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LG Editor's Choice 2019

G8 ThinQ

LG G8 ThinQ — Crystal Sound OLED & Z-Camera Flagship Review

Display 1440 x 3120 pixels 19.5:9 ratio (~564 ppi density)
Camera 1080p at 60fps
Performance Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (...
Battery 21W fast charging USB Power Delivery 2.0, Quick Charge...
Expert Score
4.4
90% Confidence
Community Score
3.7
0% Confidence
AI Score
4.4
89% Confidence
Final Score
4.2
89% Confidence
Storage
RAM
Color
Regional
In Stock
$819 – $899

Lowest $130 Best: Amazon Refurbished

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Category Scores

Overall hardware score: 90/100 — brilliant QHD+ P-OLED display, dedicated 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, flush rear cameras, and unique Z-Camera biometric features.

88
90
Performance Excellent

Snapdragon 855 processor provides rapid task exe...

94
Display Excellent

Crisp 6.1-inch Quad HD+ P-OLED display with HDR1...

89
Camera Great

Versatile 12MP main sensor with OIS and 16MP ult...

80
Battery Great

3500 mAh battery offers standard all-day enduran...

91
Gaming Excellent

Adreno 640 graphics handle high-end mobile gamin...

84
AI Great

Z-Camera ToF sensor enables 3D spatial calculati...

94
Security Excellent

Advanced 3D Face Unlock, Hand ID palm vein recog...

88
Value for Money Great

Exceptional legacy secondary market value for an...

92
Design Excellent

Sleek glass sandwich body with completely flush...

60
Repairability Good

Sealed glass construction requires professional...

84
Software Support Great

Officially upgraded up to Android 11.

92
Connectivity Excellent

4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and a 3.5mm...

98
Audio Excellent

Dedicated 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, Crystal Sound O...

94
Durability Excellent

IP68 water resistance and MIL-STD-810G military-...

84
Charging Great

21W fast wired charging (USB-PD / Quick Charge 3...

Specifications

Display 4
Size 6.1 inches
Type P-OLED, HDR10
Resolution 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~564 ppi density)
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor 3
Chipset Key Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
CPU Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
GPU Key Adreno 640
Memory 2
RAM Key 6GB
Type LPDDR4X
Storage 3
Internal 128GB
Expandable microSDXC up to 2TB (dedicated slot on single SIM)
Standard UFS 2.1
Battery 3
Capacity 3500 mAh non-removable
Wired charging 21W fast charging, USB Power Delivery 2.0, Quick Charge 3.0
Wireless charging 9W Qi wireless charging
Camera 2
Main 12 MP, f/1.5, 27mm, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Ultra Wide 16 MP, f/1.9, 16mm, 1/3.1", 1.0µm
Front Camera 2
Sensor 8 MP, f/1.7, 26mm + ToF 3D Z-Camera (biometrics & depth)
Video 1080p at 60fps
Video 1
Max resolution 4K at 30/60fps, 1080p at 30/60fps, 720p at 240fps, HDR10, 24-bit/192kHz audio
Connectivity 4
Network 4G LTE, HSPA, CDMA, GSM
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
USB USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
Sensors 2
Biometrics Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, 3D Face ID, Hand ID palm scanner
Audio 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, Crystal Sound OLED speaker
Dimensions 3
Height 151.9 mm
Width 71.8 mm
Depth 8.4 mm
Weight 1
Weight 167 g
Materials 3
Frame Key Aluminum frame
Back Gorilla Glass 6 back
Water resistance IP68 water resistant, MIL-STD-810G compliant
Colors 1
Options Platinum Gray, New Aurora Black, New Moroccan Blue, Carmine Red
Operating System 1
OS Android 9.0 Pie, upgradable to Android 11

Expert Review

By Mutwassim

Design

The LG G8 ThinQ features a polished glass sandwich design protected by Gorilla Glass 5 front and Gorilla Glass 6 back, supported by an aluminum frame with completely flush rear camera lenses.

Display

It packs a sharp 6.1-inch Quad HD+ P-OLED display (1440 x 3120 pixels) with HDR10 support, utilizing Crystal Sound OLED technology where the glass panel doubles as an acoustic speaker.

Performance

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and 6GB RAM, ensuring smooth everyday execution speeds.

Gaming

Adreno 640 graphics handle mobile gaming titles fluidly.

Camera

Equipped with a dual rear camera system featuring a 12MP main sensor with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, alongside a 16MP ultra-wide lens.

Battery

The 3500 mAh battery delivers solid daily endurance supported by 21W fast wired charging and Qi wireless charging.

Software

Runs LG UX on top of Android, officially upgradable up to Android 11.

Ai

Z-Camera ToF sensor powers 3D facial recognition, Hand ID palm vascular scanning, and touch-free Air Motion shortcut gestures.

Pros

  • Dedicated 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC and 3.5mm headphone jack for elite audio fidelity
  • Gorgeous 6.1-inch Quad HD+ P-OLED display
  • Completely flush rear dual cameras with IP68 and MIL-STD-810G rugged build
  • Advanced 3D Face Unlock and Hand ID palm vein recognition
  • Comfortable, pocket-friendly one-handed ergonomics

Cons

  • Software update support lifecycle has ended
  • Z-Camera Air Motion gestures can feel gimmicky compared to tactile controls
  • Battery capacity (3500 mAh) is standard rather than exceptional
The LG G8 ThinQ pushed experimental hardware boundaries by utilizing its P-OLED display as a speaker diaphragm (Crystal Sound OLED) and integrating a front-facing Time-of-Flight (ToF) Z-Camera for secure 3D face unlock, Hand ID palm scanning, and Air Motion gestures. Powered by the Snapdragon 855 processor, it retains legacy favorites like a 3.5mm headphone jack with a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, expandable microSD storage, and military-grade rugged build quality.

Verdict

The LG G8 ThinQ stands out as an experimental audio and security powerhouse, blending legacy connectivity ports with futuristic Z-Camera biometrics.

Final: 4.2/10 Best for: Value seekers Segment: Premium

Product Intelligence

Dedicated 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC & 3.5mm Headphone Jack Crystal Sound OLED Display Acting as Speaker Diaphragm Z-Camera ToF Sensor for 3D Face Unlock, Hand ID, and Air Motion Gestures 6.1-inch Quad HD+ P-OLED Display Completely Flush Rear Dual Cameras with IP68 & MIL-STD-810G Durability

Who Should Buy

Audiophiles looking for a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, headphone jack enthusiasts, and users wanting an ergonomic, one-handed flagship phone.

Who Should Avoid

Buyers seeking high refresh rate display panels (90Hz/120Hz) or ongoing official software update support.

Key Takeaways

  • An innovative audiophile powerhouse featuring a dedicated Quad DAC and headphone jack
  • Features unique touch-free Air Motion controls and 3D Hand ID vein scanning
  • Extremely comfortable, pocket-friendly one-handed ergonomic footprint

Buying Recommendation

A fantastic, budget-friendly legacy choice for portable audio enthusiasts who still value wired headphones.

Competitor Comparison

DeviceScorePriceNotes
Samsung Galaxy S10

Upgrade Path

Upgrade From LG G7 ThinQ
Benefits
  • Massive jump to P-OLED screen
  • Crystal Sound audio
  • Z-Camera biometrics
  • flush cameras
  • and larger battery

Downgrade Path

Downgrade To LG V30
Benefits
  • Classic lightweight quad-DAC alternative at an even lower cost

Pricing & Price Intelligence

In Stock
Current $819 – $899
Lowest $130
Highest $899
Historical Low $819
Launch $819
Average $200
Confidence 40%
Trend Stable

Price Analytics

Best Deal Amazon Refurbished $160
Best Value Amazon Refurbished
Stability High
Buy Timing Fair market price

Pricing is stable. Shop Amazon Refurbished for the lowest listed price and set a price alert for drops.

Regional Pricing

US $819 EU €749

Store Comparison

Store Price Shipping Availability Rating
Amazon Refurbished $160 In Stock Buy

Variant Pricing

Colors

  • New Aurora Black $819 – $899
  • New Moroccan Blue $819 – $899
  • Platinum Gray $819 – $899
  • Carmine Red $819 – $899

Storage

  • 128GB $819

Ram

  • 6GB $819 – $899
Low: 819 High: 819 Avg: 819 Volatility: 0%

Historical data will populate as prices are tracked.

Track Price

Alternatives

LG V50 ThinQ 5G

Slightly larger screen alternative with 5G connectivity and Dual Screen support

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