LG V50 ThinQ 5G vs. LG G8X ThinQ: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the LG G8X ThinQ emerges as the better choice. Its significantly improved battery endurance (111 hours vs. 96) and brighter display (603 nits vs. 533 nits) offer a more compelling daily experience, despite both phones sharing the same Snapdragon 855 chipset.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG V50 ThinQ 5G | LG G8X ThinQ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - USA | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 41, 260, 261 NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/75 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 1960/75 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February 24. Released 2019, April 19 | 2019, September 06. Released 2019, November 01 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 76.1 x 8.3 mm (6.27 x 3.00 x 0.33 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 | 183 g (6.46 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 6 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~538 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~82.7% 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 (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 9mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 3.15 MP, AF |
| Triple | 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., HDR10 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 (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, 21mm (wide), f/2.2, 1/5.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@60fps | 4K@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz 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 | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Browser | - | HTML, Adobe Flash |
| 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 |
| Talk time | - | Up to 12 h (multimedia) |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | New Aurora Black | New Aurora Black |
| Models | LM-V500, LM-V500N, LM-V500EM, LM-V500XM, LM-V450PM, LM-V450 | LMG850EMW, LM-G850, 901LG, LM-G850N |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 560 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.12 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.90 W/kg (head) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -92.5dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB | Noise -93.2dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 96h | Endurance rating 111h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 194000:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) | -24.9 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 343758 (v7), 421934 (v8) GeekBench: 10928 (v4.4), 2672 (v5.1) GFXBench: 22fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 339726 (v7), 411980 (v8) GeekBench: 11251 (v4.4), 2870 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG V50 ThinQ 5G
- Early 5G adoption
- Robust build quality
- Supports Quick Charge 3.0
- Shorter battery life (96h endurance)
- Dimmer display (533 nits)
- Slower wired charging (18W)
LG G8X ThinQ
- Longer battery life (111h endurance)
- Brighter display (603 nits)
- Faster wired charging (21W)
- No significant camera improvements
- Relies on Snapdragon 855
- Dual Screen accessory sold separately
Display Comparison
The LG G8X boasts a notably brighter display, reaching 603 nits compared to the V50’s 533 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both displays feature a high contrast ratio, the G8X’s is listed as 'Infinite' (nominal) suggesting a superior OLED panel capable of true blacks. This difference in panel technology likely contributes to the G8X’s improved power efficiency. Both phones lack high refresh rate displays, a common omission for flagships of this era, but the G8X’s superior brightness provides a more vibrant viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, but detailed sensor information is absent. Without specifics, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, given LG’s history, it’s reasonable to assume both phones offer competent camera performance in good lighting conditions. The absence of details regarding sensor size and aperture makes a detailed comparison impossible. The focus should be on software processing, which is difficult to quantify without extensive testing. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing gimmick and shouldn’t influence purchasing decisions.
Performance
Both the V50 and G8X are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), featuring the same octa-core CPU configuration. This means raw processing power will be virtually identical for everyday tasks and most gaming scenarios. However, the G8X’s slightly more efficient display and potentially optimized software could lead to marginally better sustained performance under heavy load. Neither phone features the latest LPDDR5x RAM, relying on older standards, so memory bandwidth isn’t a differentiating factor. Thermal throttling, a common issue with the Snapdragon 855, will likely be similar on both devices.
Battery Life
The LG G8X significantly outperforms the V50 in battery endurance, achieving a measured 111 hours compared to the V50’s 96 hours. This 15-hour difference is substantial and directly impacts real-world usability. While the V50 supports 18W wired charging with PD2.0 and QC3, the G8X steps it up to 21W with PD and QC3, resulting in faster charging times. The G8X also benefits from a more efficient display, contributing to its longer battery life. Wireless charging is present on both, but at lower wattages (10W vs 9W), making it a secondary charging method.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG V50 ThinQ 5G if you absolutely require early 5G connectivity and prioritize a more traditional flagship form factor. Buy the LG G8X ThinQ if you value longer battery life, a brighter and potentially more efficient display, and faster wired charging, making it ideal for power users and those who frequently consume media on the go.