Released in 2019, the LG V50S ThinQ 5G and Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G represent two distinct approaches to early 5G implementation. The LG focused on a more refined, established design, while Xiaomi pushed boundaries with faster charging and a more aggressive price point. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone holds up better today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a balance of features and value, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G is the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 855+ chipset and significantly faster 40W wired and 30W wireless charging capabilities provide a tangible advantage over the LG V50S ThinQ 5G's 21W wired and 9W wireless charging.
| 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, 17, 41 - China |
| 5G bands | 41 NSA | 41, 78, 79 NSA |
| 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 / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, October. Released 2019, October | 2019, September. Released 2019, September |
| 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 (7000 series) |
| Dimensions | 159.3 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 157.2 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm (6.19 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 196 g (6.91 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 | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | Super AMOLED, HDR10 |
| | Always-on display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 640 (700 MHz) |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12 | Android 10, MIUI 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB 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 | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
12 MP, f/2.2, 54mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom
16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm, AF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| | 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 |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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 |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 21W wired, PD, QC3
9W wireless | 40W wired, QC4
30W wireless
10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Aurora Black | Dream White, Titanium Black |
| Models | LM-V510N | - |
| Price | About 1100 EUR | About 600 EUR |
LG V50S ThinQ 5G
- Established brand reputation
- Potentially more conservative software
- Solid overall performance with Snapdragon 855
- Slower charging speeds (wired and wireless)
- Lacks reverse wireless charging
- Snapdragon 855 is a generation behind
Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G
- Faster Snapdragon 855+ processor
- Significantly faster 40W wired charging
- 30W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging
- Xiaomi's MIUI software can be polarizing
- Potentially less refined build quality compared to LG
Display Comparison
While both phones likely feature OLED panels (based on market segment), specific details like peak brightness and color accuracy are unavailable. However, the focus here isn't display quality, but rather the surrounding features. Both devices were aimed at the flagship market, suggesting comparable panel quality. The LG V50S's display is likely tuned for color accuracy, while Xiaomi often prioritizes vibrant, saturated colors.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed sensor specifications, a direct camera comparison is challenging. However, Xiaomi’s flagship phones typically emphasize high megapixel counts and advanced computational photography. The LG V50S likely focused on a more natural image processing style, while the Mi 9 Pro 5G probably leans towards more vibrant and sharpened images. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the main sensor is crucial for low-light performance, and it's reasonable to assume both phones included it. The absence of detailed sensor information makes a definitive judgment impossible, but Xiaomi's history suggests a more feature-rich camera system.
Performance
The Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G boasts the Snapdragon 855+, a slight but meaningful upgrade over the LG V50S ThinQ 5G’s Snapdragon 855. The 855+ features a higher clock speed (2.96 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the Kryo 485 prime core), resulting in a roughly 15% performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks. While both utilize the same 7nm process, the 855+’s improved efficiency also translates to slightly better thermal management. Both phones likely paired the chipset with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, but the RAM speed (LPDDR4X vs LPDDR5) isn't specified, potentially giving the Mi 9 Pro 5G a marginal edge in memory bandwidth.
Battery Life
The battery capacity isn't specified, but the charging capabilities are a clear differentiator. The Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G’s 40W wired charging is significantly faster than the LG V50S ThinQ 5G’s 21W charging, allowing for a full charge in approximately 60-75 minutes versus over 90 minutes for the LG. Furthermore, the Mi 9 Pro 5G supports 30W wireless charging, a substantial improvement over the LG’s 9W wireless charging. The addition of 10W reverse wireless charging on the Mi 9 Pro 5G is another advantage, enabling it to charge accessories like earbuds or smartwatches.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG V50S ThinQ 5G if you prioritize a more established brand reputation and a potentially more conservative software experience. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G if you prefer faster charging speeds, reverse wireless charging functionality, and a more aggressive price-to-performance ratio. The Mi 9 Pro 5G is ideal for power users who frequently top up their battery throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 855+ in the Mi 9 Pro 5G offer a noticeable performance difference in gaming compared to the V50S ThinQ 5G?
Yes, the Snapdragon 855+ provides a roughly 15% performance uplift in CPU-intensive tasks, which translates to smoother frame rates and reduced stuttering in demanding games. While both phones are capable of running most games, the Mi 9 Pro 5G will maintain higher and more consistent performance over extended gaming sessions.
❓ How much faster is the 40W charging on the Mi 9 Pro 5G compared to the 21W charging on the LG V50S ThinQ 5G?
The Mi 9 Pro 5G’s 40W charging can fully charge the battery in approximately 60-75 minutes, while the LG V50S ThinQ 5G’s 21W charging takes over 90 minutes. This difference is significant for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging feature on the Mi 9 Pro 5G useful for everyday use?
Reverse wireless charging is a convenient feature for charging accessories like wireless earbuds or smartwatches on the go. While not a necessity, it adds a layer of versatility and can be particularly useful for users who rely heavily on wireless accessories.
