LG V60 ThinQ 5G vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term software support and a refined user experience, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the better choice. While the LG V60 boasts superior battery endurance and a potentially faster processor on paper, Apple’s A14 Bionic delivers consistently smooth performance and a superior camera experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG V60 ThinQ 5G | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max |
| 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 | 2, 4, 5, 12, 25, 26, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2342 |
| 5G bands | 2, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A2342 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat22, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 Sub6 - A2410, A2411, A2412 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 26. Released 2020, March 20 | 2020, October 13 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 13 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 169.3 x 77.6 x 8.9 mm (6.67 x 3.06 x 0.35 in) | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 213 g (Global)/ 218 g (Verizon) (7.51 oz) | 228 g (8.04 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 conditions | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED, HDR10+ | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13 | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 64 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) | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.9", 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 65mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, HDR10+, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 10 MP, f/1.9, 30mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.22µm | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio (USA model only) | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired, PD2.0, QC4 Wireless | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 3687 mAh (14.13 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Classy Blue, Classy White | Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue |
| Models | LM-V600, A001LG | A2411, A2342, A2410, A2412, iPhone13,4 |
| Price | About 700 EUR | $ 328.00 / C$ 549.75 / £ 270.67 / € 339.00 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 599.99 |
| 256GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 728.45 |
| 512GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 886.67 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 627.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 103h | Endurance rating 95h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.8 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 638584 (v8) GeekBench: 4240 (v5.1) GFXBench: 55fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG V60 ThinQ 5G
- Superior battery endurance (103h rating)
- Potentially faster raw processing power
- Expandable storage via microSD card
- Less refined software experience
- Potential for thermal throttling
- Shorter software support lifespan
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Superior camera system with excellent video
- Optimized performance and efficiency
- Long-term software support and ecosystem integration
- Slightly shorter battery life
- No expandable storage
- Higher initial cost (though prices have dropped)
Display Comparison
The iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 822 nits, compared to the LG V60’s unspecified peak brightness. This translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While the LG V60 likely features a higher refresh rate (90Hz vs 60Hz on the iPhone), the iPhone’s infinite contrast ratio and color accuracy provide a more visually appealing experience. The iPhone’s Ceramic Shield front cover also offers superior drop protection.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer excellent camera systems, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max holds a clear advantage in overall image quality and video recording. While both feature photo/video capabilities, the iPhone’s computational photography excels in dynamic range and detail preservation. The iPhone’s sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) provides superior stabilization for both photos and videos. The LG V60’s camera system, while capable, lacks the refinement and consistency of Apple’s image processing. The iPhone’s ProRes video recording (available on Pro models) is a feature the V60 cannot match.
Performance
On paper, the LG V60’s Snapdragon 865, built on a 7nm+ process, appears competitive with the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s 5nm A14 Bionic. However, the A14’s architectural advantages – a six-core design with high-performance Firestorm cores – deliver superior single-core performance and efficiency. The A14’s neural engine also provides a significant boost in machine learning tasks. While the V60 has 6GB of RAM, the A14’s optimized memory management mitigates any potential disadvantage. The Snapdragon 865’s thermal throttling under sustained load is a known issue, potentially limiting long-term performance.
Battery Life
The LG V60 ThinQ 5G claims an endurance rating of 103 hours, surpassing the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s 95 hours. This suggests the V60 offers significantly longer battery life in typical usage. Both support PD2.0 charging, with the iPhone achieving 50% charge in 30 minutes. The iPhone also supports 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2 (with iOS 17.4), while the LG V60 offers wireless charging without specifying wattage. The V60’s larger battery capacity, combined with the Snapdragon 865’s power efficiency, results in a tangible advantage in endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG V60 ThinQ 5G if you need maximum battery life and prioritize raw processing power for demanding tasks like video editing or emulation. Its expandable storage is also a significant advantage. Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if you prefer a seamless user experience, a superior camera system with excellent video capabilities, and guaranteed software updates for years to come. The iPhone’s ecosystem integration and resale value are also compelling benefits.