LG K32 review shows how this phone has military-tested build quality as well as other features like dual-camera, big battery, and large screen.
LG K32 smartphone was released in December 2020. When you are looking for a budget-friendly handheld with attractive specs, this phone is one of the choices. We especially like budget phones from LG because it has quality.
In this particular model, LG K32 offers a Qualcomm chipset with 2GB RAM and 32GB ROM memory. It has an HD+ screen with a spacious 6.2-inch size. This phone comes in a full-screen style with a v-shaped notch on the top.
It also has a dual-camera, following the trend nowadays. The Android version installed here is also the latest. Meanwhile, the battery capacity is quite decent at 3,000mAh.
See more on our LG K32 review to find more features the phone has. Afterward, you can make a conclusion if this phone is for you.
Page Contents:
Key Specs
LG K32 specifications:
- Weight: 169.5g
- Dimensions: 157.7 x 75.4 x 8.4mm
- OS: Android 10
- Screen size: 6.2-inch
- Resolution: 1520 x 720
- CPU: 1.3GHz Quad-core, Qualcomm 215
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Battery: 3,000mAh, Non-removable
- Rear camera: 13MP + 2MP
- Front camera: 5MP
Design
This phone is a medium-sized device with a dimension of 157.7 x 75.4 x 8.4mm. Its weight is average at 169.5g. As for the design, LG K32 looks like many of its siblings from the manufacturer. If we’re being honest, there’s nothing particularly striking about the phone’s exterior.
Its frame is black, but with a grey back cover. Only with a slight glance, you will notice there’s no fingerprint reader here. The gray back cover looks plain and uninspiring. There are the cameras, the speaker, and the LG logo.
Like its predecessors, LG K32 features a Google Assistant button which you can find on the left. The front area is not occupied fully with the display. There is space and it is relatively thick. Adopting today’s design, LG K32 uses a notch to house its front camera.
The phone’s design may look bland. However, the nice surprise lies in the build quality. LG K32 is designed for toughness. It passed the MIL-STD-810G military standard test. That means LG K32 can withstand extreme temperatures, humidity, shocks, and drops.
To conclude, this is the phone for people who search for a strong but affordable phone. They may overlook design because it’s not a priority. Instead, getting a good build-quality is what’s more important.
Read also: LG K32 User Manual
Display
We can say that LG K32 prides itself on its large 6.2-inch screen. LG K32 aims for bigger and better viewing with that size. The quality of the screen is HD+, with a resolution of 1520 x 720. Meanwhile, the aspect ratio is 19:9.
The display is curved at all sides, giving an edge-to-edge impression. It’s actually not, but on full screen, you can ignore the bezels a bit. Depending on the individual, the notch can become an awkward bump on the screen.
Brightness is good, so is the viewing angle. However, the phone is not sharp enough to be used on a sunny day. It lacks sharpness and we are not surprised. Although the name suggests high definition, this quality still falls short when compared to a Full HD screen, for example.
However, it’s true that at least, the phone fulfills the “bigger and better viewing” goal. The size is what we like the most. It makes watching movies more fun and immersive. The same thing applies to playing games and just scrolling the phone for apps. There is plenty of space too for reading, emails, and document editing.
Camera
The dual-camera on LG K32 has a unique combination. It consists of a 13MP main lens and a secondary 2MP macro lens. Typically, we often find a wide-angle lens being the second camera on a phone. Not this time. Meanwhile, buyers will get a 5MP shooter for the selfie camera.
The back camera comes with PDAF technology for more versatile shooting. The PDAF stands for Phase Detection Auto Focus. This feature minimizes blur especially for moving objects. Additionally, it helps the camera gain more focus and clarity. The 13MP resolution is average, though. There are fewer details unlike in a camera with a larger resolution.
The macro camera is only 2MP. It has an interesting feature, regardless. LG calls it Power Focus. Basically, it’s a 4cm focal distance that lets the camera capture super small objects. We recommend experimenting with it with objects like flowers, small animals, or raindrops. It also works for close-up food photos.
For video recording, the back camera can take 30fps videos. We haven’t mentioned the HDR feature too, which is also available on the main lens. The front-facing camera is able to record the same quality video at 30fps. However, it is a fixed focus lens instead of an autofocus one.
If we may conclude, the dual-camera LG K32 is decent but buyers could have gotten more. Having a macro camera as a sidekick is often not enough. Especially when you want to be able to take blurred background pictures. On this phone, the only way to get such photos is through the software on the Camera app.
Read also:
- Alcatel U50 Review: Compact Design, Basic Functionalities
- LG K31 Review: Affordable Choice with Fingerprint Reader
Storage
LG K32 packs a 32GB ROM on its system. This internal storage is expandable through an SD card slot. You can add as much as 32GB to the existing capacity. As always, an SD card is not included in the box. You will need to purchase it separately.
Without the SD card, the 32GB internal storage hosts enough apps and data for essential tasks only. If you are an active photographer, for example, that capacity would run out easily. A 32GB capacity is quite average on budget phones. It’s not a lot, but at this price, it’s hard to expect more.
Performance
This phone runs on a Quad-core processor Qualcomm 215 that has a 1.3GHz clock speed. The CPU comes with 2GB of RAM and Android 10 on the software side.
At a glance, it looks like an acceptable configuration for a budget phone. This setup promises speed, fluidity and power efficiency. It’s not by any means faster than a flagship, but you can still do a lot with LG K32. Use the phone for reading news, browsing social media, and sending emails. These tasks are easy to do and don’t give many problems.
The launch time on apps varies depending on the app itself. It feels laggy on certain apps, especially the ones needing to launch graphics heavily. Qualcomm 215 has a GPU but it’s not for gaming. As a result, expect jitters on 3D mobile games. They can still run but the graphic setting must not be too high.
It’s another story with streaming. LG K32 handles this activity well. You can enjoy hours of entertainment without any significant performance drop. There’s no difference whether it’s streaming your favorite shows or listening to music through services like Spotify. The phone also handles multitasking well at the same time.
The RAM capacity is 2GB. It’s an average size of RAM for a budget phone. You can open several apps at once and the phone still can handle it. However, try to not burden the phone too much because those 2GB can run out quickly. This rule also applies to internet surfing. It’s better to not open many tabs at once.
LG K32 comes with an Android 10 operating system. The Android just doesn’t come as-is. The interface is modified by LG, resulting in their signature LG UX. It’s beautiful looking, simple, yet does not look plain. LG also included some custom features and LG apps. All these are pre-installed.
This phone is also equipped with some helpful built-in features. Among the most significant ones is Google Assistant. Google Assistant comes with Android, but having a dedicated button for it is something unique to LG phones. Additionally, you will also get Face Unlock, hearing aid compatibility, and some basic sensors like the accelerometer.
If there’s one thing missing in this LG K32 review for performance, it’s the absence of a fingerprint reader. Having this technology is almost a necessity nowadays. It’s unfortunate LG K32 doesn’t provide that.
Connectivity
LG K32 is a 4G phone that is also compatible to older bands like 3G and 2G. However, unless you have a coverage issue, it’s best to stick with 4G. Calling with 4G proves to be more seamless and without interruption. The network can also reach 150Mbps for internet and browsing.
LG K32 uses single band 802.11/b/g/n technology for Wi-Fi. It’s quite standard and the connection is fast. You can use it as an alternative for mobile data. This phone also provides Bluetooth 5.0, which is the latest version, and GPS. For connection via other cables, you got the USB 2.0 (Micro USB.)
The Micro USB is an older version, due to the phone’s status as an entry-level device. The newer USB Type-C is getting more popular around budget phones, sadly not LG K32. This phone also doesn’t have NFC.
Battery
The 3,000mAh battery on LG K32 promises to hold the phone all day. It gives peace of mind while users browse hours of entertainment on the phone. Be it watching movies or playing games, the battery can handle rigorous activities like this for a long time before needing to charge.
LG K32 can reach up to 292 hours on standby. For calling, you can talk non-stop for up to 10 hours before the battery is dead. Make sure you know this is just an estimate. Battery durability, in the end, depends on the user’s habits. Lastly, if you are curious about fast charging, sadly it isn’t available on LG K32.
Is the LG K32 a good phone?
Our LG K32 review recommends this phone for beginner users. Additionally, LG K32 is for anyone wanting a decent smartphone without making a hole in the pocket. It costs $150 to own this phone. You can get it even cheaper through an installment of $6.25/mo for 24 months.
There is some goodness to celebrate with LG K32. It has a large display, a military-standard build, and a dual camera. On the other hand, some things you need to compromise. You have to be content not to have a fingerprint sensor with LG K32. That’s one of the drawbacks this phone has.
LG K32 Pros
- Tough build
- Large display
- Dual camera
LG K32 Cons
- No fingerprint reader
- Small external storage