Keeping up with the times

LG Q6 and Watch Style Cool factor

★★★/5 Usability ★★★★/5

Value for money

★★★★/5

LG Q6 handset

The Q6, which arrived in SA last month, has come to be known as the “mini” or “light” version of LG Mobile’s flagship device, the G6.

Its design shows that the bezelfree trend is no longer reserved for the premium segment. For a midrange phone, its 5.5-inch display fits into a slim and narrow form factor that is similar to the 4.7-inch iphone 7.

Along with a big screen that is optimal for multimedia content, the Q6 is capable of facial recognition unlocking. It works the same way as fingerprint unlocking, so you’d need to “register” your face under the security settings.

Its longer screen — with an 18:9 aspect ratio — is better suited to multimedia content such as Netflix or Youtube in landscape mode, where the edge-to-edge display really shines.

The Q6 ships with Android 7 Nougat, which supports “split-screen mode”. The right menu button shows which apps are available, indicated by two stacked rectangles, viewable side by side. Again, it is best used in landscape mode. Replying to e-mails while watching music videos? Yes, please.

The 13 MP main camera offers basic point-and-shoot capabilities, with the option to shoot in a square, panoramic or food mode. The food filter brings any dish to life, with a custom slider adjusting intensity levels. The 5 MP front-facing camera with built-in filters and skin-tone adjustments has a wide-angle lens that is useful for a group selfie.

The Q6 is powered by a Snapdragon 435 chipset with a 1.4 GHZ octa-core processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, expandable by micro SD. It takes a nano SIM and has a nonremovable battery.

It features an aluminium frame, though its glossy plastic back is prone to smudging.

LG Watch Style

This smart-watch is bundled with the Q6 and is not available separately. Both devices are sold for R6,399, making the combination ideal for the small business owner who doesn’t want to pay for a high-end smartphone but also wants a device that will assist with the day-to-day management of a business.

Putting its other functions aside, a smart-watch does one thing really well, and that is to help you prioritise what is important. At a quick glance, you can choose to ignore Whatsapp messages and, instead, focus on urgent e-mails.

The watch’s custom face lets you access a lot of information on the tiny screen, including daily step count, calendar entries, time zones, date and battery life.

Google Assistant is built in, so you can use voice commands triggered by “Okay, Google” to get things done. You can ask it to send texts, make calls, get directions, check the weather, set reminders or check fitness stats, including your heart rate.

The phone and watch combination is excellent value for an individual who doesn’t necessarily want the fastest or best available smartphone.