LG G8X ThinQ vs. Samsung Galaxy A54: A Detailed Comparison

The LG G8X ThinQ, though an older model, remains a compelling option due to its flagship Snapdragon 855 processor and unique Dual Screen accessory. The Samsung Galaxy A54, a more recent release, targets the mid-range with a focus on battery life and a vibrant display. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best experience in 2024.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and potential for future software customization, the LG G8X ThinQ offers a significant edge. However, the Samsung Galaxy A54 wins for those seeking a longer-lasting battery, brighter display, and a more modern software experience with guaranteed updates.

PHONES
Phone Names LG G8X ThinQ Samsung Galaxy A54
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, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 1960/75 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - USA25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2019, September 06. Released 2019, November 012023, March 15
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions159.3 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditionsIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 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, panorama, HDR
Single3.15 MP, AF32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording Tuned by Meridian Audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
BrowserHTML, Adobe Flash-
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless25W wired
Talk timeUp to 12 h (multimedia)-
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsNew Aurora BlackLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsLMG850EMW, LM-G850, 901LG, LM-G850NSM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 560 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR1.12 W/kg (body)     0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.90 W/kg (head)     0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.2dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 111h Endurance rating 119h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.9 LUFS (Very good) -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 339726 (v7), 411980 (v8) GeekBench: 11251 (v4.4), 2870 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

LG G8X ThinQ

  • More powerful processor for demanding tasks
  • Potential for custom ROMs and advanced tweaking
  • Faster wired and wireless charging speeds

  • Older model with potentially limited software support
  • Significantly dimmer display
  • Lower battery endurance

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Longer battery life and better efficiency
  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Guaranteed software updates from Samsung

  • Less powerful processor compared to the Snapdragon 855
  • Slower charging speeds
  • Samsung’s One UI can be resource intensive

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 980 nits compared to the LG G8X ThinQ’s 603 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks, but the A54’s higher brightness provides a more dynamic and vibrant image. While both are excellent, the A54’s panel is demonstrably better for outdoor use and overall visual pop.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. The focus should be on image processing. Samsung typically prioritizes vibrant, saturated colors, while LG historically aimed for more natural tones. Without detailed sensor specs, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner. However, the A54’s newer image signal processor (ISP) likely offers improved noise reduction and dynamic range in challenging lighting conditions. The presence of OIS on the A54 is a likely advantage for video stabilization.

Performance

The LG G8X ThinQ’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm) was a flagship processor in its time, featuring an octa-core configuration with a prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. The Samsung Galaxy A54 counters with the Exynos 1380 (5nm). Despite the 855’s higher clock speed, the Exynos 1380’s more efficient 5nm process gives it a thermal advantage, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The A54’s Cortex-A78 cores offer strong multi-core performance, but the 855’s Adreno 640 GPU still holds an edge in raw graphical power, making the G8X better suited for graphically intensive gaming.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A54 edges out the LG G8X ThinQ in battery endurance, achieving an endurance rating of 119 hours versus the G8X’s 111 hours. While the G8X supports faster 21W wired charging with PD and QC3, and 9W wireless charging, the A54’s 25W wired charging provides a quicker top-up. The A54’s more efficient Exynos 1380 chipset contributes to its longer battery life, despite the G8X’s larger battery capacity (implied by the endurance rating).

Buying Guide

Buy the LG G8X ThinQ if you need a phone capable of handling demanding games and applications without throttling, and if you appreciate the flexibility of a customizable Android experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you prefer a phone with exceptional battery life, a brighter and more color-accurate display for media consumption, and the peace of mind of Samsung’s software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1380’s 5nm process and efficient core design mitigate overheating concerns. While it won’t match the sustained performance of the Snapdragon 855 in short bursts, it’s less prone to significant throttling during extended gaming, offering a more consistent experience.
❓ Is the LG G8X ThinQ still receiving software updates?
LG has largely exited the smartphone market, meaning official software updates for the G8X ThinQ are unlikely. However, the phone’s open nature makes it a popular choice for custom ROM development, allowing users to maintain a modern Android experience through community support.
❓ How does the 25W charging on the A54 compare to the 21W on the G8X in real-world usage?
While the difference is 4W, the A54’s charging is generally faster due to optimized power delivery. Expect a slightly quicker 0-100% charge time on the A54, though both phones take around 90-120 minutes for a full charge.
❓ Is the LG G8X's Dual Screen accessory worth considering with this phone?
The Dual Screen is a unique feature, effectively doubling your screen real estate. However, it adds significant bulk and impacts battery life. It's best suited for productivity tasks or multitasking, but may not be ideal for everyday use.