Tech

The LG G5's camera has the most impressive zoom we've seen on a smartphone

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LG G5 dual lens camera
Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

Smartphone cameras are getting incredibly good.

However, they're typically not very good at zooming in because they use "digital" zoom, which is basically blowing up the picture and making it more pixelated.

The LG G5 uses digital zoom, but it somehow looks absolutely amazing, and it makes the G5's more versatile than any other smartphone camera so far.

Take a look at the photos below to see what we mean.

 

First, let's get an idea of how far away the subject is (the domed building in the middle).

lg g5 buildings camera picture photo
Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

And here's the domed building taken with the  maximum zoom on the G5

lg g5 zoom building
Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

Now, let's see how the G5's zoom compares to the other top 2 smartphone cameras out there, the iPhone 6s Plus and Galaxy S7.

iphone 6s plus galaxy s7 lg g5 zoom
The G5's picture is slimmer because I had to size it down to fit with the photos from the other phones. Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

The iPhone 6s Plus had the least zoom out of the three phones. The Galaxy S7 and the G5 had similar zoom.

But the G5 captured an insane amount of detail compared to the iPhone and Galaxy S7.

The circled parts show how much more detail the G5 captures compared to the other two devices.

iphone 6s plus galaxy s7 lg g5 zoom skitched
The G5 can pick up an insane amount of detail, all while zooming in further than the others. It hardly looks like it's zoomed in. Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

The picture is sharper, clearer, has better colors, has more detail, and is better exposed than the two best smartphone cameras we've tested to date.

It lets you take pictures of subjects far away in the most detail we've ever seen in a smartphone camera.

The G5's dual cameras doesn't actually have anything to do with the zoom, but it does let you taken pictures with a much wider angle than other cameras.

wide angle g5
Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

And the fact that you can zoom so far in with such incredible detail from that wide angle shot is pretty amazing.

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Antonio Villas-Boas was a consumer tech expert with over a decade of experience testing and reviewing smartphones, tablets, computers, smartwatches, and phone carriers.ExperienceAntonio joined the Business Insider team in 2015 as a tech reporter on the news desk and moved to the service journalism team in 2020. During his time as Business Insider’s senior tech reporter, Antonio developed industry-leading battery-life tests for smartphones and tablets, and covered and reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of products from major brands like Apple, Google, Samsung, and OnePlus since as far back as Samsung’s Galaxy S6, the original Apple Watch, and the very first Google Pixel. This decade-plus of experience has given him tremendous insights into what consumer tech truly stands the test of time and what will be irrelevant in just a few years' time (RIP The Pebble).Antonio is also an experienced deal hunter, surfacing the best discounts on phones, laptops, and smartwatches for readers during sale events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Previously, Antonio was a consumer-electronics analyst at PCMag and ran his own blog. Why you can trust AntonioAntonio approaches all his reviews not only as a tech expert but as a consumer himself. He reads every word of fine print in the phone carrier plans he reviews, and is deeply skeptical of deals that promise you the latest iPhone model for free. (Spoiler: it might be “free,” but you could be stuck with it for three years.)He largely recommends less expensive and small-scale fixes to upgrade your existing tech before considering buying the latest and flashiest in new tech. Antonio believes his role as the go-to “tech guy” for his family and friends extends to his readers as well; he only recommends products that have stood up to the testing process.Scripps News, NewsNation, Fox 5 DC, NBC LX, and Rich DeMuro’s “Rich On Tech” radio show have requested his commentary and expertise. ExpertiseHis expertise includes:
  • Phones, including the iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy models
  • Phone accessories, including charging cables, phone cases, and protection plans
  • Smartwatches, including the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch
  • Mobile carrier plans, including major carriers and MVNOs
  • Tablets, including iPads and Galaxy Tabs
  • Laptops and computers, including MacBooks and Windows models
  • Computer accessories, including mice, keyboards, and monitors
EducationAntonio graduated from Colgate University in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in history.Outside of workBesides testing tech products, Antonio is also a full time dad to two young kids. His ideal day would be spent on a lake in the Adirondacks.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test tech and electronics.