The LG G7 Fit and Huawei Mate 20 Lite represent a fascinating crossroads in the mid-range smartphone market. The G7 Fit, leveraging Qualcomm’s older but potent Snapdragon 821, aims for performance, while the Mate 20 Lite focuses on a balanced experience with Huawei’s Kirin 710. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the most value in 2024.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw processing power and responsiveness, the LG G7 Fit emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 821, despite its age, offers a noticeable performance edge over the Kirin 710. However, the Mate 20 Lite’s excellent battery life and comparable charging speed make it a strong contender for those prioritizing longevity.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - SNE-LX1, SNE-LX3 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - USA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - SNE-LX1 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 - EU | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 28 - SNE-LX3 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, August. Released 2018, November | 2018, August. Released 2018, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 153.2 x 71.9 x 8 mm (6.03 x 2.83 x 0.31 in) | 158.3 x 75.3 x 7.6 mm (6.23 x 2.96 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 156 g (5.50 oz) | 172 g (6.07 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 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~563 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, HDR10 | IPS LCD |
| | Always-on display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core (2x2.35 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 (14 nm) | Kirin 710 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Mali-G51 MP4 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo) | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 20 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, PDAF | - |
| Video | 4K@24/30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm
2 MP, depth sensor |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| 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 | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (SNE-LX1 only) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3750 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | New Aurora Black, New Platinum Gray | Sapphire Blue, Black, Platinum gold |
| Models | LM-Q850, LMQ850EM, LMQ850QM, LMQ850EMW | SNE-AL00, SNE-LX1, SNE-LX2, SNE-LX3, INE-LX2 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 230 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -94.7dB / Crosstalk -73.1dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 97h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1470:1 (nominal), 3.051 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 67dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 84dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 136583 (v7)
GeekBench: 5574 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 6.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG G7 Fit
- Superior processor performance with the Snapdragon 821.
- Potentially smoother user experience due to faster processing speeds.
- May offer better app compatibility due to Qualcomm’s wider developer support.
- Older chipset may be more prone to thermal throttling.
- Battery life may be slightly lower than the Mate 20 Lite.
- Lack of detailed camera specifications.
Huawei Mate 20 lite
- Excellent battery life with a 97-hour endurance rating.
- Efficient Kirin 710 chipset for everyday tasks.
- Comparable 18W fast charging.
- Slower processor performance compared to the Snapdragon 821.
- May struggle with demanding games and applications.
- Image processing quality relies heavily on software optimization.
Display Comparison
Both the LG G7 Fit and Huawei Mate 20 Lite share a contrast ratio of 1470:1 (nominal) and 3.051 in sunlight, suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, the context data lacks specifics on panel technology (LCD vs. OLED) or resolution. Given the Mate 20 Lite’s market positioning, it likely utilizes an IPS LCD, while the G7 Fit could potentially have a higher-quality IPS panel. The absence of refresh rate data suggests both operate at the standard 60Hz, limiting their appeal to users accustomed to smoother scrolling.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given Huawei’s historical strength in mobile photography, the Mate 20 Lite likely benefits from more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the Mate 20 Lite is unlikely to significantly impact image quality, serving primarily as a marketing feature. The G7 Fit’s camera performance will likely rely more heavily on the Snapdragon 821’s ISP capabilities.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The LG G7 Fit’s Snapdragon 821, built on a 14nm process, features a quad-core configuration with Kryo cores, offering a peak clock speed of 2.35 GHz. This contrasts with the Huawei Mate 20 Lite’s Kirin 710 (12nm), an octa-core processor with a mix of Cortex-A73 and A53 cores peaking at 2.2 GHz. While the Kirin 710 has more cores, the Snapdragon 821’s superior architecture and higher clock speeds translate to better single-core performance, crucial for app launch times and overall responsiveness. The 12nm process of the Kirin 710 *should* offer better efficiency, but the Snapdragon 821’s age means it may be more prone to thermal throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
Both the LG G7 Fit and Huawei Mate 20 Lite boast an endurance rating of 97 hours, indicating comparable battery life. Both also support 18W wired charging, suggesting similar 0-100% charge times. While the G7 Fit’s more powerful processor *could* consume more power, the Kirin 710’s efficiency and potentially larger battery capacity (data missing) in the Mate 20 Lite likely offset this difference, resulting in similar real-world battery performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG G7 Fit if you need a phone capable of handling demanding applications and occasional gaming without significant slowdown. It’s ideal for users who value a smoother, more responsive user experience. Buy the Huawei Mate 20 Lite if you prioritize all-day battery life and a consistently reliable experience for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and communication. It’s the better choice for users who don’t heavily rely on mobile gaming or resource-intensive apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 821 in the LG G7 Fit struggle with newer, more demanding games?
While the Snapdragon 821 was a flagship processor in its time, newer games optimized for more recent chipsets may experience frame drops or require lower graphics settings. The G7 Fit is capable of gaming, but don't expect a top-tier experience with the latest titles.
❓ Does the Huawei Mate 20 Lite's camera perform well in low-light conditions?
Without specific aperture information, it's difficult to say definitively. However, Huawei typically employs software-based night modes to improve low-light performance. Expect decent results, but likely not on par with phones featuring larger sensors and optical image stabilization.
❓ Is the 18W charging on either phone truly 'fast charging' by today's standards?
18W charging was considered fast charging a few years ago, but it's relatively slow compared to the 30W, 65W, or even 120W charging technologies available on newer smartphones. Expect a full charge to take around 1.5 to 2 hours.
