LGs new V60 ThinQ 5G has two screens and can record 8K video – The Verge

As Microsofts Surface Duo slowly approaches for release later this year, LG is getting out in front with its third dual-screen smartphone. The trick to LGs approach, if youre unfamiliar, is the second display is part of a case that can be separated from the main phone whenever you dont want the added weight or bulk.

My colleague Sam Byford was impressed by the multitasking powers of LGs dual-screen G8x ThinQ, and now the company is back with its latest evolution on the idea. The V60 ThinQ 5G Ill not be mentioning ThinQ anymore beyond this point, thank you upgrades the internals with Qualcomms latest processor, 5G data, an improved camera capable of 8K video, and more. And yes, it still includes the hi-fi headphone jack thats become a hallmark of LG phones.

But for a mobile division that continues to struggle, the V60 feels a bit iterative especially in the design department. Its got a 6.8-inch FHD+ (2460 x 1080) OLED panel. No fancy high refresh rates to be found here just plain old 60Hz. The screen has a small notch, but its surrounded by fairly sizable bezels. And around back, the camera bump has returned after LG managed to keep everything flush in last years flagships. Theres still a dedicated Google Assistant shortcut key on the V60 as well. Everything still looks and feels very much like a V-series phone, and I do quite like the classy blue and classy white finishes. A bolder third option wouldve been nice. LG has given the V60 chamfered aluminum edges with a matte finish, and the divide actually comes right across the USB-C port, which looks a bit peculiar but still feels fine in your hand.

Inside the phone is where the notable upgrades are. The V60 is powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 865 chipset and supports 5G connectivity. On most carriers, its optimized for Sub-6 5G networks, but therell be a (more expensive) model thats designed for ultra-fast millimeter-wave data speeds. You get 128GB of built-in storage with optional microSD expansion and 8GB of RAM. Theres also Wi-Fi 6 on board, and LG says the V60s 5,000mAh battery lets it last 30 percent longer than the G8x did. Thats particularly important when you remember that this phone has to drive a secondary display; the Dual Screen case lacks its own battery.

Like before, that second screen is a perfect match for the primary one. Its the same size and resolution. And yes, it still mimics the notch since LG is using the same panel part to save on costs. You can position its hinge however you want, turning the V60 into a mini laptop of sorts. Previously, only LGs own apps could utilize both screens at the same time. But with the V60, LG has managed to get Googles apps Google Photos, Google Maps, YouTube, etc. working in the wide view mode that spans both displays at once. When the phone is held vertically, this feels a bit silly since the apps literally just stretch across two displays with a big divide in the middle. But switching to landscape lets you use one display as a full-screen keyboard, which could help you jam out emails in Gmail a bit faster and with fewer typos.

By and large, though, the V60s Dual Screen setup is still best suited for multitasking with different apps on each one. This remains the ultimate Uber / Lyft driver command center. You can watch videos on one screen while messaging or scrolling Instagram on the other. And when playing games, you can use the additional display as a gamepad and customize where all the buttons go. LG hasnt managed to solve all of its Dual Screen quirks, though. The second screen still gets its own launcher and home screen, which can get annoying to manage on top of the ones on the regular phone. The Dual Screen case still has the small outer display thatll show you the time and notifications.

But the star of any LG phone, no matter how many screens, is usually the camera. The companys handsets have built a reputation as powerful content creation tools, offering more manual controls than Android competitors especially when recording video. The V60 has dual rear cameras; that third lens on the rear is a time-of-flight depth sensor.

LG has given the phone a larger 1/1.7-inch sensor for the primary 64-megapixel f/1.8 camera, which is on par (in size, at least) with recent Huawei phones and Sonys latest and not too far off from the Galaxy S20. In low light, the camera utilizes pixel binning to produce 16MP images to help combat noise. Theres still also a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera that provides a 117-degree field of view. LG isnt doing any wild tricks with zoom in the same manner as Huawei and Samsung; the V60 still tops out at 10x.

The V60 has the best video chops of any LG phone yet, as it can capture 8K-resolution recordings. The phone includes four microphones (on the top, bottom, left, and back), allowing it to produce 3D audio alongside your video clips. Theres a new feature called voice bokeh that can adjust the audio as its being recorded to emphasize voices, and the fun ASMR mode from the G8x is back again. In manual video mode, you can set the V60 to record in HDR10+ for more vibrant colors.

LG hasnt given up on providing its customers with top-notch audio. The 32-bit hi-fi DAC for wired headphones is still present, and the V60 has balanced stereo speakers, which is something that other flagships have lost as bezels get shaved away. To round out the specs list, theres an in-display fingerprint sensor, Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 (with wireless charging), and the phone ships running Android 10.

The V60 ThinQ 5G has flagship specs in a somewhat uninspired design, but until Microsofts Surface Duo arrives this fall, there arent many phones that can give you this dual-screen trick. Foldables seem far more futuristic, but theyre also more fragile and you can detach this second display whenever you want and stick to the traditional slab. Will there be more excitement around Microsofts device? Certainly. And Im not sure the V60 really does anything to move the needle for LG. The companys fans will still be very into this phone, but other consumers might not be swayed. LG has said it hopes to make its mobile business profitable by 2021 through wow factor. Is this supposed to be that? Or is the wow still to come from an eventual G9?

Pricing and availability for the V60 will be announced soon by wireless carriers. It will be released this spring. The G8x sells for an appealing $699 (Dual Screen case included), so if LG can manage to undercut Samsung by a good amount, that can only help the V60s cause.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge

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LGs new V60 ThinQ 5G has two screens and can record 8K video - The Verge