LG G8X ThinQ vs. LG V50 ThinQ 5G: A Detailed Comparison

Released within a similar timeframe, the LG G8X ThinQ and LG V50 ThinQ 5G represent LG’s flagship efforts from 2019. While both leverage the Snapdragon 855, they diverge in key areas like display technology, battery performance, and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device offers the best value in today’s market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a brighter display, the LG G8X ThinQ is the superior choice. Its 111-hour endurance rating significantly surpasses the V50’s 96 hours, and the 603 nits peak brightness provides better visibility in outdoor conditions. The V50’s 5G connectivity is less relevant now, making the G8X the more practical option.

PHONES
Phone Names LG G8X ThinQ LG V50 ThinQ 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - USA
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, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA
5G bands-41, 260, 261 NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 1960/75 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/75 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - USACDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2019, September 06. Released 2019, November 012019, February 24. Released 2019, April 19
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)159.2 x 76.1 x 8.3 mm (6.27 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)183 g (6.46 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 min) 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)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~538 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10P-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 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM modelmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 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, 27mm (wide), f/1.5, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3-axis OIS 12 MP, 52mm (telephoto), f/2.4, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, 16mm (ultrawide), f/1.9, 1/3.1", 1.0µm, no AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., HDR10 video, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual-8 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, 21mm (wide), f/2.2, 1/5.0", 1.12µm
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm-
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 24-bit/192kHz audio recording Tuned with Meridian Audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
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, PD2.0, QC3, 50% in 36 min 10W wireless (Qi)
Talk timeUp to 12 h (multimedia)-
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsNew Aurora BlackNew Aurora Black
ModelsLMG850EMW, LM-G850, 901LG, LM-G850NLM-V500, LM-V500N, LM-V500EM, LM-V500XM, LM-V450PM, LM-V450
PriceAbout 560 EURAbout 550 EUR
SAR1.12 W/kg (body)     -
SAR EU0.90 W/kg (head)     -
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.2dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB Noise -92.5dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB
Battery life Endurance rating 111h Endurance rating 96h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: 194000:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.9 LUFS (Very good) -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 339726 (v7), 411980 (v8) GeekBench: 11251 (v4.4), 2870 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 343758 (v7), 421934 (v8) GeekBench: 10928 (v4.4), 2672 (v5.1) GFXBench: 22fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

LG G8X ThinQ

  • Superior battery life (111h endurance)
  • Brighter display (603 nits)
  • Faster wired charging (21W)

  • Lacks dedicated 5G branding
  • Camera specifications are unknown

LG V50 ThinQ 5G

  • Higher contrast ratio (194000:1 nominal)
  • Faster initial wired charging (50% in 36 min)
  • Integrated 5G connectivity

  • Shorter battery life (96h endurance)
  • Dimmer display (533 nits)

Display Comparison

The LG G8X ThinQ boasts a brighter display, reaching 603 nits compared to the V50’s 533 nits. This translates to better readability under direct sunlight. However, the V50 counters with a significantly higher contrast ratio of 194000:1, theoretically offering deeper blacks and more vivid colors, though this is a nominal figure and real-world performance may vary. Both displays share an 'infinite' nominal contrast ratio, but the V50's specified value suggests a more refined panel. The lack of refresh rate information for both devices means we can't assess smoothness, but both likely operate at a standard 60Hz.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera system, but detailed sensor information is missing. Without specifics on megapixel count, sensor size, or aperture, a direct comparison is impossible. The absence of details on image stabilization (OIS) or advanced features like night mode makes it difficult to assess camera quality. The lack of information suggests neither phone excels in this area compared to contemporary flagships. The mention of 'Photo / Video' is too generic to provide meaningful insight.

Performance

Both the LG G8X ThinQ and V50 ThinQ 5G are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) chipset, featuring an identical octa-core CPU configuration. This means performance in CPU-intensive tasks will be virtually indistinguishable. The GPU performance will also be similar. The absence of RAM specifications in the provided data prevents a detailed analysis of multitasking capabilities, but both likely feature 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Thermal management will likely be similar, with both devices potentially experiencing throttling under sustained heavy loads.

Battery Life

The LG G8X ThinQ delivers a substantial advantage in battery endurance, achieving a measured 111 hours compared to the V50’s 96 hours. This 15-hour difference is significant for users who prioritize all-day battery life. While the V50 supports faster wired charging at 18W (reaching 50% in 36 minutes), the G8X’s 21W wired charging with PD and QC3 support offers comparable speed. Wireless charging is also present on both, with the G8X offering 9W and the V50 offering 10W, a minor difference.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG G8X ThinQ if you need exceptional battery life and a vibrant display for everyday use, especially if you frequently consume media outdoors. Buy the LG V50 ThinQ 5G if you specifically require 5G connectivity (though its benefits are diminishing) and prioritize a higher contrast ratio for potentially deeper blacks, though this comes at the cost of battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the LG V50's 5G capability still relevant in 2024?
While the V50 was a pioneer in 5G, the benefits of 5G are now widely available on newer devices and networks. The performance gains from 5G are often marginal in real-world scenarios, making it less of a deciding factor when choosing between these two phones.
❓ Does the LG G8X ThinQ support fast charging with any standard USB-PD chargers?
Yes, the LG G8X ThinQ supports USB Power Delivery (PD) charging, meaning it can utilize compatible USB-PD chargers for faster charging speeds. It also supports Quick Charge 3.0 (QC3), offering compatibility with a wider range of chargers.
❓ How does the contrast ratio difference impact the viewing experience on the LG V50?
The V50's higher nominal contrast ratio *potentially* results in deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. However, the actual difference in real-world viewing is subjective and depends on the panel quality and calibration. The G8X's brighter display may offset the contrast difference in many scenarios.