There are people who use smartphones for their rudimentary purposes, then there’s the tech savvy crowd that turns to their devices for functions that go beyond just messaging, calling, playing games, or taking selfies. There’s a smartphone for this niche and we recently got our hands on it.
Design: 4.5/5
The V20 is huge and looks distinctive even from a distance. A closer look reveals teeny details that make it extra appealing. Up front, the V20 flaunts dual screens; a twist that gave its predecessor a foothold in the tough smartphone market. The main screen measures in at 5.7-inches and extends close the phone’s edges. It also boasts a 2560×1440. An always-on 2.1-inch 1040×160 second screen sits atop the main display, with no visible division, accompanied by a 5 MP wide angle sensor. All in all, there’s a generous amount of screen real-estate for users to enjoy.
Bordering the screens are matte bands on top and bottom which carries the receiver, 3.5 mm audio jack, USB-C port, and speaker grilles, respectively. The volume keys are built on the right side, while a button for flipping open its rear can be found on the left. Given its thin form-factor, you’d think the V20 has a unibody construction, but you’d be wrong. The metal back plate, when popped off, reveals a removable battery and slots for a microSD and nano SIM. Also at the back of the device are its fingerprint scanner, which doubles as a power/lock button, and a dual camera system.
Hardware: 4/5
It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor that has four cores and clocks in at 1.6 GHz. This processing power is fortified by an Adreno 530 GPU and 4 GBs of RAM. Eager to test this power on its equally powerful display, I scoured Google Play for a graphics-intensive game and found one in The Trail. As we expected, the V20 didn’t back down and handled the demanding 800-plus MB game well. It did stutter a bit when I maxed the games’ resolution, but that’s when I was already an hour into playing it—a likely factor as to why the device slowed down.
One of its noticeable features is its dual rear cameras. The main rear sensor features 16-megapixel and has an f1.8 aperture and is coupled with an 8-megapixel 135-degree wide angled sensor. Though two operational cameras may sound confusing, LG’s camera software works its voodoo to make everything simple. The camera app is uncomplicated with just the right modes and setting to help you get the job done. The cameras render quality and color-rich photos no matter the setting. We used the device in an event with just stage lighting, and the output was quite commendable. There was minimal visible noise, but it did pretty great considering the condition. You can go on photo walks with just this on hand and get photos as stunning as those taken with digital cameras, it’s that capable.
Touted as a phone for AV enthusiasts, the V20 takes pride in its built-in Hi-Fi Quad DAC. When this mode is activated, and used with the included Bang & Olufsen headset, it produces sound convincingly close to its original source. Additionally, the device also ships with an HD audio recorder, making for a device musicians would drool over.
User Experience: 4.5/5
In the days I spent with the device, I can honestly say the V20’s one of the best devices I’ve gotten my hands on this year.
The user interface is virtually Android Nougat with touches of LG here and there, offering you a straightforward navigating experience. There’s no app drawer so you’ll have to swipe past pages to find an app. You can, however, customize it for better organization.
There is one thing though: I didn’t find much use for the secondary screen. It’s great for keeping track of time, notifications, or apps you want quick access to, but that seems like it’s underutilized. Don’t get me wrong, though, I did like it but functionality-wise, it’s just a pretty feature.
For a phone with such awesome features, its 3200 mAh battery was a bit of a let-down. But do know it tops up pretty fast, so that resolves the matter.
Value: 4/5
There are a lot of things that makes the LG V20 special and we’d have to extend this review to cover each of them. It’s a gift for power users with its three cameras, two screens, and powerful hardware crammed into a premium body. For PHP 35,990, it’s a deal worth looking into.
Bottomline:
Bye, Christmas money.