LG V50S ThinQ 5G vs. LG V40 ThinQ: Which LG Flagship Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the LG V50S ThinQ 5G is the superior choice. The Snapdragon 855 offers a noticeable performance boost over the 845, and the inclusion of 5G future-proofs the device. While the battery life is comparable, the V50S’s faster charging mitigates any potential downsides.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG V40 ThinQ | LG V50S 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 |
| 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 |
| 5G bands | - | 41 NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/75 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, October. Released 2019, October |
| 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) | 159.3 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 192 g (6.77 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) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED, HDR10 | 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 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (standard), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 9mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone 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 | - |
| 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., 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 | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| 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 by 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, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) | FM radio |
| 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, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0, QC3, 50% in 36 min 10W wireless (Qi) | 21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless |
| 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 | Aurora Black |
| Models | V405, LM-V405, LM-V409N | LM-V510N |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 1100 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -94.1dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 64h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 161500:1 (nominal), 4.256 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 77dB | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 254304 (v7) GeekBench: 8568 (v4.4) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
LG V40 ThinQ
- Lower price point compared to the V50S.
- Excellent contrast ratio for vibrant display.
- Versatile camera system (based on marketing).
- Older Snapdragon 845 chipset.
- Lacks 5G connectivity.
- Slower charging speeds.
LG V50S ThinQ 5G
- Faster Snapdragon 855 chipset for improved performance.
- 5G connectivity for future-proofing.
- Faster 21W wired charging.
- Higher price point.
- Wireless charging is slower than V40.
- Detailed display specs are unavailable.
Display Comparison
Both the LG V40 and V50S feature high-quality displays, but detailed specifications are limited. The V40 boasts a contrast ratio of 161500:1 (nominal) and 4.256 in sunlight, suggesting excellent visibility even outdoors. While the V50S’s display specs aren’t provided, LG’s flagship displays typically prioritize color accuracy and brightness. The lack of high refresh rate panels on either device is a notable omission compared to competitors at the time, impacting smoothness during scrolling and gaming. The V40’s strong contrast ratio suggests a more vibrant image, but real-world viewing experience would depend on panel calibration.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are marketed with a focus on photography and videography, but specific details are limited. The V40’s camera system was a key selling point, offering versatility. Without detailed sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison. However, the V50S benefits from the improved image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 855, leading to better noise reduction, dynamic range, and overall image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The V50S’s processing power likely allows for more sophisticated computational photography features.
Performance
The core difference between these two phones lies in their chipsets. The LG V40 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (10nm), while the V50S steps up to the Snapdragon 855 (7nm). This process node shrink in the 855 translates to improved thermal efficiency and performance. The 855’s CPU configuration – a 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 results in faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the V50S. The V50S’s Adreno 640 GPU also provides a significant upgrade over the V40’s Adreno 630.
Battery Life
The LG V40 ThinQ has an endurance rating of 64 hours, indicating solid battery life. It supports 18W wired charging with PD2.0 and QC3, reaching 50% charge in 36 minutes, alongside 10W wireless charging (Qi). The V50S ThinQ 5G offers 21W wired charging with PD and QC3, and 9W wireless charging. While the V50S doesn’t necessarily have a larger battery capacity, the faster wired charging speeds provide a more convenient user experience. The 21W charging allows for quicker top-ups, mitigating any potential battery drain from the 5G connectivity.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG V40 ThinQ if you prioritize a lower price point and are content with 4G LTE connectivity. It remains a capable device for everyday tasks and photography. Buy the LG V50S ThinQ 5G if you want a faster processor, the potential for 5G speeds (depending on carrier availability), and slightly quicker charging, even if it comes at a premium.