Nostalgia for older flagship phones? The LG G5 SE and G6 offer compelling features at potentially attractive prices. But which one reigns supreme? We're diving deep into their specs, performance, and overall value to help you make an informed decision.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The LG G6 generally wins due to its superior Snapdragon 821 chipset, slightly better camera, and wireless charging. While the G5 SE offers a decent experience, the G6's performance and features make it the more compelling choice for most users, especially considering their age.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H840 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 - H840 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, April. Released 2016, June | 2017, February 26. Released 2017, April 07 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.3 mm (5.88 x 2.91 x 0.29 in) | 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm (5.86 x 2.83 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 156 g (5.50 oz) | 163 g (5.75 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~554 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~564 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.3 inches, 77.4 cm2 (~70.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.7 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~78.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| | Always-on display | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53) | Quad-core (2x2.35 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 510 | Adreno 530 |
| OS | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat), LG Optimus UX UI 5 | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), LG UX 8 UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.8, 29mm (standard), 1/2.6", 3-axis OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.2" | 13 MP, f/1.8, 30mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF, 3-axis OIS
13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), no AF |
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 5 MP, f/2.2, 18mm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 32-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (market dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 18W wired, QC3, 50% in 30 min
Wireless (USA) |
| Stand-by | Up to 380 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 20 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable | Li-Po 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Silver, Titan, Gold | Astro Black, Ice Platinum, Terra Gold, Marine Blue, Mystic White, Raspberry Rose, Moroccan Blue, Lavender Violet |
| Models | H845, H840, H848 | H870, H870DS, H873, H870S, LGM-G600L, H872, H871, LS993, US997, vs988, VS988, LGM-G600K, LGM-G600S, AS993, LGUS997, H870AR, H872PR, H871S, H870I |
| Price | About 350 EUR | About 240 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.65 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.23 W/kg (head) 0.15 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -94.4dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 72h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 2053 (nominal), 3.556 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 66dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 74dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 158785 (v7)
GeekBench: 4175 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 8.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG G5 SE
- Compact size
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- QC3 fast charging
- Modular design (though modules are rare now)
- Older chipset
- Less powerful camera
- No wireless charging
- Limited software updates
LG G6
- More powerful Snapdragon 821 chipset
- Better camera quality
- Wireless charging (USA)
- Slightly more modern design
- Wider 18:9 display
- Larger size compared to G5 SE
- Older software
- Battery degradation likely due to age
Display Comparison
Both phones feature excellent displays with a high contrast ratio of 2053 (nominal) and 3.556 (sunlight), ensuring good visibility even in bright conditions. The G6 has a slightly wider 18:9 aspect ratio, offering more screen real estate for media consumption and multitasking. The G5 SE has a more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable cameras, the LG G6 generally produces better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The G6's camera hardware and image processing algorithms are superior. Both offer video recording capabilities, but the G6 may have slightly better stabilization.
Performance
The LG G6's Snapdragon 821 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage over the G5 SE's Snapdragon 652. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the G6. The G6's quad-core Kryo CPU is more powerful than the G5 SE's octa-core Cortex-A72/A53 combination.
Battery Life
Both phones boast an impressive endurance rating of 72 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the G6 has the added benefit of wireless charging (in the USA), offering greater convenience.
Buying Guide
The LG G5 SE is a good option for budget-conscious users who prioritize a compact size and don't need top-tier performance. The LG G6 is ideal for those seeking a more powerful device with a better camera and a slightly more modern design, willing to spend a bit more (if available).
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are software updates still available for these phones?
Software support for both the LG G5 SE and G6 has largely ended. You may find custom ROMs available, but official updates are unlikely.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
The G6 is generally considered more durable due to its slightly more robust build quality and water resistance (IP68). The G5 SE has a plastic build.
❓ Can I still find accessories for these phones?
Finding new accessories might be challenging, but used accessories are likely available online. Cases and screen protectors are generally easier to find than specialized modules for the G5 SE.
