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LG V30 vs LG G6: Which LG flagship phone is best for me?

The LG V30 is essentially an updated version of the G6 flagship mobile launched earlier in 2017; a spiritual LG G7, if you will. Boasting upgraded specs and some very cool camera features, the V30 is one of the most enticing phones launched at IFA 2017. But is it worth choosing over the G6?

We really, really liked the LG G6 when it launched back at the beginning of 2017. Sure, it was quite a chunky handset, yet that somehow helped to give LG’s flagship some much-needed character. That Dolby Vision display was simply sublime and the LG UX 6.0 interface was packed with cool features and impressive customisation. Factor in the solid battery life and flexible dual-lens camera and you have one brilliant all-round premium mobile.

LG has also released a couple of V-series phones in recent times over in Asia, which boast top-end specs and intriguing features just like the G-series handsets. The first of these to come to the UK is the fresh new LG V30, which to all intents and purposes is a sequel to the G6. You get a very similar design, with updated specs and some cool new features to help it stand out.

Question is, should G6 owners potentially consider an upgrade to the V30, after such a short space of time? Or if you’re looking at LG for your next smartphone, should you go G6 or V30? Here’s our full comparison to help you decide.

LG V30 vs LG G6: Specs

Phone LG G6 LG V30
Screen size 5.7-inches 6-inches
Screen resolution Quad HD+ (2880×1440) Quad HD+ (2880×1440)
Water resistant? Yes Yes
OS Android 7.0 w/ LG UX 6.0 Android 7.1.2 w/ LG UX 6.0+
Front camera 5-megapixels 5-megapixels
Rear camera Dual 13-megapixel f/1.8 w/ OIS & wide-angle lens Dual 16-megapixel f/1.6 w/ OIS & wide-angle lens
Processor Snapdragon 821 Snapdragon 835
Memory 4GB RAM 4GB RAM
Storage 32/64GB. Expandable via microSD 64GB. Expandable via microSD up to 2TB
Battery 3300mAh w/ Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 3300mAh w/ Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0

LG V30 vs LG G6: Design

You better want a big handset if you’re looking at these two LG phones as they certainly couldn’t be described as ‘compact’. The G6 and V30 are roughly the same height and width, with the V30 standing ever so slightly taller thanks to its mighty 6-inch display. In comparison, the G6 offers up a still rather sizeable 5.7-inch panel. However, the G6 is also chunkier than the new V30, which has significantly slimmed down in comparison to the older phone.

In both cases you get a screen that mostly fills the front panel of the phone, with only narrow bezels surrounding that ‘FullVision’ display. Flip over and you’ll find the aluminium frame has been coated with Gorilla Glass, for a tough and shiny finish. This shouldn’t shatter, even when dropped a couple of feet onto a hard surface. Both phones here are MIL-STD-810G compliant, which is a military standard drop test.

Likewise, both the G6 and the V30 are IP68 water and dust resistant. No worries if you find yourself snorkelling or stuck in a sandstorm, then.

LG V30 vs LG G6: Screen and media

There’s little between these two LG flagship devices when it comes to the screen tech, either.

Both blowers sport a mighty screen, with the V30 only slightly enlarging the original phone’s 5.7-inch panel to 6-inches. These both offer an 18:9 stretched aspect ratio which is well suited to movie playback, with smaller letterboxes above and below the action. However, while the G6 used an IPS screen, the V30 swaps out for a P-OLED panel.

There’s little difference in all honesty, as you can expect lush, vibrant visuals no matter which phone you choose. With a QHD+ 2880×1440 pixel resolution in both cases, your photos and videos will be packed with detail too.

Plus, both of these LG phones support HDR10 video playback. That’s great news for media fans as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are now offering HDR shows and movies to stream, with seriously strong contrast levels as well as natural colours to really stand out from the crowd.

The LG V30 offers a few new audio features over the older G6. On the back of the V30 for instance you’ll notice the B&O logo, to show that this new handset is Bang&Olufsen certified. In other words, B&O sound engineers helped to fine-tune the phone’s Hi-Fi Quad DAC, offering some pre-set filters to make your tunes stand out. You even get a pair of B&O Play headphones bundled in the box, to help you enjoy your music on the move.

This is also the first phone to support Master Quality Authenticated tech, which basically allows you to stream high-res audio from supported sources. The V30 also boasts Bluetooth 5.0 support, unlike the G6, so you can fire your music to more than one pair of headphones or speakers at the same time.

If you’d rather download your tracks, the G6 offers from 32GB of storage space while the V30 comes packing 64GB. However, either phone can be expanded via microSD.

LG V30 vs LG G6: Features and OS

Android Nougat is the mobile OS in both cases, although LG has of course smothered Google’s software with its own UX 6.0 interface. Check out our LG G6 tips and tricks guide for a closer look at some of the cool bonus features this offers.

In the case of the V30, you actually get the upgraded LG UX 6.0+. This adds some extra features such as accurate voice recognition, which is supported by the new Snapdragon 835 chipset. Still, the G6 and V30 both can be unlocked using the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Facial recognition is also an option for either, after an update added that feature to the G6.

Besides that, you’ll struggle to find many other feature differences between the G6 and the V30. The only big one is the V30’s support for Google’s Daydream VR platform, which again is thanks to that 835 chipset.

LG V30 vs LG G6: Performance and battery

The Snapdragon 835 is one of the most powerful mobile platforms around right now, offering an upgrade in power, energy efficiency and connectivity over the older Snapdragon 821 chipset packed into the G6.

Of course, the G6 is still a smooth performer, so there’s no need to upgrade already if you’re eyeing up the V30. This flagship handset loads apps instantly, and handles fast-paced games with ease.

As for the battery tech, you get a 3300mAh cell stuffed inside both LG phones in this comparison. This gives well over a day of use per charge, which is great news if you’re constantly on the go. You even get LG’s special battery saver modes, to really help out if you’re miles from a plug and on the dregs of your charge.

When it’s time to power the G6 and V30 back up, they both support Quick Charge as well as wireless charging.

LG V30 vs LG G6: Cameras

Like the older G6, the V30 sports a dual-lens camera on the back end. However, the specs here are a little different. For while the LG G6’s main snapper was a 13-megapixel f/1.8 aperture lens, the V30 upgrades this to a 16-megapixel f/1.6 aperture lens. In other words, you can capture more detailed snaps and brighter shots when conditions are dim.

That secondary wide-angle lens can be swapped to at any time on either phone, to offer a fuller view of whatever you’re looking at. You can even use both lenses together at once, for quite a bizarre effect. You can create some other cool photos too, including collages of four snaps merged into one, or shots using both the 5-megapixel selfie camera and the main rear lens at the same time.

However, LG has added some other cool camera features into the V30’s app, not found on the original G6. For instance, while both phones offer a manual mode, the V30’s Graphy assistant can offer advice on the settings you’re choosing, as well as some pre-sets for a range of conditions. Handy if you’re learning what each individual setting is capable of.

Likewise, while both blowers here can shoot up to 4K resolution footage, the V30 adds in some funky movie-style filters to change the look of your videos. You also get a new Point Zoom tool for smoothly focusing on a certain area.

Finally, the V30 offers clearer audio capture, with the earpiece receiver doubling as another mic.

Check out our LG G6 camera review and our full LG V30 hands-on review for more info on these mobile snappers.

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