LG G8X ThinQ vs Sony Xperia 5 V: A Detailed Comparison of Two Android Contenders

The LG G8X ThinQ, released in 2019, offered a unique dual-screen experience and solid performance for its time. Now, with the Sony Xperia 5 V hitting the market, representing Sony’s continued focus on compact flagships, the question arises: does the newer device justify an upgrade, or does the G8X ThinQ still hold its own? This comparison dives deep into the specifications and real-world implications of each phone.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Sony Xperia 5 V is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers significantly improved performance and efficiency, coupled with a brighter display and faster charging. While the G8X ThinQ boasts respectable endurance, the Xperia 5 V offers a more modern and refined experience.

PHONES
Phone Names LG G8X ThinQ Sony Xperia 5 V
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 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, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe
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 - USA-
Launch
Announced2019, September 06. Released 2019, November 012023, September 01
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, September 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions159.3 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)154 x 68 x 8.6 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.34 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)182 g (6.42 oz)
 IP68 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 Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10, BT.2020
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 740
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB 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), 1.0µm48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.5", dual pixel PDAF
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single3.15 MP, AF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm
Video4K@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack Yes-
35mm jackYesYes
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 Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
BrowserHTML, Adobe Flash-
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
Talk timeUp to 12 h (multimedia)-
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsNew Aurora BlackBlack, Blue, Platinum Silver
ModelsLMG850EMW, LM-G850, 901LG, LM-G850NXQ-DE54
PriceAbout 560 EUR€ 999.99 / $ 1,444.00
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

  • Excellent battery endurance (111h rating)
  • Lower price point (likely)
  • Unique dual-screen accessory option

  • Older Snapdragon 855 chipset
  • Lower display brightness
  • Slower charging speeds

Sony Xperia 5 V

  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Faster 30W charging with PD3.0/PPS

  • Higher price point
  • Slightly smaller screen size may not suit everyone
  • Battery life, while good, isn't dramatically better than G8X

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 5 V’s display is a clear upgrade, achieving a measured peak brightness of 746 nits compared to the LG G8X ThinQ’s 603 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility outdoors. While both displays have an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the newer panel technology in the Xperia 5 V likely contributes to deeper blacks and more accurate color reproduction. The Xperia 5 V’s smaller 6.1-inch screen size, compared to the G8X’s 6.4-inch, caters to users who prefer a more pocketable device.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details are limited in the provided data. We can assume both offer photo and video capabilities. However, the Xperia 5 V likely benefits from Sony’s advanced image processing algorithms and potentially a larger sensor, though sensor size isn't specified. The G8X ThinQ’s camera performance, while adequate for its time, will likely fall behind the Xperia 5 V in low-light conditions and dynamic range. The absence of details regarding lens apertures makes a precise comparison difficult, but Sony’s expertise in camera technology gives the Xperia 5 V an edge.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The LG G8X ThinQ utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), while the Sony Xperia 5 V is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). This generational leap is substantial. The 4nm process node of the 8 Gen 2 offers significantly improved power efficiency and thermal performance, meaning less throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Xperia 5 V’s CPU, featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz, outperforms the Kryo 485 cores in the G8X ThinQ across all tasks. The Xperia 5 V also benefits from faster RAM, likely LPDDR5x, further enhancing responsiveness.

Battery Life

The LG G8X ThinQ boasts an endurance rating of 111 hours, while the Sony Xperia 5 V achieves 130 hours. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The Xperia 5 V’s active use score of 16:19h provides a more realistic measure of real-world battery performance. The Xperia 5 V also features significantly faster charging at 30W with PD3.0 and PPS, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 30 minutes, compared to the G8X ThinQ’s 21W wired charging. The inclusion of wireless and reverse wireless charging on the Xperia 5 V adds further convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG G8X ThinQ if you prioritize maximizing battery life on a budget and are intrigued by the dual-screen functionality, even if it's aging. Buy the Sony Xperia 5 V if you demand the latest performance, a brighter and more vibrant display, and faster charging speeds, and value a compact form factor with a premium build quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Xperia 5 V get noticeably warmer than the Snapdragon 855 in the G8X ThinQ during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is more powerful, its 4nm process is significantly more efficient. This means it generates less heat for the same level of performance. The Xperia 5 V is likely to maintain higher sustained performance during gaming with less thermal throttling compared to the G8X ThinQ.
❓ How does the charging speed difference between the two phones translate to real-world usage? Is the 30W charging on the Xperia 5 V a game-changer?
The Xperia 5 V’s 30W charging is a substantial improvement. Reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes is significantly faster than the G8X ThinQ’s charging time. This is particularly beneficial for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
❓ Is the dual-screen functionality of the LG G8X ThinQ still useful in 2024, or is it a gimmick?
The dual-screen functionality can be useful for multitasking, but the accessory is aging and may not be readily available. The software support for the dual screen is also likely limited. The Xperia 5 V offers a more streamlined and modern user experience without relying on an external accessory.