It’s no secret that LG’s mobile sector had been struggling for some years, but in April 2021, the company made an official statement confirming what many had long believed was in the works: the division’s shutdown.
The G6 was a brilliant return to form following the disastrous modular G5, and it was one of the first smartphones to use a large 18:9 aspect ratio display, a trend that is currently dominating the industry. The V60 and Velvet, two of its most recent significant launches, both have an optional dual-screen attachment as an affordable substitute for the pricey foldables provided by Samsung and others.
Even though LG won’t be releasing any new smartphones any time soon, the company has stated that its current line of “premium handsets” will continue to receive “up to three revisions of Android operating system updates from the year of purchase.” That makes the devices featured here more desirable than the large number of vendors who are still actively releasing phones.
1. LG V60 ThinQ 5G, which is the best overall
The V60 ThinQ 5G is a niche success that excels in areas like battery life, video capture, and audio but lacks appeal to the general public due to LG’s “quirky” user interface and the optional Dual Screen attachment, which people either love or detest.
When compared to the competition, LG has made some unexpected choices, but upon reflection, it becomes clear that these options collectively make a lot of sense. For instance, the V60 doesn’t have a high refresh rate display; instead, it has a Full HD panel with a lower resolution than its predecessor, but it still offers excellent endurance, even when utilizing the second screen. The phone’s raw speed, made possible by a Snapdragon 865 chip and 5G connectivity, is also worth mentioning.
The only other issue is that there are only three main US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon) where you can get the V60 (at the time of writing).
2. LG Velvet, second-best design
The Velvet, one of LG’s few prominent models for 2020, emphasizes a design-led experience while keeping recognizable elements like DualScreen accessory support.
It is reasonably priced and boasts a top-notch (albeit not technically top-tier) Snapdragon 765G CPU, 5G, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and a high-resolution P-OLED display.
Beyond that, the Velvet doesn’t really stick out, but if you like the brand or are just seeking for a foldable experience that’s more reasonable, this is one of their most recent products worth taking into consideration.
3. LG G8X ThinQ – Packed with Features
The G8X is a very uninspiring 2019 flagship if you’re not sold on the Dual Screen attachment. Its decent specs and uninspired design make it a phone that shouldn’t let you down but also won’t excite you either.
There is less to get in the way of doing two things at once for people who are intrigued by the possibilities of a second screen thanks to the larger panel, improved hinge, and front-facing notification display that virtually all design flaws from the original V50 design have been fixed. Thanks to the excellent battery life, multitasking and productivity are greatly enhanced.
Undoubtedly, the camera is a letdown, especially the grainy, almost broken, ultrawide lens, but rapid performance, fantastic audio options, and two lovely screens make up for it. Add wireless charging and waterproofing, and the still-discounted price starts to seem like a deal.
4. The LG V50 ThinQ 5G is incredibly productive.
When seen separately, the V50 ThinQ is essentially just a 5G V40 with a faster processor. That has both good and bad effects: the same triple-lens camera system and quicker processing are offset by a larger body and significantly shorter battery life.
We adored the V40, but over a year later the V50 didn’t feel as competitive, even when it launched. This was due to the V50’s internal specifications, slightly dated design, and other minor features, which made the high price difficult to explain.
The DualScreen attachment is the next. To put it bluntly, most people will find this to be a gimmick, and a quite foolish one at that, which may be why it isn’t even offered in the US. If you can overlook a few minor design problems, it’s also a very inventive method to bring the foldable experience to a significantly cheaper price point, and if you’re a dedicated multitasker, it actually works better than you might anticipate.
5. LG V40 ThinQ – Complete
This LG phone used to be the top model available. It was a fantastic pick due to its elegant appearance, adaptable cameras, excellent DAC, and complete waterproofing.
Conclusion
Highlights include the display and wireless charging. Even though it’s not our favorite Android skin, performance is still smooth and LG’s Android skin is more conservative than in prior iterations.
