Is LG’s V20 a real contender for the best smartphone of 2016?
LG MIGHT not be the first brand that comes to mind when you think of quality smartphones, but its latest offering is a serious contender.
WHEN talking about the smartphone market, LG is a brand that is frequently overlooked and this is a shame given the functionality, design and quality of its devices.
While more subtle than LG’s G5 modular smartphone, the Korean manufacturer’s V20 is a real contender for device of the year.
DESIGN
LG have really made an effort to ensure the LG doesn't mimic the look and feel of other smartphone on the market and this is a good thing.
Despite its military-grade build, the 5.7-inch smartphone remains sleek and sexy.
The rear of the phone is made up of a removable aluminium panel, which gives access to the changeable battery — carrying a second battery is much easier than a power pack and cable.
For added durability, LG has also added silicon polycarbonate to the top and bottom of the smartphone and a Gorilla Glass 4 for the display.
As someone who is known to accidentally drop his device, I can attest that it has been far more durable than the iPhone and Google Pixel.
The V20 has followed the lead of the Google Pixel by including the fingerprint scanner on the rear of the device, although it sadly doesn’t offer the ability to pull down for notifications.
Also included on the device is a 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C charging port.
One of the most unique design points of the V20 is the secondary screen, which sits on top of its regular display.
The always-on second screen is used to receive notifications, to access quick settings or shortcuts to apps, and while this feature was found on its predecessor, LG increased the contrast and brightness to make it easier to read.
Another quirky feature of the second screen is the ability to customise the default signature to show something much more personal.
CAMERA AND AUDIO
When looking at the V20, it becomes quickly apparent that LG had a strong focus on offering unparalleled audio capabilities.
The device takes advantage of four digital-to-analog converters, which offers a Hi-Fi audio mode for cleaner playback and the high quality sound usually found in a dedicated audio player.
LG takes things one step further with Bang & Olufsen tuning the audio and including a specially designed set of B&O PLAY earphones.
In addition to offering superb playback, the V20 also includes a HD audio recording through three intelligent mics located on the top of the device.
Similar the G5, the V20 has wide-angle offerings for both the front and rear cameras.
The rear of the device has been fitted with a dual camera system — a 16-megapixel standard lens and an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens capable of capturing 135 degrees.
Additionally, the 5-megapixel front facing camera has the ability to switch between an 83-degree frame or 120-degree wide shot.
While the ability to fit more into your image is a nice touch, the picture can sometimes look slightly distorted.
Like most Androids on the market, the V20 offers manual settings for shutter speed, exposure, white balance, ISO and focus.
The device also lets you capture in RAW or JPEG, which is a feature bound to please avid photographers wanting to edit their images at a later date.
In terms of video, the V20 has gyroscope-based electrical image stabilisation and digital image stabilisation for a smoother experience when shooting in 4K.
While I still think there are better smartphone cameras on the market — Sony’s Xperia XZ — the V20 offers good enough pictures to make the phone worthwhile.
EVERYTHING ELSE
For me, the most disappointing aspect of the V20 is its 3200mAh battery, which has a pretty short runtime for those frequently using the device.
As mentioned earlier, the smartphone offers the ability to swap out the battery for one that is fully charged, although this will need to be purchased as it doesn’t come standard.
Fortunately, the device employs Qualcomm’s Quick Charge Technology 3.0, which will charge the V20 to 75 per cent in one hour — although, third-party USB-C cables don’t always work for this feature.
The phone comes with 64GB of on-board storage, with a microSD slot for additional room.
In terms of the OS, the device is one of the first non-Google phones to feature Android Nougat, with LG’s own interface layered on top.
The Snapdragon 820 processor also ensures the handset had no problem keeping up with the competition in terms of speed.
Unfortunately, one other major let down of the V20 is the fact it does not offer the waterproof capabilities seen on the devices currently on the market.
Overall, the $999 V20 is a solid offering from LG and includes some unique features with the second screen, removable battery and high quality audio.
It really just depends if these specific features are what you are looking for or if other devices on the market are more suited to you needs.
Personally, I am really liking the phone for its durability and sexy design if nothing else.
Would you buy the LG V20? Continue the conversation with Matthew Dunn on Twitter or Facebook.
Originally published as Is LG’s V20 a real contender for the best smartphone of 2016?
‘Act now’: Demand after triple-0 tragedy
