This decade-old LG phone sparked my love for photography — then it died

It was a balmy September evening in 2016, and my friends and I thought it the perfect evening for a night-time hike up Cape Town's popular Lion's Head. Placed right in the city's center, the panoramic views from the peak would no doubt be spectacular, and we had our bags packed full of liquid nourishment for when we reached the top. Two hours later, we got to the summit, and with the city's sprawling lights glimmering through the still air below us, I spied the perfect photo opportunity. So, I grabbed my little Joby tripod, mounted my phone to it, set the exposure to 15 seconds, its ISO to its lowest possible value, and waited. The resultant shot remains one of my favorites I've ever captured. That phone was the LG G4.
Do you miss LG smartphones?
0 votes
Yes.
NaN %
No.
NaN %
I'm no doubt looking back at this phone through rose-tinted glasses. After all, nostalgia is one hell of a drug. The best Android phones have come a long way since then, improving almost every facet. I could (probably) capture that same shot with modern devices without too much fuss. However, looking past its problems, the LG G4 was the phone that sparked my interest in photography.
The smartphone that captured many memories, and my heart
On the specs front, the G4 wasn't really anything special. Sure, it's 16MP sensor and 28mm lens, OIS system, and laser autofocus made it incredibly reliable and versatile. I remember snapping portraits, landscapes, macros, and street scenes without any issue. But the camera phone's real strength was its manual mode.
The shot I mentioned in the intro was captured manually. In fact, I had a real contempt for the LG G4's automatic mode. It regularly selected the wrong settings and focused on the wrong subject. With manual mode, I could finely adjust focus, choose my exposure and ISO, getting me the shot I wanted. Looking back, I realize this phone helped me get to grips with DSLR photography years later. And it wasn't just this shot that stands out in my mind. Manual focus made it easy to capture the tiniest subjects, from bees to the flowers they visited, to bokeh of raindrops on a pane of glass.
I'm no doubt looking back at this phone through rose-tinted glasses, but the LG G4 is the reason for my current love for photography.
Beyond its software, part of my love for this phone lies in its smart ergonomic design. Yes, while it was pretty utilitarian with those customary 2016-era bezels, the 5.5-inch QHD screen was deep and vivid, making it the perfect viewfinder and canvas for my shots. While stylish, the phone's curved leather back also made the phone grippy and inspired confidence when framing a shot. It was never at risk of simply slipping out of my hand like my caseless Pixel 8 is prone to do. And, not to mention the other facets of this phone that I loved: the removable battery, its 3.5mm headphone jack with great bundled earbuds, its rear volume and power buttons, and its microSD card slot.
The death of my G4 and start of LG's bigger problems
But, just as we had to eventually make our way down the mountain, all good things come to an end. For the LG G4, this was for me at an airport just before a long flight home. Mere months after I started it up for the first time, the phone's tendency to overheat eventually morphed into a flat-out bootloop. Struggling to bring it back to life, I'd wait a few minutes, reboot it, desperately use it for a few moments until it overheated, then repeat the cycle. Thankfully, I printed out my boarding passes back then; otherwise, I'm unsure how I would've navigated that situation.
My LG G4 issues started at an airport, just prior to a long flight home. I was not amused.
When I landed (and calling my lift was made complicated thanks to my ailing LG), I got to the drawing board and tried almost everything to revive it. Screwing it apart and separating the phone from its motherboard, I trained a hairdryer on the chipset, tossed it in the freezer, and even considered baking it in the oven. I chickened out of the latter, but there was little hope regardless. My LG G4 was dead and so was one of the most enjoyable and memorable smartphones I've ever used.
To me, the G4's issues perfectly encapsulate the Korean brand's smartphone tenure. Its quirky devices were remarkably affable, filled with personality, and supported by capable, if not impressive, hardware and refined software. But look a little bit deeper and use them for an extended period, and their similarly quirky flaws will rise to the surface — dramatic highs and depressing lows.
The bootloop problem persisted across several LG-branded and manufactured smartphones, including the G4's cousin, the V10, the Nexus 5X, the V20, and even the LG G5. All of these smartphones experienced similar hitches to one degree or another. While LG would go on to launch several newer phones that would skirt this issue, the damage was done.
While LG hasn't been a smartphone company since 2011, it will finally turn off its update servers at the end of this month, rendering all its devices marooned on older Android versions. This was bound to happen at some point. After all, its most recent phones were launched five years ago now. It's still a sad eventuality.
As for my LG G4, I haven't seen it in years. It's sitting in a box somewhere in my parents' home, functionally dead and likely to stay that way. However, my enjoyment of photography has grown to include other devices. My old but trusty Kodak KB10 film camera, my humble Nikon D3400, and even the Nokia 9 PureView that I've written about before continue building my love for capturing moments. I have the LG G4 to thank for that.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Miami Herald

12 minutes ago

• Miami Herald

Ditchit Detonates Iconic Twitter Bird to Symbolize Launch of Local Marketplace

DOVER, DE / ACCESS Newswire / June 20, 2025 / In a fiery spectacle worthy of Silicon Valley lore, Ditchit - a rising star in the online marketplace space and rival to OfferUp - has made headlines by purchasing and then blowing up the original 560-pound Twitter bird sign once perched atop the company's San Francisco headquarters. The marketing stunt, filmed in the Nevada desert with a 15-person production crew, four Tesla Cybertrucks, and a Hollywood pyrotechnics expert, marked a symbolic farewell to legacy tech monopolies and a bold introduction to Ditchit's mission: to build a local marketplace that puts people before profits. "Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X to support free expression. At Ditchit, we're doing the same for local marketplaces," said Ditchit spokesman James Deluca. "Today's platforms are filled with ads, fees, and algorithms that prioritize businesses over people. Ditchit is different-free to use, ad-free, and designed to support real communities and real sellers." The 12-foot-tall Twitter logo, affectionately known as "Larry," was purchased at auction for $34,000 earlier this year. While the initial acquisition was driven by nostalgia, the company ultimately decided to transform the artifact into a symbol of disruption. The resulting video, now live on YouTube, shows the massive sign's explosive end outside of Las Vegas, capturing a cinematic moment that's already garnering viral attention. But "Larry's" story doesn't end in smoke. Fragments of the sign have been salvaged and will be sold on the Ditchit app in a sealed-bid auction starting today. 100% of proceeds will go to the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that champions startup innovation and supports the next generation of entrepreneurs. "Many entrepreneurs get their start on local marketplace apps," Deluca added. "We're here to support that journey-not just through our platform, but through action." With the stunt, Ditchit isn't just selling a piece of tech history. It's signaling a new era for digital marketplaces - one powered by transparency, accessibility, and the belief that local economies deserve better. About DitchitDitchit is a community-first local marketplace built for everyday buyers and sellers. Unlike traditional platforms, Ditchit is ad-free, fee-free, and designed to keep transactions simple and fair. Founded in 2024, the Ditchit app is available for iOS and Android. Media Contact:James DelucaPR Manager, SOURCE: Ditchit

CNET

34 minutes ago

• CNET

Two Ways to Generate Secure Passwords on Your iPhone With a Couple of Taps

We're steadily building towards a world with fewer passwords in it, thanks to passkeys, but we're not quite where we need to be to say goodbye to the string of alphanumeric digits quite yet. Luckily, it's never been easier to create a new password right from your iPhone. In fact, you have not one, but two ways to generate a strong password in a snap. Last year, iOS 18 brought the new Passwords app with it, which makes saving and creating passwords a breeze, not to mention killing the need of a third-party password manager for a ton of iPhone users. The Passwords app is easy to use and fairly robust in features, but what if you're holding onto an older iPhone that isn't compatible with iOS 18? Don't worry, you still have options to work with. Below, we'll show you how to make strong passwords on the fly, no matter what version of iOS you're on. For more, check out the best iOS 18.5 features you should know about. iPhone pro tip: Better protect your accounts with a physical 2FA security key Two-factor authentication adds another layer of security to your accounts, by asking you to verify your identity via text or app. However, the most secure 2FA option is with a physical key, like this one from Yubico, which you insert into your iPhone's charging port. A hacker would need both your password and this key to access your accounts protected by 2FA. Details $50 at Amazon How to generate a password with Apple's Passwords app If you have iOS or iPadOS 18 installed and just want a no-frills, easy way to generate a secure password on the fly, the Passwords app may be all you need. Here's how to do it. Open the Passwords app Tap the + symbol at the bottom right of the screen Ignoring the Website or Label and User Name sections, tap on the Password field, as if you're going to type one in -- not the Password label. A small "Strong Password Suggestion" will appear right above your keyboard. You can tap on the password suggestion to add it to the password section and copy it for use wherever you want. Generate a secure password in 2 taps with Apple's Password app. Nelson Aguilar You can add a website/label and username, as well as any notes, if you want to save these credentials and not just generate a password. If you want another password suggestion, just tap on any other text input field, like User or Notes, and then tap the password field again to get another suggestion. That's it. If that's all you want out of your password generator, it really doesn't get easier than this. However, if you want to be able to access your password from multiple locations, then maybe you should read on for the next option. How to generate secure passwords with a Siri Shortcut Using the link below, download the Generate Password shortcut onto your iPhone. This will automatically redirect you to the Shortcuts app -- tap Add Shortcut to download the shortcut on to your phone. The Generate Password shortcut will then appear in your library of shortcuts. Download: Generate Password (iCloud link) Generate Password will be saved to the Shortcuts section in the Shortcuts app. Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET Your on-demand iPhone password generator in action Once the shortcut is installed, you can use Generate Password to quickly create Apple-style passwords, which are 20 characters long and include two hyphens, a capitalized letter and a number ("fevNaq-1zumki-gorfoc" is an example). There are several ways to use Generate Password: Siri : Say, "Hey Siri, Generate Password." : Say, "Hey Siri, Generate Password." Share Sheet : Tap the share sheet in Safari or anywhere else, scroll down and tap Generate Password. : Tap the share sheet in Safari or anywhere else, scroll down and tap Generate Password. Shortcuts : Tap the Generate Password shortcut directly in the Shortcuts app. : Tap the Generate Password shortcut directly in the Shortcuts app. Back Tap: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and choose the Generate Password shortcut. You can then tap the back of your iPhone to run the shortcut. The first time you run Generate Password, you'll be asked to give the shortcut access to your clipboard. Hit Allow to do so. From then on, anytime you run Generate Password, a password will be created and automatically copied to your clipboard. You'll also see a notification showing you the password. Hit Done when you're finished. Generating a password via Share Sheet (left) and Siri (right). Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET The password will expire from your clipboard in 10 minutes, so make sure to use it relatively quickly or else you'll need to generate a new password. You can press down in any text field and hit Paste to enter the password from your clipboard. Need more? Don't miss how iOS 26 basically turns your iPad into a Mac.

Indianapolis Star

38 minutes ago

• Indianapolis Star

Ditchit Detonates Iconic Twitter Bird to Symbolize Launch of Local Marketplace

DOVER, DE / ACCESS Newswire In a fiery spectacle worthy of Silicon Valley lore, Ditchit – a rising star in the online marketplace space and rival to OfferUp – has made headlines by purchasing and then blowing up the original 560-pound Twitter bird sign once perched atop the company's San Francisco headquarters. The marketing stunt, filmed in the Nevada desert with a 15-person production crew, four Tesla Cybertrucks, and a Hollywood pyrotechnics expert, marked a symbolic farewell to legacy tech monopolies and a bold introduction to Ditchit's mission: to build a local marketplace that puts people before profits. 'Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X to support free expression. At Ditchit, we're doing the same for local marketplaces,' said Ditchit spokesman James Deluca. 'Today's platforms are filled with ads, fees, and algorithms that prioritize businesses over people. Ditchit is different-free to use, ad-free, and designed to support real communities and real sellers.' The 12-foot-tall Twitter logo, affectionately known as 'Larry,' was purchased at auction for $34,000 earlier this year. While the initial acquisition was driven by nostalgia, the company ultimately decided to transform the artifact into a symbol of disruption. The resulting video, now live on YouTube, shows the massive sign's explosive end outside of Las Vegas, capturing a cinematic moment that's already garnering viral attention. But 'Larry's' story doesn't end in smoke. Fragments of the sign have been salvaged and will be sold on the Ditchit app in a sealed-bid auction starting today. 100% of proceeds will go to the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that champions startup innovation and supports the next generation of entrepreneurs. 'Many entrepreneurs get their start on local marketplace apps,' Deluca added. 'We're here to support that journey-not just through our platform, but through action.' With the stunt, Ditchit isn't just selling a piece of tech history. It's signaling a new era for digital marketplaces – one powered by transparency, accessibility, and the belief that local economies deserve better. About Ditchit Ditchit is a community-first local marketplace built for everyday buyers and sellers. Unlike traditional platforms, Ditchit is ad-free, fee-free, and designed to keep transactions simple and fair. Founded in 2024, the Ditchit app is available for iOS and Android. Media Contact: James Deluca PR Manager, Ditchit SOURCE: Ditchit