LG K10 (2017): Plans | Pricing | Specs

Thanks to the addition of extra RAM, water and dust resistance and a fingerprint sensor, the 2017 revision of the LG K10 is a marked improvement over its predecessor.

Premium smartphones like the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S handset might receive the lion's share of the spotlight these days, but as luxury devices, they're simply too expensive for many people to afford. Thankfully, while Apple focuses on its high-end handsets, companies like LG are catering to the more budget-conscious crowd with affordable smartphones like the LG K10 (2017).

As the parentheses imply, the LG K10 (2017) is the 2017 revision of the original K10 that launched back in 2016. LG has improved the core hardware and updated the design to better compete with other 2017 handsets while sticking with a price point that places it at the higher end of the budget market. The result is an attractive smartphone geared towards those with relatively humble needs and budgets.

Design

• IP68 water and dust resistance provides strong protection against the elements
• Plenty of new features courtesy of Android 7.0

• Read more on the LG K10 (2017)'s design

  

  The LG K10 (2017) follows the familiar smartphone design of curved corners and metallic trim, though the body itself is the all-plastic build common among budget handsets. The 5.3-inch LCD screen of its forebear makes its return, rocking the same resolution of 1280 x 720. All the standard smartphone features remain present, too, such as the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 4.2 support and 16GB of internal storage with room for expansion via microSD. The LG K10 (2017) also sports slots for two separate SIM cards, which is a useful feature if you want to use it as both your work and personal phone.

  Two key design features help set the LG K10 (2017) apart from its predecessor. First, there's the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone just below the camera. You can use this to keep other people from unlocking your phone as well as prevent unauthorised users from making purchases through services like the Google Play store.

  The second noteworthy upgrade is the LG K10 (2017)'s water and dust resistance rating of IP68. This rating certifies that the K10 is completely dust-tight and capable of surviving submersion in water of one metre deep or more. For more specifics on how IP ratings work, check out our guide to waterproof phones.

  For the 2017 edition of the K10, LG has also upgraded the operating system from Android 6.0 "Marshmallow" to Android 7.0 "Nougat". This brings with it a slew of handy new features including the ability to display two apps side-by-side on the same screen, deeper customisation of the quick settings toolbar and notifications and superior power management for longer battery life.

Camera

• A basic yet solid camera package that should be suitable for general photography
• Wide-angle front-facing lens let you fit more people into your "selfies"

• Read more on the LG K10 (2017)'s camera

  

  Little has changed on the camera front from the 2016 K10 to the 2017 revision. You've got the same 13MP camera at the rear for documenting the world around you along with a near-identical 5MP at the front for snapping a quick selfie. It's only "near-identical" because this time around LG has packed in a wide-angle lens capable of taking 120-degree group shots. You can toggle the wide-angle lens on and off at your leisure, so you won't have to worry about large swaths of empty space in your solo selfies.

  Beyond the new wide-angle lens, the LG K10 (2017) delivers all the typical camera features you'd expect. Auto-focus, face detection for automatic selfies and shortcuts for uploading pics to social media are all present and accounted for. None of these features are particularly remarkable for a phone at this price point, but they should provide you with sufficient tools for taking decent photos without too much trouble.

Performance

• Double the RAM gives the K10 (2017) a significant leg up on its predecessor
• Should have little trouble taking care of your day-to-day phone needs

• Read more on the LG K10 (2017)'s performance

  While the LG K10 (2017)'s design may not stray too far from its predecessor, the hardware under the hood has undergone more significant changes. A newer eight-core 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6750 processor provides a little extra oomph in both general performance and graphical applications like 3D games, while the upgrade from 1GB of RAM to 2GB means a smoother experience when multi-tasking or running more complex apps.

  Improvements aside, the LG K10 (2017) is still very much a budget smartphone. You shouldn't encounter any major performance issues in basic tasks like browsing the web or checking your social media apps, but you'll probably have a tougher time getting it to run a power-hungry game like Fortnite smoothly.

Battery

• Most people should get a full day of use out of a single charge without issue
• LG continues to one-up its competitors by including a removable battery

• Read more on the LG K10 (2017)'s battery

  Performance isn't the only area LG has souped up for the K10 (2017). The battery has seen a considerable upgrade, too, increasing from 2,300mAh to 2,800mAh. A 500mAh jump can make a big difference in a budget smartphone like the K10 thanks to the relatively modest power requirements of its low-end processor. Unfortunately, LG does not provide figures around the expected battery life of the K10, but we can get a rough idea of how long it should last by comparing it to the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 which features a similar processor and a 2,910mAh battery. In our testing, the Idol 3 had no trouble delivering all-day battery life on a single charge, so it's not unreasonable to expect the LG K10 (2017) to achieve the same under light use.

  A neat design decision that continues to set LG apart from its competitors is its use of removable batteries in many of its smartphones. The K10 (2017) sticks with this approach, giving you the ability to carry around spare batteries and swap them in and out as necessary. For long-distance travellers or those who often lack the time to plug their phone in to charge, this can be a tremendously handy feature.

Pricing and availability

LG K10 (2017)

A refined budget handset

The 2017 revision of the LG K10 improves upon its predecessor in a number of key ways that solidify its position as a solid budget smartphone.

Buy Now

• The LG K10 (2017) is currently available from retailers like DWI and Harvey Norman for around $200.