I have an LG V20 that I'm not allowed to review. Let's talk about it anyway.

[Axi6Ne8us]

So LG sent me a pre-production V20 with the express instructions that I'm not allowed to review it for AC. But that doesn't mean we can't talk about it in detail, and that I can't basically review it without a review.

So let's talk about it. Have at it — what would you like to know about this fantastic, unique phone?

First, my impressions: it's really nice. The build quality is outstanding, even with the removable battery door. I don't care about the removable battery one way or another, but it's nice to know it's there, and doesn't take away from using the phone at all. I'm not even sad about the fact that it doesn't support LG's Friends mods, since those were largely useless.

The software is also pretty nice. That this runs Android 7.0 Nougat means that there are performance advantages, sure, but most of the improvements are subtle, like the cleaner notification shade and support for true Multi Window. I've even been using Multi Window in ways I thought I wouldn't, like referencing a website while I write an email in Gmail. The screen is big enough for me to do that.

Anyway, thought I'd get the ball rolling, so have at it.

Where are the photos of the LG V20, supposedly that you have?

 

[notacoach]

I played with a v10 at BB yesterday and liked it. How similar is the v20 in form factor?

 

[anon(782252)]

I played with a v10 at BB yesterday and liked it. How similar is the v20 in form factor?

Height and width nearly identical. V20 is not as thick and weighs less and has slightly better screen to body ratio.

Compare phones: LG V20 vs LG V10 - Phone specs comparison
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/compare/LG-V20,LG-V10/phones/10202,9679

 

[Wiley_11]

Where are the photos of the LG V20, supposedly that you have?

And where is he?!?!............

 

[Mustaffa q]

This phone packs a punch big battery highfi qud dac ir blaster this phone is made for power users.The build quality is top notch aswell

 

[Djones09]

Have you had any time with the Pixel or Pixel XL? If so, how would you compare the feel of them physically? Is one more comfortable than the other?

 

[rushmore]

Ask folks to ask questions and then abandon the thread. Good one, OP!

 

[Kansatsusha]

Ask folks to ask questions and then abandon the thread. Good one, OP!

And thus the nature of a forum =3 ... in time people dont have time for it.

 

[omgitselaine]

Ask folks to ask questions and then abandon the thread. Good one, OP!

 

[jb4kats]

Does it have a LCD Notification, battery charging light? I am a little disappointed with the V10 not having it. I have to keep my volume almost off so the blinking LED is the only way I knew I even had a call or text most of the time and I haven't found a way to have messages pop up on the screen when you get one so I guess it isn't going to happen with the V20 either?

 

[jb4kats]

Maybe he didn't have the phone after all and it got too hot in here for him?.....T

 

[Wiley_11]

Maybe he didn't have the phone after all and it got too hot in here for him?.....T

If you can't stand the heat.........................

 

[RaRa85]

when it comes to manual tweaking of camera settings... this or xperia xz? ☺

I can answer this one for you. LG>Sony. Sony does not give you the same level of detail in manual mode and the longest exposure setting is capped at 1 measly second while the V20 can keep the shutter open for 30 seconds. Most phones don't have rear curtain flash settings either which basically exposes the subject with a preflash and fires the flash at the end of the exposure. No other phone period has manual focus peaking. No other phone has the expanse of manual controls for video built in either. It's easy.

 

[RaRa85]

If the physical sensors are the same size, that means better sensitivity to low light, all other things being equal. This is because having larger pixels allows more light per pixel. It's why actual cameras do better. The larger the pixel size, the better the per pixel detail.

Another unknown is the focal length between the two. I'm guessing that the wide angle has a shorter focal length, which will also affect how aperture is considered. Basically, a shorter focal length can achieve the same light gathering with a higher aperture number as a longer focal length with a smaller aperture. This explains it with some visuals.

https://youtu.be/f5zN6NVx-hY

So, again I'm speculating here, the light hitting the sensor is probably close enough that you wouldn't notice much difference between the two cameras. The 8MP doesn't bother me either. It's more than enough for social media and respectable printing sizes. It doesn't look like it has image stabilization, but that may not matter on that wide of an angle image. If it is more light sensitive, then you can shoot at a higher speed, which also makes images more sharp.

TL;DR version: It may be possible that the wide angle camera is just as good, if not better in low light conditions as the main camera.

The wide angle is always a compromise in low light conditions because of the narrower aperture. But with a tripod you can get fantastic results regardless.

 

[VoltaicShock]

Does it have a LCD Notification, battery charging light? I am a little disappointed with the V10 not having it. I have to keep my volume almost off so the blinking LED is the only way I knew I even had a call or text most of the time and I haven't found a way to have messages pop up on the screen when you get one so I guess it isn't going to happen with the V20 either?

Isn't that what the second screen is for?

 

[Mooncatt]

I can answer this one for you. LG>Sony. Sony does not give you the same level of detail in manual mode and the longest exposure setting is capped at 1 measly second while the V20 can keep the shutter open for 30 seconds. Most phones don't have rear curtain flash settings either which basically exposes the subject with a preflash and fires the flash at the end of the exposure. No other phone period has manual focus peaking. No other phone has the expanse of manual controls for video built in either. It's easy.

Does the V20 actually have rear curtain flash? I'd kill to have that kind of function! (Ok not really, but maybe something along the lines of petty theft. Lol)

 

[RaRa85]

Does the V20 actually have rear curtain flash? I'd kill to have that kind of function! (Ok not really, but maybe something along the lines of petty theft. Lol)

Well I'm assuming because the V10 actually already has this feature. You can do a long exposure and have the flash go off just before the shutter closes. It's pretty dope.

 

[Mooncatt]

Well I'm assuming because the V10 actually already has this feature. You can do a long exposure and have the flash go off just before the shutter closes. It's pretty dope.

I'm familiar with the technique, but I didn't realize the V10 had it. I thought the only difference between it and the G4 was the V10 had manual video controls. The G4 didn't have rear curtain sync and hadn't known any phone or app to have it.

This is exciting news to me considering my ancient DSLR is bad for noise with long exposures. XD

 

[RaRa85]

Yep when you toggle through the flash options you'll see the flash icon with an R next to it. LG really put a lot of thought into the camera app.

 

[Daniel Bader]

Maybe he didn't have the phone after all and it got too hot in here for him?.....T

Hah, something like that...