Huawei P40 vs LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

Released in early 2020, the Huawei P40 and LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW represented distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The P40, leveraging Huawei’s Kirin chipset, focused on camera prowess and sleek design, while the V60 prioritized 5G connectivity and a more robust feature set. With both devices now available at significantly reduced prices, a direct comparison is more relevant than ever.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and 5G capabilities, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW emerges as the stronger choice. The Snapdragon 865 offers a more consistent experience, especially in demanding tasks, and benefits from wider software support. However, the P40 remains a compelling option for photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P40 LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 412, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 66
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA260, 261 mmWave
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat22, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, March 262020, February 26. Released 2020, April 02
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, April 07Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions148.9 x 71.1 x 8.5 mm (5.86 x 2.80 x 0.33 in)169.3 x 77.6 x 8.9 mm (6.67 x 3.06 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM (pre-installed)
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)218 g (7.69 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant* Method 516.6, Procedure IV "Transit Drop" *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~422 ppi density)1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLEDP-OLED, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 12, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual-64 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (standard), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/1.9, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth)
FeaturesLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), AF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, HDR10+, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm IR TOF 3D, (biometrics sensor only)10 MP, f/1.9, 30mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio (USA model only)
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging22.5W wiredWired, PD2.0, QC4 Wireless
TypeLi-Po 3800 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSilver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, BlackClassy Blue, Classy White
ModelsANA-AN00, ANA-TN00, ANA-NX9, ANA-LX4LM-V600VML, LMV600VML
PriceAbout 520 EURAbout 870 EUR
SAR-0.85 W/kg (head)     1.12 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 89h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -28.9 LUFS (Average) -
Performance AnTuTu: 486583 (v8) GeekBench: 12619 (v4.4), 3148 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Huawei P40

  • Exceptional battery endurance (89h)
  • Strong camera performance (marketing focus)
  • Sleek and lightweight design

  • Slower charging speed (22.5W)
  • Limited software ecosystem
  • Potential for throttling under sustained load

LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 865
  • Faster charging (PD2.0, QC4, Wireless)
  • Wider software support and 5G compatibility

  • Battery life may be slightly lower than P40
  • Potentially larger and heavier design
  • Image processing style may be less appealing to some

Display Comparison

The Huawei P40 boasts a measured peak brightness of 589 nits, a respectable figure, but the LG V60’s display specifications, while not explicitly stated, likely match or exceed this given LG’s display expertise. Both utilize 'infinite' contrast ratios, typical of OLED panels. The V60’s potential for higher refresh rates (a common feature in LG’s V series) isn’t confirmed in the provided data, but would be a significant advantage for smoother scrolling and gaming. The P40’s display is geared towards accurate color reproduction, while the V60 likely prioritizes vibrant, punchy visuals.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are marketed as camera-centric, but the specifics are limited. The P40’s strength lies in its image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor size (not specified). The V60, leveraging Qualcomm’s ISP, offers strong video capabilities and potentially better low-light performance. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the V60’s support for advanced video codecs and features, common in LG’s flagship phones, gives it an edge for videographers. The absence of details regarding the P40’s camera setup makes a detailed comparison challenging, but its marketing emphasizes photographic quality.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Huawei’s Kirin 990 5G (7nm+) versus Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+). While both are fabricated on a similar process node, the Snapdragon 865’s Cortex-A77 cores offer a slight architectural advantage over the P40’s Cortex-A76 cores, resulting in better single-core performance. The V60’s CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) is optimized for sustained performance, potentially mitigating thermal throttling better than the P40’s (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55). The Snapdragon 865 also benefits from Qualcomm’s superior GPU, providing a more robust gaming experience.

Battery Life

The Huawei P40 achieves an impressive endurance rating of 89 hours, suggesting excellent power efficiency. However, the LG V60 compensates with faster charging capabilities – supporting Wired, PD2.0, QC4, and Wireless charging. The P40’s 22.5W wired charging is comparatively slow. While the V60’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the combination of faster charging and Qualcomm’s power management features likely results in a comparable real-world battery experience, despite the P40’s higher endurance rating.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei P40 if you prioritize a strong camera system and are comfortable with the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. Its 89-hour endurance rating also appeals to users needing exceptional battery life. Buy the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW if you value consistent performance, fast 5G speeds, and a more open software experience. The V60 is ideal for gamers and power users who demand responsiveness and future-proofing.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Huawei P40 suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990 5G is a capable chipset, its 7nm+ process and cooling solution may lead to noticeable throttling during prolonged, demanding gaming. The Snapdragon 865 in the V60, with its optimized architecture and potentially better thermal management, is likely to maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the 5G UW (Ultra Wideband) support on the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW impact real-world speeds compared to the P40's 5G?
The LG V60’s 5G UW support utilizes higher frequency bands, offering significantly faster 5G speeds in areas with UW coverage. The P40’s 5G capabilities, while present, are likely limited to sub-6GHz bands, resulting in slower speeds where UW is available. However, the benefit of UW is entirely dependent on carrier support and location.
❓ Is the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei P40 a major limitation for most users?
Yes, the absence of GMS is a significant drawback for many users. It means no pre-installed Google apps (like Gmail, Maps, YouTube) and compatibility issues with some popular apps. Huawei’s AppGallery is growing, but it doesn’t offer the same breadth of applications as the Google Play Store.