LG V50S ThinQ 5G vs Sony Xperia 5 II: A Detailed Comparison of 5G Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user in 2024, the Sony Xperia 5 II is the better choice. While the LG V50S offered early 5G access, the Xperia 5 II’s Snapdragon 865 provides a noticeable performance boost, and its more modern feature set and continued software support outweigh the V50S’s initial price advantage.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG V50S ThinQ 5G | Sony Xperia 5 II |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 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, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | 41 NSA | 1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/75 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, October. Released 2019, October | 2020, September 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, October 12 |
| 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) | 158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 163 g (5.75 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 | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | OLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Always-on display | Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.0 | |
| 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 | Zeiss 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 |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis 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 by Meridian Audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless | 21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aurora Black | Black, Grey, Blue, Pink |
| Models | LM-V510N | SO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02 |
| Price | About 1100 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 695.00 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 239.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 102h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -28.3 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG V50S ThinQ 5G
- Potentially lower price point (due to age)
- 5G connectivity
- Expandable storage (likely, based on LG’s history)
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 855)
- Limited software support
- Likely lower display quality
Sony Xperia 5 II
- Faster Snapdragon 865 chipset
- Compact form factor
- More modern features and software support
- Higher initial price
- Fixed storage (no microSD slot)
- Smaller battery capacity (potentially)
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 5 II boasts a 600 nit max brightness, a respectable figure, but the LG V50S’s display specifications are not provided. Given the V50S’s release date, it likely falls short in peak brightness and color accuracy. The Xperia 5 II’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a high-quality OLED panel, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Xperia 5 II’s compact 6.1-inch form factor is a key differentiator, appealing to users who prefer a more pocketable device, a feature absent in the larger V50S.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed specifications are lacking for the LG V50S. The Xperia 5 II’s camera system is a stronger selling point, focusing on both photo and video quality. While sensor sizes and apertures aren’t specified, Sony’s expertise in camera technology is evident in the Xperia 5 II’s image processing and features. The V50S likely relies on older image processing algorithms, resulting in less dynamic range and detail compared to the Xperia 5 II. The absence of detailed camera specs for the V50S makes a direct comparison difficult, but Sony’s brand reputation and feature set give the Xperia 5 II a clear advantage.
Performance
The Xperia 5 II’s Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+) chipset represents a significant upgrade over the LG V50S’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The 865 features the newer Cortex-A77 CPU cores, offering improved single-core and multi-core performance. While both share the same core count (Octa-core), the architectural improvements in the 865 translate to a smoother experience, especially in demanding tasks. The 865 also benefits from an improved Adreno GPU, providing a substantial boost in graphics performance. The V50S’s 855, while capable, will show its age in modern games and applications. Both devices utilize 8GB of RAM, but the Xperia 5 II likely benefits from faster LPDDR5 RAM, further enhancing performance.
Battery Life
Both the LG V50S ThinQ 5G and the Sony Xperia 5 II share an endurance rating of 102h, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Xperia 5 II’s 21W wired charging with PD3.0 and 50% charge in 30 minutes is faster and more efficient than the V50S’s 21W wired charging with QC3 and 9W wireless charging. While both support 21W wired charging, the PD3.0 standard on the Xperia 5 II offers better compatibility and potentially faster charging speeds with compatible chargers. The V50S’s 9W wireless charging is significantly slower, making it less convenient for topping up the battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG V50S ThinQ 5G if you prioritize finding the absolute lowest price for a 5G-capable smartphone and are comfortable with an older device that may have limited software support. Buy the Sony Xperia 5 II if you prefer a compact, high-performance flagship with a focus on photography and videography, and value a more refined user experience and longer software support lifecycle.