LG G5 "Modular" Design
Announced at the Mobile World Congress 2016 in Barcelona, the LG G5 was probably the second most anticipated device right after the Samsung Galaxy S7. Unlike the S7, the G5 completely change its design away from its predecessors, the LG G3 and G4, to unibody "metal" design and still manages to make the battery removable. The most significant change is the new "modular" design which allows accessories, so called friends, to be attached to the phone improving the capability of the phone.
The LG G5 is the first "modular" smartphone to hit consumers but is it really modular?
So, here are the steps on how to change modules:
As we can see from the above steps, modules aren't built for quick exchange. That's a solid 20 - 40 seconds depending on your speed of hand (changing modules) and apps installed (boot time). But if you're planning to change modules once per day, it might not be a problem.
You wanna listen to high quality audio while taking photos like boss? That's nope for you. The LG G5 can only use one module at a time. So you have to time your usage wisely if you want to change the use of your phone.
This applies only on the Camera module that went out with the G5. Although it really adds in your camera experience with the phone, it doesn't really add any capabilities to the camera itself. It only functions as an extra battery and scrolling zoom. In a Youtube review, the scrolls can only be used for zooming, not for anything else like adjusting focus, exposure, white balance, etc..
A camera module would be more useful it it adds the capability of the camera by replacing the camera itself. With that you can increase the megapixel count, aperture, sensor size, etc.. without changing your phone.
Out the 5 friends available since launch, only two really use the modular design of the G5, others either connect by Bluetooth or some kinda hocus pocus I haven't read about. And the two available are the DAC module and Camera module.
As for the DAC module, why didn't LG just include it built in like the LG V10? Do non-audiophille consumers have no right to listen to mind blowing audio quality? What about the camera? Why do you need to change battery for something as simple as a zooming tool and extra battery? Why not just plug it into the USB Type C port, shouldn't it be sufficient to be just an accessories instead of a module?
In conclusion, to me, the LG G5 modular design doesn't seem like a true modular phone. The implementation is half baked and serves more of an accessories instead of adding to the phone's capability. There are only two modules available for the G5, hopefully newer ones will do better. But it definitely is a start on modular design and hopefully other manufacturers are pushed to release modular phones and hopefully they'll do it better.
So what do you think of the LG G5 modular design? Let me know in the comments below.
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| LG G5 |
The LG G5 is the first "modular" smartphone to hit consumers but is it really modular?
Remove Battery to Change Modules
So, here are the steps on how to change modules:
- Turn off phone (if you're a bad ass, you can skip this part)
- Detach default module
- Detach battery from default module
- Attach battery to new module
- Attach new module to phone
- Wait till the phone boots
As we can see from the above steps, modules aren't built for quick exchange. That's a solid 20 - 40 seconds depending on your speed of hand (changing modules) and apps installed (boot time). But if you're planning to change modules once per day, it might not be a problem.
One Module At a Time
You wanna listen to high quality audio while taking photos like boss? That's nope for you. The LG G5 can only use one module at a time. So you have to time your usage wisely if you want to change the use of your phone.
Added Functionality Instead of Capability
This applies only on the Camera module that went out with the G5. Although it really adds in your camera experience with the phone, it doesn't really add any capabilities to the camera itself. It only functions as an extra battery and scrolling zoom. In a Youtube review, the scrolls can only be used for zooming, not for anything else like adjusting focus, exposure, white balance, etc..
A camera module would be more useful it it adds the capability of the camera by replacing the camera itself. With that you can increase the megapixel count, aperture, sensor size, etc.. without changing your phone.
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| The Camera Friend |
The Available Modules Are Questionable
Out the 5 friends available since launch, only two really use the modular design of the G5, others either connect by Bluetooth or some kinda hocus pocus I haven't read about. And the two available are the DAC module and Camera module.
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| LG G5 Friends, or Buddies |
As for the DAC module, why didn't LG just include it built in like the LG V10? Do non-audiophille consumers have no right to listen to mind blowing audio quality? What about the camera? Why do you need to change battery for something as simple as a zooming tool and extra battery? Why not just plug it into the USB Type C port, shouldn't it be sufficient to be just an accessories instead of a module?
Conclusion
In conclusion, to me, the LG G5 modular design doesn't seem like a true modular phone. The implementation is half baked and serves more of an accessories instead of adding to the phone's capability. There are only two modules available for the G5, hopefully newer ones will do better. But it definitely is a start on modular design and hopefully other manufacturers are pushed to release modular phones and hopefully they'll do it better.
So what do you think of the LG G5 modular design? Let me know in the comments below.
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