LG Q60 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Tale of Two Androids
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the vast majority of users, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the clear winner. Its vastly superior performance, exceptional camera system, and long-lasting battery justify the higher cost. However, the LG Q60 remains a viable option for those on a very tight budget who prioritize basic functionality over advanced features.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG Q60 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/75 Mbps | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February. Released 2019, May | 2023, February 01 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.3 x 77 x 8.7 mm (6.35 x 3.03 x 0.34 in) | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 234 g (8.25 oz) |
| MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.26 inches, 97.8 cm2 (~78.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), LG UX 7 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF |
| Triple | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 13 MP, 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2, 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/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | New Moroccan Blue, Aurora Black | Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition |
| Models | LMX525EAW, LMX525BAW, LM-X525 | SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS |
| Price | About 230 EUR | € 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.12 W/kg (head) 0.92 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.96 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 126h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG Q60
- Extremely affordable
- Lightweight and portable
- Functional for basic tasks
- Poor performance for demanding apps
- Low-quality camera
- Limited software support
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Exceptional performance
- Outstanding camera system
- Long-lasting battery life
- Fast charging capabilities
- Very expensive
- Large and heavy
- Complex feature set may be overwhelming for some
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a significantly more advanced display. While the LG Q60’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume a standard LCD panel. The S23 Ultra’s measured peak brightness of 1274 nits ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED displays, delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. The S23 Ultra likely incorporates LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, conserving battery life. The Q60 will likely have a fixed refresh rate, and lower color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the implementation differs drastically. The S23 Ultra’s camera system, while details are limited in the provided data, is expected to include a high-resolution main sensor (likely 200MP), advanced image stabilization (OIS), and a versatile lens array. The LG Q60’s camera is likely a basic setup, prioritizing affordability over image quality. The S23 Ultra’s image processing algorithms will deliver superior dynamic range, detail, and low-light performance. The Q60 will likely struggle in challenging lighting conditions.
Performance
The performance disparity is immense. The LG Q60’s Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22, with its octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, is designed for basic tasks. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, built on a 4nm process, is a powerhouse. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s CPU configuration – a Cortex-X3 prime core, Cortex-A715 and A710 performance cores, and Cortex-A510 efficiency cores – delivers significantly faster processing speeds and improved multi-tasking capabilities. The 4nm node provides superior thermal efficiency, minimizing throttling during demanding tasks like gaming. The Q60 will struggle with modern games and resource-intensive applications.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s battery life is exceptional, achieving an endurance rating of 126 hours and 13:24 hours of active use. The 45W wired charging with PD3.0 support allows for a 65% charge in just 30 minutes. 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging add further convenience. While the LG Q60’s battery capacity is unknown, its less powerful chipset and less demanding display likely result in a shorter battery life. The Q60’s charging speed is expected to be significantly slower.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG Q60 if you need a functional smartphone for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media, and your budget is under $200. You’re willing to compromise on performance, camera quality, and long-term software support. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you demand the best possible performance, a professional-grade camera system, all-day battery life, and a premium user experience, and are prepared to pay a flagship price.