LG G8 ThinQ vs. LG Velvet 5G UW: A Detailed Showdown

LG's smartphone journey has been a mix of innovation and eventual decline. Two notable devices from their lineup are the LG G8 ThinQ, boasting flagship specs from its era, and the LG Velvet 5G UW, a more mainstream offering with 5G connectivity. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone holds up best today.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The LG G8 ThinQ offers superior performance thanks to its Snapdragon 855, while the Velvet 5G UW brings 5G connectivity and a slightly more modern design. For raw power and a brighter display, the G8 wins. For 5G and potentially better software support, the Velvet is the choice.

PHONES
Phone Names LG G8 ThinQ LG Velvet 5G UW
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 66
5G bands-260, 261 mmWave
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1000/75 Mbps, 5G 2Gbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 66 - VerisonCDMA 800 / 1900
Launch
Announced2019, February 24. Released 2019, April 112020, August 19. Released 2020, August 21
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions151.9 x 71.8 x 8.4 mm (5.98 x 2.83 x 0.33 in)167.2 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM (pre-installed)
Weight167 g (5.89 oz)-
 IP68 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 conditionsIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5-
Resolution1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~564 ppi density)1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.0 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, HDR10P-OLED
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 620
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, LG UX
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - single-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual or Triple12 MP, f/1.5, 27mm (standard), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/1.9, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, no AF or 12 MP, f/1.5, 27mm (standard), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/1.9, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, no AF 12 MP, 52mm (telephoto), f/2.4, 1.0µm, 2x optical zoom, dual pixel PDAF, OIS-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple-48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR10, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec.4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth/biometrics sensor)16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm
Video1080p@60fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radio (market/region dependent)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFace ID, Hand ID, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless25W wired, PD3.0, QC4 9W wireless
TypeLi-Po 3500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4300 mAh
Misc
ColorsPlatinum Gray, New Aurora Black, New Moroccan Blue, Carmine RedAurora Red
ModelsLMG820QM7, LM-G820UMB, LMG820UM0, LMG820UM1, LMG820UM2, LM-G820N, LM-G820, LM-G820QMLM-G900V, LM-G900V
PriceAbout 350 EURAbout 590 EUR
Tests
Audio quality Noise -94.1dB / Crosstalk -87.6dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 79h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: infinite-
Loudspeaker Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 92dB -
Performance AnTuTu: 331537 (v7), 362730 (v8) GeekBench: 10735 (v4.4), 2700 (v5.1) GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

LG G8 ThinQ

  • Superior Performance (Snapdragon 855)
  • Brighter Display (655 nits)
  • Excellent Battery Life (79h Endurance)
  • Infinite Contrast Ratio

  • Older Device - Limited Software Updates
  • Design Feels Dated
  • No 5G Connectivity

LG Velvet 5G UW

  • 5G Connectivity
  • Larger Display (6.8 inches)
  • Slightly More Modern Design
  • Faster Wired Charging (25W)

  • Lower Performance (Snapdragon 765G)
  • Likely Less Bright Display
  • Potentially Shorter Battery Life
  • Older Device - Limited Software Updates

Display Comparison

The LG G8 ThinQ features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a measured peak brightness of 655 nits and an infinite contrast ratio, offering excellent color accuracy and deep blacks. The Velvet 5G UW has a 6.8-inch OLED display, likely with slightly less peak brightness, but a larger screen size for media consumption. The G8's display is noticeably brighter.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the G8 likely has a slight edge in image quality due to its higher-end chipset and potentially better image processing algorithms. The Velvet 5G UW's camera is still quite good, offering decent image quality in various lighting conditions. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) would be needed for a more precise comparison, but the G8's processing advantage is likely noticeable.

Performance

Here's where the G8 truly shines. The Snapdragon 855 in the G8 ThinQ is significantly more powerful than the Snapdragon 765G in the Velvet 5G UW. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better performance in graphically intensive games on the G8. The Velvet is still capable, but it won't match the G8's raw processing power.

Battery Life

The LG G8 ThinQ boasts an impressive endurance rating of 79 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The Velvet 5G UW's battery life is likely good, but not as exceptional as the G8's. The Velvet's 25W charging is slightly faster than the G8's 21W wired charging, but both support wireless charging at 9W.

Buying Guide

The LG G8 ThinQ is ideal for users prioritizing performance and a vibrant display, especially those who enjoy gaming or demanding applications. The LG Velvet 5G UW is better suited for users who need 5G connectivity and prefer a more streamlined, modern design, and potentially better software support (though both are aging devices).

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are software updates still available for these phones?
Both phones are quite old, so major software updates are unlikely. Security patches may be available for a limited time, but don't expect Android 13 or later.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The LG G8 ThinQ is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset.