If you are looking for a cheap phone we recommend that you see this analysis of the LG K10, a terminal that aims to be one of the best mid-range smartphones thanks to a 4-core processor next to a 5.3″ screen with HD resolution and 2.5D glass, as well as a 13 MP main camera.
LG renews its input range
After a certain time worrying more about the most advanced models, LG shows us that it does not forget the models that managed to popularize the brand in the smartphone segment and proof of this is the model that we have in hand.
This analysis of the LG K10 shows us a phone without great pretensions, but with a friendly aesthetic, with finishes and features that we were already used to seeing in the terminals of the brand, and with specifications that although they are quite modest, promises to meet the basic needs that we all require in a smartphone.
A priori, the price of the LG K10 is very competitive, where we can get it in online stores like Amazon for about 150 euros. But of course, we must take into account the fierce competition that has come in the mid-range segment, where many rivals compete to gain a foothold in a saturated product market. So what does the LG K10 offer to be chosen over others?
On paper, the features of the LG K10 are not far from its competition, although they do not stand out in any section, with a Snapdragon 410 processor next to 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, in addition to a screen of 5.3 inches. This review of the LG K10 will reveal us if the official smartphone of the Spanish football team achieves better results than this in the last Euro 2016.
Bet on plastic
Having this smartphone in your hand is as if you haven’t spent your time at LG. But not in a bad way. Both the shapes and design of the LG K10 are perfectly recognizable and identifiable with what has been seen in the brand, although it has elements that are as fashionable right now as 2.5D glass.
This offers a curvature in its edges that makes it an extension of the plastic edge painted in a glossy black. Because it has to be said that if we want a smartphone with metal chassis, this will not be our choice.
Despite this, its shapes feel very good in the hand, with a curvature at the edges that facilitates grip. In total, it is 146.6 by 74.8 mm wide and long, along with a thickness of 9.09 mm. It’s a pretty compact size for a 5.3″ smartphone. The weight is 153 grams, in the line of terminals with similar screen size.
From the front we go directly to the back, since as usual in the last LG terminals, we do not find any buttons on any of its sides, although if we find at the bottom the micro USB connection next to the audio jack to connect the headphones.
The aforementioned buttons are located in the back just below the main camera of 13 MP, where we have the power button in the center next to the two volume control buttons, being able to use the bottom to take photographs, quite comfortable especially if we take them with one hand.
This back is made of plastic with a nylon-like texture, and a finish that offers a good level of grip as well as being pleasant to the touch.
Here, in addition to the LG logo presiding in the center, we have the main speaker located at the bottom of the lid and thanks to the curvature of this allows to be heard even if we have the phone supported.
We can not forget that the LG K10 can remove the back cover, where we can access the removable battery, the slot for the nano SIM card and the micro SD that can reach 32 GB of storage.
5.3 inches give for a lot
Halfway between a phablet and a smartphone, the screen of the LG K10 with 5.3″ places it in an advantageous place with respect to 5″ terminals, since this screen increase has not been noticeably reflected in the exterior dimensions.
Hd resolution with 1280 by 720 pixels is nothing new, and the vast majority of mobiles in this range also have this resolution, while some already go up to Full HD. The difference is not abysmal, but with 277 pixels per inch we can realize that there is a difference in sharpness in the image.
Its IPS panel features in cell touch technology that allows to offer a thinner panel structure to favor the resistance and quality of the screen. The color representation it gets is pretty good overall, as is the contrast. This is probably accentuated by slightly below viewing angles than we expected from an IPS panel, which causes some darkening of the image when we’re not seeing the phone directly.
The brightness of this screen also does not stand out, staying in the average of the category. Outdoors it is advisable to set the brightness above 50% if we want to have an acceptable visual quality.
He can do anything
We have no surprises about the hardware built into the LG K10. Or maybe it is. Because for this terminal we use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, which has 4 cores that reach a maximum frequency of 1.2 GHz. The funny thing is that it does not have the updated version of it, the Snapdragon 412, which do equip some models like the bq Aquaris X5.
Used to seeing 6-core and 8-core processors on this type of terminal, using a processor like this may be a certain disadvantage in terms of the performance of the LG K10. This comes with 1.5 GB of RAM, an unusual amount, as many of its rivals already integrate a minimum of 2 GB.
In any case we are talking about a basic processor that has a fair performance in view of the results obtained in the benchmarks, and that place it behind many other models with superior processors.
But as other terminals have shown us, the combination of this processor with a screen with a fairer resolution achieves good results in terms of fluidity in the system and with the most demanding games.
Nor will we say that the processor can do it all, and sometimes, especially when in load times or when working with multiple applications in the background, the power limitations appear in the form of slight slowdowns.
Round with Lollipop
Marshmallow has long since landed, but this system is not being rolled out on all smartphones that appear on the market, as is the case with the LG K10. Here we continue to have the old well-known Android Lollipop 5.1, although as usual in LG, it has its own layer of customization.
At the aesthetic level it is not too far from what we can find in other LG models, having a very simple interface, quite close to the stock version, although with its peculiarities.
The settings menu continues with the aesthetics of the 4 tabs for networks, sound and notifications, screen and general. Here we can see that this smartphone despite going to the mid-range, also has features such as the Quick Cover View, where thanks to LG’s official Smart cover, where we do not have the circle located in the center but a sidebar where we can consult notifications or answer calls.
At the customization level it does not have many applications pre-installed, in fact very few applications own lg, and all of them can be uninstalled except for LG backup, an application with which we can quickly and easily back up via NFC or other means, as we mentioned earlier in this .
Above-average photographs
At the level of numbers, this LG K10 does not surprise us in any section, and has already established in this sector, with a main camera of 13 megapixels and a front camera of 5 megapixels.
We do not have any other information regarding the camera specifications of the LG K10, or as regards the sensor model or the characteristics of the sensor, although this is also quite common in this segment.