LG V60 ThinQ Hands On: 8K Video, 5G, and a Second Screen

LG's new phone, the V60 ThinQ, goes head-to-head with Samsung on new features. It supports the new mobile network, packs a camera sensor with 64 megapixels for 8K recording, and comes bundled with the Dual Screen attachment—a case that adds a second screen to the phone. If you want these next-gen features but aren't feeling the four-figure price tags, you could try the V60 ThinQ. LG hasn't announced pricing yet, but the company says it will be priced in the ballpark of previous devices, so around $700 or $800.

Hardware and Specifications

LG does nail most of the basics. Powering it all is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 processor with 8 GB of RAM, which keeps performance slick. The V60's high-res OLED screen is something I could stare at all day. There's a bigger, 5,000-mAH battery inside, too, which should keep the phone powered for a reasonable amount of time. Additionally, you get all of this and a headphone jack, something missing from all of Samsung's flagship phones. The headphone jack is even connected to a high quality digital-to-analog converter that keeps the audio sounding great.

Regarding storage and charging, there's the MicroSD card slot if you want more storage over the base 128 gigs, and support for fast wired and wireless charging. All features you'd expect in a flagship phone.

Design and Dual Screen Functionality

The phone is built around an abnormally large 6.8-inch screen. Despite the size, the phone feels a little nicer than its predecessor. Its looks aren't drastically different, but there are now chamfered edges around the sides, and the gold accents on the blue model adds some style. However, while the second screen does turn the V60 ThinQ into a foldable phone of sorts, it comes at the cost of being bulky, heavy, and cumbersome. The case was already thick and heavy on the G8X, and now with a bigger phone, it's even more unwieldy.

I do like the functionality the extra 6.8-inch screen brings, like the ability to watch YouTube and text at the same time, or use one screen for a game and the second as a custom controller. It's great that the accessory is bundled with the phone, and that it gives you more visual real estate, but the experience still feels clunky. I wish LG made more of an effort to slim the case down and make it as light as possible.

5G Connectivity and Carrier Support

In a similar fashion, it's nice to see 5G phones being sold at more accessible prices, but the 5G wireless experience is still limited. LG isn't selling an unlocked version of the phone, so you have to buy a model that just works on your carrier. The Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T models support the sub-6 version of 5G, which is faster than 4G and has good coverage, and the Verizon one only supports millimeter wave, which is blazing fast but has poor range and almost no access indoors.

Performance Observations

While it's a compelling offer on paper, the cameras are usually decent, but not as nice as what you get from Samsung, Google, and Apple; more megapixels doesn't guarantee better photos. The software still looks dated, and there's no sign of the phone receiving Android updates faster. I also wish the screen had a high refresh rate, a feature that makes gaming and scrolling in apps like Twitter look much more fluid.