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Ben Sin

LG smartphones used to be among the leaders in pushing cutting-edge hardware. They were the first to push for higher 2K screen resolution, wide-angle cameras, and bezel slimming.
But in recent years, due to a combination of cutthroat competition, bad timing, and design fumbles (the infamous G5 modular flop), LG’s sales have taken a hit.
LG’s latest release, the V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen, is now sticking (almost) to tried-and-true components that place value and practicality over flashiness.

Design and hardware
The basic standards of 2020 Android flagship phones have pretty much been set: more curves, a higher refresh rate and, in some cases, foldable.
LG’s V60 is the exception. Instead of curves, the V60 has a utilitarian feel, with an aluminium frame. It can fold too, although in a more traditional way.

Other Android phones have shaved their aluminium frames down to a sliver. When you grab a Huawei P40 Pro or Samsung Galaxy phone, you’re feeling mostly glass. When you hold the V60, you feel the metal railings.
The 6.8-inch OLED screen also refreshes at “just” the standard 60Hz rate, and uses a small screen cut-out to house the 10-megapixel selfie camera instead of following the new hole-punch trend. The cut-out is just an outdated, inferior design.
The rest of the hardware also takes this utilitarian, function-over-flash approach. The Snapdragon 865 chip is paired with 8GB of RAM, which is more than enough for 99 per cent of users.

There is still a headphone jack, connected to an audiophile-quality Hi-Fi DAC (digital to analogue converter).
The phone is meant to be used with its Dual Screen attachment – essentially a plastic phone case with a screen on the inside cover – that turns the unit into a more traditional “foldable phone”.
Software and features
The V60, when plugged into the Dual Screen case, is a very capable multitasking machine due to LG’s intelligent software. Each screen can run a separate app, and they can swap places with gestures or button taps. New this year is the ability to open a single Google app on both screens, creating an effect rather like using a large tablet, except for the obvious thick plastic bezel in the middle.
This feature was available on LG’s last two dual-screen phones, but mostly limited to LG’s own apps. This expansion to include Google’s suite of apps is much welcomed. Google Maps, in particular, appears more immersive on a larger canvas. YouTube, however, doesn’t work well, as the large gap between two screens is too distracting in videos.
As a stand-alone phone, the V60 performs as expected. Running Android 10 with LG’s skin on top, it’s a fast and enjoyable experience.

Performance and battery life
The LG V60 is excellent for media consumption and creation. The large screen looks great in all lighting conditions, and the phone has loud stereo speakers. With the Dual Screen case, one can watch a movie on one screen while using the second screen to chat with friends or surf the web. And the headphone jack should keep audiophiles with their pricey headphones happy.
For media creation, the V60 has a capable triple camera system, paired with four microphones. The main 64-megapixel camera can capture video with resolution up to 8K, and the quad mics pull in a fuller sound. The iPhone is still way ahead as a video camera (its stabilisation has not been matched), but the V60 has probably the best video camera in Android.
Still photography, however, is a mixed bag. The main camera is great during the day, but struggles at night compared to what the latest Huawei and Oppo handsets latest can do. The lack of a telephoto lens means zoom shots can’t rival those shot using other phones.
Because the V60 has a screen that’s less power-hungry than other screens on the market, the 5,000 mAh battery simply goes much further. Even using the device in dual-screen mode with regularity, the battery can go an entire 13-hour day and still finish safely with more than 30 per cent of juice left. If I use the V60 by itself, two days of battery life is possible.

Conclusion
What the V60 lacks in cutting-edge tech, it makes up for with practical performance. This is a phone that should survive more drops, last longer on a single charge, and cost less than others.
In the US, the V60 plus the Dual Screen accessory is a packaged deal for US$800. I expect prices in Hong Kong and other regions to be similar. This is a good deal, considering other flagship phones routinely top the US$1,100 mark.
Dimensions: 169.3mm x 77.6mm x 8.9mm (just phone); 175.9mm x 86mm x 14.9mm (with Dual Screen case)
Weight: 214g (phone); 350g (with Dual Screen case)
Display: 6.8-inch, 2,460 x 1,080 OLED (both phone and case have same panel)
Battery: 5,000 mAh
OS version reviewed: Android 10 with LG’s UI on top
Processor: Snapdragon 865
Cameras: 64-megapixel main camera; 13-megapixel ultrawide lens; TOF depth sensor; 10-megapixel front-facing camera
Memory: 128GB (with expandable storage support); 8GB RAM
Colours: blue, white


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Smartphones

LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen review: it looks outdated, but it delivers on media creation, multitasking and battery life

The Dual Screen accessory comes packaged with the phone in most markets. It connects to the V60 and turns it into a two-screen device. Users can run some apps across both screens, or two apps side by side. Photo: Ben Sin

The LG V60 ThinQ Dual Screen smartphone has a 6.8-inch OLED screen

The LG V60 ThinQ Dual Screen has a slightly thicker, more prominent aluminum frame that wraps around the phone.

The LG V60 ThinQ Dual Screen still uses a notch design, which is outdated in the Android space as brands have moved to the hole-punch cutout design.

The case of the LG V60 ThinQ Dual Screen is made of plastic on the back, with a cover flap that protects the screens

The LG V60 ThinQ Dual Screen has a triple camera system including a 64-megapixel main camera, 13-megapixel wide-angle camera, and a TOF depth sensor.

The Dual Screen case of the LG V60 ThinQ has many uses, such as turning the device into a touch screen laptop. Photo: Ben Sin

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra full review: 108-megapixel camera and a stunning screen to compete with Chinese brands

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra’s large 6.9-inch OLED screen refreshes at a 120Hz rate, making for smoother and faster animations. Photo: Ben Sin

While the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra can do 100X zoom, the results are usually blurry and noisy. Reviewer Ben Sin finds 30X is about the max zoom level that still keeps image integrity. Here, two photos captured from the exact same spot, at 1X and 30X.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is a giant phone with a bulky camera module housing four cameras, including a 108-megapixel sensor and a Periscope zoom lens that can achieve 100X digital zoom.

A portrait image captured with the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra’s wide-angle lens.

The camera module on the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra protrudes from the body significantly. Overall, the flagship handset loses the sleek and curvy elegance of previous Galaxy phones.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra houses a 108-megapixel camera, the largest image sensor ever seen in a smartphone and a market-best screen – but focusing problems, a less-than-elegant design and a high price tag may put some buyers off. Photo: Bloomberg

Oppo Find X2 Pro review: a match for Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, with ultra-high-resolution display and world-beating camera

The Oppo Find X2 Pro has a 6.7-inch OLED screen that refreshes at 120Hz – twice as fast as an iPhone’s 60Hz screen. This makes animations look extra smooth and fluid. Photo: Ben Sin

The camera module on the Oppo Find X2 Pro includes a pair of 48-megapixel sensors and a special “Periscope” zoom lens that allows the phone to achieve near loss-less 10X zoom and 60X digital zoom.

Two images side-by-side, showing the Oppo Find X2 Pro Periscope zoom lens at work. On the left is a wide-angle image, the right is a 60X zoom on the banner, taken from the exact same spot.

Taken with the Oppo Find X2 Pro. The image on the left is a normal 1X photo, the image on the right is 10X zoom. The 10X zoom is near lossless quality.

The Oppo Find X2 Pro is curved on the left and right sides, both front and back.

Because both the main and wide-angle cameras on the Oppo Find X2 Pro have the same pixel count (48-megapixels), this allows the wide-angle image to remain mostly consistent with the main image in terms of sharpless. The main camera also has a custom-built sensor that’s larger than most on the market, allowing the Find X2 Pro to grab a lot of light even at night.

The Oppo Find X2 Pro has a 6.7-inch OLED screen that refreshes at 120Hz -- twice as fast as an iPhone’s 60Hz screen. This makes animations look extra smooth and fluid.

Honor V30 Pro full review: no Google Maps is a problem, and a shame – mid-tier phone’s specs are close to pricier flagship Huawei  Mate 30 Pro’s

The Honor V30 Pro has a 6.57-inch LCD display. Photo: Ben Sin

The Honor V30 Pro has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner instead of going with an in-display scanner like in many phones.

The Honor V30 Pro has a matte glass back, similar to the iPhone 11 Pro, that doesn’t attract fingerprints.

A wide-angle image captured by the Honor V30 Pro. The field-of-vision, at 109-degrees, isn’t as wide as many other phones, but the image is sharper and has less distortion

A well-balanced and relatively clean image captured by the Honor V30 Pro’s main camera at night.

The Honor V30 Pro has a 6.57-inch IPS LCD display with a hole-punch cut-out in the corner to house two selfie cameras: a 32-megapixel main front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel wide-angle selfie camera.

Honor V30 Pro's main camera system is headlined by a 40-megapixel RYYB sensor that’s also used in Huawei’s last two flagship phones; a very capable 12-megapixel wide-angle camera; and an 8-megapixel telephoto zoom lens.

The Honor V30 Pro’s 6.57-inch LCD display offers vivid colours, its processor is the most powerful available for Android phones and its main camera identical to that of the pricier Huawei Mate 30 Pro. The lack of Google Maps and other apps because of US sanctions could be a deal-breaker for potential customers, though. Photo: Ben Sin

Lifestyle

Gadgets


The latest LG smartphone doesn’t have smooth curves and a high screen refresh rate like most handsets, and its camera notch seems old-fashioned
Its software allows for efficient multitasking, and is great for media creation and consumption, and the battery lasts all day



The latest phone from LG may not look the best, with an outdated design and low refresh rate, but it delivers on performance. Its intelligent software allows users to multitask and it’s cheaper than many phones.


Gadget reviews

Technology

LG Electronics

An assessment or critique of a service, product or creative endeavour.  Film reviews, restaurant reviews, reviews of art exhibitions. (Eg. Crazy Rich Asians: an important film, yes, but a good one?)


Review

Review | LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen review: it looks outdated, but it delivers on media creation, multitasking and battery life

The latest LG smartphone doesn’t have smooth curves and a high screen refresh rate like most handsets, and its camera notch seems old-fashioned Its software allows for efficient multitasking, and is great for media creation and consumption, and the battery lasts all day

The latest LG smartphone doesn’t have smooth curves and a high screen refresh rate like most handsets, and its camera notch seems old-fashioned

Its software allows for efficient multitasking, and is great for media creation and consumption, and the battery lasts all day