The LG V60 is possibly one of the most underrated flagship phones of 2020, and we actually thought it was the company's best phone in years. LG just managed to buck the trend of over $ 1,000 phones from Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, and even Xiaomi.
Starting at $ 800 without a dual-screen case, you get one of the most powerful Android processors on the market, a big battery, wireless charging, and water resistance. However, there is still room for improvement. So here's what we'd like to see from the LG V70 or the flagship of LG's next V series.
Our verdict: LG V60 review - LG's best effort in years is worth a look
A bigger step in camera quality
At this point it feels like a constant refrain, but LG's main problem at this stage is the cameras. That's not to say the LG V60 takes bad photos, far from it. However, in recent years, Google, Huawei, Samsung, Xiaomi, and others have stepped up their games, especially for point-and-shoot photography.
LG's phones tend to lag behind the competition in terms of overall consistency. Our own Eric Zeman found that the V60 camera suffers from inconsistent exposures and issues with HDR. fellow Android Authority Writer Joe Hindy also noted that while the phone generally captures above average pictures, pictures are not as impressive in low light.
Read: Tips and Tricks For LG V60 - Get The Most From It!
LG is long overdue for an ultra-wide camera upgrade too. We either want to see more megapixels like we've seen with the Oppo Find X2 Pro and OnePlus 8 Pro, significantly improved quality in low light like we're seeing with Huawei's latest flagships, or just add auto focus to achieve a more varied experience.
Improved fingerprint scanner
In-display fingerprint sensors have been around since 2018, but it's hard to say if they're ever really preferable to physical scanners. The LG V60 doesn't make us any safer in this regard.
The V60's in-display scanner is nowhere as reliable as the back-mounted scanners on previous LG phones. Authentication usually takes a little longer and is just a little more unreadable than some other devices.
Many brands had teething issues when this technology was first introduced, but some of them are now delivering faster, more accurate readers. It is high time for LG to catch up.
Time to improve the software
Before the LG V60, the 2017 V30 was the last time I used an LG phone extensively. I was disappointed to discover that the software on the V60 still feels very similar to this version. Android Authority David Imel lamented the widespread use of neon on the Android skin when he reviewed the LG Velvet - another weird design choice that makes LG UX look dated and unsophisticated.
Connected: Are there really bad Android skins today?
LG's software isn't the worst culprit when it comes to major brand Android skins (see Vivo FunTouch OS here). But we've seen recently that Oppo and Realme have made huge strides in adopting a stock-like aesthetic without losing functionality. Time to get back to the drawing board?
A longer commitment to updates (and a regular schedule)
LGs have had a mixed reputation when it comes to firmware updates, with months of delays or even no updates. The company appears to have improved the situation a bit with the Android 10 rollout, but some owners will still wait for the upgrade until well into the end of 2020.
We want the LG V70 - and all premium LG phones - to commit to Android system and security updates for longer and more quickly. This is especially significant in 2020 as Samsung announces a three-year Android version update promise, in line with Google and OnePlus.
A better dual screen experience
LG's dual-screen accessory is unique in the smartphone world and essentially provides consumers with a foldable experience without delivering a fragile device at a high price. Unfortunately, the pairing has disadvantages.
Connected: Everything You Should Know About LG Dual Screen Accessories
On the one hand, the LG V60 in combination with a dual-screen case is an extremely cumbersome combination. You will struggle to get it in skinny jeans, and the sheer weight and thickness mean there is a good chance it will pull your pants down. We hope the LG V70 / Dual Screen pairing is slimmer and lighter.
Then there is the software experience. You'll need to download a third-party app like WideMode to spread an unsupported app across both screens. You'll also need a third-party app if you want app links (e.g. Google Maps or reddit links) to open on the other screen. LG will focus on these problem areas in future iterations.
Where is the high refresh rate screen?
High refresh rate mobile screens have been around in some ways since the Razer Phone 2017, but they have grown in popularity over the past 18 months. This technology makes for a smoother experience when swiping through menus, scrolling and playing supported games. It's a shame LG has so far ditched this technology while most other OEMs have adopted it.
While a high refresh rate consumes more juice, users can always fall back on the standard 60Hz refresh rate to extend battery life. We have also seen some brands offer software optimizations to optimize power consumption. In addition, Samsung companies use variable update rates to balance the situation and automatically adjust between different update rates depending on the content.
Keep the headphone jack
For the most part, LG has firmly stuck to the 3.5 mm headphone jack with its flagships while installing Quad-DAC hardware for a better audio experience. There is cause for concern about the V70, however, as the LG Wing exceeds the standard.
Read more: The best smartphones with a 3.5 mm connector
The Wing differs from LG's traditional flagships and is the first device in the company's Explorer project with innovative smartphone designs. So it's entirely possible that skipping the headphone jack was more of an isolated incident than a sign of the future. In any case, we would like LG to stick to the 3.5 mm port, as with the V60, especially since Sony is bringing the standard back to its flagships.
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