LG Candy smartphone - advantages and disadvantages

On September 1, 2018, the South Korean company LG presented its next brainchild with the unusual name Candy, which means "candy". The smartphone has joined the line of budget devices, combining an interesting design and useful stuffing. Candy sales began in the Indian market, but will gradually expand to other countries.

A bit of history

Since 2001, LG Electronics has started producing color display phones and has been very successful in this over the years of brand development. LG was the first in the world in 2011 to release a phone with a 3D screen that does not require glasses to use, called the LG Optimus 3D model.

A year earlier, in 2010, the popularity of the LG Optimus One P-500 broke all sales records around the world, exceeding 50 million units sold. In 2012, the company made a splash again when it signed a contract with PRADA, and the new LG Prada 3.0 was released. All devices were released based on the Android operating system.

The company is world famous not only for mobile phones, but also for household appliances, LCD and plasma TVs, digital devices, car sound systems, air purifiers, air conditioning systems and many other products.

But in this article we will learn about the new LG Candy, identify the advantages, disadvantages and general characteristics in the process of acquaintance.

Design and features

Appearance

The smartphone has a stylish and sophisticated design, fits comfortably in the hand, does not try to slip out of the palm. The back cover is made of textured plastic, pleasant to the touch.

In order for the smartphone to fully justify its name "candy", the kit includes several colored panels - black, gold, silver and blue.

In the box, each phone is in a basic black color, but now every user will have the opportunity to choose the back cover of the device according to their mood, style or weather outside. Four different panels in the kit are a pleasant and unexpected bonus for customers.

The power button is located on the back of the smartphone. This is a very good solution, it will be easy to get used to this arrangement. There should be no false presses in your pocket or bag.

The back of the device houses a speaker, flash and camera. Under the back cover there is a slot for a Micro SD card and two slots for SIM cards.

On the left side of the device there are volume buttons. On the bottom is a USB charging port, and on the top is a 3.5 mm headphone jack. and a noise reduction sensor.

This model has a USB Type-c connector. It's nice, but strange and surprising for a device in this price range.

Screen

The display in the smartphone is as cheap as possible. It is unpleasant that the oleophobic coating is applied either very weakly or not at all. Prints appear quickly and are very difficult to erase, and in the sun it is possible to see what is written on the screen only with great effort. It is not comfortable.

The screen-to-body ratio is 64.21%.In most devices from competitive brands, the screen area is approximately 70-90% of the device size. Not too bad, but you can't write it down into dignity either. The diagonal of the screen is 5 inches, the resolution is 720 by 1280 pixels; matrix IPS, and pixel density 294PPI. The brightness of the display is not high, but the colors and shades are all natural.

One-handed operation is easy and hassle-free. As a plus, the screen can be added that it is convenient for reading books, the eyes do not hurt or get tired.
The screen is small, the resolution is low. Sadly, both Xiaomi and Meizu will easily bypass this model in all respects for the same price.

The giant frames at the top and bottom are also very upsetting - in a smartphone of 2018 it looks at least strange.

Main and front camera

The camera app has a pop-up tips feature that lets you take multiple photos at once and automatically stitch them together for the best shots. The rear camera has an 8MP module, the front camera has a 5MP module. Aperture f / 2.2. There is autofocus, the ability to detect faces and adjust the white balance.

The photos are good, but there is no need to expect “transcendental” details from the built-in cameras.

From competitive brands of mobile devices, the shooting quality can be compared with Xiaomi Red Mi 4a.
An example of how to take pictures during the day:

An example of how to take pictures at night:

It shoots videos mediocre, as you might expect from a smartphone in the budget segment, in this area the device has nothing to brag about. Video shooting speed 30 frames per second, maximum resolution 1280 by 720px.

When using the front camera, if the lighting is poor, you can turn on the face light function using the display. This will help you take high-quality selfies even if you have problems with good light. You can also take pictures with the help of gestures - you just have to give a command and after three seconds automatic shooting will begin. If you squeeze your palm twice, you get four shots.

As soon as the photo session is over, a notification will appear on the screen, prompting you to post this photo or video on social networks.

The smartphone has an automatic shooting function. You don't have to press the camera button, you just need to take a comfortable position and the phone will take a picture by itself. You can use the HDR mode to improve the clarity and detail of images.

To launch the camera, just press the volume rocker key, and the application for shooting will start in quick mode. The cameras are at a decent average level, but of course there are not enough stars from the sky.

External speaker and headphone sound

Powerful enough external speaker. When listening, the upper frequencies do not ring, and the lower ones sound flawlessly. Incoming calls will delight you with clear and loud sound, which is perfectly audible even if there is a busy and noisy street around the user.

The sound in the headphones is also loud, juicy and voluminous. True, there is a minus in that the headphones will have to be purchased separately, since the manufacturer did not include them in the package.

But the device has support for an FM radio. This is a very nice feature. You can enjoy your favorite radio stations wherever you want, as long as there is enough battery power.

The main thing is not to put your smartphone on a soft surface - otherwise, problems with sound will be provided. During a conversation, the sound quality is very good, the interlocutor is perfectly heard even in strong gusts of wind.

Processor and speed

The smartphone received a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 quad-core processor with a clock frequency of 1300 MHz. The Adreno 304 chip is responsible for the graphics.

The built-in memory in the smartphone is only 16GB, but it can be expanded using Micro SD cards up to 2TB. But how smooth and fast the LG Candy will work if you install a card with 2 terabytes of memory remains a mystery.

The performance is not record-breaking, but if you remember that the smartphone belongs to budget devices, then this is quite normal. Paying attention to the characteristics, it becomes clear that this device will not break records in functionality and performance, but it does not pursue such goals and does not apply to flagships.

The budget device is well suited for making calls, texting in messengers, reading information on the Internet. But, unfortunately, it is unlikely that it will be fun to play on LG Candy for a long time - a smartphone cannot be called a gaming smartphone, even slightly exaggerating.

It will be possible to spend a lunch break, passing a couple of levels in light games, but you will need to remember about the safety of the battery charge - it is not great here.

The results in the synthetic test Antutu Benchmark are more than modest. This is to be expected. The device scores only 26,305 points. A smartphone is suitable for active games only if the user does not aim at the most cumbersome of them, such as Real Rasing 3, Vainglory or Modern Combat 5. To test and enjoy these toys, you need a more powerful device.

Operating system and interface

The smartphone comes with the Android 7 Nougat operating system "on board", which is even indecent by the end of 2018. If there are expectations that it will soon update to Android 8 Oreo, and then to the next released version - while such hopes should be abandoned, there have been no information from the manufacturers about the upcoming system updates.

The interface is decorated with the proprietary LG UI. A huge plus of this shell is its intuitive operation, beautiful application icons and an optimized multitasking function with a convenient split screen. The touchscreen buttons can be easily removed in the settings if they interfere with the user.

There is a nice thoughtful feature that enlarges the keyboard and makes the font larger. If the phone is purchased, for example, for parents (which is often the case in the segment of budget smartphones), then this feature will be appreciated.

There is no fingerprint scanner, but you can unlock and lock the phone in an equally convenient way, simply by tapping on it twice.

Autonomy

The first autonomy feature of this device is, of course, a removable battery. In 2018, manufacturers rarely leave the battery removable, but there are advantages to this, and in addition to the ability to change the design by changing the body panels. For example, when going on a hike or fishing, you can take a spare battery with you and not be afraid to be left without communication at the most inopportune moment.

The battery built into the phone has a capacity of 2500 mAh. Compared to competitors, this is very modest, the charge lasts a maximum of a day with average use. In game mode, the smartphone will live for three hours. With active interaction with the device, in the afternoon you will need to look for an outlet.

Talk time in EDGE networks will be 8 hours and standby time - 320 hours. On 3G networks, you can talk up to 7 hours, and the waiting time will be reduced to 250 hours.

The device lacks support for fast and wireless charging.

Equipment

Package Included:

1. Telephone;
2. Battery;
3. Instruction;
4. Charger;
5. Micro-USB cable for connecting to a computer;
6. Replaceable panels on the back of the case.

Unfortunately, there is no wired headset included.

Specifications

The table shows the main characteristics of the model:

Price

At the start of sales, the smartphone was presented with a starting price of $ 100.

If translated into Russian rubles, it means that the cost will start from 6,803 rubles. A very good amount for a smartphone, which is positioned as a budget model. But don't forget that prices are subject to change.

Pros and cons

After a brief overview, it is already possible to highlight the positive and negative aspects of the model.

• Sleek body;
• The display is comfortable to read;
• A function that allows you to share a photo immediately after shooting;
• Two slots for SIM cards;
• Separate slot for Micro SD memory card;
• Removable battery and back panel;
• Front-camera;
• FM radio;
• 3.5mm jack. for headphones.

• Battery capacity;
• The amount of built-in memory;
• It is difficult to get cards out of the slot without effort;
• No NFC module;
• There is no event indicator;
• No fingerprint scanner.

Outcome

LG Candy is suitable for those users who need a smartphone with a basic set of smart functions: Internet, GPS, calls, social networks, and more. If you are not attached to a certain brand, and you want more functionality, then Xiaomi or Meizu will offer a more powerful device for the same money.