LG V60 5G Dual Screen Review: More Premium Phone at Lower Price

Q: What are the LG V60 5G Specs?

Performance : Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 8GB RAM, Android 10, 128GB UFS 3.0 storage (MicroSD expandable) Cameras : 64 MP rear camera, 13MP Super Wide Angle, Z Camera with ToF for 3D depth detection, 10MP selfie camera Display : 6.8” FHD+ FullVision P-OLED (2460 x 1080 pixels), Gorilla Glass 5 (front), Gorilla Glass 6 (back) Battery : 5000 mAh, 25W Quick Charge 4.0+, Wireless Charging Connectivity : 5G, 4G LTE, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, Apt-X-HD, NFCUSB 2.0 Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack Features : In-screen fingerprint reader, IP68 water/dust resistance, Google Assistant button Dual-Screen Features : 6.8” FHD+ P-OLED (2460 x 1080 pixels) touch display matches V60 display, 2.05” PMOLED (256 x 64 pixels) mono secondary display, 360° Freestop hinge, 10 pin magnetic charging adapter

By Stephen Clark

Last updated 19 June 2020

Text LG V60 5G Dual Screen Review over image of a two-screen smartphone standing open

Verdict

The LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen offers multitasking without the premium price tag that commonly accompanies other foldable smartphones. Comparable top-of-the-line smartphones in Canada are priced hundreds of dollars higher than the LG V60 5G, making this phone a good deal even without the extra display.

Update June 19, 2020: Bell and Telus have launched 5G networks, which makes the LG V60 5G one of the cheapest ways to get 5G in Canada

What we love

Fast CPU, RAM, storage, almost everything
Two big, beautiful displays
64MP camera with 8K video
Incredible battery life

What we don't like

No 5G carrier support at launch
Too thick and heavy for a pocket
Covers cameras when unfolded
Mediocre display refresh rate

93/100

Is the LG V60 5G a Good Phone?

The LG V60 5G is a powerful smartphone loaded with the fastest hardware and a unique Dual Screen accessory. The secondary screen can work as a camera viewfinder for awkward angles, but flipping it all the way around covers the otherwise awesome 64MP camera. The combined screen footprint of two displays is bigger than most tablets, but the larger weight and dimensions can in some ways be a hindrance.

LG V60 5G smartphone charging with Always-On Display showing — *The LG V60 5G features cutting-edge hardware while costing far less than the competition.*

What are the LG V60 5G Specs?

Performance: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 8GB RAM, Android 10, 128GB UFS 3.0 storage (MicroSD expandable)
Cameras: 64 MP rear camera, 13MP Super Wide Angle, Z Camera with ToF for 3D depth detection, 10MP selfie camera
Display: 6.8” FHD+ FullVision P-OLED (2460 x 1080 pixels), Gorilla Glass 5 (front), Gorilla Glass 6 (back)
Battery: 5000 mAh, 25W Quick Charge 4.0+, Wireless Charging
Connectivity: 5G, 4G LTE, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, Apt-X-HD, NFCUSB 2.0 Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Features: In-screen fingerprint reader, IP68 water/dust resistance, Google Assistant button
Dual-Screen Features: 6.8” FHD+ P-OLED (2460 x 1080 pixels) touch display matches V60 display, 2.05” PMOLED (256 x 64 pixels) mono secondary display, 360° Freestop hinge, 10 pin magnetic charging adapter

LG V60 5G: Performance

There is no faster CPU on the Android market than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865. This is the same processor you’ll find in other 5G flagships including the Samsung Galaxy S20. Objectively, this one of the fastest smartphones in the world right now. But how does it feel to use it?

The LG V60 5G is one of the first smartphones that can record 8K video, and the experience is seamless compared to lower resolutions. Early smartphones that supported 4K video suffered performance issues, but the LG V60 5G records 8K videos without stutter and never gets too hot. Dropping to 4K resolution unlocks recording options like 60fps, and recording at HDTV resolution offers a powerful stability mode.

When you pick up the LG V60 5G to play a few games, the lines quickly blur between a mobile device and home game console. High-speed 3D games like Asphalt 9 and Fortnite push smartphones as far as they can go, and this phone can go fast. The LG V60 5G has the performance needed to be a premium gaming device, though it is somewhat limited by its 60Hz refresh rate display. On the bright side, the beautiful 6.8” FullHD+ resolution display makes it easy to spot far-off detail in 3D games, and LG’s customizable software gamepad turns the second display into a software gamepad for a console-like experience while on the go.

Closeup of rear cameras on LG V60 5G — *An array of camera lenses adds variety to high performance photo and video shooting.*

LG V60 5G: Cameras

The back of the LG V60 5G shows an array of lenses, but only two take pictures. The other two are used to quickly determine object distance for quick focus and real-time effects. Like most camera software, a “bokeh” effect artificially blurs the background and creates the same effect you’d get from professional cameras. LG’s ThinQ A.I. camera software can create these effects in real-time as you line up your shot.

The primary lens uses a 64-megapixel (MP) sensor which records up to 8K video at 30 frames-per-second (fps), or 4K video at 60 fps. A secondary 13 MP ultrawide angle camera on the back can still manage 4K video, but it’s best used when trying to fit a wide landscape into one photo. The front-facing camera is only 10 MP and is visible as a teardrop notch at the top of the display. LG’s intelligent camera software helps your portrait pop out in selfies, and it records 4K video for live streaming.

The second screen works as a viewfinder while shooting low-angle, over crowds, or even taking a top-down, Instagram-worthy photo of your dinner plate. Sadly, unfolding the 360° Freestop screen all the way to the back will cover the rear-facing lenses. We found keeping the Dual Screen attachment open makes it awkward to hold the LG V60 5G while trying to take a quick shot. If the weight was better distributed, then it might not be a problem.

Using Dual Screen display as a camera viewfinder — *The second display can operate as a viewfinder, letting you easily shoot unique angles from up high or down low.*

LG V60 5G: Display

The LG V-series has always blurred the line between smartphone and tablet, but it might have reached the limit of what’s considered reasonable… then doubled down.

I have a few Android tablets, but my favourite is an LG model from a few years back. The 8.0” display just feels like the perfect balance between large format browsing and hand-held portability. The two 6.8" displays on the LG V60 5G combine to be nearly as tall and about 50% wider than my tablet. The Dual Screen accessory features a second display with the exact same 2,460x1080 P-OLED screen as the first. There is even a fake teardrop notch at the top for visual balance. It’s a great way to enjoy a lot of screen real estate without having to switch over to a tablet.

This isn’t a phone for your back pocket. It might fit, but the weight of both screens is more than twice that of a Galaxy S20. When folded closed, the LG V60 5G is more than half an inch thick. We’ve returned to a time when our cell phones are thicker than our wallets.

LG V60 5G: Battery Life

The power requirements to run two screens must be considered when designing a smartphone like this, so LG packed in a huge 5000 mAh battery. That extra juice keeps both screens powered and allows you to stay mobile. Even playing 3D-intesive games barely affects battery life.

Charging such a large battery takes a long time unless you use Quick Charge 4.0+, which can give you a 50% charge in 30 minutes. While in Dual Screen mode, you need to use the included 10-pin magnetic adaptor instead of a standard USB Type-C port. The proprietary connector supports data transfer as well as charging. Wireless charging is supported even when the LG V60 5G is in the Dual Screen case.

Text V60 ThinQ 5G with smartphone in the background — *This is one of Canada's first 5G-enabled smartphones allowing faster mobile connectivity.*

LG V60 5G: Connectivity

The LG V60 5G is Canada’s second 5G-capable smartphone model on the market, but it will be sold exclusively by Bell and Telus; neither carrier operates a public 5G network yet. Bell insists that their 5G network is ready for consumers, but their focus right now is keeping Canadians connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telus also expects to roll out 5G later this year. Rogers operates Canada’s only available 5G network but has said that the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G phones are the only ones certified to operate on it.

Update June 19, 2020: Bell 5G and Telus 5G launched in June 2020 with full support for the LG V60 5G smartphone. Coverage is currently limited to Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, but dozens more markets will go live by the end of the year.

LG V60 5G: Additional Features

While there are no colour variants for the LG V60 5G, the folding display format will attract attention. Doubling as a protective case, the Dual Screen accessory has a ridged back that helps the oversized smartphone sit comfortably in the hand. Devices like the Galaxy Z Fold or Motorola Razr are building multiscreen functionality into a single, folding display. The Dual Screen on the LG V60 5G enables multitasking, like writing emails while catching up on your Netflix shows for a far lower price. This is the second LG device to feature a Dual Screen accessory in Canada, after last year’s LG G8X flagship phone.

The primary display includes an in-screen fingerprint reader, but I didn’t have much success getting it to work. I eventually disabled it as unlocking the LG V60 5G became prohibitively difficult. On a more positive note, there’s is a physical button on the left side that activates Google Assistant, making quick searches just a single click away.

Premium LG smartphones are also known for high-end audio reproduction. The LG V60 5G features a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC for rich audio when using headphones, rich sound when using the built-in speakers, and LG 3D Surround Sound for optimizing any audio playback. Built-in audio speakers are loud and clear even when streaming music outside. There are four microphones which allow recordings to eliminate ambient sound, concentrate on voice, and ASMR for focused audio recording.

Using gamepad software while playing 3D games — *The included software turns your second screen into a customizable gamepad.*

LG V60 5G: In Conclusion

The LG V60 5G combines the fastest CPU, UFS 3.0 storage, and 5G speed on the market with two premium 6.8” P-OLED displays. All the features of a top-of-the-line smartphone are here, including an in-screen fingerprint reader, 8K video recording, 3D gaming, expandable storage, premium audio, and even a headphone jack. What you won’t find is a top-of-the-line smartphone price, as the LG V60 5G retails for around $1,100 CAD; the base model Samsung Galaxy S20 costs hundreds of dollars more.

While current flagship phones like the Google Pixel 4 offers a 90 Hz refresh rate and Samsung’s Galaxy S20 family features 120hz, the LG V60 5G’s display maxes out at mediocre 60Hz. Still, the display is sharp and has beautiful OLED colour reproduction. The Dual Screen accessory is great for multitasking, but it isn’t for everyone since it doubles the weight and thickness compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20.

Once Bell and Telus launch their 5G networks, the LG V60 5G will be one of the cheapest ways to get a premium smartphone. Use the money you save to buy cargo pants with big pockets.