LG V60 ThinQ 5G vs Google Pixel 5: A Head-to-Head Comparison of 5G Power and Smarts

The LG V60 ThinQ 5G and Google Pixel 5 represent distinct approaches to the 5G smartphone market. The V60, released with a flagship Snapdragon 865, aimed for raw power, while the Pixel 5 prioritized a refined software experience and efficient performance with the Snapdragon 765G. Now, with price drops on both devices, the choice isn't as clear-cut. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone delivers the best value in 2024.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and extended battery life, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 865 offers a significant performance advantage, and its 103-hour endurance rating surpasses the Pixel 5's 95 hours. However, the Pixel 5's superior camera processing and clean software experience make it a compelling choice for photography enthusiasts and those valuing simplicity.

PHONES
Phone Names LG V60 ThinQ 5G Google Pixel 5
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands2, 4, 5, 12, 25, 26, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands2, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 258, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - GD1YQ
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat22, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - GTT9Q
Launch
Announced2020, February 26. Released 2020, March 202020, September 30
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, October 15
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions169.3 x 77.6 x 8.9 mm (6.67 x 3.06 x 0.35 in)144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm (5.70 x 2.77 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight213 g (Global)/ 218 g (Verizon) (7.51 oz)151 g (5.33 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)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.0 inches, 87.6 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, HDR10+OLED, 90Hz, 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 (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 620
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13Android 11, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM modelNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB 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)12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, HDR10+, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS
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
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
RadioFM radio (USA model only)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, QC4 Wireless18W wired, PD2.0 12W wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4080 mAh
Misc
ColorsClassy Blue, Classy WhiteJust Black, Sorta Sage
ModelsLM-V600, A001LGGD1YQ, GTT9Q, G5NZ6
PriceAbout 700 EUR€ 181.31 / $ 272.44 / £ 136.00
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 194.84
RENEWED-$ 253.00
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 103h Endurance rating 95h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)

LG V60 ThinQ 5G

  • Superior processing power with Snapdragon 865
  • Longer battery life (103h endurance)
  • Faster charging support (PD2.0, QC4)
  • Potential for more versatile camera hardware (spec dependent)

  • Likely larger and heavier form factor
  • LG’s software support is no longer guaranteed

Google Pixel 5

  • Excellent camera image processing
  • Clean and streamlined Android experience
  • More compact and manageable size
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Less powerful Snapdragon 765G chipset
  • Shorter battery life (95h endurance)
  • Slower charging speeds (18W)

Display Comparison

The Pixel 5 boasts a measured peak brightness of 699 nits, a respectable figure, but the LG V60’s display specifications are not provided, suggesting it may not reach the same level of brightness. Both displays feature an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. The Pixel 5’s size is more manageable, while the V60, being a larger phone overall, likely offers a more immersive viewing experience. Without detailed color accuracy data for the V60, it’s difficult to assess which display is more color-accurate, but Google’s Pixel line is generally known for its accurate color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

While both phones are capable, their approaches differ. The Pixel 5 is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms to produce stunning images, even in challenging lighting conditions. The LG V60’s camera specifications are not detailed enough to make a direct comparison, but its flagship status suggests a higher-resolution sensor and potentially more versatile lens options. However, sensor size and aperture are critical; without those details, the Pixel 5’s software advantage is likely to be more impactful for the average user. The Pixel 5’s focus on software optimization likely delivers more consistent results across various shooting scenarios.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The LG V60’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) is a flagship processor, featuring an octa-core configuration with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. This contrasts with the Pixel 5’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm), which utilizes Kryo 475 cores peaking at 2.4 GHz. The 865’s superior clock speeds and more powerful architecture translate to significantly faster processing speeds, particularly in graphically intensive applications. While the 765G is efficient, the 865’s performance headroom is substantial. The V60’s likely use of LPDDR5 RAM (based on the chipset) further enhances memory bandwidth compared to the Pixel 5’s 8GB of RAM. This difference will be most noticeable during multitasking and demanding gaming sessions.

Battery Life

The LG V60 ThinQ 5G boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, a clear advantage over the Pixel 5’s 95 hours. This translates to longer usage between charges, despite the Pixel 5’s efficient chipset. The V60 supports both PD2.0 and QC4 wired charging, offering faster charging speeds than the Pixel 5’s 18W PD2.0. The V60 also supports wireless charging, while the Pixel 5 adds the convenience of 5W reverse wired charging, allowing it to top up accessories. The combination of larger endurance and faster charging gives the V60 a significant edge in battery performance.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG V60 ThinQ 5G if you need uncompromising performance for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and value a larger battery for all-day use. Buy the Google Pixel 5 if you prefer a streamlined Android experience, exceptional camera image processing, and a more compact form factor, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 765G is capable, it will require lower graphics settings and may experience occasional frame drops in graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact. The Pixel 5 prioritizes efficiency over raw power, so it's not ideal for users who demand the highest possible frame rates.
❓ Is the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens on the Pixel 5 a significant drawback?
The Pixel 5 relies on Super Res Zoom, a software-based zoom technique, instead of a dedicated telephoto lens. While Super Res Zoom produces surprisingly good results, it doesn't match the optical quality of a true telephoto lens, especially at higher zoom levels. Users who frequently take zoomed-in photos may find this limiting.
❓ Given LG's exit from the smartphone market, is the LG V60 still a viable purchase in 2024?
LG no longer provides software updates for the V60, which is a significant concern. However, the phone remains functional and offers excellent hardware. Users comfortable with potentially limited security updates and relying on community support can still benefit from its performance and battery life at its current discounted price.
❓ How does the Pixel 5's 18W charging compare to the LG V60's faster charging options in real-world use?
The LG V60's support for QC4 and PD2.0 allows for significantly faster charging speeds than the Pixel 5's 18W PD2.0. Expect a full charge on the V60 to take around 60-75 minutes, while the Pixel 5 will likely take closer to 90-120 minutes.