What's good
- Rugged design
- All-day battery life
- Quick Charge 3.0 support
- Plenty of internal storage
- microSD support
- Great camera
- Excellent audio (with good headphones)
- Excellent audio recording quality
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- Great performance
What's bad
- Screen lacks contrast
- Fingerprint scanner placement
- Second Screen is useful but not essential
- Fit issues between phone parts
LG has never been one to shy away from breaking away from the pack. While they aren’t always successful, they always get people’s attention. With the LG V20, they’re hoping to top one of their most popular releases in recent years.
With a slew of exclusive features on the spec sheet, reviewers couldn’t wait to get their hands on this latest release. Does the phablet live up to the hype?
Let’s see what everyone is saying!
While reviewers had little to say about the looks of the V20, they were quick to point out a few innovative features. LG has made a metal phone with a removable back. Despite its large size, reviews show it’s easy to grip and use. Android Pit said, “The button layout has been designed well, so even those with small hands will have easy access.”
The fingerprint scanner on the rear doubles as the power button, allowing you to wake up your phone and unlock it in a single touch. Some reviewers noted issues locating the scanner with their finger. However, none mentioned any issues of sluggishness or low accuracy.
Unfortunately, they mentioned build quality was lower than expected—Particularly in areas where the plastic end caps and metal case met.
Reviews on the display were equally mixed. Gadget Review noted, “The V20’s display isn’t bad, per se, but the overall quality is definitely behind today’s standard for a high-end smartphones.” The biggest complaint from reviewers was contrast. But, most applauded the brightness.
Where the real debates came in was the Second Screen. Reviewers tested the phone expecting to feel apathetic about the small dynamic display at the top of the screen. By the end of most reviews, they ended up liking the screen, though few felt it was a must-have feature. Android Pit highlights this, saying, “It’s certainly not a necessary feature but it does add to the overall user experience. For example, you can see notifications while still watching a video.”
Performance was one area where reviewers had no trouble agreeing. With a quad-core 2.15GHz Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM, the V20 packs the same power as many of 2016’s most popular flagship releases. GSM Arena, “There's hardly a high-end smartphone you can get nowadays that would be slow. But as smartphones go, the LG V20 is one of the fastest around.”
You’ll also find 64GB of internal storage and support for microSD cards up to 2TB in size. You’ll have no problem keeping your music, apps, games and movies with you wherever you go!
As one of the first phones to ship with Android 7.0 Nougat, the phone offers access the latest and greatest Android features. Reviewers found that split-screen mode worked well and noted that they even received security patches nearly as quick as with their Pixel devices.
Some reviewers questioned the ability for the 3,200mAh battery to keep up with the beefy specs and massive screen on the V20. While it is firmly in the middle of the pack on battery life benchmarks, NDTV notes, “Battery life was excellent, and we were able to stretch to well over a day with normal usage including games and video streaming over 4G.” Quick Charge 3.0 support also offers an 80% charge in 30 minutes. Between that and the fact you can swap out the battery, there’s little need to worry.
The V20 sports an interesting dual-camera setup on the rear. There’s a normal 16MP lens with optical image stabilization and phase detection autofocus paired with an 8MP wide-angle lens. While reviewers loved the ability to create shots, many noted that the 8MP wide-angle lens wasn’t great in low-light or for capturing fine details. GSM Arena said, “The LG V20 has one of the best snappers on the market. Photos have vibrant colors, low noise, and loads of detail, not in small part to the higher 16MP resolution.”
Reviewers were also satisfied with the adjustable 5MP front facing lens. However, some noted that the wide-angle mode introduced heavy distortion toward the edges of the frame, limiting the feature’s usefulness.
The final feature touted by LG is the quad DAC 32-bit auto in the V20. Gadget Review noted, “Using high-end headphones, tunes via the SABRE DAC were discernibly richer, clearer, and more articulated than the stock DAC.” Reviewers without high-end headphones noticed little difference. Your experience is likely to depend on your audio accessories.
The phone also includes a 24-bit, three-mic recording array. Android Pit put this feature to the test and declared, “The result is fantastic and this is definitely the best smartphone for people who make audio recordings. Even in noisy environments it still performs well.”
Overall, reviewers had plenty of love for the V20. Android Pit summed up opinions well, saying, “In short, the V20 has a lot to offer users who were scared away from the Galaxy Note 7. Throw in Android 7.0 Nougat and you can really see the appeal.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Jamshed Avari, Gadgets 360LG’s V20 it is a bit of a jack of all trades. It’s trying to be a lot of things, and in most cases, it succeeds – just without much finesse. While some phones have one standout feature as their calling card, this one offers not only dual cameras but also the second screen, impact-resistant body, and...
- Matt, Android GuysThe V20 is still one of the best phones you can get today. It has great build quality, a great camera, good battery life, and the best audio experience on the market. It might not stand up to some 2017 flagships, but if you can find it for the right price, it's a good choice.
- Zayne Seah, VR-ZoneIn conclusion, at a retail price of S$998, the LG V20 is actually a smartphone that’s worth its price tag, especially if you are an avid photographer, videography, or audiophile. If there is any smartphone in the market that’s built for media junkies, it is without a doubt, the LG V20.
- Nandagopal Rajan, The Indian ExpressShould you buy? Yes, if you can afford it and love a great camera which has the potential to be a conversation starter. The LG V20 is among the best Android flagships out there, but make sure you need the extra features for which you are going to be spending some serious money. The V20 is by no mean...
- Josh Noriega, Gadget ReviewWhere the V-series continues to trump others is with functionality – the LG V20 is packed to the gills with features, some of which you won’t find on other phones, like a cutting-edge HiFi Quad DAC for unrivaled headphone audio, secondary-screen tools, and wide-angle cameras. The useful...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the LG V20 user manual here.
LG backs up the V20 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your V20 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact LG support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find LG's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- LG V20 Manual (PDF)
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