LG V50S ThinQ 5G vs Sony Xperia 1 II: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance

The LG V50S ThinQ 5G and Sony Xperia 1 II represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The V50S, released in 2019, offered 5G connectivity at a more accessible price point, while the Xperia 1 II, also from 2020, doubled down on a premium multimedia experience. This comparison examines how their core specifications translate into real-world performance and value, particularly given the V50S's current availability as a budget-friendly option.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user in 2024, the Sony Xperia 1 II emerges as the superior choice. While both phones offer 21W wired charging and similar wireless speeds, the Xperia 1 II’s Snapdragon 865 provides a noticeable performance uplift and benefits from a more refined software experience, justifying its higher initial price point even today.

PHONES
Phone Names LG V50S ThinQ 5G Sony Xperia 1 II
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66
5G bands41 NSA1, 3, 28, 77, 78 NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/75 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat19 1600/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2019, October. Released 2019, October2020, February 24
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, May 22
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.3 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)165.1 x 71.1 x 7.6 mm (6.5 x 2.80 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)181.4 g (6.38 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditionsIP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10OLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020
 Always-on displayRuns at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 650
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
Dual12 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-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Triple-12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording Tuned by Meridian Audio24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless21W wired, PD 11W wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsAurora BlackBlack, Purple, Mirror Lake Green
ModelsLM-V510NXQ-AT51, XQ-AT52, SOG01, XQ-AT42
PriceAbout 1100 EURAbout 700 EUR
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 83h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 534701 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

LG V50S ThinQ 5G

  • More affordable price point in 2024
  • Faster wireless charging (9W vs 11W)
  • Supports Quick Charge 3.0

  • Older Snapdragon 855 chipset
  • Likely inferior display quality
  • Less refined camera processing

Sony Xperia 1 II

  • More powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset
  • Brighter and potentially more accurate display
  • Superior camera image processing

  • Higher initial cost
  • Slower wireless charging (11W)
  • May be harder to find new

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 II boasts a brighter display, reaching 611 nits measured, compared to an unspecified brightness for the LG V50S. While both feature an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for OLED panels), the Xperia 1 II’s display is likely to offer better visibility in direct sunlight. The Xperia 1 II’s focus on content creation and consumption is further supported by its color accuracy, though specific color gamut coverage isn’t provided. The V50S’s display quality, while adequate, likely doesn’t match the Xperia 1 II’s premium offering.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are described as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the Xperia 1 II’s camera system is known for its emphasis on manual controls and professional-grade features, catering to photography enthusiasts. While sensor sizes and apertures are unknown for both, the Xperia 1 II’s image processing algorithms are generally considered more refined, offering better dynamic range and color accuracy. The LG V50S likely relies on more aggressive image processing to compensate for its older sensor technology.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the LG V50S utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), while the Sony Xperia 1 II features the Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+). The 865 represents a significant architectural improvement, employing Cortex-A77 cores in its prime cluster versus the Kryo 485 cores in the 855. This translates to faster processing speeds and improved efficiency. Both share an octa-core configuration with a 1x2.84 GHz prime core and 3x2.42 GHz performance cores, but the 865’s newer architecture and 7nm+ process node provide a clear advantage. The Xperia 1 II’s 5G modem is integrated into the chipset, offering potentially better power efficiency compared to external modems often paired with the 855.

Battery Life

Both phones share an endurance rating of 83 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite the Xperia 1 II’s more powerful processor. The LG V50S supports 21W wired charging with Power Delivery (PD) and Quick Charge 3.0 (QC3), alongside 9W wireless charging. The Xperia 1 II also supports 21W wired charging with PD, but offers only 11W wireless charging. The similar endurance rating suggests the Xperia 1 II’s more efficient chipset offsets its increased power draw, while the V50S offers slightly faster wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG V50S ThinQ 5G if you need a functional 5G smartphone on a tight budget and prioritize affordability over cutting-edge performance. It’s a viable option for basic tasks and moderate usage. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 II if you prioritize a superior multimedia experience, demand smoother performance for demanding applications, and value a more polished software experience, even if it means a higher investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the LG V50S ThinQ 5G receive further software updates?
LG has largely ceased software support for the V50S ThinQ 5G. While it may still receive critical security patches, major Android version updates are unlikely. The Sony Xperia 1 II, while also past its prime update cycle, generally receives longer software support from Sony.
❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the Xperia 1 II experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 865 is known to generate heat under sustained load. However, the Xperia 1 II’s thermal design, including its vapor chamber cooling system, mitigates throttling better than many other 865-powered devices. Expect some performance reduction after prolonged gaming, but it’s generally well-managed.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the LG V50S still relevant in 2024?
Yes, the LG V50S supports 5G, but its compatibility with newer 5G bands may be limited depending on your carrier and region. The Xperia 1 II’s 5G modem is integrated into the chipset and may offer broader band support.