LG G Pad 7.0 hands-on

Today we have the LG G Pad 7.0 at HQ. This is the latest portable tablet from LG but it’s safe to say we’re expecting a higher-end portable tablet yet as the G Pad 7 sheds the premium specs package in favor of a very affordable price.

The LG G Pad 7.0 base specs may not sound like much with only a 800 x 1280 pixels screen and a Snapdragon 400 processor, but LG has equipped it with several extra features to make up for those – an IR blaster on the top, stereo speakers on the back and an IPS matrix for superior screen viewing angles all for under 200 euro.

You won’t enjoy the unsurpassed gaming performance or the sharpest screen but you can enjoy two apps simultaneously in a split-screen view, thanks to LG’s Dual Window. Speaking of software, LG has made sure the G Pad 7.0 doesn’t lag behind with the latest iteration of Optimus UI on top of Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

Here’s a video rundown for you, before we get more specific.

LG premiered the latest Optimus UI on their high-end LG G3 smartphone. The UI shows a much-appreciated departure from the candy-like, flashy K Pop-like look of old and opts for a more minimalist approach similarly to Samsung and, naturally, Apple which joined the recent minimalist movement with iOS 7′s redesign. In look and feel the flat new UI is very close to Google’s stock Android KitKat.

Optimus UI has an abundance of simple, colorful flat icons and rounded interface elements. And while we like the new approach over the old one there are clashes between icon shapes – the many circular built-in apps sitting next to square third-party ones.

Optimus UI is easy to navigate and things run smooth and the LG G Pad 7.0 can easily fool you into thinking it’s a more expensive slab. There’s the QPair app that allows you to sync messages, notifications, calls and notes between the G Pad 7.0 and an LG smartphone. You can also use QPair to find the phone with the tablet or the tablet with the phone.

LG went simple with the design. The front is flat and reserved for the screen and the front camera while the back is made out of soft-touch plastic that wraps around from the back to the sides. It feels good in the hands and the 293 g weight is more than acceptable.

The screen has its strengths and weaknesses. The IPS tech allows for truly great viewing angles and the colors look good as well. However the low resolution and sub-300 ppi density take their toll and things don’t look sharp.

LG G Pad 7.0

While cheaper than many of its mainstream competitors the LG G Pad 7.0 feels more premium than it is. LG has added just the right ingredients to make it a worthy slate for couch surfing. We’ll have to run it through our review gauntlet before we pass our final judgement, though.