Samsung Galaxy S20+ 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. Its consistent Snapdragon 865 performance across all regions avoids the potential thermal and efficiency issues of the Exynos 990 variant of the S20+. While the S20+ boasts a brighter display, the V60’s overall package delivers a more reliable and predictable experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S20+ | 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 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 260, 261 mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat22, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 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 | 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 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 | 186 g (6.56 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 (~525 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% 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 | 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 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 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.0, (depth) | - |
| 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 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue | Classy Blue, Classy White |
| Models | SM-G985, SM-G985F, SM-G985F/DS | LM-V600VML, LMV600VML |
| Price | € 299.97 / $ 189.60 / £ 234.21 | About 870 EUR |
| SAR | 0.72 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) 1.57 W/kg (body) | - |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | $ 400.90 | - |
| RENEWED | $ 288.00 | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 87h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -24.4 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 500114 (v8) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Samsung Galaxy S20+
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Well-established camera software
- Reverse wireless charging
- Exynos 990 variant prone to overheating
- Regional chipset inconsistency
- Potentially lower sustained performance
LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW
- Consistent Snapdragon 865 performance globally
- Better thermal management
- Faster charging standards (QC4)
- Display may not be as bright as S20+
- Less refined camera software (potentially)
- Wireless charging details are limited
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S20+ features a display capable of reaching 797 nits of peak brightness, providing excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While the LG V60’s peak brightness isn’t specified, Samsung’s measurement indicates a clear advantage in outdoor readability. Both phones likely utilize AMOLED panels, offering excellent contrast ratios (Samsung claims 'Infinite'). However, the S20+’s higher peak brightness and potentially more refined color calibration give it an edge for media consumption, though the V60’s display is still very good.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. Both are described as having Photo/Video capabilities. The S20+ likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms, known for vibrant colors and strong dynamic range. The V60, while also capable, may lean towards a more natural color profile. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner, but the S20+’s brand recognition in camera technology gives it a slight edge. It's important to note that both phones likely include a variety of lenses, but the presence of low-resolution auxiliary sensors (like 2MP macro lenses) adds little practical value.
Performance
This is where the biggest divergence lies. The global Samsung Galaxy S20+ utilizes the Exynos 990 (7nm+), while the US version gets the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). The LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW is exclusively powered by the Snapdragon 865. Both chipsets feature an octa-core CPU configuration with a 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 performance cores, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. The Snapdragon 865 is generally considered more efficient and thermally stable than the Exynos 990, meaning the V60 is less prone to throttling during extended gaming or demanding tasks. The Exynos variant has been known to exhibit overheating issues, impacting sustained performance.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S20+ achieves an Endurance rating of 87 hours, indicating solid battery life. Charging speeds are 25W wired (PD3.0), 15W wireless (Qi), and 4.5W reverse wireless. The LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW’s battery capacity isn’t specified, but its charging supports Wired, PD2.0, QC4, and Wireless charging. While the S20+ has a slightly higher Endurance rating, the V60’s faster charging standards (QC4) could offset any capacity difference, allowing for quicker top-ups. The Snapdragon 865’s efficiency also contributes to potentially longer real-world battery life on the V60.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ if you prioritize a brighter, more vibrant display and are purchasing the USA Snapdragon variant. Its camera system, while not dramatically superior, offers a well-rounded experience. Buy the LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW if you value consistent performance regardless of region, and want a phone that’s less likely to throttle under sustained load. The V60 is the safer bet for gamers and power users.