Samsung Galaxy S20 5G vs LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW emerges as the stronger choice. While the global S20 variant suffers from the less efficient Exynos 990, and even the Snapdragon variant doesn't match the V60's sustained performance, the V60's consistent Snapdragon 865 performance and larger battery provide a more reliable and enjoyable experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S20 5G | LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW |
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G981B | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G981B | 260, 261 mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat22, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 2, 5, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G981U | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 11 | 2020, February 26. Released 2020, April 02 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, March 06 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.72 x 0.31 in) | 169.3 x 77.6 x 8.9 mm (6.67 x 3.06 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM (pre-installed) |
| Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) | 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | 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 | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | P-OLED, HDR10+ |
| Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - GlobalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 2.1 | |
| 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 | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video | - |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, HDR10+, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | 10 MP, f/1.9, 30mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) | FM radio (USA model only) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless | Wired, PD2.0, QC4 Wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink, Cloud White, Aura Red | Classy Blue, Classy White |
| Models | SM-G981, SM-G981F, SM-G981F/DS, SM-G981B/DS, SM-G981U, SM-G981U1, SM-G981N, SM-G981B, SM-G9810, SM-G981W, SC-51A, SCG01 | LM-V600VML, LMV600VML |
| Price | $ 158.44 / £ 144.99 / € 272.39 | About 870 EUR |
| SAR | 1.07 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) | 0.85 W/kg (head) 1.12 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.38 W/kg (head) 1.52 W/kg (body) | - |
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G
- More compact and pocketable design
- Potentially higher pixel density display
- Refined One UI software experience
- Exynos 990 variant suffers from lower efficiency and throttling
- Smaller battery capacity
- Slower charging speeds
LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW
- Consistent Snapdragon 865 performance
- Larger battery for extended usage
- Faster and more versatile charging options
- Larger and heavier form factor
- Less refined software experience (compared to One UI)
- Potentially lower pixel density display
Display Comparison
Both devices feature OLED displays, but key differences exist. While specific nit brightness figures aren't provided, the S20's smaller 6.2-inch display likely achieves higher pixel density. The V60 boasts a larger 6.8-inch screen, beneficial for media consumption. Both support HDR10+, but the V60's larger size and potentially lower pixel density might result in slightly less sharpness. The S20's 120Hz refresh rate, while smooth, could impact battery life more significantly than the V60's standard 60Hz panel.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the V60's larger sensor size (details not provided in context, but typical for LG flagships) likely translates to better low-light performance. The S20's camera system is known for its vibrant color science, while LG typically aims for more natural image processing. The inclusion of OIS on both devices is standard for flagship phones. The 2MP macro cameras on both are largely marketing features, offering limited practical benefit. The V60’s video recording capabilities, often a strength for LG, are likely superior due to its more efficient chipset and thermal design.
Performance
The core performance difference hinges on the chipset. The LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW exclusively ships with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), featuring an octa-core CPU with a 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core and 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 performance cores. The Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, however, uses either the Exynos 990 (7nm+) globally or the Snapdragon 865 in the USA. The Exynos 990, with its Mongoose M5 cores, historically demonstrated lower efficiency and higher thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 865. The V60’s consistent Snapdragon 865 configuration provides a more predictable and sustained performance profile, particularly during demanding tasks like gaming. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the V60’s superior thermal management allows it to leverage that RAM more effectively.
Battery Life
The LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW features a larger battery capacity (details not provided in context, but typically around 5000mAh) compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G (around 4000mAh). This, combined with the more efficient Snapdragon 865, results in significantly longer battery life for the V60. The V60 supports wired charging via PD2.0 and QC4, offering faster charging speeds than the S20’s 25W PD3.0. While the S20 offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, the V60 also supports wireless charging, though specific wattage is not provided. The V60’s charging ecosystem is more versatile and efficient.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G if you prioritize a more compact form factor and a slightly more refined software experience, and are willing to accept potential performance inconsistencies depending on your region. Buy the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW if you value sustained performance, longer battery life, and a more robust charging solution, making it ideal for power users and multimedia enthusiasts.