Samsung Galaxy S10+ vs LG V50 ThinQ 5G: A Detailed Comparison of 2019 Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G emerges as the better value. Its superior battery endurance (96h vs 91h) and faster 18W charging offset the S10+'s marginally brighter display. While the S10+ offers a choice of chipsets, the V50's consistent Snapdragon 855 provides a reliable performance experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S10+ | LG V50 ThinQ 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - USA |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA |
| 5G bands | - | 41, 260, 261 NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/75 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 08 | 2019, February 24. Released 2019, April 19 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), ceramic back, ceramic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (6.20 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) | 159.2 x 76.1 x 8.3 mm (6.27 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g / 198 g (ceramic) (6.17 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~538 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 103.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ | P-OLED, HDR10 |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA/LATAMOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/China | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video | 12 MP, 27mm (wide), f/1.5, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3-axis OIS 12 MP, 52mm (telephoto), f/2.4, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, 16mm (ultrawide), f/1.9, 1/3.1", 1.0µm, no AF |
| Video | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., HDR10 video, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, depth sensor | 8 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, 21mm (wide), f/2.2, 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording Tuned with Meridian Audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio (USA & Canada only) | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0, QC3, 50% in 36 min 10W wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 4100 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, Cardinal Red, Smoke Blue | New Aurora Black |
| Models | SM-G975F, SM-G975U, SM-G975W, SM-G975U1, SM-G9750, SM-G975N, SM-G975X, SC-05L | LM-V500, LM-V500N, LM-V500EM, LM-V500XM, LM-V450PM, LM-V450 |
| Price | $ 289.88 / C$ 449.97 / € 230.00 | About 550 EUR |
| SAR | 1.06 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.52 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -92.5dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 96h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 194000:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 343758 (v7), 421934 (v8) GeekBench: 10928 (v4.4), 2672 (v5.1) GFXBench: 22fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S10+
- Potentially brighter display (depending on conditions)
- More compact and ergonomic design
- Wider brand recognition and software support (historically)
- Exynos variant prone to thermal throttling
- Slightly lower battery endurance
- Slower wired charging
LG V50 ThinQ 5G
- Guaranteed Snapdragon 855 performance
- Superior battery life and faster charging
- Higher display contrast ratio
- Larger and heavier form factor
- Less vibrant color processing (potentially)
- Less established brand presence
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) and a sunlight contrast of 4.514, suggesting excellent visibility outdoors. However, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G counters with a measured peak brightness of 533 nits and a remarkable 194000:1 contrast ratio. While the S10+ likely has superior color accuracy due to Samsung’s display expertise, the V50’s higher contrast and brightness provide a more immersive viewing experience, particularly with HDR content. Both utilize OLED technology, but the V50’s specifications indicate a more visually impactful display.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Both are capable of photo and video capture. The S10+’s camera system likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing algorithms, known for vibrant colors. However, without specific sensor size or aperture details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. The V50’s camera likely prioritizes natural color reproduction, a hallmark of LG’s camera tuning. The presence of OIS on both devices is crucial for stable video recording and low-light photography.
Performance
Both the S10+ and V50 ThinQ 5G are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), but the S10+ also came in an Exynos 9820 (8nm) variant depending on the region. The Snapdragon 855’s Kryo 485 cores offer a consistent octa-core configuration across both devices, but the Exynos 9820’s Mongoose M4 cores, while theoretically faster, were often prone to thermal throttling. The V50’s consistent Snapdragon 855 ensures stable performance under sustained loads. Both phones feature ample RAM, but the chipset consistency gives the V50 a slight edge in long-term performance reliability.
Battery Life
The LG V50 ThinQ 5G’s 96-hour endurance rating surpasses the Samsung Galaxy S10+'s 91-hour rating, indicating superior battery life in real-world usage. The V50 also boasts faster charging with 18W wired charging (supporting PD2.0, QC3, and reaching 50% in 36 minutes) compared to the S10+'s 15W wired charging (PD2.0). While both support wireless charging, the V50’s 10W output is slower than the S10+'s 15W. The combination of higher endurance and faster charging makes the V50 the clear winner in the battery department.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ if you prioritize a more compact form factor and the potential for a slightly brighter display, and are willing to gamble on the Exynos vs Snapdragon chipset lottery. Buy the LG V50 ThinQ 5G if you value longer battery life, faster charging speeds, and a guaranteed Snapdragon 855 processor, making it ideal for power users and those who frequently rely on mobile data.