LG GPad 8.3

[MRU]

Well I picked up one of these today and my initial impressions are mixed.

The device has some serious performance issues that it shouldn't. Games like Rayman run at around 10 fps. LG skin is so heavy and very Asian market style. The built in themes are all seemingly for 6 year olds.

On the bright side the screen is great and has great viewing angles, and the rear speakers too are very good.

The build is pretty good overall, the plastic above the slim aluminum back is very cheap plastic looking though.

I like the overall size of the device and its very light.

LGs skin is way too heavy fisted, will have to install nova.

Battery is disappointing with about 6 hours.

I will likely be selling this in a few weeks time or look to trade it for a nexus 5 16Gb

 

[AAPLinc]

So its another tablet that costs $120 more than the Nexus 7 but doesn't cut it?

If the Nexus 7 was 8", it would reign the tablet market even more. Until its 8", I'll continue to stay with the Nexus 7. For the price it can't be beat. Wonder what will come next year. Usually I keep devices for 2 years but the N7 price is so cheap that upgrading yearly doesn't seem like a bad idea.

The gpad was that tablet that made me wonder if I should have got it instead, I guess you put my curiosity to rest. Probably better for someone to pick up Samsung's 8" Tab 3 if they are set on an 8" tablet?

 

[Alfuh]

Thanks for initial review.

I've been keeping an eye on that tablet and seeing lots of mixed reviews

I would guess once there are some custom ROMs available and the LG boost is out it could run a lot smoother... The hardware isn't absolute top of the line, but it should be very capable

Let us know what is the result to switching launchers and maybe trying to disable some LG crap

 

[nfl46]

Hey, thanks for picking up the Nexus 8, just kidding! Lol.

LG GPad 8.3 = Nexus 8
LG G2 = Nexus 5

That sucks about the battery, though!

 

[Sensamic]

I was waiting for this tablet but today I tried the LG G2 for the first time on a store and didn't like it. I assume the software is the same on the G Pad.

The LG G2 had a lot a lag, which is surprising considering its hardware. I tried the Note 3 again next to it and it was super smooth.

So I guess I will be back to the Nexus 7 (or the upcoming 10 maybe).

It's a shame there aren't many good android tablets to choose. For me it's only the Nexus tablets or nothing.

EDIT: Is there any android tablet that has more than 6 hours screen on time battery life? I haven't seen any.

 

[MRU]

Yep even games like Dead Trigger 2 are 'noticeably' laggy .... They were fine on the Nexus 7 2013.

The audio quality and screen are great, but heck the OS is WAY TOO in your face with animations and the stock icons are just plain ugly. Thank god for NOVA.

There are some really nice / cool things - but they are buried beneath a layer of thickly animated - poorly designed - and slightly laggy or choppiness ....

Seriously I really don't like iOS 7 - my buying an iPad Air and giving it to a relative after a few hours is testament to that - but if this is the state of competition for the iPad Mini Retina 8" then Android really needs to step up to the gate because I just could not recommend this tablet to anyone right now sadly.

This tablet will be sold ..... I can foresee the future

 

[Dave.UK]

The LG G2 had a lot a lag, which is surprising considering its hardware. I tried the Note 3 again next to it and it was super smooth.

Thats not normal. Ive got yhr LG G2 and it flies. No lag at all and super fast.

 

[MRU]

Thats not normal. Ive got yhr LG G2 and it flies. No lag at all and super fast.

Yep the LG G2 uses Snapdragon 800 I believe with the Adreno 330, the GPad runs a Snapdragon 600 with a Krait chip of some description.....

 

[MRU]

Well I have sold it ...

 

[AAPLinc]

Well I have sold it ...

Thanks for the review. I honestly was kind of upset when I found out about the Gpad because I had just bought the Nexus 7.

I'm glad you found it to be a bit underwhelming. Seems a bit overpriced, too.

 

[AppleRobert]

Anyone else try this tablet lately especially with the Newegg cyber Monday price?

 

[Fireblade]

Thats not normal. Ive got yhr LG G2 and it flies. No lag at all and super fast.

+1

After owning the S4 for 6 months, I switched to the G2 a week ago.
The S4 was smooth with 4.3, but the G2 is even smoother, and in general an awesome device.

 

[MRU]

Anyone else try this tablet lately especially with the Newegg cyber Monday price?

I just wouldn't personally recommend it - but maybe I just had a bad one.

 

[AppleRobert]

I just wouldn't personally recommend it - but maybe I just had a bad one.

I don't see this as competition for the iPad Retina Mini. I'd look at other tablets on the Android side to measure it to in its form factor.

I do see some discounts for tablets this holiday season IMHO though on the android side as things need to shake out. May be worth it to see how things develop in the next few weeks though there is an extended return policy in place presently.

 

[Alfuh]

I've got one on the way with the Newegg Cyber Monday sale ... I also ended up getting a manufacturer refurbed N7 (2013).

I'm going to play around with both of them and decide which to keep.

I really want to like the GPad on account of the 8.3" screen and sd slot, but everything I've been reading lately seems to put the N7 out ahead of it and still the Android tablet to beat.

I'll post impressions when I can.

PS There is a dev working on a CM11 port for it ... there is already a safe root method (not kingo) as well as custom recovery. It could turn out quite promising

 

[undertaken316]

In my opinion this is the best alternative to an iPad mini. Period.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n01kHbWwSuc

 

[narutoninjakid]

In terms of Android tablets I personally would take the LG over the nexus 7 2013. Plus with all the horror stories about the nexus in terms of software and hardware/multi touch issues I would go with the LG. Anyway to each his own. OP i think you got a bad one.

 

[MRU]

. OP i think you got a bad one.

Maybe, but I have no regrets after selling it and picking up a retina mini instead.

 

[Sensamic]

Maybe, but I have no regrets after selling it and picking up a retina mini instead.

Do you find the colors worse as they say?

 

[MRU]

Do you find the colors worse as they say?

No I don't.

In our house we have the iPad Air and iPad retina and whilst yes there is less saturation of colour when side by side but on its own I honestly see no real difference between the myriad of other devices I've bought this year.

The difference as best I can describe is like using a Samsung note 3 or s4 and having display set to vivid/dynamic, and then changing it to professional photo. It's noticeable difference but some users prefer the less vibrant pro setting.

I have no yellow tint issues either. Whites look the same on my note 3 as they do on my mini.

And generally performance is really great.

For me personally the Note 3 as a phone and the iPad retina mini as my tablet feels the best combination for all my needs.

I find it a far better tablet than the Nexus 7 or LG Gpad i gave bought and used this year.

The nexus 7 2013 IMHO is a better tablet than the LG though.

 

[narutoninjakid]

Maybe, but I have no regrets after selling it and picking up a retina mini instead.

True lol I myself have an iPad air I just want to have an android tablet on the side.

 

[rezenclowd3]

Problem is it has the Snapdragon 600 vs the 800 in the G2, with an atrocious overlay that costs too much.

 

[gotluck]

if only lg would ship their products with stock android
would probably be less expense for them and they'd sell more

learn from moto please!

 

[MRU]

if only lg would ship their products with stock android
would probably be less expense for them and they'd sell more

learn from moto please!

Yeah stock android would have made a big difference. The interface LG embellishes on the device is just way OTT even compared to the worst excesses of touchwiz.

 

[Sensamic]

Yeah stock android would have made a big difference. The interface LG embellishes on the device is just way OTT even compared to the worst excesses of touchwiz.

So now that the G Pad 8.3 GE has been announced, what do you think? Would you recommend it after your experience considering now it has stock Android? Was the hardware good? Speakers and screen?