The LG G6, released as a 2017 flagship, once represented the pinnacle of LG's smartphone innovation. Now, with the Q Stylo 4 available at a significantly lower price point, the question arises: can a budget-friendly device like the Q Stylo 4 offer a compelling alternative to a former high-end contender? This comparison dives deep into the specifications and real-world implications of each phone.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing performance and a better overall experience, the LG G6 remains the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 821 chipset and 72-hour endurance rating significantly outperform the Q Stylo 4’s Snapdragon 450 and 10W charging. However, the Q Stylo 4 presents a viable option for those on a very tight budget.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 38, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, June. Released 2018, June | 2017, February 26. Released 2017, April 07 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 160 x 77.7 x 8.1 mm (6.30 x 3.06 x 0.32 in) | 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm (5.86 x 2.83 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 163 g (5.75 oz) |
| | Stylus | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~564 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.7 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~78.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 | Quad-core (2x2.35 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | Adreno 530 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), LG UX 7 | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), LG UX 8 UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/1.8, 30mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF, 3-axis OIS
13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), no AF |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, PDAF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2, 18mm |
| Video | 720p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 32-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (market dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired, QC3, 50% in 30 min
Wireless (USA) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Aurora Black | Astro Black, Ice Platinum, Terra Gold, Marine Blue, Mystic White, Raspberry Rose, Moroccan Blue, Lavender Violet |
| Models | LM-Q710(FGN), LM-Q710.FGN, Q710AL, LML713DL, Q710PL | H870, H870DS, H873, H870S, LGM-G600L, H872, H871, LS993, US997, vs988, VS988, LGM-G600K, LGM-G600S, AS993, LGUS997, H870AR, H872PR, H871S, H870I |
| Price | About 250 EUR | About 240 EUR |
| SAR | 1.12 W/kg (head) 1.22 W/kg (body) | 0.65 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.23 W/kg (head) 0.15 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -94.4dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 72h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
240 USD |
Contrast ratio: 2053 (nominal), 3.556 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 66dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 74dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 158785 (v7)
GeekBench: 4175 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 8.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG Q Stylo 4
- Lower price point makes it accessible.
- Potentially higher quality display for the price.
- Functional for basic smartphone tasks.
- Significantly weaker processor performance.
- Slow 10W charging.
- Likely inferior camera quality.
LG G6
- Powerful Snapdragon 821 processor.
- Excellent 72-hour battery endurance.
- Faster 18W charging with Quick Charge 3.0 and wireless charging.
- Older device, may not receive further software updates.
- Higher initial cost.
- Battery has aged since original release.
Display Comparison
Both the LG G6 and Q Stylo 4 feature displays with a contrast ratio of 2053 (nominal) and 3.556 (sunlight), suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, the Q Stylo 4’s display cost of $240 is surprisingly high, hinting at a potentially higher-quality panel than its price point suggests, though lacking detailed specifications. The G6, as a flagship, likely benefits from superior color calibration and viewing angles, though specific nit brightness data is unavailable for the Q Stylo 4 for direct comparison.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the LG G6 likely holds a significant advantage. While specific camera specs for the Q Stylo 4 are missing, LG flagships typically feature larger sensors and more advanced image processing. The G6’s image processing algorithms, honed for a flagship device, will likely deliver superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The Q Stylo 4’s camera will likely be adequate for casual snapshots, but won’t match the G6’s detail and dynamic range.
Performance
The performance gap between these devices is substantial. The LG G6’s Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821, with its quad-core Kryo architecture (2x2.35 GHz & 2x1.6 GHz), is significantly more powerful than the Q Stylo 4’s Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 processor built on the Snapdragon 450 (SDM450). The Snapdragon 821’s architecture allows for faster processing speeds and more efficient multitasking, making the G6 ideal for demanding applications and gaming. The Q Stylo 4’s Snapdragon 450 is geared towards efficiency and basic functionality, and will struggle with resource-intensive tasks.
Battery Life
The LG G6 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 72 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the Q Stylo 4’s battery capacity is unknown, its 10W wired charging is considerably slower than the G6’s 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 3.0, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 30 minutes. The G6 also offers wireless charging (USA models), a feature absent on the Q Stylo 4. The G6’s combination of battery life and faster charging provides a more convenient and reliable experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG Q Stylo 4 if you need a functional smartphone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use, and your budget is under $100. Buy the LG G6 if you prioritize smoother multitasking, better camera performance, faster charging, and a more premium user experience, even if it means spending more upfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the LG G6 still a good buy in 2024, considering its age?
Despite being an older device, the LG G6 remains a viable option for users who prioritize performance and battery life over the latest features. Its Snapdragon 821 processor still holds up well for everyday tasks, and the 72-hour endurance rating is impressive. However, software update support is limited.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 450 in the Q Stylo 4 struggle with modern apps?
Yes, the Snapdragon 450 is a budget-oriented processor and will likely exhibit slowdowns and lag when running demanding apps or multitasking heavily. It's best suited for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media browsing.
❓ Does the LG G6 support VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling on all carriers?
Support for VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling on the LG G6 varies by carrier. It's crucial to check with your specific carrier to ensure compatibility before purchasing, as support may have been discontinued for older devices.
❓ How does the Q Stylo 4's display compare to newer budget phones?
While the Q Stylo 4's display has a respectable contrast ratio, newer budget phones often offer higher resolutions, improved color accuracy, and higher refresh rates. The Q Stylo 4's display is adequate, but it won't compete with more recent offerings in terms of visual fidelity.
