Sony Xperia 5 II vs LG V60 ThinQ 5G: A Flagship Showdown

The Sony Xperia 5 II and LG V60 ThinQ 5G were both compelling flagship contenders, offering premium features and performance. But with LG exiting the smartphone market, which of these devices remains the better choice? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 II edges out the V60 ThinQ thanks to its slightly brighter display and generally more refined software experience. While the V60 boasts excellent battery life and a headphone jack, the Xperia 5 II's superior camera processing and compact design give it a slight advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 5 II LG V60 ThinQ 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 662, 4, 5, 12, 25, 26, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA
5G bands1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA2, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat22, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, September 172020, February 26. Released 2020, March 20
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, October 12Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 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· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight163 g (5.75 oz)213 g (Global)/ 218 g (Verizon) (7.51 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)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
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020P-OLED, HDR10+
 Triluminos display X-Reality EngineAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12Android 10, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual-SIM model
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 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)
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF-
Video4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, HDR10+, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm10 MP, f/1.9, 30mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS4K@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio recording
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio (USA model only)
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 minWired, PD2.0, QC4 Wireless
TypeLi-Ion 4000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Grey, Blue, PinkClassy Blue, Classy White
ModelsSO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02LM-V600, A001LG
PriceAbout 650 EURAbout 700 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM$ 695.00-
RENEWED£ 239.00-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 102h Endurance rating 103h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -28.3 LUFS (Average) -
Performance AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Sony Xperia 5 II

  • Excellent camera performance
  • Compact and ergonomic design
  • Bright and vibrant display (600 nits)
  • Clean Android experience
  • 120Hz refresh rate

  • Charging speed could be faster (21W)
  • No headphone jack
  • Price was relatively high at launch

LG V60 ThinQ 5G

  • Exceptional battery life (103h endurance)
  • Headphone jack
  • Expandable storage (microSD)
  • Good overall performance
  • Wireless charging

  • Larger and heavier design
  • Camera processing can be inconsistent
  • Software updates discontinued by LG
  • Slower charging (PD2.0, QC4)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays, but the Xperia 5 II boasts a measured peak brightness of 600 nits, offering slightly better visibility in bright sunlight. The V60's display, while excellent, doesn't quite reach the same level of brightness. Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks thanks to the OLED technology. The Xperia 5 II has a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 5 II generally delivers more consistent and pleasing camera results, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Sony's image processing tends to produce more natural-looking photos. The V60's camera is capable, but can sometimes produce over-processed images. Both offer excellent video recording capabilities.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 865 5G chipset and 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth performance for most tasks. Real-world performance is very similar, with both handling demanding games and multitasking with ease. The Xperia 5 II's software optimization might offer a slightly more responsive feel.

Battery Life

The LG V60 ThinQ 5G holds a slight edge in battery endurance, with an endurance rating of 103 hours compared to the Xperia 5 II's 102 hours. However, the difference is minimal and both phones should easily last a full day of moderate use.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 5 II is ideal for photography enthusiasts who appreciate a compact form factor and a clean Android experience. The LG V60 ThinQ 5G is a good choice for users who prioritize long battery life, a headphone jack, and expandable storage, and don't mind a larger device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the LG V60 ThinQ 5G still getting software updates?
No, LG has discontinued software updates for the V60 ThinQ 5G. This is a significant consideration when choosing this device.
❓ Which phone is better for mobile gaming?
Both phones offer excellent gaming performance thanks to the Snapdragon 865. The Xperia 5 II's 120Hz display provides a slightly smoother gaming experience.