Latest Mobile Phone from LG – LG Stylo 2 VS. Other Smartphones within the Same Price Range
The LG Stylo 2 is the latest mobile phone from LG. It was already in Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile in April 2016 and will be released in AT&T’s Cricket brand this month.
It can also be purchased as a prepaid smartphone if you don’t want to be tied up in a contract.
Last May 2015, LG released the LG G Stylo with a built-in stylus like the LG Stylo 2. What are the new features of the LG Stylo 2 compared to the last year’s version? How is it compared to the smartphones within the same price range?
Let’s find out.
Device Type: Smartphone
Display: 5.7 inches (720 x 1280 pixels)
Camera: 13MP
Hardware: Snapdragon 410, Quad-core 1.2 GHz, 2GB RAM
Battery: 3000 mAh
Price: US$ 169.99
New Features compared with LG G Stylo
Although the LG Stylo 2 is the same with the LG G Stylo in terms of display size, length, and width, it is thinner at only 7.4 mm. The LG G Stylo is 9.4 mm thick so the difference in thickness will be visually obvious. I personally like a thinner smartphone, how about you?
Aside from the thinner profile, it is also lighter at only 144.6 g compared to the 165.9 g of the G Stylo. You will also feel the difference and the inclination towards LG Stylo 2 if you hold them both.
The internal memory is now twice the size at 16 GB. It can now use up to 128 GB microSD which is significantly bigger than the 32 GB microSD card capacity of the G Stylo. I frequently download movies and similar videos in my smartphone and 32 GB is not enough.
Sometimes, I have to delete and transfer new videos often to my laptop and it’s a little inconvenient. So this is an excellent feature for me.
Not only the internal memory got a double boost, but also the RAM. The LG Stylo 2 has a 2 GB RAM which will allow you to smoothly multitask more apps or run apps and games that require a higher RAM.
The rear camera resolution also increased to 13MP which is a lot better than the 8MP camera of the G Stylo. If you like to take pictures most of the time with your friends and loved ones, a higher camera resolution will definitely provide better quality images for your precious moments.
Similar Features with the LG G Stylo
Like the LG G Stylo, the LG Stylo 2 also has a built-in stylus which is a feature normally found in more expensive smartphones. That is a good plus if you like writing notes using your smartphone.
The best thing is that it has a huge 5.7-inch display which is the same display size in Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, so you have more display area to write comfortably.
It is also LTE-capable, with the same LTE bands and LTE speed (LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps). It is important that you get an LTE-capable phone even for a mid-range smartphone if you like to download files and stream videos faster.
The IPS LCD display technology is still in use. This display technology is more superior than TFT display technology and it is even being used in the LG G5, the latest best smartphone of LG.
The 5.7-inch display is still at HD resolution with the same sharpness (258 pixels per inch).
It now runs on the latest Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). Note that the LG G Stylo is also upgradeable to the latest Android OS.
The chipset is still decent enough to be able to have a good Android experience. Since it has the same chipset with the LG G Stylo, the CPU speed and the graphics processor are the same.
Both smartphones can record Full HD videos using the rear or front cameras. They also have the same 5MP camera for your selfies.
The battery capacity is still at 3000 mAh so expect almost the same battery life. The battery is removable which is a nice feature to have. You can easily replace the battery when its performance becomes below average after a few years of use.
It also has the same acceleration and proximity sensors. They also both come in black color only, but I expect more color choices in the coming months.
Any downgrade?
Well, the LG Stylo 2 has no FM radio, unlike the LG G Stylo.
Comparison with Smartphones within the Same Price Range
Let’s compare the LG Stylo 2 with the best smartphones within the same price range such as the 5.5-inch Lenovo K3 Note and Lenovo A7000.
These smartphones are currently two out of the ten 10 best smartphones under US$200.
One of the advantages of the LG Stylo 2 is still the built-in stylus.
Although the Lenovo K3 Note can use a separately purchased stylus, a built-in stylus is still better to ensure utmost compatibility and the quality of screen response when you write.
The Lenovo K3 Note has a Full HD display with 401 pixels per inch. This means that the display of Lenovo K3 Note is 55% sharper than the LG Stylo 2 with only an HD display. The Lenovo A7000 almost has the same display quality with the LG Stylus 2.
All three smartphones use IPS LCD display technology.
In terms of processing power, the Lenovo K3 Note and A7000 has the same 2GB RAM. This is the highest RAM you can get with a US$200 budget.
The K3 Note is powered by a Mediatek chipset with Octa-core 1700 MHz while the Lenovo A700 has a Mediatek Octa-core 1500 MHz.
The LG Stylo 2 has the same 13MP with the Lenovo K3 Note, and both can record Full HD videos. They both have a higher resolution compared of the Lenovo A7000. All three have a 5MP front camera. So the quality of the camera of LG Stylo 2 is the best you can get for a US$200 budget.
Storage space may also be one your concerns. The Lenovo K3 Note and A7000 can only use up to 32GB of microSD card, so the LG Stylo 2 can still have the largest storage capacity with its up to 128 GB microSD card slot.
Despite having a larger 5.7-inch display, the LG Stylo 2 is slightly thinner than the two. It is also slightly lighter than the Lenevo K3 Note and has almost the same weight with the Lenovo A7000.
Conclusion
The LG Stylo 2 is an excellent smartphone for a US$200 budget. It has a built-in stylus which is a feature normally found in more expensive smartphones. It has several improvements compared to last year’s LG G Stylo like an improved camera, much larger storage space, higher RAM, and thinner and lighter profile.
It can also compete with the best smartphones under US$200 in terms of processing power, RAM, camera resolution, and storage capacity. It is certainly worth every penny.