LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW vs Sony Xperia 5 II: A Detailed Comparison of Snapdragon Flagships

The LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW and the Sony Xperia 5 II represent interesting points in the flagship phone timeline. The V60, initially a carrier-locked powerhouse, now offers a compelling value proposition as prices have dropped. The Xperia 5 II, meanwhile, aimed for a more refined, compact flagship experience. Both are built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, but their execution differs significantly, making a direct comparison crucial for potential buyers.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user seeking the best value, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW emerges as the winner. While the Xperia 5 II offers a more polished software experience, the V60’s aggressive pricing, coupled with comparable performance and a similar chipset, makes it a more practical choice. However, users prioritizing a compact form factor and potentially more refined camera processing will find the Xperia 5 II appealing.

PHONES
Phone Names LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW Sony Xperia 5 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 bands2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 661, 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 bands260, 261 mmWave1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat22, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2020, February 26. Released 2020, April 022020, September 17
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), 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)158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM (pre-installed)· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight218 g (7.69 oz)163 g (5.75 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 conditionsIP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, HDR10+OLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 Always-on displayTriluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM modelmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.0
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)-
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
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, HDR10+, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10 MP, f/1.9, 30mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.22µm8 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 recording24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radio (USA model only)No
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/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
ChargingWired, PD2.0, QC4 Wireless21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsClassy Blue, Classy WhiteBlack, Grey, Blue, Pink
ModelsLM-V600VML, LMV600VMLSO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02
PriceAbout 870 EURAbout 650 EUR
SAR0.85 W/kg (head)     1.12 W/kg (body)-
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 V60 ThinQ 5G UW

  • Aggressive pricing offers excellent value.
  • Snapdragon 865 provides flagship-level performance.
  • Potentially better thermal management due to larger size.

  • Limited information on display specifications.
  • Uncertainty regarding software update support.
  • Charging speed not explicitly stated.

Sony Xperia 5 II

  • Compact and pocketable design.
  • Excellent battery life (102h endurance rating).
  • Fast 21W charging with PD3.0.

  • Higher price point compared to the LG V60.
  • Smaller display may not appeal to all users.
  • Limited information on camera sensor details.

Display Comparison

Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, but their displays differ. The Sony Xperia 5 II boasts a 6.1-inch display with a measured peak brightness of 600 nits, offering a solid viewing experience. While the LG V60’s display specifications aren’t provided, its larger form factor suggests a potentially more immersive experience. The Xperia 5 II’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a high-quality OLED panel, likely offering deep blacks. The absence of refresh rate information for the V60 is a drawback, while the Xperia 5 II’s 120Hz refresh rate (implied by its positioning) would provide smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are described as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specifics are limited. The Xperia 5 II is known for its emphasis on videography, leveraging Sony’s Alpha camera expertise. The V60’s camera system is less documented, but its larger size *could* accommodate a larger sensor. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details, a direct comparison is difficult. The absence of information regarding image processing algorithms is also a significant gap. The Xperia 5 II’s focus on professional video features, like 4K HDR recording, likely sets it apart for content creators.

Performance

Both the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW and the Sony Xperia 5 II are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+). This means they share the same CPU configuration: an octa-core setup with 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. Performance will be largely identical in CPU-bound tasks. The key differentiator will likely be thermal management. The V60’s larger chassis *could* allow for more effective heat dissipation, potentially preventing throttling during sustained workloads. However, without detailed thermal testing data, this remains speculative. Both devices benefit from 5G connectivity, leveraging the Snapdragon 865’s integrated modem.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 5 II boasts an impressive endurance rating of 102 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. This is likely due to a combination of efficient power management and a well-optimized software experience. The LG V60’s battery capacity is not specified, but its larger size suggests a potentially larger battery. However, the Xperia 5 II’s 21W wired charging with PD3.0 and 50% charge in 30 minutes is faster than the LG V60’s PD2.0 and QC4 charging, which lacks a specific charging time. The V60’s lack of specified charging speed is a disadvantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW if you need a powerful 5G phone at a significantly reduced price, and are comfortable with potentially less frequent software updates. It’s ideal for media consumption and gaming on a larger display. Buy the Sony Xperia 5 II if you prefer a more compact, pocketable flagship with a focus on photography and videography, and value Sony’s unique software features and potentially longer software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW receive regular software updates?
LG has largely exited the smartphone market, meaning software update support for the V60 is limited. While it initially received updates, expect fewer future updates compared to Sony’s ongoing support for the Xperia 5 II. This is a key consideration for users prioritizing security patches and new features.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 865 in the Xperia 5 II handle demanding games like PUBG?
The Snapdragon 865 in both phones is capable of running PUBG at high settings. However, the Xperia 5 II’s potentially better thermal management, due to its optimized design, *could* result in less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The V60’s larger size might also help, but this requires independent testing.
❓ Is the 21W charging on the Xperia 5 II considered slow by today's standards?
While 21W isn't the fastest charging available today, it's still respectable and can charge the Xperia 5 II to 50% in 30 minutes. It’s a reasonable trade-off for the phone’s excellent battery life and overall efficiency. The LG V60’s charging speed is less clear, making the Xperia 5 II a more predictable option.