When LG took the wraps off of its latest G-series flagship, I immediately wanted to get one to put it up against my favorite phone at the time, the Galaxy S6. After being relatively unimpressed by the G3 with its performance issues and lackluster software, LG really had me excited with new internals and a bevy of high-end camera features. Well I ended up getting an LG G4 — a grey plastic one, if you were wondering — to try just shy of a month ago, and it turns out I just haven't fallen in love with it the way others have. Though it seems to possess all of the raw materials and features of a good device, it hasn't been my phone of choice due to a few specific issues.

The hardware — a combination of subpar design elements

My quibbles with the LG G4 start at the hardware. With the same 5.5-inch screen size as the G3, the G4 has the same issue for me of being tough to operate in one hand. That's not just because of the screen size, though — it's the result of several design decisions put together. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines Though LG has worked to decrease the size of the bezels around the screen, they're actually about the same size as any other phone. The G4 is still big (and particularly wide), no matter what way you look at it. And while the back is curved to better fit your hand, the edges of the phone are flat and the corners are tightly rounded, making it awkward to cradle in your hand while using it. The G4 is just too big for me, and the shape isn't doing it any favors. Perhaps these issues wouldn't be as noticeable if the phone were smaller, but when you have a device that's already large enough that it's hard to reach across with your thumb, the small issues add up to make the situation worse. Compare that to smaller phones like the Moto X (2014) or Galaxy S6, which also have a few form-over-function design details but are far easier to use because of their smaller overall size. The usability issues of the G4 aren't helped any by the rear-mounted buttons, which I have yet to come around on. I wasn't a fan of them on the G2 (admittedly my Verizon G2 with its wonky buttons didn't help), and again didn't care for them on the G3 — the G4 hasn't done anything to convince me. You certainly get used to the buttons (you don't really have a choice if you choose to use the G4), but no matter how familiar you are they're not going to be as easy to hit as "standard" buttons on the sides of the phone. The amount of extra work it takes to locate the buttons — and hold the big phone by the sides to press them — isn't too significant in itself, but it's just unnecessary. Such basic functions of a phone shouldn't be obscured as much as they are on the G4, and having some software tweaks like KnockON and a notification shade volume slider are only partial fixes. The back buttons are a differentiator, but that doesn't mean it's the best way to do buttons. LG could simplify both the hardware and software by just putting the buttons on the side, where you can see and operate them with 100 percent accuracy. And considering how thin other phones have gotten with standard buttons, this isn't an engineering limitation. LG seems to cling to the back buttons as a differentiator from other phones, which it is, but that doesn't mean it's a better way of doing buttons. In my case it turns out to be a worse way. For all of the external issues with the G4, at least LG has managed to get the specs right. The processor is capable of pushing the software without lag that was present on the G3, and the battery offers solid longevity (and is removable, if that's your sort of thing). Though the screen isn't quite as bright as the Galaxy S6, the colors are good and you can't find any flaws unless you're setting it next to the competition. But that should all be a given at this point — you can get all of the right internals, but if the phone isn't designed well or easy to hold, it's all for nothing. The software — it's the little things