First impressions... pretty much the same as V20 and G6

[flyingkytez]

Just to clarify, the v30 doesn't have an AMOLED display. It uses a P-OLED display

I mentioned that. I said the phone felt lighter because it's P-AMOLED.

 

[flyingkytez]

So are you changing your mind about getting one?

Not exactly, I still want that 13MP camera upgrade along with the 1.6 aperture low-light. Might not get it immediately this time around, could hold off for a bit longer. Could probably wait until the G7 And enjoy the price drop.

 

[flyingkytez]

You should, you know, buy and use the phone before giving your input from fiddling with it for 20 minutes in a store.

Also, where are the glass scratching reports? I have yet to see any here or on Reddit.

It's a $800 phone, can't really test it out without taking a loss. Only if I could borrow it, YouTube reviewers are lucky they get a loaner.

Some guy on Instagram was complaining on LG's page that his V30 already got scratched too soon. I know it's using Gorilla Glass 5, in my experience it scratches easily.

 

[flyingkytez]

Doesn't sound like you're giving it a fair chance at proving itself. I'll bet if it had a removable battery and an IR blaster you would be all over it.

That would be true. I can live without removable battery but I'm really judging the phone based on a first impression and quickly comparing the camera on the spot.

I still think LG actually did the most in terms of upgrades/changes from last year's model compared to other manufactures whom really didn't add much, in fact taking out features like the headphone jack (Pixel 2) or fingerprint scanner (iPhone X) and offering minimal to no improvements.

 

[flyingkytez]

loling at the more features thing. Value, maybe, all in, no way.

Also if you can't tell the difference between the v20 and v30 camera, isn't that really bad news for the v30?

More features is better. Pixel 2, One Plus 5? Great devices but really nothing exciting and missing a lot of features such as dual camera. Less features is better? Enjoy not having the headphone jack.

I didn't get to test the low-light capabilities as well as video recording upgrade. I'm sure it has improved. I also mentioned the 13MP camera being way better than the 8MP from the V20.

 

[flyingkytez]

My impressions after a couple days: Build and looks are great as you say. I think the N8 looks great too, but just too tall for me. Back is a fingerprint magnet, but it had a case on as soon as the SIM was in. Size and weight for a screen this size is just unreal.

Camera: Between work and bad weather, haven't taken but 1 pic so far. As for quality, I was extremely pleased with the V20 camera, from what I have seen the G6 improved on that somewhat, and I expect the same incremental improvements with the V30. Face it, unless you are coming from a low-end phone, all the flagships have cameras on par now, with their own unique strengths in certain areas. If you are waiting for one that is going to blow all others out of the water, get comfortable...

Display: Blows the V20 away. I was able to tweak the color on the V20 to where it didn't bother me "too much", but I'm biased towards LED. Comparing the same pics on my V20 - V30, color, clarity, and of course depth of black is miles ahead. No banding or hot spots either, but maybe I'm just lucky there.

Agree on price drop if that's your priority, but I like having the latest and greatest. As for comparison to the V20, other than my preference for LED over LCD, the biggest difference is in size and form factor. Using and carrying the V20 feels like a brick now in comparison, and this is from a guy who isn't afraid of big phones (had a Nexus 6 before the V20). The features and screen size they have put into a package this small and light just amazes me. Was also worried I would miss the second screen, but I actually prefer the Always On now for when off. The floating bar is not quite as good, but acceptable and not a deal breaker for me.

So far, loving it.

I'm looking forward to getting one sometime later down the road, I really want that improved 13MP wide angle camera. My V20 has been serving me very well. I'm very sure the V30's battery is much more efficient paired with AMOLED and the SD 835 chip, so I'm not too concerned. My V20 still kicks @** and I don't really see the urgency to get a V30 right now. I'm expecting the unlocked model to cost $800 at launch so I don't mind waiting for a drop.

 

[Aquila]

More features is better. Pixel 2, One Plus 5? Great devices but really nothing exciting and missing a lot of features such as dual camera. Less features is better? Enjoy not having the headphone jack.

I didn't get to test the low-light capabilities as well as video recording upgrade. I'm sure it has improved. I also mentioned the 13MP camera being way better than the 8MP from the V20.

Not sure where OP5 came from, that's a midranger with almost nothing in common with flagship devices other than SoC and RAM.

As far as the 13 MP is better than the 8 MP, what's that based on? Just those two numbers? If so, that's not how camera quality works.

Otherwise, I guess your argument seems to be that having a longer list of features, rather than a higher quality to the features is better. So the V30 has two cameras, but both combined still don't match the 1st gen Pixel, let alone the second. Headphone jack isn't a feature IMO, but we have 2 or 3 threads for that. I'd say the ability to listen to music via whatever headphones you want is a feature. The Pixel 2 XL supports that; the V30 does not afaik. The V30 launched after O was released, yet didn't launch with O and apparently doesn't support Project Treble. That alone makes it already obsolete as every major device released from it and onward will support that critical functionality.

But, could we consider having a proper privacy policy and practices a feature? Can we call security a feature? Can we call 3 years of guaranteed updates a feature? How about simply being on the latest OS? Can we call unlimited photo storage a feature? How about Google Lens? Real time translation via Google Pixel Buds?

I think it'd be safer to say that the two devices have different feature sets, with different focuses.

 

[jamielov]

Having switched from the V20 to the V30...as logical as it is, lol..I'll describe the improvements as incremental.

Surprisingly I haven't missed the feature I thought would bother me most, the removable battery. I'm def what you would consider a power user and I'm getting great life with the V30. Plus with fast charging, throwing it on a charger for 20 min gives you a surprising amount of charge. This should only get better with Android O.

The camera....this is tough for me, because I don't use the wide angle at all. The regular I would say is better, but how much, I'm not sure. Took some pics at an NHL game a few days ago, and no blur during action shots. They aren't Sports Illustrated quality shots but are useable.

The music part is a nice improvement. The quad dac is amazing and the audio/video recording capabilities are really good. Took some video and audio only at a rather loud Third Eye Blind concert and was quite pleased.

The overall speed is definitely faster running the web or programs on the V30.

So that's my take right now. I wouldn't consider this a "must have" upgrade if one is loving the V20, but it's good. Had I been a more patient user who doesn't always need the latest and greatest, going from the V20 to the V40 probably would've been a lot more noticeable and made more sense, but with the $200 visa card and free Google VR stuff, to me was worth it.

 

[Jeremiah Bonds]

Not exactly, I still want that 13MP camera upgrade along with the 1.6 aperture low-light. Might not get it immediately this time around, could hold off for a bit longer. Could probably wait until the G7 And enjoy the price drop.

That's interesting, you were the most excited person on here about that phone.

 

[SupraLB]

I played around with one yesterday. Turn the high contrast mode on for the V30 and you will see difference in quality. It turns all those white backgrounds and menus to black.

The Note 8 is more snappy to me. Opening apps are instant while the LG had a slight lag. I would buy the Note 8 if it wasnt for that edge screen.

 

[MA2GA28]

It's a $800 phone, can't really test it out without taking a loss. Only if I could borrow it, YouTube reviewers are lucky they get a loaner.

Some guy on Instagram was complaining on LG's page that his V30 already got scratched too soon. I know it's using Gorilla Glass 5, in my experience it scratches easily.

Actually, you can, by returning the phone in the 14 day window. But point being is you posted a brand new thread reviewing a phone you don't own because you played with one in the store for a few minutes. The post offers no real insight and is useless. Might as well post car reviews after walking around a dealership.

And one person saying they have a scratch equates to "reports" of the screen scratching easily? How about you leave conjecture out of a 'review' without actual proof. Better wording would have been, "Some person complained on social media about a scratch on the screen," as opposed to the misleading claim that articles or large-scale consumer complaints were pointing out a problem.

Sounds to me like you are trying to convince yourself not to get the V30 by trying to find others that share your opinions.

 

[MA2GA28]

That's interesting, you were the most excited person on here about that phone.

He seems to be trying to talk himself out of the upgrade for some reason, just looking for like minded people to share his opinion as justification.

 

[lateck2]

My personal thoughts on the V20 & V30. I personally like the screen on the 20 better. In side by side viewing with the same photo, the 20 has whiter whites. To me truer colors.
One cannot discount the build on the 20 as being better in that it won't break as easily. And of course the removable battery.
But, I'm not returning my V30. I like the larger screen and smaller form factor . Faster response, although it is just mental. The phone is gorgeous, but it will almost aways wear a case. The cameras are the main reason I went with the 30. I have used the wide angle on my 20 a lot. So the 30 offers more. (The same reason I did not go to thr N8).

Lateck,

 

[flyingkytez]

Not sure where OP5 came from, that's a midranger with almost nothing in common with flagship devices other than SoC and RAM.

As far as the 13 MP is better than the 8 MP, what's that based on? Just those two numbers? If so, that's not how camera quality works.

Otherwise, I guess your argument seems to be that having a longer list of features, rather than a higher quality to the features is better. So the V30 has two cameras, but both combined still don't match the 1st gen Pixel, let alone the second. Headphone jack isn't a feature IMO, but we have 2 or 3 threads for that. I'd say the ability to listen to music via whatever headphones you want is a feature. The Pixel 2 XL supports that; the V30 does not afaik. The V30 launched after O was released, yet didn't launch with O and apparently doesn't support Project Treble. That alone makes it already obsolete as every major device released from it and onward will support that critical functionality.

But, could we consider having a proper privacy policy and practices a feature? Can we call security a feature? Can we call 3 years of guaranteed updates a feature? How about simply being on the latest OS? Can we call unlimited photo storage a feature? How about Google Lens? Real time translation via Google Pixel Buds?

I think it'd be safer to say that the two devices have different feature sets, with different focuses.

One Plus 5 is a flagship, it has flagship specs. Nexus 6P has battery failure in 1-2 years. So yes, there are pros and cons for each phone. Pixel camera is good, but V20 is pretty good enough for most situations unless you're entirely dependant on your phone for photography. At least LG includes a second camera which is proven very fun and useful. I personally prefer the 16MP sensor as to the 12MP, I was disappointed with the Samsung S7 camera, the 12MP just didn't look good to my eyes, I can tell the difference. Android updates are cool, but nothing really life changing. Don't think I was ever excited about an update nor has anyone hacked my phone (though my ID was stolen from the cloud, non phone related), shouldn't be counted as a feature. Pixel 2 is a fast phone and looks pretty, that's pretty much it. All cell phone cameras are pretty good now. I'm pretty much saying the Pixel doesn't have much features and in fact is missing features for a supposedly 2017/2018 flagship. Seems like Google is trying to milk out every last dollar and provide the bare minimum until next year. If you look at all their products, they basically just provide the basics.

 

[flyingkytez]

My personal thoughts on the V20 & V30. I personally like the screen on the 20 better. In side by side viewing with the same photo, the 20 has whiter whites. To me truer colors.
One cannot discount the build on the 20 as being better in that it won't break as easily. And of course the removable battery.
But, I'm not returning my V30. I like the larger screen and smaller form factor . Faster response, although it is just mental. The phone is gorgeous, but it will almost aways wear a case. The cameras are the main reason I went with the 30. I have used the wide angle on my 20 a lot. So the 30 offers more. (The same reason I did not go to thr N8).

Lateck,

My same thoughts about the V30, I also highly prefer the IPS LCD, whites appears whiter and screen looks sharper to me (plus don't have to be paranoid about keyboard screen burn in). I'm already a fan of the V20 and I want the camera upgrade on the V30. I agree the V20's build is much more durable and solid than glass and I'm sure the novelty will wear off from having any phone that looks beautiful anyways.

 

[Aquila]

One Plus 5 is a flagship, it has flagship specs.

100% disagree. It's firmly a midranger, with midranger features and midranger pricing. Only the SOC and RAM are high end, but there's so much more to a phone than that.

Where'd the 6P come from?

I'm gonna leave the rest alone We're pretty far apart on the rest and don't think we're gonna agree.

 

[Aquila]

To me truer colors.

From what little information we have so far, the V30 is likely quite a bit more accurate. Are we looking at both displays in the same display mode? Long story short, the V20 is wildly inaccurate, yet the V30 (again limited information) is said to have, at least on the DCI-P3 gamut, a display that may rival even the Galaxy S8+.

 

[jamielov]

I played around with one yesterday. Turn the high contrast mode on for the V30 and you will see difference in quality. It turns all those white backgrounds and menus to black.

The Note 8 is more snappy to me. Opening apps are instant while the LG had a slight lag. I would buy the Note 8 if it wasnt for that edge screen.

Where would I find the settings for "high contrast"?

 

[lateck2]

Aquila, as I said: "To me".... I believe they both in the same mode.
But, each of us see things different.
I like both displays. Other wise I would not keep both, or one.
I am liking my V30 more each day.

Lateck,

 

[flyingkytez]

100% disagree. It's firmly a midranger, with midranger features and midranger pricing. Only the SOC and RAM are high end, but there's so much more to a phone than that.

Where'd the 6P come from?

I'm gonna leave the rest alone We're pretty far apart on the rest and don't think we're gonna agree.

So price determines whether or not it's a flagship?

https://www.google.com/amp/www.androidauthority.com/what-is-a-flagship-710803/amp/

It's the best device they offer and the specs are pretty much the same as, actually better than, current gen phones. Their target market are flagship phone users. They don't really spend money on marketing that's why they can afford the price, VS Apple and Google with ads everywhere.

Nexus 6P = has problems too, battery problems. Don't praise Google simply because it's a Google product, they have their flaws and pros/cons. This year's con is lack of innovation and removal of widely used headphone jack.