LG V50S ThinQ 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S10 5G: A Detailed Comparison of 5G Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking reliable performance and a consistent experience, the LG V50S ThinQ 5G emerges as the slightly better choice. Its universally equipped Snapdragon 855 avoids the potential performance variability of the Exynos 9820, and its 21W charging, while not the fastest, is efficient. The S10 5G offers reverse wireless charging, but the Exynos variant's potential for thermal throttling makes the V50S a safer bet.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG V50S ThinQ 5G | Samsung Galaxy S10 5G |
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 - USA |
| 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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global |
| 5G bands | 41 NSA | 78 NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/75 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 24, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, October. Released 2019, October | 2019, February. Released 2019, April |
| 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 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.3 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 162.6 x 77.1 x 7.9 mm (6.40 x 3.04 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 198 g (6.98 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 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~502 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | Dynamic AMOLED, 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 (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - GlobalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - GlobalQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G76 MP12 - GlobalAdreno 640 - USA |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 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 | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| 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 by Meridian Audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aurora Black | Crown Silver, Majestic Black, Royal Gold |
| Models | LM-V510N | SM-G977U, SM-G977N, SM-G977B, SM-G9770, SM-G977P, SM-G977T |
| Price | About 1100 EUR | About 380 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.46 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.26 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) |
LG V50S ThinQ 5G
- Consistent Snapdragon 855 performance globally
- Efficient power consumption with Snapdragon 855
- Reliable thermal management
- Slower charging speed compared to S10 5G
- Lacks reverse wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
- Faster 25W wired charging
- Reverse wireless charging capability
- Potentially larger battery capacity
- Exynos 9820 prone to thermal throttling (Global variant)
- Regional chipset variability (Exynos vs. Snapdragon)
Display Comparison
Both devices feature OLED displays, but detailed specifications are limited. The Galaxy S10 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s display expertise, potentially offering slightly higher peak brightness and color accuracy. However, without specific nit measurements, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. The S10 5G’s larger display size (6.7 inches vs. V50S’s 6.4 inches) may appeal to media consumers, but could impact one-handed usability. Both lack high refresh rate displays, a common feature in later flagships.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are sparse, but both phones likely feature multi-lens setups. The focus should be on the main sensors and image processing. Without specific sensor sizes, it’s difficult to compare image quality directly. However, Samsung’s image processing tends to be more saturated and vibrant, while LG typically aims for a more natural look. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is crucial for both, and the aperture of the main lens will significantly impact low-light performance. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick and offers minimal practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipset. The LG V50S ThinQ 5G universally utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), known for its stable performance and efficient power consumption. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, however, shipped with either the Exynos 9820 (8nm) globally or the Snapdragon 855 in the USA. The Exynos 9820, while powerful, has historically been prone to thermal throttling under sustained load, impacting long gaming sessions or video rendering. The Snapdragon 855’s 7nm process gives it a thermal advantage. Both phones feature octa-core CPUs, but the architectural differences – Kryo 485 vs. Mongoose M4/Cortex-A75/A55 – favor the Snapdragon in sustained performance scenarios.
Battery Life
The LG V50S ThinQ 5G supports 21W wired charging with Power Delivery (PD) and Quick Charge 3.0, alongside 9W wireless charging. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G offers faster 25W wired charging with PD3.0 and 15W Qi wireless charging, plus a unique 4.5W reverse wireless charging capability. While the S10 5G’s charging is faster, the V50S’s efficiency with the Snapdragon 855 could offset some of that advantage. Battery capacity isn’t specified, but the S10 5G’s larger size suggests a potentially larger battery, though 5G connectivity will impact overall battery life on both devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG V50S ThinQ 5G if you prioritize consistent performance across all regions and value a streamlined software experience. It's ideal for users who frequently game or run demanding applications. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G if you prefer a more feature-rich ecosystem, including reverse wireless charging, and are located in a region where the Snapdragon variant is readily available, mitigating potential Exynos performance concerns.