuitive.
Naturally, there is a regime for people with special needs. Volume buttons can trigger special functions when pressed for a long time. For example, such functions include launching the camera.
Today we have a review of the interesting LG K8 2017 smartphone. What changes have the model undergone? Is it worth purchasing it today for the price offered (8,500 rubles)? This is what we will look into.
The smartphone is packed in a gray cardboard box with the model inscribed on it. Inside lies:
- A gadget where the main advantages are indicated on the transport film: 13 and 5 megapixel cameras, curved 2.5d glass and 4g LTE support.
- Instructions and warranty card.
- 1A charger.
- MicroUSB cable for connecting to a computer and charging.
The package does not include headphones, so if you need them, you will have to purchase them separately. But if you look at it another way, missing headphones are better than cheap, terrible quality headphones that no one ever uses.
Appearance
The body of the Lji k8 2017 is made of plastic: black on the bottom, glossy silver on the sides and corrugated on the back. Thanks to the special structure of the back cover, the budget device will not slip in your hand and will not quickly get dirty. There are two colors to choose from: gold and indigo (blue-black).
The LG K8 2017 smartphone looks good.
On the front there is a 5-inch display and the company logo. Above the display there is a speaker and a front camera. On the left side there is a volume button. On the right, the manufacturer decided not to prescribe anything. At the bottom there is a MicroUSB port and a microphone. At the top is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
Let's move on to the back side. Here you can see the peephole of the main camera, an LED flash and a button to turn on, turn off and unlock the device, again the LG logo and a slot for the speaker at the bottom. The on/off button is shaped like a fingerprint scanner, but it's not here. Only the older K10 model has it.
The back cover of the LG K8 2017 is removable, which is an undoubted advantage. It fits rather rigidly, so, on the one hand, it is difficult to remove, but on the other hand, it will not open if the gadget falls. Below it are:
- Lithium-ion battery 2500 mAh.
- Two slots for NanoSim.
- Separate slot for MicroSD card for memory expansion.
Device dimensions:
- Height - 147 millimeters;
- Width - 73 millimeters;
- Thickness - 8.2 millimeters;
- Weight - 148 grams.
Screen
The public sector display has an IPS matrix. The 5-inch display has HD resolution, that is, 1280 by 720 pixels with 294 pixels per inch. The screen material is protected Gorilla Glass 3. Multi-touch supports 10 touches, at least that’s what the manufacturer says, but in fact only five. For some reason the device is no longer visible.
The display is bright with good viewing angles.
The buttons here are on-screen, and not pre-printed on the body.
Processor and operating system
The technical specifications are as follows:
- Mediatek MT6737 processor clocked at 1.3 GHz. This is a quad-core, 64-bit processor.
- Video accelerator Mali T720.
- RAM - 1.5 GB.
- Built-in memory is 16 GB, but about 9 GB will be available to the user. Additional expansion is possible using a card up to 32 GB.
In synthetic tests, the smartphone shows the following results:
- GeekBanch 4,551 single-core score and 1,505 multi-core score. The video accelerator test shows 1064 points.
- AntutuBanchmark scores 29,793 points.
The above are just test scores, but how does the LG k8 x240 perform in real games? If we take as a basis such a heavyweight as Asphalt 8, which requires a lot of resources from the device. At maximum settings, of course, there are quite strong slowdowns, but when lowered, you get pretty steely fps.
The gadget runs Android 6.0. There are no complaints about the operation, menus and applications open quickly without sticking. A huge advantage is the absence of a huge number of pre-installed programs.
Let's talk a little about the autonomy of the budget employee. A 2500 mAh battery is installed inside. The battery will last from morning to evening under medium loads, but you will still have to charge the device at night, like most modern Android devices.
Camera
The smartphone has two cameras: a 13 MP main camera and a 5 MP front camera.
The pictures taken with the main camera are quite good, but only if there is good lighting, in fact, almost like in any budget device. When shooting at night, graininess and blurriness appear. All this is expected.
This phone is positioned as a selfie phone, so the front camera is equipped with a wide-angle lens, so many people can fit into the picture. Plus, one of the features is automatic face retouching, that is, removing all irregularities. And to take a photo you need to clench and unclench your fist three times.
Bottom line
K8 is a re-release of a fairly popular smartphone from LG. LG K8 2017 is for those who are not very demanding of their gadget in terms of hardware, but still want to get good cameras, especially for selfies.
If you don’t trust smartphones from China, but want to take something proven, then the LG K8 is worth a closer look.
Video
Video review of the phone