The LG Velvet 5G and its UW (Ultra Wideband) sibling represent LG's attempt to deliver a premium experience at a competitive price point. While visually identical, the UW variant targets users on specific carrier networks with mmWave 5G support. This comparison breaks down the subtle, yet important, differences between these two models, focusing on performance, battery, and real-world usability.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the standard LG Velvet 5G offers the best value. Both phones share the same Snapdragon 765G chipset and core features. The UW model's primary benefit – mmWave 5G – is only relevant for those within range of compatible networks, and doesn't justify the potential price premium for the average consumer.
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 260, 261 mmWave | 1, 3, 28, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1000/75 Mbps, 5G 2Gbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1000/75 Mbps, 5G 2Gbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA 800 / 1900 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 19. Released 2020, August 21 | 2020, May 07. Released 2020, May 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 167.2 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) | 167.2 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (pre-installed) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED | P-OLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, LG UX | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, LG UX |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, 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, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0, QC4
9W wireless | 25W wired, PD3.0, QC4
9W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4300 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Aurora Red | Aurora White, Aurora Green, Aurora Gray, Illusion Sunset, Red, Pink |
| Models | LM-G900V, LM-G900V | LM-G900N, LM-G900EM, LM-G900, LM-G900TM |
| Price | About 590 EUR | About 470 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.23 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 79h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-23.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 297372 (v8)
GeekBench: 1905 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG Velvet 5G UW
- Potentially better battery life due to less reliance on power-hungry mmWave.
- Likely more affordable price point.
- Identical core performance to the UW model.
- Lacks mmWave 5G support.
- May not be compatible with all carrier features.
LG Velvet 5G
- Supports mmWave 5G for fastest possible speeds (where available).
- Future-proofed for expanding mmWave infrastructure.
- Identical core performance to the standard model.
- Potentially shorter battery life when using mmWave.
- Higher price point.
- mmWave benefits are geographically limited.
Display Comparison
Both the LG Velvet 5G and 5G UW feature identical displays, boasting a measured peak brightness of 617 nits. This is respectable for an OLED panel, providing adequate visibility even in outdoor conditions. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology, ensures deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, the context data lacks information regarding refresh rate or PWM dimming frequency, making it difficult to assess potential eye strain concerns. The identical display characteristics mean neither phone holds an advantage for visual experience.
Camera Comparison
The camera systems are described identically as 'Photo / Video' for both models, lacking any specific details about sensor resolution, aperture, or features like optical image stabilization (OIS). This omission is a significant drawback for a detailed comparison. Without knowing sensor sizes or lens characteristics, it's impossible to determine if there are any meaningful differences in image quality. The absence of details suggests the camera experience is largely the same across both devices, and any differences would likely be attributable to software processing.
Performance
Critically, both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) chipset, featuring the same octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime, 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold, and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver). This means CPU and GPU performance will be virtually indistinguishable between the two. The lack of information regarding RAM type (LPDDR4x vs LPDDR5) or storage speed (UFS 2.1 vs UFS 3.1) prevents a deeper analysis of potential performance bottlenecks. The UW model's 5G modem *could* offer slightly improved efficiency when connected to mmWave networks, but this is offset by the increased power draw of mmWave itself.
Battery Life
Both the LG Velvet 5G and 5G UW share the same 25W wired charging capabilities, supporting both PD3.0 and QC4 standards, alongside 9W wireless charging. The provided endurance rating of 79 hours for the standard Velvet 5G suggests a comparable battery capacity. However, the UW model's mmWave 5G connectivity, while offering faster speeds, is known to be more power-hungry. This could result in slightly reduced battery life for the UW variant when actively connected to mmWave networks, despite the identical battery capacity. The 25W charging speed should provide a reasonable 0-100% charge time, but specific timings are unavailable.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG Velvet 5G UW if you live in an area with robust mmWave 5G coverage from a supported carrier and prioritize the absolute fastest possible mobile data speeds. Buy the LG Velvet 5G if you prioritize value, don't require mmWave 5G, or are on a carrier that doesn't fully utilize the UW bands. Both phones deliver a solid mid-range experience, but the standard model offers a more compelling price-to-performance ratio for the majority of users.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the LG Velvet 5G UW actually provide significantly faster speeds in real-world use?
The LG Velvet 5G UW's mmWave 5G capability *can* deliver significantly faster speeds – often exceeding 1 Gbps – but only when you are in close proximity to a functioning mmWave cell tower. mmWave signals have limited range and are easily blocked by obstacles like buildings and trees. Outside of these ideal conditions, the UW model will fall back to sub-6GHz 5G, offering similar speeds to the standard Velvet 5G.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications a concern? Should I expect a noticeable difference in photo quality?
The absence of specific camera details is indeed a concern. However, given that both phones are described identically in terms of camera capabilities, it's unlikely there's a substantial difference in image quality. Any variations would likely stem from software processing rather than hardware differences. If camera performance is a priority, researching independent camera reviews is crucial.
❓ Will the LG Velvet 5G UW work on all 5G carriers?
The LG Velvet 5G UW is specifically designed to work with carriers that have deployed mmWave 5G networks. While it will also connect to sub-6GHz 5G networks, you'll only experience the full benefits of the 'UW' designation on compatible carrier infrastructure. Check with your carrier to confirm compatibility before purchasing.
