LG G8X ThinQ vs. LG G8S ThinQ: A Deep Dive into Battery, Charging, and Performance

The LG G8X and G8S ThinQ represent LG's 2019 flagship efforts, both powered by the Snapdragon 855. While sharing a core chipset, they diverge in key areas like battery endurance and charging capabilities, making the choice less straightforward than it appears. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity, the LG G8X ThinQ emerges as the winner. Its significantly higher endurance rating of 111 hours, compared to the G8S's unlisted but implied lower rating, translates to a tangible advantage in real-world usage. While the G8S offers a slightly more streamlined package, the G8X's battery life is a compelling differentiator.

PHONES
Phone Names LG G8X ThinQ LG G8S ThinQ
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 1960/75 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - USA-
Launch
Announced2019, September 06. Released 2019, November 012019, February 24. Released 2019, July 02
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.3 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)155.3 x 76.6 x 8 mm (6.11 x 3.02 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)181 g (6.38 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *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 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2248 pixels (~401 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.21 inches, 97.6 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10G-OLED, HDR10
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 640
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM modelmicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - single-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model
Internal128GB 6GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 9mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single3.15 MP, AF-
Triple-12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1.4µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.6, 49mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.4, 14mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@240fps, HDR, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth sensor)
Video4K@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording Tuned by Meridian Audio32-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, 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
BrowserHTML, Adobe Flash-
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless18W wired, QC3 Wireless
Talk timeUp to 12 h (multimedia)-
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 3550 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsNew Aurora BlackMirror Black, Mirror Teal, Mirror White, Carmine Red, New Aurora Black, New Moroccan Blue
ModelsLMG850EMW, LM-G850, 901LG, LM-G850NLMG810, LM-G810, LMG810EAW
PriceAbout 560 EURAbout 480 EUR
SAR1.12 W/kg (body)     -
SAR EU0.90 W/kg (head)     -
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.2dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 111h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.9 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 339726 (v7), 411980 (v8) GeekBench: 11251 (v4.4), 2870 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

LG G8X ThinQ

  • Superior battery endurance (111h rating)
  • Faster 21W wired charging with PD and QC3
  • Includes 9W wireless charging

  • Potentially larger form factor (unconfirmed)
  • Camera specifications are unknown

LG G8S ThinQ

  • Potentially more compact design (unconfirmed)
  • Wireless charging support
  • Shares the same Snapdragon 855 performance

  • Slower 18W wired charging
  • Lower battery endurance (implied)

Display Comparison

Both the G8X and G8S feature OLED displays, but detailed specifications beyond the G8X’s 603 nits peak brightness are absent. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests both utilize OLED’s inherent pixel-level dimming. Without knowing the G8S’s brightness, it’s difficult to assess a clear advantage, but the G8X’s measured brightness indicates a strong performance in outdoor visibility. The lack of refresh rate information is a notable omission, as 90Hz or 120Hz panels were becoming increasingly common in this price bracket.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering minimal insight into camera performance. Without sensor size, aperture, or megapixel counts, a detailed comparison is impossible. The absence of specific camera details suggests the camera systems are likely similar, focusing on general-purpose photography rather than specialized features. The lack of information prevents assessing low-light performance or video stabilization capabilities.

Performance

Both devices are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), featuring an octa-core CPU configuration identical in clock speeds: 1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, and 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485. This means raw processing power will be virtually indistinguishable between the two. Thermal management, however, could differ based on chassis design and cooling solutions, but without specific testing data, it’s impossible to determine which handles sustained loads better. The shared chipset ensures a similar experience in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.

Battery Life

The LG G8X ThinQ boasts an endurance rating of 111 hours, a significant metric indicating real-world battery performance. The G8S ThinQ lacks a published endurance rating, implying a shorter runtime. The G8X supports 21W wired charging with Power Delivery (PD) and Quick Charge 3 (QC3), alongside 9W wireless charging. The G8S is limited to 18W wired charging with QC3 and offers wireless charging, but the wattage is unspecified. The G8X’s faster wired charging and inclusion of PD provide greater flexibility and potentially quicker top-ups, while the wireless charging on both offers convenient, albeit slower, charging options.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG G8X ThinQ if you need all-day battery life and value the convenience of wireless charging. It’s ideal for power users, travelers, or anyone who frequently finds themselves away from a power outlet. Buy the LG G8S ThinQ if you prioritize a potentially more compact form factor (though dimensions aren't provided) and are comfortable with relying more heavily on wired charging, accepting a trade-off in overall endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 855 in either the G8X or G8S exhibit significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 855 is a capable chipset, it is known to generate heat under sustained load. Without specific thermal testing data for these models, it's difficult to say definitively. However, the identical chipset suggests similar throttling behavior, and the chassis design and cooling solutions will play a crucial role in mitigating heat buildup.
❓ What type of wireless charging is supported on the LG G8S ThinQ, and what is its wattage?
The LG G8S ThinQ supports wireless charging, but the specific standard (Qi, etc.) and wattage are not publicly available. The G8X supports 9W wireless charging, suggesting the G8S likely falls within a similar range, but it may be slower.
❓ Is the lack of a detailed camera specification on both phones indicative of a similar camera experience?
The absence of detailed camera specs suggests LG aimed for a consistent camera experience across both models. However, subtle differences in image processing algorithms or lens quality could still exist. Without more information, it's reasonable to assume the cameras are broadly comparable for everyday photography.