LG G Pad 10.1 Android tablet review

LG is on a roll at the moment. It wowed us with its new smart TVs, dazzled us with the G3 smartphone and its G Pad 10.1-inch tablet continues that trend.

The LG G Pad 10.1 – the model number is V700 – packs a lot of features into its slender frame but at an affordable price.

It is 8.95mm thick and weighs in at 523g and is running the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system.

Under the hood is a 1.2Ghz quad core processor along with a 10.1-inch IPS (in-plane switching) display which has a wider 16:10 aspect ratio – the perfect shape for watching movies and enjoying apps.

But you can also turn the G Pad on its side and enjoy the portrait view for things like web browsing and emails.

With a resolution of 1280 x 800 it is still classed as high definition but it’s a far cry from the G3 smartphone’s superb Quad HD screen.

If you’re switching between the G3 to the G Pad the difference is clearly noticeable. If LG had opted for a similar screen as seen on the G3 then it would have been significantly more expensive.

On the design side, the G Pad has a gently curved back panel which is where you’ll find the 5-megapixel camera and speakers. There’s also a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera.

The main camera takes respectable shots but it doesn’t have a flash so it won’t be taking the place of your smartphone’s camera but is an ample back-up.

On the side is a microSD card slot to expand the onboard 16GB storage.

There are some features have been inherited from the G3 smartphone.

These include the Knock Code that lets you set your own personalised pattern of between two and eight taps.

Also on board is QPair that lets you pair your Android smartphone (it doesn’t have to be an LG device) to allow you to screen calls (you can’t answer them but you can reject them) as well as seeing message and other notifications.

It can also link your smartphone as a personal hotspot if there are no wi-fi networks around.

On the performance side the LG is quite responsive. Apps usually opened in a second but it takes a few seconds for the accelerometer to catch up and adjust the display to the way we were holding the device.

But these are hardly deal breakers – the LG G Pad is still a delight to use and easy to carry with you anywhere for work or play.

The 8,000 mAh battery was also another strength of the device and lasts for up to eight hours when in solid use like watching videos but for a couple of days with casual use.

On the connectivity side there’s 802.11n wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

The LG G Pad is avaiable now in red (exclusive to Harvey Norman stores) and black.

VERDICT

The LG G Pad 10.1 is high quality tablet with a range of features that offer an enjoyable user experience. The fact it is priced at just $399 makes it a very attractive product indeed.

LG G Pad 10.1

Price: $399

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