LG V60 ThinQ 5G review: Modern network, two screen option, reasonable $900 price Review

For the previous ten days my most important SIM card has lived inside of a T-Cell variation of the LG V60 ThinQ 5G and to be straightforward I am having a hard time using my SIM out of it. It will not have all of the most current and greatest tech observed in a Galaxy S20 Furthermore or Extremely, but the Dual Display cover, amazing audio technological know-how, and extensive battery lifetime necessarily mean it satisfies all my desires at a price tag $five hundred considerably less than the S20 Extremely. The V60 rises to the top of LG’s merchandise line and is undoubtedly really worth contemplating in 2020.

The foldable display phones from Samsung, including the Galaxy Fold I owned for a few months, are probable the foreseeable future of smartphones. LG is heading with tried using and legitimate technological know-how with its Dual Display approach, but that usually means you end up with a possibility-no cost gadget that also has the adaptability to function without the need of the bulk of the next display. LG targeted on hardware improvements to aid the two display set up and there are undoubtedly productivity enhancements available with two six.8 inch displays in hand.

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After trying each the LG V50 and LG G8X, it really is obvious to me that the Dual Display cover is essential for productivity. It presents you the adaptability to have two huge six.8 inch displays for purposes and critical productivity with the potential to pop out the telephone and go solo when you want to journey light-weight.

LG V60 ThinQ 5G technical specs

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
• Display screen: six.8 inch, 2460 x 1080 pixels resolution OLED twenty.5:nine component ratio (395 ppi) manufactured of Gorilla Glass 5
• Functioning method: Android ten with LG UX nine. UI
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB internal with microSD enlargement card slot
• Cameras: 13 megapixel tremendous broad (117 degrees) f/one.nine and 64 megapixel rear f/one.8 cameras. ToF sensor array included. ten megapixel f/one.nine front-facing camera.
• Drinking water resistance: IP68 drinking water and dust score
• Shock resistance: MIL-STD 810G
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.eleven a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.one, GPS, NFC, FM radio
• Battery: 5,000 mAh non-detachable with Qualcomm Fast Charge four+
• Proportions: 169.3 x 77.six x 8.nine mm and 214 grams
• Color: Stylish Blue and Stylish White

The V-collection is targeted on video clip creation and this V60 proceeds this pattern with stereo speakers, four substantial performance microphones (with Voice Bokeh), and AI camera software package with innovative video clip possibilities. It also matches the new Samsung Galaxy S20 line with aid for 8K video clip recording. Not like the rest of the smartphone earth, the LG V60 ThinQ proceeds with a 3.5mm headset jack that supports its substantial top quality 32-little bit Quad DAC functionality.

LG Dual Display technical specs

• Display screen: six.8 inch, 2460 x 1080 pixels resolution OLED twenty.5:nine component ratio (395 ppi)
• Outdoors cover exhibit: 2.one inch mono
• Hinge: 360 Freestop
• Proportions: one hundred seventy five.nine x 86 x fourteen.99 mm and 134 grams
• Color: Black and White

In regards to 5G, the T-Cell and AT&T LG V60 ThinQ styles aid Sub6 (reduced-band) and mid-band (Dash is currently applying it) networks. The Verizon design supports the more rapidly, shorter variety mmWave 5G (substantial-band) technological know-how, but not these other bands so it is not as universal as the Samsung Galaxy S20 Furthermore and Extremely.

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Also: LG G8X ThinQ Dual Display review: For $700, superior productivity than the Galaxy Fold

Components

One particular of the very first points I recognized is the huge dimension of the LG V60 and ten days afterwards I nevertheless imagine the telephone is a little bit too big. With a six.8 inch exhibit it is a little bit taller and a little bit wider than the enormous Samsung Galaxy S20 Extremely 5G. However, it will not have that enormous rear camera bump possibly so it really is a little bit far more sophisticated wanting. The beautiful OLED exhibit is flat with slight curvature at the edges tapering down into the aspect. With the Android ten gesture-primarily based navigation, it feels natural to slide your finger up from the base edge and in from the sides. There is a modest front-facing camera opening at the top, but it suits within just the notification bar and is hardly obvious. Minimal bezels are present all over all four sides.

The brushed metallic edges are properly made with a beveled piece on the base. The beautiful pearl white glass back, also available in Stylish Blue with gold highlights, transitions down from the back into the sides. Very well-spaced, outstanding metallic buttons are present with a electricity button on the correct and volume/Google Assistant buttons on the left. The SIM card/microSD card tray is observed up top. A USB port and 3.5mm headphone jack are on the base. Stereo speaker audio arrives from the base (one.3 Watts) and up over the exhibit (one Watt). Audio from each the headphone jack and stereo speakes is amazing with loud volume and crisp audio performance. The LG 3D Seem Engine utilizes AI to realize and classify audio as voice, new music, or audio results.

Very last year when I analyzed the LG G8X, the Bluetooth audio was terrible so I am happy to report it works flawlessly on the LG V60 with a wide variety of headsets.

Not like Samsung, LG incorporates an optical fingerprint sensor under the front exhibit. It’s a lot more rapidly than Samsung’s ultrasonic technological know-how and it has labored flawlessly for me. There is no deal with unlock technological know-how available nevertheless so I’ve resorted to applying Google’s Sensible Lock functionality to hold the telephone unlocked while I am household.

There is a horizontal camera bar positioned down about a fifth of the way from the top on the back. It is made up of two cameras, a ToF sensor array, and flash.

Wireless charging is supported, as properly as Qualcomm Fast Charge four Furthermore. As I outlined in my Galaxy S20 Extremely comparison you can not share wireless electricity with add-ons, but this is a very exceptional use situation too.

Make confident to be mindful inserting and getting rid of the LG V60 from the Dual Display cover. There are specific directions correct in the box as you unpackage it and it will take a little bit of follow to get it correct so you do not bend the base USB-C connector. A magnetic adapter is included with the Dual Display cover so you can hold your LG V60 in the situation and demand it up. Wireless charging also works with the LG V60 in the Dual Display cover.

Standard audience know that I am a significant Samsung Galaxy Take note fan and use the S Pen really a little bit. I was pleasantly shocked to see Juan Carlos Bagnell post a video clip of a Wacom stylus operating flawlessly on Equally displays of the LG V60 set up. There is also a full portion for pen management in the configurations. Guess what I just ordered?

Software

The LG V60 is managing Android ten with the February Android protection update. LG’s UI has come a extensive way and is reasonably shut to what you see on Google Pixel devices. The Google Find feed can be demonstrated as the left most household display panel, which is superior than Samsung’s new Find possibility.

There are a couple of LG apps installed on the gadget, including an graphic gallery, FM radio app, LG Wellness, LG Pay out, ThinQ household app, and QuickMemo+. 4 games and a website browser, Whale, are installed for you to exam out the Dual Display experience to its fullest. T-Cell also incorporates a couple of of its utilities, including Cell Hotspot, Visual Voicemail, and Title ID that are all practical for a finish T-Cell experience. Will not even get me started off on what you can be expecting from AT&T and Verizon on these phones bought directly from carriers.

I am a large fan of the grid, font, widget, and other possibilities that let you optimize the telephone for your use. I am a little bit sad to see the floating bar seems to be missing, but at least there is a helpful utility for the Dual Display cover.

Even nevertheless there are some advancements in LG’s UI, there are also a few of points that proceed to frustrate me. These incorporate:

• Awful app launcher: LG proceeds its app launcher that will not hold any choice states managing. You can type your apps, say alphabetically, but as soon as you install a new app it goes to the final page. You then have to type every thing yet again to clear points up.
• Intense auto brightness: Most of my phones do a fantastic occupation of balancing brightness when in auto method, but nevertheless yet again LG frustrates me to no end. It is way too intense and makes the exhibit dimmer than it should be in almost every circumstance. I am fantastic for most of the day at fifty five%, but at evening which is way too dazzling. If LG does practically nothing else with its software package in the following telephone I hope it increases auto-brightness controls.

There are also a few of LG-specific software package options I love, including:

• Context Awareness: You can automate connectivity, audio profile, and apps to launch for different eventualities. I particularly like the household, earphones, and Bluetooth gadget possibilities.
• Vibration controls: LG has the ideal haptic response of any Android telephone and it presents you the potential to have vibration match the ringtone for persons. You can also regulate the specific vibration power for incoming phone calls, notifications, and taps.

I was psyched to see that LG’s cell payment competitor to Samsung, LG Pay out, supports each NFC and MST technologies. Google Pay out only aid NFC so it really is awesome to have MST for terminals that do not aid NFC payments. The trouble for me is that LG Pay out nevertheless will not aid my bank so I can not use it.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S20 Extremely 5G review: 2020’s most capable smartphone is fantastic for business

Dual display optimization and use situations

Dual Display configurations are observed within just the Display screen configurations on the telephone. The Dual Display Instrument seems on the correct edge of the most important exhibit to give you the following possibilities: swap screens, display major on twin display, display twin display on major, put major display to rest, broad watch, and convert off twin display. Large watch only seems when apps that aid this functionality are open.

Other configurations for the Dual Display incorporate cover exhibit timeout and everyday timeout agenda, brightness configurations for the next exhibit, wallpaper for the next exhibit, and apps to find for broad watch utilization. Current apps I have installed that aid broad watch incorporate Whale (browser installed by LG), Google Chrome, Gmail, Google, Google Maps, Google Photographs, and YouTube.

There are also apps that have been optimized for the Dual Display experience, as properly as intriguing use situations with the cover in spot. Some examples incorporate:

• Seize shots and video clip: When you launch the camera with the Dual Display screen cover there is a modest icon in the top left navigation bar and tapping on it turns on the next exhibit. This can be helpful when you want to capture exceptional angles with the camera while wanting at the next exhibit as the viewfinder. You can also watch images you just captured on the next exhibit and then capture a comparison shot or subsequent shot with the active viewfinder on the major exhibit.
• Text entry: Open up up an app like Google Docs or Google Continue to keep in which a cursor seems in the app and then the base exhibit will convert into a keyboard for mini QWERTY keyboard entry. You should be applying the LG keyboard for this prolonged keyboard functionality to get the job done. I favor to have the keyboard appear on the major exhibit considering the fact that it is heavier and will equilibrium out the vertical next exhibit ideal.
• Large display watch: When there is an possibility to have the application you are applying appear across each displays at the moment, I have not nevertheless observed a lot utility in this method due to the fact it really is just too hard to disregard the huge hinge and separation concerning the two displays.
• Gaming: LG delivers the potential to set up a custom game controller on a person exhibit, or use a default a person, and then have gameplay appear on the higher exhibit, when in landscape orientation. One particular component of gaming on phones that bothers me when taking part in very first-particular person shooters and other action games is having to use your fingers on the exhibit to regulate enjoy. Obtaining a different exhibit for this is a great possibility, while a physical controller would nevertheless be the ideal. You could also have a game open on a person exhibit and a game tactic information on the other to assist you get previous difficult elements.
• Look at and get the job done: If you can multi-job, then it is fun to have a film taking part in on a person display while you get the job done on the other display. This get the job done is largely consuming points considering the fact that textual content entry on a landscape exhibit is hard when the keyboard will take up 50 % of the viewable exhibit.
• Store and chat: I detest heading to the grocery retailer, but I’ll do it for my spouse if she presents me a listing. I have shopped with the listing in Google Continue to keep on a person aspect and messages open on the other to get updates from my spouse while I am in the retailer.
• Navigate and chat: It is practical to have Google Maps open on a person exhibit and then chat with loved ones or mates as you navigate for a meetup.
• Plan a trip: We will eventually be in a position to journey yet again and it really is helpful to seem for flights on a person display and store for resorts on the other.

Price tag and availability

The entry price tag for a new Samsung Galaxy S20 telephone is $999.99 with the S20 Extremely 5G starting off at $one,399.99. The Iphone eleven Pro begins at $999 while the Iphone eleven Pro Max begins at $one,099. So, you would be expecting the LG V60 to commence at the $one,000 price tag, but astonishingly the telephone is available now from T-Cell for $899.99 and that incorporates the Dual Display cover. AT&T sells the LG V60 for $899.99 and Verizon sells it for $949.99. LG presents AT&T and Verizon buyers a no cost Dual Display cover, but you have to submit that assert following you buy the telephone from these carriers. T-Cell incorporates the Dual Display cover with the telephone.

Every day ordeals and conclusions

LG has always arrived in at a launch price tag a little bit reduced than many others, but this year it is truly trying to compete with a price tag hundreds considerably less than equivalent flagship phones. In addition, users get a twin display experience that aids choose productivity and effectiveness to the following degree.

The camera software package is a lot superior than I’ve noticed on other LG phones in the previous and it effortlessly rivals the ideal camera software package on other Android phones. I am operating on a camera deep dive report for the LG V60 considering the fact that there are so quite a few possibilities available and the cameras are helping me capture some great pictures while there are some options not observed on the level of competition. I captured video clip written content applying standard, ASMR, and Voice Bokeh modes and the LG V60 may possibly be the ideal video clip recording telephone on the marketplace. Keep tuned for far more on the camera performance in a foreseeable future report.

Even nevertheless I have not been in a position to conduct my regular battery screening of the LG V60 on my everyday commute, I have employed it head-to-head with a few of other phones around the previous ten days and the LG V60 is the battery champion. I am looking at 6 to seven hrs of display on time and it is heading at least a full day. I’ve been managing with it, screening out 5G when I go for drives, and applying it all day for viewing video clip written content, making phone calls, and speaking with loved ones and mates.

I also analyzed out the RF sign power in a couple of parts head-to-head towards the S20 Extremely 5G. The LG V60 matched, and in some situations exceeded, the reception power of the S20 Extremely so that makes it the RF reception correct now too.

Telephone phone calls audio great, reception is exceptional, new music rocks with the speakers and headphone jack, the Dual Display has quite a few great capabilities, and it really is a great all round telephone. It’s a person of the most economical 5G phones available now and the Dual Display cover makes it a person of the most effective too.