Sony Xperia 1 V vs. LG Velvet 5G UW: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship and Value

The Sony Xperia 1 V represents a no-compromise approach to the Android flagship, boasting top-tier specs and a premium price. Conversely, the LG Velvet 5G UW, while older, offers a compelling blend of 5G connectivity and a refined design at a significantly lower cost. This comparison dissects these two devices to determine which best suits your needs and budget.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing uncompromising performance, exceptional camera capabilities, and extended battery life, the Sony Xperia 1 V is the clear winner. However, the LG Velvet 5G UW provides excellent value for budget-conscious consumers seeking a capable 5G device with a stylish design.

PHONES
Phone Names LG Velvet 5G UW Sony Xperia 1 V
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, 66 - Europe
5G bands260, 261 mmWave1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1000/75 Mbps, 5G 2GbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 / 1900 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2020, August 19. Released 2020, August 212023, May 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, July 28
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions167.2 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)165 x 71 x 8.3 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM (pre-installed)· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight-187 g (6.60 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditionsIP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLEDOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 620Adreno 740
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 11, LG UXAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Triple48 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 lens48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 125mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-5.2x continuous optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.5", dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging25W wired, PD3.0, QC4 9W wireless30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4300 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsAurora RedBlack, Khaki Green, Platinum Silver
ModelsLM-G900V, LM-G900VXQDQ62/B, XQ-DQ72, XQ-DQ54
PriceAbout 590 EUR€ 684.00 / $ 1,409.99 / £ 519.99
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 115h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1127931 (v9) GeekBench: 4916 (v6) GFXBench: 96fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

LG Velvet 5G UW

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Exceptional camera capabilities
  • Long-lasting battery life and fast charging

  • Higher price point
  • May be larger and heavier than the Velvet

Sony Xperia 1 V

  • More affordable price
  • Stylish and modern design
  • Capable 5G connectivity

  • Less powerful processor
  • Inferior camera performance compared to the Xperia 1 V

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 V boasts a superior display experience, achieving a measured peak brightness of 936 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the LG Velvet's display specs aren't provided, its OLED panel likely offers vibrant colors, but will fall short of the Xperia 1 V's peak brightness. The Xperia 1 V's 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a true black level, enhancing visual depth. The lack of refresh rate information for the Velvet makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Xperia 1 V's likely higher refresh rate contributes to smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature capable camera systems, but the Xperia 1 V is expected to excel. While specific sensor details are missing for both, Sony's expertise in camera technology suggests a more advanced imaging pipeline in the Xperia 1 V. The Xperia 1 V's focus on both 'Photo / Video' indicates a versatile camera system geared towards content creators. The Velvet's camera is likely competent for everyday photography, but will lack the dynamic range, detail, and low-light performance of the Xperia 1 V. The absence of specific aperture or sensor size data for the Velvet makes a precise comparison challenging, but Sony's flagship typically features larger sensors and wider apertures.

Performance

The performance gap between these devices is substantial. The Sony Xperia 1 V's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a generational leap ahead of the LG Velvet 5G UW's Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 8 Gen 2's octa-core configuration, featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz, delivers significantly faster processing speeds and improved efficiency. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and superior gaming performance on the Xperia 1 V. The 765G, while capable, will exhibit more noticeable slowdowns under heavy load. The 4nm process node of the 8 Gen 2 also contributes to better thermal management, reducing throttling during prolonged intensive tasks.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 1 V demonstrates impressive battery endurance, achieving an endurance rating of 115 hours and active use score of 12:24h. The LG Velvet 5G UW's battery capacity is unknown, but its Snapdragon 765G is less power-hungry. However, the Xperia 1 V's more efficient chipset and potentially larger battery capacity likely provide longer real-world usage. The Xperia 1 V's 30W charging with PD3.0 and PPS allows for a 50% charge in 30 minutes, while the Velvet's 25W charging is slower. The Xperia 1 V also offers wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Velvet.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG Velvet 5G UW if you need a reliable 5G smartphone with a modern aesthetic and don't require the absolute latest processing power or camera technology. It's ideal for everyday tasks, social media, and casual gaming. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 V if you demand a flagship experience – professional-grade photography and videography, sustained performance for demanding applications, and a long-lasting battery are paramount.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 765G in the LG Velvet 5G UW struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 765G is capable of running Genshin Impact, but you'll likely need to lower graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. Expect some frame drops during intense combat scenarios. The Xperia 1 V's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will handle Genshin Impact at maximum settings without issue.
❓ How does the Sony Xperia 1 V's charging compare to other flagships in terms of speed and heat generation?
The Xperia 1 V's 30W charging is competitive, reaching 50% in 30 minutes. While not the fastest charging available, it's efficient and doesn't generate excessive heat. Sony's thermal management is generally excellent, preventing significant throttling during charging.
❓ Is the LG Velvet 5G UW still receiving software updates and security patches?
LG has exited the smartphone market, so software update support for the Velvet 5G UW is limited. While it likely received updates for a period after release, ongoing security patches are unlikely. This is a significant consideration for long-term security.
❓ What kind of video recording capabilities does the Sony Xperia 1 V offer for professional videographers?
The Xperia 1 V excels in video recording, offering 4K HDR recording at 60fps, 10-bit color depth, and S-Cinetone for a cinematic look. It also includes advanced features like manual controls, external monitor support, and real-time tracking autofocus, making it a powerful tool for videographers.