LG Optimus G Pro: a phablet that tried hard
In 2013, LG bet heavily on the growing phablet category with the Optimus G Pro, a handset that aimed squarely at professionals and media lovers who wanted a screen larger than what most smartphones offered. The device arrived in Australia through carrier stores and electronics chains at a time when the line between a phone and a tablet was blurring fast, and shoppers were weighing features like 4G LTE, large displays, and stylus-free productivity more carefully than ever before.
This review revisits how the Optimus G Pro performed against rivals, how it handled the realities of Australian networks and daily habits, and why it remains a notable, if often overlooked, entry in the early phablet era. From its Full HD panel to its removable battery, the handset showcased LG's ambition even if it never quite dethroned the Samsung Galaxy Note II in the Australian imagination.
Design and build quality
The Optimus G Pro followed the design language established by its smaller sibling, the Optimus G, with a rectangular slab body, gently rounded corners, and a textured back panel that improved grip. At 172 grams, the phone felt substantial without being cumbersome, and its 9.4mm thickness slid into jacket pockets and bag compartments with relative ease. The physical home button flanked by capacitive keys gave it a slightly dated look for the time, but the overall construction felt reassuringly solid in the hand.
In Australian retail outlets like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman, the device was often displayed alongside competing flagships, allowing shoppers to feel the difference before committing. Buyers in Sydney and Melbourne frequently commented on the slim bezels that made the 5.5-inch screen feel manageable, even on crowded trams or while walking through Central Station during the morning rush. The textured rear finish also helped the phone stay secure during the sweaty commutes that an Adelaide or Brisbane summer can deliver.
Display and visual experience
LG equipped the Optimus G Pro with a 5.5-inch True HD IPS Plus display running at 1920 x 1080, producing sharp text and vivid colour reproduction. Brightness levels were competitive for the period, and the panel held up reasonably well under direct sunlight, an important trait for users spending time at Bondi Beach or attending cricket matches at the MCG during long summer afternoons. The roughly 400ppi density ensured that streaming services and high-resolution photos looked impressively crisp without visible pixel structure.
Watching content on the go became a defining use case. Australian commuters on Sydney Trains frequently pulled out the device to catch up on AFL replays or Netflix series during stretches between stations, and the screen responded well to quick taps and swipes in variable lighting conditions. Viewing angles also proved wide enough to share clips with friends seated nearby, an underrated benefit during lunch breaks at office towers in Sydney's CBD or Melbourne's Docklands precinct.
Performance and hardware
Under the hood, the Optimus G Pro ran on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz, paired with 2GB of RAM. This combination delivered smooth everyday performance, with app launches feeling snappy and multitasking remaining fluid across the most common scenarios. Web browsing on Telstra's 4G network in capital cities delivered fast page loads, while the Adreno 320 GPU handled casual gaming without significant frame drops.
Storage came in at 32GB internally, with a microSD slot supporting expansion up to 64GB, a welcome feature for users storing offline playlists or high-resolution video captured during weekend trips. The hardware configuration positioned the Optimus G Pro against several direct competitors in the early phablet space, and a side-by-side look at the strongest alternatives helps frame where LG sat.
| Feature | LG Optimus G Pro | Samsung Galaxy Note II | Sony Xperia Z Ultra | HTC One Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size | 5.5-inch | 5.5-inch | 6.4-inch | 5.9-inch |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1280 x 720 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 600 | Exynos 4 Quad | Snapdragon 800 | Snapdragon 600 |
| RAM | 2GB | 2GB | 2GB | 2GB |
| Battery (removable) | 3140 mAh, yes | 3100 mAh, yes | 3050 mAh, no | 3300 mAh, no |
| MicroSD support | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Australian shoppers comparing the Optimus G Pro to these alternatives typically weighed the LG's removable battery and microSD expansion as significant advantages for long-term flexibility, even if the Sony offered a larger canvas and the Note II enjoyed stronger software polish.
Camera capabilities
The rear camera on the Optimus G Pro used a 13-megapixel sensor paired with an LED flash, while a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera handled selfies and video calls. Image quality in well-lit conditions was solid, with natural colour rendering and decent dynamic range across subjects like the harbour at sunrise or weekend barbecues in suburban backyards. Low-light performance lagged behind some rivals, producing more visible noise and softer details, though the inclusion of an HDR mode helped balance tricky scenes where shadows and highlights competed for attention.
Video recording topped out at 1080p at 30 frames per second, supported by electronic image stabilisation that smoothed out handheld walking footage. Australians travelling through national parks or capturing sunsets over Uluru often found the camera adequate for sharing to social media, though serious photographers quickly gravitated toward dedicated cameras for higher-end results and finer manual control.
Software and user experience
The Optimus G Pro shipped with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, overlaid with LG's Optimus UI, which included a mix of useful additions and somewhat dated skeuomorphic touches. Features like QSlide for floating apps, QuickMemo for on-screen annotations, and a redesigned notification shade added genuine productivity value, particularly for business users juggling multiple communications apps on Telstra or Optus networks throughout long workdays.
Buyers comparing platforms at the time had meaningful choices across operating systems. Shoppers leaning toward Windows Phone could consider the Nokia Lumia 720, a different ecosystem experience at a more accessible price point. Android loyalists, meanwhile, often gravitated toward LG's deep customisation options and tight Google service integration, especially those who relied on Gmail, Maps, and Drive as daily tools.
Battery life and connectivity
Battery life was a genuine strength of the Optimus G Pro, thanks to its 3140 mAh removable cell. Most users could push through a full day of mixed use, including streaming, navigation, and messaging, without reaching for a charger. The removable design also allowed hot-swapping a spare battery, a feature that many competing flagships had abandoned by this point and one that frequent travellers appreciated on long flights out of Perth or Cairns.
Connectivity covered the essentials, including 4G LTE on Australian carrier bands, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC for tap-and-go payments where supported. Telstra subscribers in regional areas benefited from strong signal retention, while Optus and Vodafone customers in dense urban centres like Brisbane typically saw consistent 4G handovers during daily commutes. The handset was also ACMA-compliant for local radio emissions standards, a quiet but important detail for the company's standing in the regulated Australian market.
Pricing and the Australian market
In Australia, the Optimus G Pro launched at roughly AUD 720 outright, placing it firmly in the premium tier but below imported flagships of similar capability. Carrier plans through Telstra and Optus spread the cost across 24-month contracts, often bundled with substantial data allowances suited to streaming-heavy users. Local retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Dick Smith Electronics ran promotional pricing during major sales periods, occasionally dropping the device to around AUD 600 outright.
The phablet faced tough competition. Samsung dominated mindshare with its Note II marketing campaigns, while Sony and HTC pushed their own large-screen alternatives to lure Australian buyers. Shoppers wanting a more affordable path to a sizeable display could look at devices like the HTC Desire 700, which delivered a generous screen and dual-SIM practicality at a lower price bracket. The Optimus G Pro ultimately carved out a niche among users who valued its removable battery, microSD support, and clean LG software over flashier branding.
For readers tracking the broader 2013 smartphone landscape in Australia, the archives at New Mobile Arrivals document releases across major manufacturers and price tiers, helping buyers compare specifications side by side and revisit devices that shaped the early phablet era. Whether chasing a vintage flagship, researching a specific operating system, or simply curious about how phones handled Australian networks half a decade ago, the site offers the kind of ongoing coverage worth bookmarking for regular reference.