LG V50S ThinQ 5G vs Google Pixel 4 XL: A Detailed Comparison of Snapdragon 855 Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a balance of features and affordability, the Google Pixel 4 XL emerges as the slightly better option. While both share the Snapdragon 855, the Pixel 4 XL’s renowned camera and software experience, coupled with its lower price point (starting at $274.99), provide a more compelling package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG V50S ThinQ 5G | Google Pixel 4 XL |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - Global |
| 5G bands | 41 NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/75 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, October. Released 2019, October | 2019, October 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, October 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.3 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 193 g (6.81 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) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 98.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | P-OLED, 90Hz, HDR |
| 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 12 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB 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 | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1.22µm, no AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 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, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aurora Black | Clearly White, Just Black, Oh So Orange |
| Models | LM-V510N | G020P, G020, GA01181-US, GA01182-US, GA01180-US |
| Price | About 1100 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 364.52 |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 274.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 149.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.9 / Crosstalk -94.1 |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 80dB / Noise 78dB / Ring 88dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 323305 (v7), 403267 (v8) GeekBench: 10171 (v4.4), 2267 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG V50S ThinQ 5G
- Faster wired charging (21W vs 18W)
- 5G connectivity (a key feature at launch)
- Potentially larger display size (based on LG’s design language)
- LG’s software support is no longer guaranteed
- Camera likely inferior to the Pixel 4 XL
- Less refined user experience compared to Pixel
Google Pixel 4 XL
- Exceptional camera performance
- Clean and timely Android updates (historically)
- More affordable price point
- Slower wired charging (18W)
- Battery life is comparable, not superior
- Older hardware, limited future software support
Display Comparison
Both devices lack detailed display specifications in the provided data. However, given the Pixel 4 XL’s market positioning, it likely features a higher quality OLED panel with potentially better color accuracy and peak brightness compared to the V50S. The V50S, being a larger phone, may offer a slightly more immersive viewing experience due to its larger screen size (assumed, based on typical LG designs). Bezels are likely comparable, reflecting the design trends of 2019.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 4 XL’s camera is its standout feature. While both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, Google’s computational photography prowess, even with older hardware, consistently delivers exceptional image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The V50S likely relies more on hardware specifications (which are not provided) and LG’s image processing algorithms. The Pixel 4 XL’s image processing is known for its realistic color reproduction and excellent dynamic range. The lack of detail on the V50S’s camera system makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Pixel 4 XL is the clear winner based on reputation.
Performance
Both the LG V50S ThinQ 5G and the Google Pixel 4 XL are powered by the Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) chipset, featuring an Octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, and 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485). This means raw processing power will be nearly identical for most tasks. The difference will likely come down to thermal management and software optimization. Google’s software is known for its efficiency, potentially allowing the Pixel 4 XL to sustain peak performance for longer periods. RAM is also identical at 6GB, but the Pixel 4 XL is available in both 64GB and 128GB storage options, offering more flexibility.
Battery Life
Both devices share an endurance rating of 73 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery performance. However, the charging speeds differ. The LG V50S supports 21W wired charging with Power Delivery (PD) and Quick Charge 3.0 (QC3), alongside 9W wireless charging. The Pixel 4 XL offers 18W wired charging with Power Delivery 2.0 and wireless charging. While the V50S has a slightly faster wired charging speed, the difference is unlikely to be significant in everyday use. The similar endurance ratings suggest that despite the different charging speeds, both phones offer comparable battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG V50S ThinQ 5G if you prioritize 5G connectivity and potentially faster charging speeds, and are comfortable with LG’s older software experience. Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if you value a superior camera experience, clean and timely Android updates, and a more refined user interface, all at a very attractive price.