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If you like the Galaxy Note 4, this is why you'll love the LG V10

lg v10 camera 2
© nextpit

The Galaxy Note 4 is a much-loved phablet. I even suggested recently that it might be the last great Samsung phone. The LG V10 is a high-performance handset and it offers a very similar experience to the Note 4. If you’re a fan of the Note 4, this is why I think you will love the LG V10.

AndroidPIT LG V10 8
Like the Galaxy Note 4? Here's why you'll love the LG V10. / © ANDROIDPIT

It has a 5.7-inch QHD display and 16 MP camera

Why would this appeal to those who like the Galaxy Note 4? Because the V10 houses the very same display and camera specs as Samsung's beloved device. The only difference is that they are even better on the LG V10.

LG is known for producing great displays, on TV sets as well as smartphones. In 2015, LG solidified its reputation for excellent camera hardware too, starting with the G Flex 2 and following up with the LG G4.

AndroidPIT LG V10 10
Unlike the Note 4's AMOLED panel, the V10 has an LCD display. / © ANDROIDPIT

LG's quality in this sphere is apparent once again on the LG V10. It captures bright and sharp pictures with its front and rear cameras, and its manual mode options are unparalleled. The V10 is the best camera LG has to offer.

And not only does the V10 give you a similar 5.7-inch display to the Note 4, it also has an additional display with extra functionality. Sure, you don't get the S Pen experience with the V10, but the shortcuts and convenience that the second display adds might make up for this.  

If you were interested in the Note 4 because it had a large, luscious display and strong camera, the V10 is sure to catch your eye too. 

AndroidPIT LG V10 1
LG's 2015 flagships have had amazing camera performance. / © ANDROIDPIT

It has expandable storage and a removable battery

Two things sorely missed from the Galaxy Note 5 are expandable storage options and a removable battery. For this reason, many people still prefer the Note 4.

Not only does the LG V10 support microSD cards, it's one of the few devices that supports them up to 200 GB capacity. What may interest Note 4 enthusiasts even more is that the V10 has a removable battery.

Admittedly, battery life isn't the LG V10's strongest point, but the ability to take the battery out and quickly replace it with another cell goes some way towards making up for this – as does the fact that you can fully charge it in around one hour.  

If you've ever bemoaned the lack of the memory expansion and removable battery in most 2015 flagships, the V10 could be the device for you. 

lg v10 battery
The LG V10's removable battery sets it apart from Samsung's 2015 lineup. / © ANDROIDPIT

It’s even more powerful 

The LG V10 has a faster processor and even more RAM than the Galaxy Note 4. There is more to raw performance than specs, of course, but with a Snapdragon 808 processor and 4 GB of RAM, the V10 is every bit as capable as the Note 4.

It’s even tougher

The V10 is a durable device. It's 16 g heavier than the Galaxy Note 4, but no thicker – OK, 0.1 mm thicker – meaning it has a slim body, but plenty of strength provided by its steel edges, silicone bumpers and shock-resistant design. In addition, it has more grip than the Note 4 – its textured rear makes it less likely to slip out of your hands.  

lg v10 side 2
Notice the stainless steel edges of the LG V10. / © ANDROIDPIT

The LG V10 has the same spirit as the Note 4, but has the potential to be even better. S Pen aside, the LG V10 offers almost everything the Galaxy Note 4 does and improves on it. You could even say it is the successor that the Galaxy Note 5 should have been.

Do you agree that the LG V10 will appeal to fans of the Galaxy Note 4? Will you be buying on? Let us know in the comments.

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Scott Adam Gordon

Scott Adam Gordon
Editor

Originally from the UK, Scott graduated in Popular Music Studies at Newcastle University and attributes much of his success there to his beloved Samsung Galaxy S2. His current aim is to write cool things about Android. And he loves it.

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  • 1
    Jon Meisman Dec 7, 2016 Link to comment

    I have had the Note 4 for about a year.....I love everything about it, it has a great camera, and its fast, also noting the sPen. But i have noticed it lagging, I check the settings on how much RAM im using, and without having any apps running in the background i only have 1.6 Gigs to use, with the V10 I would get an extra gig to use. I do use the sPen a lot but I feel like I need the extra gig of ram more than a sPen. I can always use a normal stylus, though not as good and precise as the sPen, it gets the job done. The manual camera controls on the v10 is what is swaying me. Im a photographer, and i am able to use the photos taken from my note 4 and use most of them, but im limited in my camera options on my note 4. With the v10, im able to do so much more with the camera. Im getting a v10 for the extra RAM, the camera, and thats pretty much it. Im going to miss my sPen, but thats pretty much it.
    The V10 clashes with the note 5 with specs, but the V10 has the removable battery, and expandable storage, (and IR blaster, not to important to me) This was the origional reason i got the note 4 instead of the 5. So if im able to get a phone with relatively same specs with the note 5, and has the best parts of the note 4 (minus sPen) im going with the V10


  • Tekky B Nerdy Nay 2
    Tekky B Nerdy Nay Dec 13, 2015 Link to comment

    Samsung, why no more IR blaster on the new note? S6 and S6 Edge has it and note is supposed to be the higher model...


  • Tekky B Nerdy Nay 2
    Tekky B Nerdy Nay Dec 13, 2015 Link to comment

    The only thing I'd like to see on the LG V10 would be a notification led... I know it has that small second screen and all but, I don't know know how I feel about it


  • 6
    Robert Shockley Nov 29, 2015 Link to comment

    I certainly would not trade my Note 4 for a V10, but I fell in love with it because the S6 wasn't practical for me and the Note 4 was 2 out of 3 compared to the S5. To add to my previous post for the way that I use the Note my files and photos, videos and minimum Apps to do what I do take up most of the 32 and added 64 of memory. I live in the country the cloud would be expensive as well as obtrusive. The camera on this phone has the improvements of the S6 and Note5, plus the one's that they still lack. I purchased Samsung spare battery case from the get go. I use it every day to get the best out of this mobile computing platform. If Samsung dose not pay attention to this phone for the Note 6. I BELIEVE THAT MYSELF AND MANY OTHER WILL BE LOOKING AT THE 2ND VERSION OF THIS PHONE. That would mean that my Family may all be switching back to LG after 8 years of Samsung...

    Tekky B Nerdy NayWilson Bradley


    • Tekky B Nerdy Nay 2
      Tekky B Nerdy Nay Dec 13, 2015 Link to comment

      Agreed. Samsung should have retained the removable back on their note series. They took away three things that I like, IR blaster, removable/upgradeable battery, and microSD card slot... Those things combined with everything thing else Samsung Galaxy Note series had to offer really had their Note line hard to beat...


  • Seabass 5
    Seabass Nov 29, 2015 Link to comment

    .


  • Matthew 8
    Matthew Nov 29, 2015 Link to comment

    No S Pen? No go. I love my Galaxy Note 5 after owning a Galaxy Note 2 since it came out. Super fast. Stop whining about a removable battery and SD card. My battery lasts all day and recharges FAST. I have plenty of storage. But no S Pen, NO GO!

    Stephen Walker


    • Stephen Walker 2
      Stephen Walker Nov 29, 2015 Link to comment

      Hi Matthew,
      I agree about the pen. I love my Note 4, and the pen is crucial to its appeal. For me, Samsung are now slaves to Apple design, assuming if their phones are like Apple they will nick their custom. For me, it's vive la difference. I moved from Apple to Samsung with the Note 2 because it was different, and offered much more customisation. But a removable battery and SD card? It all depends whether those are important. When I'm miles away from anywhere, including the Cloud, taking spare batteries and all my maps and music on a 128GB stick is the business. So I have just replaced my old Note 4 with... another Note 4. The LG V10 looks great Scott, apart from the crucial SPen...
      PS We can't get Note 5 here in the UK at the moment, even if we wanted it!

      Matthew


      • Seabass 5
        Seabass Nov 29, 2015 Link to comment

        ...In Canada we get the Note 5, but it only comes in 32GB !?!? haha. It's completely crippled @ that size, the build decisions Samsung has made is really quite baffling. The one model (Note 5) that would benefit most from storage is severely limited. Pure stupidity, guess they're thinking they'll make $$ on their cloud solution as the answer. No thanks. lol. Love my Note 4. The 4 things that don't attract me to the LG V10 over the Note 4 is not having the SPen, it being 16gms heavier, thicker & LCD screen not Amoled. So, battery won't last as long either. Nice try LG. No sale.


    • Tekky B Nerdy Nay 2
      Tekky B Nerdy Nay Dec 13, 2015 Link to comment

      I can kind of deal with out replacing the battery but, I really wanted note 5 to have IR blaster and a memory card slot... But, I've even been moving some of my media to cloud storage and that's fine. Now I want the note 5 to have IR blaster lol... It's too late, phone has been out for a while now...


  • 2
    Mona H Nov 27, 2015 Link to comment

    I've had the Note 4 since it came out and just got the LG V10. I like it. I've been going back and forth via a T-Mobile adapter for the SIM card. Just decided to keep the V10.

    I do miss the s- Pen but very disappointed in Samsung's decision on the Note 5. I must have a removable battery and SD card so I'm giving LG many $$. First time since the Fascinate and I changed phones every 6 months until the Notes came out.

    Bad move Samsung. Hope LG doesn't follow removing these too!

    Tekky B Nerdy NaySeabass


  • Tage .T 8
    Tage .T Nov 27, 2015 Link to comment

    A'm soo happy,this phone is officially coming to Norway in January.Wow 3 sweet Lg phone's coming in 2016 Lg V10/Flex3 and G5 !

    Green


  • 6
    Greg Nov 27, 2015 Link to comment

    I use my phone for content creation, I need a hw keyboard or at least a Wacom pen. The LG doesn't have either = no go. Samsung messed up in 2015, let's hope they re-add expandability at least in their 2016 models.

    No rush, I went, and bought the Note 4 the day following the announcement of the "Note crippled 5".

    Tekky B Nerdy NaySeabass


  • 3
    Dallas Moore Nov 27, 2015 Link to comment

    so far loving my V10. the best part is it came with 64gb of internal storage and I got a free 200gb Micro sd card and extra battery from LG. that's what sold me on it.

    Tekky B Nerdy NayTage .T


    • Seabass 5
      Seabass Nov 28, 2015 Link to comment

      How'd you get a free 200GB MicroSD?, please do tell. :-)

      Tekky B Nerdy Nay


  • 1
    lunarlanding82 Nov 27, 2015 Link to comment

    I am very happy with my Note 5 and look forward to see what the Note 6 will have to offer.


  • 1
    Nick Sava Nov 27, 2015 Link to comment

    I'm coming from the Note 3 to the V10. I occasionally used the S pen on my Note 3. While not as good as having the pen, you are still able to screen write and take notes using your finger. The Note 4 would have been a great upgrade for my Note 3, but wanting a newly released device, the V10, and all the features it offers, was a much better fit for me than the Note 5.


    • Seabass 5
      Seabass Nov 28, 2015 Link to comment

      I may have upgraded to a Note 5...maybe, but the fact that the Canadian version is maxed out @ 32GB in size is kinda ridiculous. I need a 64GB anything to get stuff done. What the hell?!? ...sorry off topic a bit.


  • Antoine Swans 7
    Antoine Swans Nov 26, 2015 Link to comment

    The top three smartphones on the market has its followers. Apples oranges and bananas that's what it comes down to! I don't care for apples but i'm ok with the oranges and bananas. I've had Apple and Samsung phones before but my preference is LG. And yes i would definitely buy a Samsung before i would ever buy an Apple product. Would i trade in my LG for a Samsung? No because LG feels most comfortable to me, Apple is to its user and same for Samsung. Now if LG was to take away some of the features that I've grown to love and Samsung had them...then of course! No phone is that much better than the other what's different is your own opinion of the maker you trust. All phones will have glitches from time to time and my glitch is LG but i would never go around bashing Samsung or Apple for that matter.

    SeabassTage .TNick Sava


  • 6
    Robert Shockley Nov 26, 2015 Link to comment

    This phone has already caught my attention... I mostly write notes with my S pen. I love it's fine line. Occasionally I use the mouse function and IR. The camera and memory seem awesome on this phone. When I am ready to replace my Note 4, if Sammy hasn't fixed things on the Note 6 I will be looking at the 2nd version of this phone....... Any thoughts on getting the above mentioned functions on this phone...


  • Gloria Hackler 12
    Gloria Hackler Nov 26, 2015 Link to comment

    It doesn't come with the S Pen. End of the story.

    MatthewKong LingSeabass


  • Nancy Laub 2
    Nancy Laub Nov 26, 2015 Link to comment

    The main reason I love my note 4 is the s pen! I see no reason to switch to this.

    Kong Lingnightflyer2131


    • 16
      nightflyer2131 Nov 27, 2015 Link to comment

      Same here love my note 4 don't need a lg look alike my notes is still sweet as hell nothing so far can beat it it's done and doing the same things as the newer phones. The note 4 is still king by far ! By the way if it's so old why the heck does it cost so much still pls !

      Seabass


  • 7
    Pomacat Nov 26, 2015 Link to comment

    I bought the T-Mobil version and really like the phone coming from a Galaxy s5 that can't compare. I don't think the skin is any worse or better then the s5. This thing is very smooth and fast in every day use. I don't think you can go wrong here if you like a big phone.

    Scott Adam Gordon


  • 2
    Rick Nov 26, 2015 Link to comment

    The author seems unaware that the "Note" brand is named after the pen feature? Not the screen size or any of the other things mentioned in this uninformative article.

    Kong LingSeabass


    • Scott Adam Gordon 31
      Scott Adam Gordon Nov 26, 2015 Link to comment

      Yeah but how many people even care about the S Pen? From Samsung:

      "With the launch of the original Galaxy Note series in 2011, we created a whole new smart device category that set a new industry standard, which all others have followed. For our European customers, Samsung's portfolio will be centred on the Galaxy S6 edge+, so as to better cater to their needs."

      The Note 5 wasn't launched in Europe, and we can read "better cater to their needs" as "they don't want/like/use a stylus".

      If, like me, you like the features of Note 4 but don't use the stylus... what could appeal more than the LG V10? :)

      Antoine Swans


      • 3
        Mike Edsel Nov 27, 2015 Link to comment

        I had note 2,3 and 4 and I love the stylus especially when doing photoshop and editing pics on my phone. I love when some sites won't let you copy pics or words when you long click with finger but with the spen you can copy or select.

        Kong Ling


      • 6
        Greg Nov 27, 2015 Link to comment

        You are losing out if you ignore the phone's best asset. The Note is not for journalists, who swap their phone every 2 weeks. I can understand you never want to get used to the versatility the pen offers, because then you will not be able to use any other phone after.

        Kong Ling


  • Paolo 17
    Paolo Nov 26, 2015 Link to comment

    I'd like to move to a V10 from a Note 3, but the one problem that keeps me from doing so is that LG's software is, for the lack of a better word, bad. It copies Samsung software to the letter and half asses it (see Dual Window, problematic notifications system, questionable LG Smartworld appstore.)

    Scott Adam GordonSeabass


  • Seabass 5
    Seabass Nov 26, 2015 Link to comment

    If you like the note 4....you'll love it even more after reading this article, lol. Seems like there is no good compelling reason to switch. Why even write this article. Dumb

    Kong Lingnightflyer2131Mike

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