I wish the 13-megapixel camera on the Stylo's back were better, though. The light in LG's rented ballroom was mediocre at best, and the Stylo struggled to capture detail or correct colors in just about every shot. It should do better under brighter conditions, but that's true of any smartphone camera. A sensor's true character is only apparent when the going gets dark, and the Stylo falls short. The 8-megapixel selfie camera was mildly better, if only because it proved to be most decent at capturing wide-angle selfies. Images the Stylo didn't capture, however, looked sufficiently bright and clear on the phone's 5.7-inch, 1080p IPS LCD screen.

And then there's the stylus. It's been a while since I've used one of LG's Stylos, but it'll feel remarkably familiar if you're used to Samsung's Note line. A tiny software window pops up when you pull out the stylus, proffering quick access to memo, doodling and screen-capture apps -- like on a Note. That's if you manage to get the stylus out without swearing in annoyance, by the way.

A few LG spokespeople asked me if I could find where the stylus was stored, and I admit it took a few moments; that's how well the edge of the stylus blends into the Stylo's silver plastic frame. If you're the type who keeps your nails on the longer side, you'll be fine. Meanwhile, I had a lot of trouble digging the stylus out, to the point where I probably flubbed our video a few times. Once you get it out, though, writing on the screen is quite pleasant. The thinner stylus is tougher to hold onto than an S Pen, but LG did a surprisingly good job on the pen's nib -- it does sort of feel like writing on paper. Still, its thin build feels borderline flimsy, and I wonder if I could ever reliably get that stylus out when I need it.

We obviously can't pass final judgment on the Stylo 3 yet, but so far it seems like a solid option for people who like the idea of writing on their smartphones. The seemingly small gap in performance between the Stylo and something like the V20 is heartening too, though you shouldn't fool yourself. As pleasant as the phone is, it falls far short of flagship quality. On the flip side, you most likely won't have to pay a flagship price: LG hasn't confirmed pricing yet, but we wouldn't expect it to break the bank.