LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW vs. LG G8 ThinQ: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value

The LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW and the LG G8 ThinQ represent different points in LG’s flagship strategy. The G8, released first, focused on a refined user experience and innovative features like Palm Vein Unlock. The V60, arriving later, prioritized 5G connectivity and a significant performance boost with the Snapdragon 865. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which device offers the best value in today’s market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW is the superior choice. The Snapdragon 865 delivers a noticeable performance uplift over the Snapdragon 855 in the G8, offering smoother multitasking and better gaming. While both phones share identical battery endurance ratings, the V60’s faster charging capabilities and 5G support provide a more future-proof experience.

PHONES
Phone Names LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW LG G8 ThinQ
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA
5G bands260, 261 mmWave-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat22, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 66 - Verison
Launch
Announced2020, February 26. Released 2020, April 022019, February 24. Released 2019, April 11
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions169.3 x 77.6 x 8.9 mm (6.67 x 3.06 x 0.35 in)151.9 x 71.8 x 8.4 mm (5.98 x 2.83 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM (pre-installed)· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight218 g (7.69 oz)167 g (5.89 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant* Method 516.6, Procedure IV "Transit Drop" *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditionsIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant* Method 516.6, Procedure IV "Transit Drop" *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~564 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 91.0 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, HDR10+P-OLED, HDR10
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 640
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM modelmicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - single-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual64 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (standard), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/1.9, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth)-
Dual or Triple-12 MP, f/1.5, 27mm (standard), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/1.9, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, no AF or 12 MP, f/1.5, 27mm (standard), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/1.9, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, no AF 12 MP, 52mm (telephoto), f/2.4, 1.0µm, 2x optical zoom, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, HDR10+, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR10, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10 MP, f/1.9, 30mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.22µm8 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording32-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radio (USA model only)FM radio (market/region dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFace ID, Hand ID, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, QC4 Wireless21W wired, PD, QC3 9W wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsClassy Blue, Classy WhitePlatinum Gray, New Aurora Black, New Moroccan Blue, Carmine Red
ModelsLM-V600VML, LMV600VMLLMG820QM7, LM-G820UMB, LMG820UM0, LMG820UM1, LMG820UM2, LM-G820N, LM-G820, LM-G820QM
PriceAbout 870 EURAbout 350 EUR
SAR0.85 W/kg (head)     1.12 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -94.1dB / Crosstalk -87.6dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 79h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: infinite
Loudspeaker- Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 92dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 331537 (v7), 362730 (v8) GeekBench: 10735 (v4.4), 2700 (v5.1) GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW

  • Significantly faster Snapdragon 865 processor
  • Faster charging with PD2.0 and QC4
  • 5G connectivity for future-proof networking

  • Potentially higher price point
  • Detailed camera specs are unavailable

LG G8 ThinQ

  • Refined user experience and innovative features
  • Good battery endurance (79h)
  • High display brightness (655 nits)

  • Older Snapdragon 855 processor
  • Slower charging speeds (21W wired, 9W wireless)

Display Comparison

Both the LG V60 and G8 feature high-quality displays, but detailed specifications are limited. The G8 is confirmed to reach 655 nits of peak brightness, a respectable figure for outdoor visibility. While the V60’s peak brightness isn’t specified, it’s likely comparable. Both displays boast an infinite contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. The absence of refresh rate data for the G8 suggests it operates at a standard 60Hz, while the V60’s display technology isn’t detailed enough to confirm a higher refresh rate. The G8’s display is likely optimized for color accuracy, while the V60 may prioritize responsiveness for gaming.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are described as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are lacking. The absence of sensor size or megapixel counts makes a direct comparison difficult. However, the V60’s newer processor likely enables more advanced image processing algorithms, potentially resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance. The G8’s camera system likely prioritizes a balanced approach, while the V60 may lean towards more vibrant and detailed images. The lack of information prevents a meaningful assessment of video recording capabilities.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The LG V60 utilizes the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), a significant upgrade over the G8’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The 865 features a newer CPU architecture – Cortex-A77 cores – compared to the Kryo 485 cores in the 855. This translates to a roughly 25% performance increase in CPU-intensive tasks. The 865’s Adreno 650 GPU also provides a substantial graphics boost. The V60’s 7nm+ node offers improved thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during prolonged gaming sessions. While both phones likely feature similar RAM configurations, the V60 benefits from faster LPDDR5 RAM, further enhancing performance.

Battery Life

Interestingly, both the LG V60 and G8 share an endurance rating of 79 hours. This suggests similar real-world battery life despite the V60’s more powerful processor. However, the V60 boasts significantly faster charging capabilities: Wired charging supports PD2.0 and QC4, while the G8 is limited to 21W with PD and QC3. The V60 also supports wireless charging, whereas the G8’s wireless charging is slower at 9W. This means the V60 can replenish its battery much quicker, mitigating any potential power drain from the Snapdragon 865.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW if you need the fastest possible performance for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and if 5G connectivity is a priority. Buy the LG G8 ThinQ if you prioritize a more refined, feature-rich experience with a focus on innovative biometric security and are less concerned with bleeding-edge processing power or 5G.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the V60 experience significant throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 865’s 7nm+ manufacturing process and improved thermal management are designed to minimize throttling. While some throttling is inevitable under sustained load, the V60 is likely to maintain higher performance levels for longer periods compared to the G8’s Snapdragon 855.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the V60 worth the extra cost if I don't have 5G coverage in my area?
Even without immediate 5G access, the V60’s 5G modem provides future-proofing. It also often includes improved 4G LTE capabilities, potentially resulting in faster and more reliable 4G connections compared to the G8.
❓ How does the charging speed difference between the V60 and G8 translate to real-world usage?
The V60’s support for PD2.0 and QC4 allows for significantly faster charging. Expect a 0-100% charge in approximately 1.5-2 hours, compared to potentially 2.5-3 hours on the G8. This faster charging is particularly beneficial for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.