LG V50 5G vs. V40 ThinQ: Which LG Flagship Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G is the superior choice. Its substantially longer 96-hour endurance rating, coupled with the more efficient Snapdragon 855, provides a more reliable and future-proof experience. While the V40 remains a capable device, the V50's improvements justify the price difference.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG V40 ThinQ | LG V50 ThinQ 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - V405QA7 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - USA |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - V405QA7 | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/75 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO - V405QA7 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, October 03. Released 2018, October 16 | 2019, February 24. Released 2019, April 19 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.8 x 75.7 x 7.6 mm (6.25 x 2.98 x 0.30 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 |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 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 conditions | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~538 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED, HDR10 | P-OLED, HDR10 |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 12 MP, 27mm (standard), f/1.5, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3-axis OIS 12 MP, 52mm (telephoto), f/2.4, 1.0µm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, 16mm (ultrawide), f/1.9, 1/3.1", 1.0µm, no AF | 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 |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., HDR video, gyro-EIS | 4K@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 (standard), 1/3.2", 1.4µm 5 MP, 21mm (wide), f/2.2, 1.4µm | 8 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, 21mm (wide), f/2.2, 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/48kHz audio recording Tuned with Meridian Audio | 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording Tuned with Meridian Audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0, QC3, 50% in 36 min 10W wireless (Qi) | 18W wired, PD2.0, QC3, 50% in 36 min 10W wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Po 3300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | New Platinum Gray, Carmine Red, New Aurora Black, New Moroccan Blue | New Aurora Black |
| Models | V405, LM-V405, LM-V409N | LM-V500, LM-V500N, LM-V500EM, LM-V500XM, LM-V450PM, LM-V450 |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -94.1dB | Noise -92.5dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 64h | Endurance rating 96h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 161500:1 (nominal), 4.256 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: 194000:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 77dB | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 254304 (v7) GeekBench: 8568 (v4.4) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 343758 (v7), 421934 (v8) GeekBench: 10928 (v4.4), 2672 (v5.1) GFXBench: 22fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG V40 ThinQ
- Lower price point makes it more accessible.
- Excellent display contrast ratio for vibrant visuals.
- Capable camera system for everyday photography.
- Significantly shorter battery life compared to the V50.
- Older Snapdragon 845 processor is less efficient.
LG V50 ThinQ 5G
- Superior battery life with a 96-hour endurance rating.
- More efficient Snapdragon 855 processor.
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds.
- Higher initial cost.
- May not see full 5G benefits depending on location.
Display Comparison
Both the V40 and V50 feature high-quality displays, but the V50 edges ahead with a slightly improved contrast ratio of 194000:1 compared to the V40’s 161500:1. While both offer excellent viewing angles, the V50’s measured peak brightness of 533 nits provides better visibility in direct sunlight. The V40’s sunlight contrast ratio of 4.256 is respectable, but the V50’s superior contrast and brightness translate to a more immersive and readable experience, particularly outdoors.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are equipped with versatile camera systems capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos. However, detailed sensor specifications are missing. Given LG’s history, it’s likely both devices feature multi-camera setups with wide-angle, standard, and telephoto lenses. The image processing algorithms likely differ, potentially resulting in varying color profiles and dynamic range. Without specific sensor size data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the V50’s more powerful processor could enable faster image processing and improved low-light performance.
Performance
The move from the Snapdragon 845 (10nm) in the V40 to the Snapdragon 855 (7nm) in the V50 represents a significant architectural leap. The 855’s smaller fabrication process yields improved power efficiency and thermal performance. The V50’s CPU configuration – 1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, and 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 – offers a slight clock speed advantage over the V40’s 4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver. This translates to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking, especially noticeable in graphically intensive games.
Battery Life
The most substantial difference between these two devices lies in battery endurance. The V50 ThinQ 5G boasts an impressive 96-hour endurance rating, a significant jump from the V40’s 64 hours. This improvement is attributable to both the more efficient Snapdragon 855 and potentially a slightly optimized battery management system. Both phones support 18W wired charging with PD2.0 and QC3, achieving 50% charge in 36 minutes, and 10W wireless charging via Qi. However, the V50’s longer endurance means you’ll be relying on the charger less frequently.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG V40 ThinQ if you prioritize a lower upfront cost and don't require 5G connectivity. It's a solid performer for everyday tasks and photography, and its excellent contrast ratio delivers a vibrant viewing experience. Buy the LG V50 ThinQ 5G if you want extended battery life, faster processing speeds for demanding applications, and the ability to tap into 5G networks for significantly faster data speeds – a worthwhile investment for power users and early adopters.