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LG G8X ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
...


7.6/10
Informr score
The LG G8X ThinQ currently has an Informr score of 7.6 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 39 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

Verdict

The LG G8X ThinQ doesn’t offer the latest and greatest in terms of its hardware or software. However, it provides a dual-screen experience at an affordable price, making it attractive for people who want to utilize all the benefits of two smartphone screens.

What's good

  • Affordable dual-screen option
  • Decent battery life
  • Excellent audio quality
  • 3.5mm headphone jack

What's bad

  • Limited multi-screen features
  • Not seamless dual screen
  • Mediocre camera performance
  • Cannot use dual-screen when charging phone

The G8X ThinQ marks LG’s entry into the latest mobile market -- dual-screen phones. Unlike other dual-screen phones, the ThinQ provides the second screen as an accessory so you can decide if and when you want a second screen. But dual-screen phones are still having some growing pains, does the G8X ThinQ work well enough to justify its price?

Design

Since the release of Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, folding phones have become all the rage. LG has taken a different approach to the dual-screen design, creating a second screen accessory for their flagship phone.

When you look at the actual phone, it looks very similar to the standard LG G8 ThinQ. It’s just slightly larger. Otherwise, it’s almost a replica. But reviewers did not think this was a bad thing. While some consider the design a bit conservative, Android Authority notes, “... The whole of the phone impresses in its fit and finish.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. It’s a bit large, measuring 6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches. While great for people with larger hands, it might be hard to operate single-handedly for people with small hands.

You’ll also want to get a case. The glass front and back means the phone will slip and slide across smooth surfaces, leading to accidental drops.

Display

The phone boasts a 6.4-inch, Full HD+ (2,340 x 1080) OLED display. Reviews note that the screen is sharp, giving crisp whites and pitch dark blacks. Unlike phones of old, you can easily adjust the color and tone of the display to suit your needs between something vibrant or more on the neutral side. While not the brightest phone on the market, reviews indicate that it’s bright enough to read even on bright, sunny days.

The second display is an exact copy of the display you’ll find on the phone. And while LG worked to try and keep the color balance the same on both monitors, some experts noticed a slight difference, most notably when looking at whites.

Performance

The G8X ThinQ comes with 6GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 855 processor. Reviews indicate the combination provides enough juice to easily power two screens without any issues -- even if you want to do something like watch a Twitch stream and a Netflix show at the same time.

Software

Out of the box, the G8X ThinQ runs Android 9 Pie under LG’s user interface skin. Reviewers found navigating around the home screen natural and intuitive.

In terms of future Android updates, LG has not committed to updating the G8X. If you want the latest and greatest, you might want to check out another company.

The real question, of course, is how well do the dual screens work together? On that, the reviews are mixed.

In general, both screens perform very well and critics loved that the second screen made multitasking easier. Engadget notes, “There were times using the G8X where I felt vastly more productive than I could be on almost any other phone.”

However, it’s not without its issues.

Reviewers were frustrated by the fact that there was no shared home screen or app organization ability. More importantly, keyboards didn’t span across both screens and instead appears on one screen. Also, the bezels on the two screens lead to an awkward gap between things like web pages and images, which proved distracting.

Perhaps the biggest drawback is the location of the charging port. Critics found it nearly impossible to charge the phone in dual screen mode. If you’re low on battery, you’ll need to go back to single screen mode.

Storage

You get 128GB of built-in storage, which can be expanded up to 2TB with a microSD slot, making it a fairly average entry.

Cameras

The rear/main camera offers 2 lenses -- a 12MP f/1.8 standard lens and a 13MP super-wide f/2.4 lens. You’re not going to get the amazing picture quality you’ll find on 2020's top-end phones, but reviews indicate the cameras are more than capable if you just want to snap something to share on social media.

While image quality didn’t wow critics, they consider it good enough -- especially in well-lit situations. In poor lighting, their pictures were often soft with lots of noise and grain.

The 32MP front-facing camera might boast big numbers, but experts found the images were just as average. Though, as expected, it performed well in good lighting situations.

While it is possible to take pictures in dual-screen mode, most reviewers didn’t recommend doing so. They found trying to position the phone and take the picture very awkward.

Battery Life

The phone comes packed with a 4,000mAh battery. There’s no additional battery in the second screen. As you would expect, running dual-screen mode drains your battery faster than if you just used a single screen. Still, reviewers were able to get around 8-9 hours of battery life with the second screen attached. Without it, they were able to go a full day.

Audio

Miss being able to use your favorite headphones because it requires a headphone jack? Then you’re in luck as the G8X ThinQ has a 3.5mm jack. Thanks to having a wired connection, the phone provides what LG considers, “...the best smartphone audio quality…” on the market.

_

The Takeaway

The LG G8X ThinQ tries to capitalize on the folding phone market but reviews show it falls short on execution.

While reviewers find it to be a passable phone, it doesn’t stand out among the crowd. Without the dual-screen, they have a hard time recommending it against other similarly priced phones. Of course, this isn’t a standalone phone and it comes with a second screen attachment, but it isn’t quite enough for critics to recommend.

Wired states, “If you can, and you desperately want to see the benefits of a foldable phone firsthand, this is your only sensible options. But… a wave of next-gen phones [are coming]...”

TechRadar adds, “The LG G8X plus the dual screen... is a great deal for its price... but... its screen is not seamless... and... it’s a hefty package that takes up a ton of pocket space.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.84 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.84 GHz
6.4"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6.4"
12+ MP, f/1.8
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/1.8
4000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Fortress of Solitude
Fortress of Solitude

Adding a second screen to a single-screen smartphone isn’t a unique feature, but the LG G8X ThinQ is definitely the standout of the bunch. The dual-screen device adds quite a host of new features, which ultimately changes the manner in which users interact with their smartphone. Other accompanying f...

- Evan Saunders, Fortress of Solitude
Hothardware
Hothardware

In light of today's high-end Android phone market, where $1000+ smartphones are rapidly becoming the norm, the LG G8X ThinQ with its Dual Screen accessory is a relative bargain. If you're in the market for a quality, reliable phone, and don't need to be on the absolute bleeding-edge, the LG G8X Thin...

- Marco Chiappetta, Hothardware
Gear Diary
Gear Diary

This dual-screen functionality is fun, and there are some neat tricks it can perform, but the design has its limitations. If you think about the dual-screen case as a free add-on, it suddenly makes sense why someone might purchase this phone. It is a solid, large-screen performer that has a microSD...

- Dan Cohen, Gear Diary
Techaeris
Techaeris

After spending the time I did with the LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen, I’m actually kicking myself for not taking it with me to CES 2020. Not only is it small and compact, but it offers up decent productivity functionality and I easily could have done without lugging my laptop around all week for the amou...

- Jason Bouwmeester, Techaeris
Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

LG offers a good package for someone wanting to experience a foldable smartphone without breaking the bank. It also packs in very good camera hardware that you can take full advantage of using the Manual mode. However, these are the only things that help this smartphone stand out against its competi...

- Aditya Shenoy, Gadgets 360


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the LG G8X ThinQ user manual here.


LG backs up the G8X ThinQ with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your G8X ThinQ 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.



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Screen Size
6.4"

The LG G8X ThinQ's screen size is 6.4 inches with 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.84 GHz

There is a Qualcomm SDM855 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) Octa-core 2.84 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 9.0 Pie (Update Available: 10) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 12+ MP, f/1.8 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 32+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
128 GB

Internal memory is 128 GB. An external, MicroSD (up to 1024 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 4000 mAh battery. LG's performance ratings are 1850 minutes, 881 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

G8X ThinQ Specs

Overview
Release Date November 1, 2019
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 9.0 Pie (Update Available: 10)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm SDM855 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) Octa-core 2.84 GHz
Internal Storage 128 GB
RAM 6 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Unknown
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.49 W/kg
Body: 1.01 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM Yes
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared Yes
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs aptX, aptX HD
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD (up to 1024 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/1.8
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Multi-shot, Panorama, Self-timer, White balance, HDR, Dual pixel PDAF, OIS, Second camera (f/2.4, 13MP, ultrawide), Time-lapse video
Video Recording Formats
MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
32+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
F/1.9, Face unlock
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology OLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels
Pixel Density 403 pixels
Size 6.4 inches
Secondary Display Color OLED, 1080 x 2340 pixels, 6.4 inches, 16.7 million
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touchscreen, HDR video support, Scratch-resistant glass (Front glass (Gorilla Glass 5), back glass (Gorilla Glass 6)), MIL-STD-810G compliant, In-screen fingerprint
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 4000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 1104 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 881 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1850 minutes
Standby Time Up to 23 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Glass
Colors Aurora Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.93 x 7.58 x 0.84 cm (6.3 x 3 x 0.3 in)
Weight 192 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): LG LMG850U
Related Links Manual (PDF)
LG G8X ThinQ Reviews
Where to buy LG G8X ThinQ
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