We can affirm after our analysis that the LG V30 ThinQ is the best mobile of the Korean company in a long time . A team that brings a set of top-level specifications, but also knows how to harmonize with an elegant design and the feeling of being in front of a round mobile. Much more than the LG G6, the terminal that should mark the reference in this brand. The V30 enters very quickly through the eyes, thanks to its metallic design on the sides with glass on both sides. Very much in line with what Samsung does with equipment like the S8 +.
The rounded frames and the brightness of the rear panel play in favor of the LG mobile and generate that "I want it" effect that few get . In the photographic section, LG maintains its commitment to the double camera, the second with a 120-degree wide-angle lens. Thanks to this, people will never be left out in group photos, or part of a building will be cut off. By the way, the Cine Video mode has seemed like a wonder to have a laugh and exploit the possibilities of the camera. Through this mode, you can create zoom effects at specific points or customize your recording like a romantic movie or a blockbuster.
The LG V30 ThinQ is capable of generating that "I want it" effect that few smartphones get
Another one of the points of the analysis that could not be missing is the power. The LG V30 more than meets what is expected of a mobile of these characteristics. It is fluid and its 4 GB of RAM cover the needs of the most demanding users. Nor could it miss a screen without frames (Fullvision). The market has been filled in a few months with this type of screens that take advantage of almost all the space on the front. And everything indicates that they are here to stay.
The V30 incorporates a frameless 6-inch OLED panel with a 2,880 x 1,440 pixel resolution. We are going to enter fully into the analysis of the LG V30 ThinQ, shelving its main characteristics. By the way, you can find it in stores from next December 15, at a price of 900 euros . And no, unfortunately neither the Korean company escapes from the general rise in prices on high-end mobiles.
LG V30 ThinQ features
| screen | 6-inch, 18: 9 Fullvision, QuadHD + OLED 2,880 x 1,440 pixels (538 dpi) | |
| Main chamber | Dual 16MP (F1.6 / 71 °) and 13MP (F1.9 / 120 °) | |
| Camera for selfies | 5MP (F2.2 / 90 °) | |
| Internal memory | 64GB / 128GB | |
| Extension | Expandable with 2 TB microSD cards | |
| Processor and RAM | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa-Core 4GB | |
| Battery | 3,300 milliamps with Quick Charge 3.0 fast charge | |
| Operating system | Android 7.1.2 Nougat | |
| Connections | BT 5.0, GPS, USB 3.1 Type-C, NFC | |
| SIM | nanoSIM | |
| Design | Tempered glass, IP68 certified, silver and blue colors | |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 millimeters and 158 grams | |
| Featured Features | Fingerprint reader, face recognition, wireless charging | |
| Release date | December 15 | |
| Price | 900 euros |
Two cameras are better than one
16-megapixel main camera with f / 1.6 aperture, 13-megapixel second camera with f / 1.9 aperture and 120-degree wide-angle lens, cinema mode with zoom at will, very complete manual mode
The camera section of the LG V30 plays with the same cards as most of this year's top models. Bet on a double camera. One of them with a 16 megapixel lens whose main attraction is its aperture of f / 1.6 . That is, it is a very bright lens that has to give us good performance in low light conditions. Meanwhile, the second camera brings a different point. It includes a wide angle type lens, capable of capturing 120 degrees of the scene . This breadth allows us to introduce elements in the snapshot that would otherwise be left out, such as photos of monuments and large buildings up close. Or group photos.
Of course, it must be said that with these photos there is a certain fisheye effect or distortion that is noticeable. It is not exaggerated, but it can give the feeling of an unnatural photo. But in general it seems to me a very interesting addition to the day to day. In our review of the V30's camera, we have had a good result with the cameras. Mind you, the second camera isn't ideal for low-light environments despite its f / 1.9 aperture. Nor does the main one reach the quality levels at night that we have experienced in other smartphones such as the Galaxy Note 8 and the Huawei Mate 10. Although it is capable of capturing elements with good definition.
Perhaps where this camera suffers the most is when facing scenes with high light contrast. They do not get along quite well with lamps, streetlights and other sources of light that create notable differences with elements more in darkness. It is evident that we are facing a mobile camera, but it gives us the impression that the models we have mentioned better overcome these challenges.
An interface to dive and have fun for hours
And we come to the analysis of what is one of the great successes of the V30. The camera interface. Both for users more passionate about photography, and for those who want to squeeze the potential of the camera for fun . This mobile has numerous modes. And almost all provide a differential touch. Also, the control of the camera options is really high. It can even be overwhelming for some users. Of course, for these cases, we have a Simple View option that reduces the controls to a minimum.
Manual mode
Probably the most comprehensive manual or expert mode we've seen to date . Inside the photo mode, the LG V30 ThinQ shows us a guide to know the inclination of the shot. And controls for white balance, focus, ISO value or exposure time. On the left we will see the audio levels that are being captured through the microphone. While on the right we can open a panel to see the values used in different typical photos. Without a doubt, a good detail to begin to familiarize ourselves with the control of the mobile.
But the best thing is that this complexity is also brought to the specific manual mode for recording video. With options to control audio gain or noise reduction . And a notice about the resolution of the video and its size per recorded second. By the way, a detail that we think is fantastic. When recording video, the image does not zoom like it does on the Note 8 and other smartphones. What you are seeing on the screen before pressing the button is what will be recorded . In addition, we have the option of recording both through the normal lens and through the wide angle lens.
Video cinema
Another of the ways that we have loved. Especially aimed at the most cinephiles. Through this mode of the camera, we can create clips with a touch of film . Which movie? That already depends on our tastes, since different filters have been included for romantic movies, series, mystery movies ... Of course, what is most striking is the zoom by points. That is, the option to press on a point on the screen and zoom to that point . All this with a smooth transition to make it more spectacular.
The Cine video mode allows us to click on a point on the screen and zoom in with a smooth transition so that our clips have a professional touch
Focus
This mode allows you to take two photos or create a video by combining two of the mobile's cameras . The advantage is that you can choose to take the photos or clips in order, or do it simultaneously with the main camera and the selfie camera. The result will appear split screen in the final photo or video. You also have a mode to take four split screen photos (or 3-second videos).
Shooting guide
If you are an instagramer, this mode can give you a lot of play. What you do is take a photo already shot as a guide to create a similar composition in the next one. For example, it is very useful if you have already found the ideal approach to food dishes and want to continue on the same path.
Camera for selfies
As for the camera for selfies, in this case we have a 5 megapixel lens with an aperture of f / 2.2 and a greater width of 100 degrees . It's not as powerful as the wide-angle camera on the back, but it does make it easier to take group selfies. The advantage is that we can switch between a normal view and a larger one. In general, your results during the analysis were correct, although we would have liked a little more brightness in the resulting photos.
LG V30 ThinQ photo gallery
6-inch Fullvision screen
6-inch frameless display with OLED technology, Quad HD + resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels, good brightness and color treatment
We continue this analysis with the panel section. We have already said it. Frameless screens have arrived, and everything indicates that to stay. The LG V30 ThinQ is committed to a 6-inch format, halfway between the Samsung Galaxy S8 (5.8 inches) and the S8 + (6.2 inches). And frankly, it seems like a success, since the resulting size makes the mobile quite comfortable to handle. Without losing spectacularity in the reproduction of content.
The 6-inch screen has an 18: 9 aspect ratio, that is, halfway between widescreen (16: 9) and ultra-wide (21: 9) . This second is typical of the cinema. The big problem is that most content is recorded in widescreen or ultra-wide format. So when watching videos or movies we will have to choose to cut part of the movie through a zoom. Or sacrifice part of the useful screen. Of course, the large number of mobiles that already have this format is encouraging the creation of more content in 18: 9.
It is also something that we will experience in phone apps. More and more are those that adapt well to 18: 9, but in other cases part of the image may be cut off or a useful part may be lost. For example, the Clash Royale game is one of the titles that has not yet adapted well to this format.
The V30's screen is OLED . A technology that allows us higher levels of brightness. The most vivid colors are also shown, sometimes with a higher saturation point than they are in reality. This for many is a disadvantage, although personally I like that spectacular point (although unreal). As always, a matter of taste. Although this technology is greatly appreciated if we have to see the screen under the impact of sunlight. In these cases, during our analysis we have not had any problem viewing the contents.
In terms of resolution, it reaches 2,880 x 1,440 pixels. Which yields a density of 538 pixels per inch . More than enough to enjoy mobile content with an excellent level of detail.
Sleek and attractive design
Curved glass on the front and on the back, very comfortable format due to the curved edges, IP68 certification, military-level resistance
The LG V30 enters the eyes from the first moment. And do not forget that the experience with a mobile is not based only on a cold analysis, but also on what the equipment transmits . The slightly curved glass on the front creates a very good feel, as do the rounded edges on the back. Personally, it seems to me a much more attractive mobile than the LG G6, which has more angular shapes.
The use of glass on the back also helps a lot. Our unit has a nice blue color, although it can also be found in silver. This blue color covers both the back and the sides, and creates beautiful reflections under the impact of light.
The LG V30 has a glass back and will be available in Spain in both blue and silver. Of course, he cannot avoid completely escaping from the tracks
Of course, here we find ourselves with the eternal problem of glass, fingerprints. LG has done a good job of preventing them from getting too marked, but it's still something we'll notice in day-to-day use. Perhaps that is why, inside the box itself we will have a cloth to clean the terminal. Sooner or later some kind of solution is called out so that the prints do not remain on the glass. The first to solve the problem will have a lot to win.
When it comes to gripping it, the curves help make it very comfortable. Of course, it is a somewhat large mobile. Something to keep in mind if you have small hands or you like more compact proposals. But as we have already said, the proposal seems very successful to us. The full dimensions of the V30 stand at 151.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 millimeters, along with a weight of 158 grams . It is therefore a fairly slim and stylish mobile. With practically the same weight as the Samsung Galaxy S8 (155 grams) and with a somewhat larger screen.
Shock and water resistant
Despite the attractive and somewhat fragile appearance of the V30 at a first glance, the reality is that we are facing a very robust mobile. It is IP68 certified . That is, it is resistant to both dust and immersion in water for long periods of time. Of course, with buts. The maximum depth is one meter. But in addition, these types of tests are carried out in the laboratory under ideal conditions. In real life, both the chlorine in the pool and the salty sea water are corrosive. So it is not advisable to take your phone swimming with you or just submerge it in the pool. What is sought is to have a lifeline in the event that we get wet by accident (who has not ever happened to?).
The LG V30 ThinQ is IP68 certified and has passed a military test
The LG V30 has passed the MIL-STD-810 military test, which consists of subjecting it to a wide variety of demanding situations such as falls, more extreme temperatures, vibrations or shocks. Thanks to that, we will have a greater guarantee of keeping the mobile alive if we drop it or suffer a mishap.
Fingerprint reader
You also have to break a spear in favor of your fingerprint reader. This is located at the rear, just below the dual camera. The reader has very good performance and accessing it is very comfortable . In addition, it has the advantage that it is not necessary to turn on the mobile screen to use it. The Huawei also had him in a similar position, but this year they decided to take him to the front (in a decision that I do not quite understand).
Power up to the task
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal memory
The processor used in this device is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 . A chip with eight cores clocked at 2.45 GHz.
Our analysis of the LG V30 ThinQ has led us to confront the terminal with the main test batteries. In both AnTuTu and Geekbench the V30 has passed the tests with flying colors. Its results have been 166893 points in the first and 6317 points in Geekbench (when working with the performance of several cores at the same time). These notes place it somewhat below the Note 8 (177,137 points) and the Huawei Mate 10 (171,435 points).
However, they are differences that in day-to-day use is difficult to capture. The user experience has been good, with a very fluid performance. We have not had any problem when it comes to moving through the menus or opening apps. It also holds the packaging well when it comes to facing powerful games such as Asphalt 8. In short, it lives up to what is expected in terms of power. Its 4 GB of RAM also helps this fluidity. A sufficient value to run many processes at the same time or to make use of the multi-window.
As for its internal memory, it is placed at 64 GB. Keep in mind that this value must be taken away from about 13 GB that takes both the operating system and the pre-installed applications. That is, in practice we have around 50 GB to install our applications and save files such as photos or videos. We have run the LG V30 ThinQ through the A1 SD Bench analysis to better understand its memory performance. The results show a speed of 393 MB / s in reading and 199 MB / s in writing . To put it in perspective with a mobile of similar range, the Sony Xperia XZ1 marked in the same tests a higher reading speed (450 MB / s) but also a lower writing speed (140 MB / s).
Clipping test result on A1 SD Bench
As in almost all current models, we can use a microSD memory card (up to 2 TB) to expand the available space.
Own applications and operating system
Android 7.1.2 operating system, LG Health, always-on display with important smartphone data
Here we meet one of the great buts of this mobile. The LG V30 ThinQ hits the market with the Android 7.1.2 operating system . At this point, the ideal would have been to have Android 8.0 Oreo, considering that it has been on the market for a couple of months. However, users of this terminal will have to wait a few months for the latest version. At the operational level there are no major changes. But having the latest in a top-of-the-line terminal (plus the latest security patches) is always welcome.
The LG V30 has a good collection of its own applications. Of course, they remain in the background and you may not discover them without looking for them expressly. That seems like a success on the part of the Korean firm, since it generates the impression of being before a clean and very fluid Android experience. No overloads. What is most appreciated is its information panel when the screen is off. The same concept as Samsung's Always Display On. Thanks to this, we can see useful information such as the current time, the percentage of remaining battery and icons that indicate the presence of notifications from apps such as WhatsApp or Gmail. All this with a low energy expenditure.
Within the analysis we have concluded that one of the apps that can give us the most game is LG Health . If we want to get in shape or control our physical condition, this app can set us an amount of daily exercise that we must try to comply with. To do this, he relies on the pedometer (step counter). It also gives us data on our body mass index according to the data we share (height and weight). It also incorporates a series of daily challenges. For example, climbing stairs or drinking eight glasses of water a day.
At the multimedia level, the best is the high definition audio recorder . This app is combined with the audio system that the company has incorporated into this mobile, which aims to be one of the great hooks to bet on this terminal.
Hi-Fi Quad DAC Sound System
Hi-Fi Quad DAC system, HiFi sound recording in video, studio mode to record our voice over a song on the phone
And is that the audio is one of the great workhorses of the LG V30 ThinQ. The mobile is designed to be able to reproduce HiFi content with a great level of detail. But almost what is more interesting is that it is also capable of recording videos or sound with HiFi quality. The V30 incorporates a curious studio mode that allows us to record our voice over a song that we have stored on the phone. Bang & Olufsen headphones are also included in the mobile box . They are not a panacea, but their performance in highs is quite good without distorting them. Of course, to take advantage of the V30's full potential, it is clear that it is worth betting on higher-end headphones.
LG V30 connections
Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi AC, 4G download speeds of up to 1Gbps
The V30 incorporates a good set of connections. Based on its compatibility with WiFi AC . An increasingly widespread protocol. Its usefulness lies in taking advantage of the 5 GHz bandwidth to achieve a more stable connection to the WiFi (and faster). Of course, it is an advanced 4G mobile, with speeds that reach 1000 Mbps download and 150 Mbps upload. As usual, these speeds also depend on the operator's networks. Currently, there is no one in Spain that offers (in a real way) these peaks.
We have the latest Bluetooth 5.0 protocol , which allows us to simultaneously connect several devices wirelessly. This can be very useful, for example, to connect a keyboard and mouse. The charging port of the V30 is USB Type-C. A connector that is already present in most of the mid- and high-end terminals on the market. There is also no lack of GPS to locate us or NFC to carry out payments through the mobile.
Sufficient autonomy
3,300 milliamp battery, enough for a day's work, fast charging 50% of the battery in 30 minutes
We are approaching the end of the LG V30 ThinQ review. A model that is reinforced with a 3,300 milliamp battery . In its normal use it complies, but without more. In our test we have been able to use it for a whole day without having to look for a plug. But when night comes, we have always had to look for a plug. Of course, it earns a lot through its Qualcomm 3.0 fast charging system. With this system it is possible to charge half the battery in just 30 minutes, and the entire charge in just under two hours .
Within the AnTuTu Tester battery test, the V30 has scored very well, probably above its actual response on a day-to-day basis. Of course, it is evident that it has very good endurance if we keep the screen on.
Price and reviews
900 euros, very attractive design, water and dust resistance, good double camera
The LG V30 ThinQ will hit stores from next December 15 at a price of 900 euros. A high cost, but in line with what we are seeing in the market this year. Those 900 euros become the best LG mobile that we have seen in years. And it is not lacking in attractions. Although its price will take it away from many pockets. It is a very well finished team, with an attractive and resistant design. Not surprisingly, it has passed a military test and is IP68 certified.
Its photographic section also reaches very good heights thanks to its main camera with f / 1.6 aperture. Its second camera is also very useful, with a 120-degree wide-angle lens. But most of all, we love the way LG has developed its camera app . The options are very complete and the modes provide a lot of play. Some users will miss the bokeh mode, although it compensates nicely with its other modes.
Perhaps one of the big buts is that it does not come standard with the latest version of Android. LG could fix it in the coming weeks. Neither its battery has seemed to us to shoot rockets, but it does what is necessary. In short, an important rival for big names in the market such as the Note 8 or the iPhone X. This is the way to go if LG wants to start making up lost ground with its opponents.
