Introduction
The LG G8X premiered at IFA last September, but it's not an upgrade of the G8 headliner. The G8X is a reimagined version with a larger screen of lower resolution, a beefier battery, and often ships with a dedicated Dual Screen case.
The LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen title is not the best review opener and not an eXpansion over the original G8. The G8X is another take on an otherwise excellent flagship with a few twists, one of them being the support for the Dual Screen accessory. And the G8X is part of LG's ThinQ lineup of smart devices that includes phones, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, speakers, cameras, air conditioners, and whatnot.
Now that we've made the full model clear name, we will proceed to call the phone LG G8X and be done with the rest.
The LG G8X is premium no matter how you look at it - the phone has a stunning dual Gorilla Glass design, quite resistant at that, it employs a big 6.4" P-OLED screen with a droplet-shaped notch, runs on the Snapdragon 855 chip, and the dual-camera at the back - wide + ultrawide - seems promising on paper.
The key feature of the G8X is the Dual Screen option. In fact, most of the pre-orders are for the LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen, and few retailers offer a standalone G8X package for purchase. We saw a similar turn of events with the LG V50 5G ThinQ Dual Screen.
LG's solution for a foldable phone is rather simple, and bulky, but it has a lot of benefits - the screen on the left is absolutely the same in size, shape, pixel count. You don't have to worry about a special hinge or screen protector. And you can opt out of it anytime and thus get rid of the bulkiness.
But before we continue, let's take a deep dive in the specs sheet.
LG G8X ThinQ specs
- Body: Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6 front and Gorilla Glass 5 rear. 192g. MIL-STD-810G compliant (14 categories of tests); IP68 rated for dust and water resistance.
- Screen: 6.4" 1080p+ OLED; 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a waterdrop notch, 403ppi; HDR 10 support.
- Camera: Primary: 12MP, 1/2.55" sensor, 1.4µm pixel size; f/1.8 aperture, 78-degree FOV lens, 25mm equiv. focal length, OIS, dual pixel PDAF. Ultrawide-angle: 13MP, 1/2.8" sensor, 1.0µm pixel size; f/2.4 aperture, 136-degree FOV lens, 16mm equiv. focal length, fixed focus.
- Selfie cam: 32MP, 1/2.8"sensor, 0.8µm pixel size, f/1.9 aperture, 79-degree FOV lens, fixed focus.
- Chipset: Snapdragon 855 chipset, octa-core processor (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485), Adreno 640 GPU.
- Memory: 6GB of RAM; 128GB storage; microSD slot.
- OS: Android 9.0 Pie with LG UX 9.0.
- Battery: 4,000mAh Lithium Polymer; Quick Charge 3.0/Power Delivery fast charging; Qi fast wireless charging.
- Connectivity: LTE-A, USB Type-C; Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac; GPS; Bluetooth 5.0; FM radio.
- Misc: Under-display fingerprint reader; Hi-Fi Quad DAC; 3.5mm headphone jack; stereo speakers.
- Dual Screen: Optional snap on secondary display: 6.4" FullHD+ OLED (same as main one), 165.9x84.6x15.0mm, 134g, no battery.
LG has a habit of protecting its flagships very well, and the G8X is no exception - the phone is IP68 rated and is MIL-STD-810G compliant in 12 categories for shock, temperature, humidity, dust and more. Just like the G8.
But the G8X is not G8, and you can tell - the screen is of lower 1080p resolution and its cutout is smaller because the Face ID tech is gone. There is no telephoto cam on the back, but not all G8 models had one, so we won't hold that against the X.
There are some nice additions - Dual Screen support, a larger screen and battery, and LG UX 9.0 boots right away and it's a nice upgrade of its own.
So, without further ado, here comes the LG G8X unboxing.
Unboxing the LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen
The LG G8X black paper wrap holds two separate boxes together - the LG G8X smartphone and the LG G8X Dual Screen accessory.
The LG G8X phone box contains a USB-C cable and an 18W charger. There are no headphones inside.
The LG G8X Dual Screen box contains the Dual Screen case and a USB-C magnetic connector for charging and wired connectivity. If you are going to use this Dual Screen cover, you will need to plug this at the end of your charger as the case attaches to the G8X's USB-C port. Having a magnetic charger is not that bad, just on the contrary! Just make sure you don't lose the adapter.
The LG G8X Dual Screen case is a bit different from the V50's and not only by the type of connection - magnetic pins on the V50 and the USB-C port on the G8X. This one also has an external 2.1" monochrome Cover Display. Nice!
Design
The LG G8X may have changed in more than one way since the G8, but its design and build are staying the same. And that's great news - the G8 was a resilient smartphone with exceptional good looks and now so is the G8X.
The LG G8X is a dual-glass smartphone with a metal frame in-between - a combination that has stood the test of time. The front is shielded by a Gorilla Glass 6 with subtle 2.5D edge, while the back has a Gorilla Glass 5 piece, but curved towards the edges.
LG has been known for making its phones tough, and the G8X keeps the tradition going. It is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, but it has also passed 12 of the MIL-STD-810G tests - low pressure, high temperature, low temperature, temperature shock, solar radiation, rain, high humidity, salt fog, sand and dust contamination, water submersion, vibration and shock tests.
While those military standard tests do sound reassuring, the LG G8X is not shatter-proof, and the glass can probably break even after a single drop. So, yes, the G8X is a tougher nut to crack compared to a few of its competitors, but it's still crack-able.
Another treat we just loved in the most recent LG phones is the flush camera at the back. Indeed, there is no hump on the G8X, the two rear snappers sitting behind the rear Gorilla Glass 5, and it conveniently provides protection to them, too. We are quite tired of the camera bumps, especially of those square mountains of late, so not having one is a sight for sore eyes.
One of the first changes since the G8 is the screen - it is now larger at 6.4" and has a smaller droplet-shaped notch. It is still a P-OLED panel but of a lower 1080p+ resolution. We guess two 1440p screens (when used with Dual Screen case) would have been too much even for the Snapdragon 855 chip so we can understand the swap for a more mainstream screen.
Inside the notch sits a brand new 32MP selfies camera, relying on pixel-binning for promising 8MP shots. We are yet to see the results, but it sure sounds like an upgrade and should fare better than LG's old selfie shooters.
The screen has noticeable black bars above and below the screen, thicker than the leaders' in the industry. We didn't mind these one bit though, they are not that large or eye-sore, but you can't call this panel bezel-less as it has more prominent bezels than most of its opponents.
LG was the first to put the fingerprint scanner at the back of the phone, and it was still there on the LG G8. That is no longer the case on the G8X, though - the reader is now under the display, and it is of the widespread optical solution. Setting it up is easy, and it is fast and reliable.
There is a very thin grille above the screen, between the frame and the glass - the earpiece is beneath. The LG G8X has two speakers for stereo sound, and the earpiece acts as the second speaker when playing music, games, or videos. There is no notification LED anywhere on the G8X.
The second speaker is at the bottom of the G8X, next to the USB-C port and the audio jack.
The LG G8X has all kinds of buttons on its sides. On the left, you'll find the volume keys as well as a dedicated Assistant trigger. On the right is the lone power key. And if you are looking for the hybrid SIM slot - the tray is at the top of the G8X.
Let's take one final peak at the back - the dual-camera is indeed flush with the back. There is also what seems to be a dual-LED flash next to the snappers, but there is a single LED underneath, and we have no idea what's behind the seemingly empty part of the flash glass.
The LG G8X measures 159.3 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm - quite more massive than the compact G8 - it is 7mm taller and 4mm wider. The X also weighs 192g (without the Dual Screen case that is), 25g heavier than the G8.
The LG G8X is a great looking smartphone, a big one, sure, but still sleek. We appreciate the smaller notch and the flush cameras, even though the glass above the snappers is always smudged, and regular cleaning is a must. In fact, this was the main challenge with our G8X - keeping it clean as the back was always covered in fingerprints.
Dual Screen Case: The hardware
The Dual Screen case looks a lot like the one we saw first with the LG V50, but there are two crucial differences.
First, the V50 accessory was powered through magnetic pins at the back of the phone and thus left the USB port free to use. The one for the G8X uses a male USB-C port where you attach the phone, and you are left without a proper USB-C and you need an external adapter.
And second, there's a new Cover Display at the front of the case - it's a 2.1-inch monochrome OLED panel for notifications and keeping track of time. This was user's complaint numero uno regarding the V50 DS case so good thing LG fixed that.
It's not always on but it lights up every time you pick the phone up or when take it out of your pocket or bag. The Cover Screen shows the time and date, and app icons that have new notifications.
So, the G8X slides into the case, bottom end first and it plugs into the phone's USB-C port - the add-on has no battery of its own and draws power from the phone. The port is now occupied, so charging the G8X while inside the Dual Screen can happens either wirelessly or by using the supplied adapter which mates to the pogo pins on the bottom of the Dual Screen case. Not ideal, but not too bad either.
The DS case has the same 6.4" P-OLED screen inside as the one on the G8X. Funnily, it also has a notch despite the fact that it is not needed here as there is no front camera on this side. There is a thin hole at the top for letting on the sound from the earpiece during calls.
Some users may complain about the second notch without the need for a camera, but we can see how it makes sense from a manufacturing standpoint. And we do love the symmetry and continuity between the two displays.
The accessory makes the whole thing bulky, there are no two ways about that. With the case attached, the ensemble measures 165.9 x 84.6 x 15.0 mm in its closed state. The extra 134 grams add up to a total of 326g which does make a pretty good case for leaving the DualScreen at home, when not using it.
The front of the case is all glass, dark gray or black - it's hard to say. Unfortunately, this seems to be the biggest fingerprint magnet we've encountered lately, but the good news is - it seems to have some sort of oleophobic coating and is very easy to clean.
The back of the DS case revels half of the G8X back, while the other half is covered by a plastic piece with faux-leather finish.
Finally, the two hinges click nicely, and you can rotate the screen at whatever angle you like. Yes, it can go all the way to the back of the phone.
But let's face it - this dual-screen case was not meant for non-stop use. It sure is great for gaming (onscreen controls outside the main screen), multi-tasking, watching movies and texting, and various other use cases. But for the most part - the phone will do just fine without it.
And that's what we like about this accessory - you put it on when you need it, and you slide the phone out of it when you don't. You can't do that on the Galaxy Fold, can you?
LG Dual Screen: the software implementation
LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen accessory is quite easy to use - slide the phone in, and you are good to go. The second (left) screen is turned off by default the first time, but once you are in the case, you will notice a small and floating dual-screen button on your main screen. This is your controller for the entire Dual Screen behavior, and this is where you switch the screens on and off.
The second screen has an app drawer, and from there, you can populate it with app shortcuts. Widgets are supported, too. There is also a shortcut for the Dual Screen settings - here you can adjust brightness, set wallpapers, enable or disable the DS floating key too, and opt for or out of the Cover Display (more on that in a bit).
So, what this screen can do? Multi-tasking is its primary function. You can open any app on either screen and work with two apps simultaneously - it can be a messenger and video, a doc editor and web browser, navigation, and travel guide, you get the possibilities.
Turn the second screen on • Floating controls • Second homescreen • App Drawer
There is also the so-called Wide view, which extends an app on both screens. It's not pretty as there is more than 15mm distance between the two screens, and then the rounded edges make things even worse. But if you want a web page, a document, or even a video to use the whole screen estate - you can very much do that.
You can also swap the screens and the second one can become the primary one.
Dual Screen options
Another thing you can use the second screen for is as a gamepad. LG has designed a proprietary onscreen game controller, and it has everything on it - D-Pad, two O-pads, triggers, 4 action buttons. Android OS recognizes it as a connected Bluetooth hardware controller, which expands its compatibility a lot. If a game supports any Bluetooth gamepad, it can work with the second screen.
We tried this, and it works just as advertised - easy, hassle-free, and it helps improve the gaming experience by a mile. It's not a physical gamepad, obviously, but it's the next best thing. You don't even need to map anything, the game will tell you which keys are for what, and then if you don't like the arrangement, you can opt for different (if the game allows it, that is).
While using the gamepad, you will see a floating button for rotating the pad or turning it off. You can also choose the type of controller from here - console, racing, arcade, basic, or you can even design one of your own - depending on the keys you need!
The LG gamepad
So, the second screen comes in handy in quite a few use cases and there are people who will appreciate it. It adds some extra weight and makes the phone bulky, yes, but since you can put the DS case on and off anytime you want, we'd recommend buying the G8X Dual Screen bundle rather than the vanilla package.
Notched 6.4" P-OLED display(s)
The LG G8X has a 6.4" P-OLED panel with rounded corners and a droplet-shaped notch for the selfie camera. The screen resolution is 1,080 x 2,340 pixels or 403pp - quite common, yes, but lower than G8's 1440p.
The display is protected with the most recent Gorilla Glass 6.
The OLED panel enjoys 100% DCI-P3 coverage and HDR10 support as long as you have access to HDR video content, of course. There is no word on Dolby Vision support, another something that seems to have gone since the G8.
Our screen measurements captured 330 nits of maximum brightness on the G8X main screen by using the brightness scrubber. It is not the brightest we've seen, not by a longshot. The good news is the screen almost doubles this in Auto mode, and it achieves 600 nits under bright sunlight, so outdoors legibility should not be an issue.
The screen on the Dual Screen case can either match the main screen brightness or be configured via its proprietary brightness scrubber. Its maximum output is 371 nits.
There is no Auto-Brightness option for the Dual Screen only. But even if it is set to match the main display and that one is on Auto, the maximum brightness is still 371 nits.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | ||
| 0 | 330 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 603 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 371 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 391 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 655 | ||
| 0.002 | 388 | 194000 | |
| 0.008 | 533 | 66625 | |
| 0 | 385 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 793 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 389 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 803 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 820 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 525 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 743 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 429 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 596 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 353 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 574 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 391 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 665 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 571 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 605 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 464 | ∞ | |
| 0.028 | 683 | 24393 | |
Speaking about matching screens - we found both screens to have an identical color presentation. Both panels offer an average deltaE of 3.6 when the Screen Color option is set on Auto. The whites are bluish (maximum deviation of 7.6), but other than that - we can say they are mostly accurate to the DCI-P3 color space.
If you opt for Cinema color, you'd get even more accurate screen(s) with an average deltaE of 2.1 and a maximum deviation of 3.8. This mode offers much more natural white and gray hues.
Battery life
The LG G8X is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery - a 15% increase over G8's 3,500 mAh cell. The phone supports Quick Charge 4.0 though its bundled charger is rater 5V/1.8A (9W) and 9V/1.8V (16.2W) - meaning there are faster compatible chargers you can buy, say rated 18W or 21W.
Anyway, with the supplied adapter you can replenish 33% of G8X's depleted battery in 30 mins.
We completed our battery test, and the LG G8X aced everything. It did fabulously on the onscreen tests clocking over 14 hours of web browsing and more than 18 hours of looped video playback. Adding the excellent 3G calls time and the frugal standby power draw, the G8X scored an overall endurance rating of 111 hours.
Our battery tests were automated thanks to SmartViser, using its viSerDevice app. The endurance rating above denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the LG G8X ThinQ for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so that our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritty. You can check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.
LG's assessment that the DualScreen adds 20% to 30% to the battery draw and, assuming you won't be using it all of the time, the 4,000mAh battery should be enough for when you do want to use it.
Speakers
The LG G8X ThinQ has two speakers for stereo sound - one is at the bottom of the phone, and the other is the earpiece. The loudness is very decent, and the G8X scored a Very Good mark in our test.
The output is quite different from the two speakers - the bottom offers mostly bass and mid-tones, while the earpiece is responsible for the high-pitch sounds. But it seems those two tweeters are positioned rather well and unless you cover one of them - you will enjoy a balanced and rich sound.
| Speakerphone test | Voice, dB | Ringing |
Overall score | |
| 68.1 | 73.8 | 79.5 | Very Good | |
| 69.8 | 74.5 | 81.0 | Very Good | |
| 71.3 | 74.3 | 79.7 | Very Good | |
| 70.6 | 74.8 | 81.2 | Very Good | |
| 69.8 | 73.2 | 83.7 | Very Good | |
| 71.2 | 76.8 | 80.6 | Excellent | |
| 74.4 | 74.2 | 83.6 | Excellent | |
| 78.4 | 74.4 | 79.9 | Excellent | |
| 68.0 | 74.5 | 92.0 | Excellent | |
| 70.9 | 73.8 | 90.9 | Excellent | |
| 78.3 | 76.4 | 82.3 | Excellent | |
| 90.4 | 75.3 | 82.4 | Excellent | |
| 79.8 | 77.4 | 91.6 | Excellent |
Audio quality
The LG G8X ThinQ delivered perfect sound output in both parts of our audio quality test through the jack. All of its scores were top-notch with an active amplifier and headphones caused basically no damage - we’ve seen higher stereo crosstalk readings from other phones without headphones than the G8X managed with.
The loudness wasn’t quite as impressive - the G8X ThinQ was below average, which is somewhat disappointing for a flagship these days. Even enabling the QuadDAC option, which helped boost the loudness on the G8 ThinQ, didn’t do much good this time around.
| Test | Frequency response | Noise level | Dynamic range | THD | IMD + Noise | Stereo crosstalk |
| +0.02, -0.02 | -93.2 | 92.8 | 0.0017 | 0.0090 | -93.4 | |
| +0.05, -0.09 | -90.6 | 92.5 | 0.0019 | 0.053 | -88.3 | |
| +0.01, -0.03 | -94.1 | 93.5 | 0.0013 | 0.0069 | -87.6 | |
| +0.05, -0.05 | -93.8 | 93.1 | 0.0041 | 0.063 | -61.8 | |
| +0.03, -0.06 | -92.0 | 92.7 | 0.0013 | 0.0073 | -93.3 | |
| +0.48, -0.06 | -90.7 | 91.8 | 0.0067 | 0.313 | -50.5 | |
| +0.02, -0.13 | -94.0 | 94.0 | 0.0013 | 0.0081 | -93.6 | |
| +0.18, -0.11 | -85.6 | 84.8 | 0.0062 | 0.108 | -52.6 | |
| +0.02, -0.02 | -93.0 | 92.8 | 0.0012 | 0.007 | -89.4 | |
| +0.25, -0.30 | -91.8 | 91.7 | 0.0045 | 0.312 | -57.3 | |
| +0.04, -0.02 | -90.5 | 90.4 | 0.0014 | 0.013 | -93.0 | |
| +0.14, -0.23 | -90.4 | 90.3 | 0.0046 | 0.211 | -47.0 | |
| +0.03, -0.04 | -92.2 | 92.0 | 0.0015 | 0.0079 | -92.7 | |
| +0.06, -0.03 | -91.9 | 91.7 | 0.0020 | 0.037 | -77.0 |
LG G8X ThinQ frequency response
You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.
LG UX 9.0 on top of Android Pie
The LG G8X boots Android 9 Pie as the G8 and V50 did. But it is the first phone to come with the new LG UX 9.0, and it's not just a minor update over the 8.0 but a massive overhaul of the entire interface.
The LG UX 9.0 looks a lot like Samsung's One UI, intentionally or not. And that's not a bad thing - we dig the new minimalistic card-based looks, refined graphics and fonts, and no-nonsense setting menus. And we think many users will love the UX 9.0 themes, but luckily - no features are missing since the UX 8.0.
So, the new LG UX 9.0 has new icons, refined menus, and looks, brand new notification center with toggles, and a much better Settings app.
But it's a launcher like any other, and all starts with the lockscreen. You can either opt for AOD (always-on display) or not. LG's AOD implementation is quite detailed, with various options for skins, music controls, AI information, and even low and high brightness. You can set a timeout interval as usual - say don't show AOD at night.
The fingerprint scanner is under the display, and it lights up the moment you pick the phone up or touch the screen. It is reliable and fast, though its accuracy is more hit than miss but still not ideal.
The lockscreen • AOD options • AOD skins
Upon successful unlocking, you will see the usual homescreens with apps and widgets. The leftmost pane is Google Feed, but you can opt for LG's Smart Bulletin, or turn this page off.
There is no app drawer on the LG UX 9.0 by default, but you can opt for one from the homescreen settings.
Homescreen • Google Feed • Homescreen • Home options • LG Bulletin or Google Feed
The Notification area has a new look but the same logic and toggles as before. The Task Switcher behaves the same, but now it's a 3D rolodex of cards. And the Settings menu loses the categories, and everything is in one place, intuitively placed, and easy to find. The new font is much better and comfortable on the eyes, too.
Task switcher • The new Notification center
The Android navigation is done with the tree onscreen keys by default (Back, Home, Tasks), but you can opt for the Gesture and Buttons navigation familiar from previous UX versions.
Android navigation
All LG apps and functions made it to LG UX 9.0, they just might have new skins here. LG has taken care of the multimedia, too, and you get a Music player, Gallery, there is even an FM radio app and support. LG Heath app is available, and LG's popular QucikMemo+ is part of UX 9.0.
Gallery • Music • FM radio • QuickMemo+
Performance and benchmarks
The LG G8X ThinQ is powered by the latest Snapdragon 855 (non-plus) chip by Qualcomm. It is the same SoC the LG G8 and V50 had under their hoods.
It's based on the 7nm node from TSMC and the chip employs an octa-core processor with 1+3+4 configuration - there is a single Kryo 485 Gold core (a Cortex-A76 derivative) clocked at 2.84GHz; three more Kryo 485 Gold cores clocked at 2.42GHz and a cluster of four Kryo 485 Silver cores (Cortex-A55 derivative) ticking at 1.78GHz.
The GPU is Adreno 640, and it's Qualcomm's top-of-the-line graphics processor that can handle pretty much everything you throw at it. And it will surely ace every test running at the LG G8X 1080p screen.
Finally, the LG G8X has 6GB of RAM and offers 128GB UFS2.1 storage.
The GeekBench CPU test still paints that Snapdragon 855's processor as the champ for multi-core tasks. But as far as single-core performance is concerned, the newest custom core by Samsung does much better.
GeekBench 4.1 (multi-core)
Higher is better
- Huawei Mate 30 Pro (Perf mode)
11936 - LG G8X ThinQ
11251 - OnePlus 7T Pro
11246 - Sony Xperia 5
10941 - LG G8 ThinQ
10735 - Samsung Galaxy S10
10174 - Samsung Galaxy S10e
10081 - Huawei P30 Pro (perf. mode)
10014 - LG G7 ThinQ
8865
GeekBench 4.1 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy S10
4543 - Samsung Galaxy S10e
4518 - Huawei Mate 30 Pro (Perf mode)
3864 - LG G8X ThinQ
3508 - OnePlus 7T Pro
3502 - Sony Xperia 5
3493 - LG G8 ThinQ
3419 - Huawei P30 Pro (perf. mode)
3323 - LG G7 ThinQ
2395
The GPU benchmarks are unsurprisingly spectacular - the Adreno 640 is among the best GPUs in a smartphone and delivers unprecedented performance under a 1080p screen.
GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 7T
48 - OnePlus 7T Pro
48 - Samsung Galaxy S10
43 - LG G8X ThinQ
42 - Samsung Galaxy S10e
42 - Huawei Mate 30 Pro (Perf mode)
42 - LG G8 ThinQ
40 - Sony Xperia 5
40 - LG G7 ThinQ
35 - Huawei P30 Pro (perf. mode)
33
GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 7T
41 - Samsung Galaxy S10e
40 - LG G8X ThinQ
38 - Huawei Mate 30 Pro (Perf mode)
34 - Sony Xperia 5
33 - Huawei P30 Pro (perf. mode)
29 - OnePlus 7T Pro
24 - Samsung Galaxy S10
23 - LG G8 ThinQ
20 - LG G7 ThinQ
18
In Antutu, the LG G8X didn't quite put out the same numbers as the OnePlus 7T Pro, which is running on the Plus version of the S855 chip. It still scored an excellent mart on this test, though.
AnTuTu 7
Higher is better
- OnePlus 7T Pro
395868 - Huawei Mate 30 Pro (Perf mode)
378950 - LG G8X ThinQ
339726 - Sony Xperia 5
334809 - LG G8 ThinQ
331537 - Samsung Galaxy S10
328366 - Samsung Galaxy S10e
325192 - Huawei P30 Pro (perf. mode)
316156 - LG G7 ThinQ
259393
AnTuTu 8
Higher is better
- Huawei Mate 30 Pro (Perf mode)
468595 - Sony Xperia 5
416601 - LG G8X ThinQ
411980
The LG G8X delivers flagship performance across the board, and it still has one of the most powerful and current chips on the market. And with that 1080p screen, it sure doesn't need the Plus version anyway. So, as far as performance is concerned, it is blazing-fast without any bottlenecks even when using the Dual Screen case.
LG dual-camera equals wide plus ultrawide
LG was the first maker to make the ultrawide camera a mainstream feature with the LG G5, and it's been around ever since. The LG G8X has quite a similar dual-camera setup on its back - wide + ultrawide camera.
So, the main camera is a 12MP imager (1/2.55", 1.4µm pixels) with 27mm f/1.8 lens and OIS. It also makes use of dual-pixel phase-detect autofocus. You will also find a 13MP ultrawide-angle camera with 14mm f/2.4 lens, 1.0µm pixels, and fixed focus. There is no OIS for the ultra-wide camera but it's not really needed with this short focal range.
The selfie camera is pretty promising - it's a 32MP Quad Bayer sensor that shoots 8MP photos. The focus is fixed, as usual.
The camera app is pretty straightforward - swiping left and right will switch between camera modes that include Portrait, Auto, Night view, Manual Camera and Studio with the latter mimicking a studio setting letting you fine-tune the lighting as if it's coming from several sources. The much-appreciated manual video recording mode with a couple of other modes is in the More menu.
Camera settings and menus
If you wish to dive deeper into the settings, you can tap on the Settings icon in the upper-left corner of the viewfinder. All the usual settings are in there as well as the option to select video recording mode and resolution. The same goes for the stills.
The Video option also offers ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) switch for capturing brain-massaging relaxing clips.
Image quality
The main camera of the LG G8X shoots excellent 12MP pictures. There resolved detail is plenty, the sharpness is just right, the colors are very accurate, and the contrast is superb. The dynamic range is above the average but not impressive, and that's why the Auto HDR triggers often.
The second (building) and fourth (tree) shots were taken with HDR on, and you can notice a slight drop in detail and sharpness. It's nothing quality ruining, but noticeable, nevertheless. LG needs to improve its HDR process, as the competition is faring much better with Smart/Auto HDRs and whatnot.
Finally, the noise levels are mostly low, but you can still see traces in areas of uniform color and shadows. We guess HDR would have fixed those, but it would have been at the expense of some fine detail and sharpness.
LG G8X ThinQ 12MP photos
The 13MP ultrawide pictures are among the better ones we've seen. There is enough detail at the center, while the automatic distortion correction is doing a great job around the corners at the expense of added softness and even more purple fringing.
The images are contrasty, the colors are slightly punchier than they should be, and there is more noise here, but with those in mind - the 13MP ultrawide snapper does an excellent job in fitting more in the frame and manages to keep the quality very decent.
LG G8X ThinQ 13MP ultrawide photos
The LG G8X shoots among the best low-light images we've encountered lately from a smartphone. The main camera produces excellent and bright 12MP shots with more than enough detail, very balanced exposure, low noise, and once again - very accurate colors.
Note that the G8X preferred to shoot with HDR most of the time in low-light and we weren't arguing with that.
LG G8X ThinQ 12MP low-light photos
You can opt for Night View, of course, and it takes a second to capture an image. There is little to no difference with the regular shots, and after long pixel-peeping, we noticed a minor drop on the already low noise levels in the shadows. That's it.
LG G8X ThinQ 12MP Night View photos
We often say the ultrawide camera should not be used in low-light, but the LG G8X one is the exception. The photos we shot at night are quite bright and balanced, detailed and managed to preserve the very good colors and contrast.
Sure, these ultrawide photos are noisy and far from great around the corners when looking them in full resolution but are still very much usable and among the better ones we've seen.
LG G8X ThinQ 13MP low-light ultrawide photos
Using Night View on the ultrawide camera introduces more noise and does not improve the photos in any aspect. We suggest staying away from the night mode for this camera.
LG G8X ThinQ 13MP Night View ultrawide photos
Here's how the 12MP unit on the LG G8X ThinQ stacks against the rest of the competition in a more controlled environment.
LG G8X ThinQ against the LG G8 ThinQ and the Samsung Galaxy S10+ in our Photo compare tool
Portraits
The LG G8X can shoot portraits with its main 12MP snapper, and those turned out pretty good. The images are detailed, with lively colors, and the subject separation is accurate for the most part. You can adjust the strength of the blur if you don't like the default setting, and whatever you decide - the effect is rather convincing.
LG G8X ThinQ 12MP portraits
Selfies
The LG G8X has a 32MP selfie camera with a Quad-Bayer color filter, meaning it will save 8MP photos after shooting. It's an upgrade over previous 8MP snappers LG had to offer.
Unfortunately, there is something very wrong with the selfie shooter - the focus is fixed at infinity, and instead on the faces, the focus is on the background. We hope this is an issue with our unit only, though we have our doubts.
LG G8X ThinQ 8MP selfies
Portraits are available on the selfie snapper, too, but those are mediocre at best.
LG G8X ThinQ 8MP selfie portraits
Video recording
The LG G8X can do 2160p videos in 30 and 60fps, and the same goes for the 1080p mode. The ultrawide camera supports video capturing on all but 4K@60fps modes. Expanded dynamic range is available on all 30fps modes.
The sound is always captured stereo at 156Kbps bitrate.
Regarding quality, the 4K videos from the main camera turned out to be nice - the dynamic range is commendable, the noise is low, colors and contrast are simply excellent. The image isn't shining with detail, though - we've seen even midrangers resolving more than the G8X. Still, the captured detail is not bad, just average.
The 1080p footage from the main camera, both at 30 and 60fps, is superb in every aspect - detail, sharpness, colors, contrast, and dynamic range.
The 4K@30fps clips from the ultrawide camera match the quality of the main one - they are great in everything but resolved detail.
The 1080p@30fps videos shot on the ultrawide camera are as brilliant as the main ones. But the 60fps footage is rather bad - low in detail and excessively over-sharpened.
Electronic stabilization is available on all modes (4K@60fps included), you just have to enable it from settings (Steady Recording). The EIS works on top of the optical stabilization that's available on the main camera.
The LG G8X also offers a Super Stable mode, which uses the ultrawide camera, captures at 1080p at 30fps, and provides even more stabilized picture, action camera-like.
Once you are done with the real-life scenarios, take a look at our video compare tool to see how it competes against other phones.
2160p: LG G8X ThinQ against the LG G8 ThinQ and Samsung Galaxy S10+ in our Video compare tool
Wrap-up
The LG G8X ThinQ is an excellent smartphone - it has a vibrant OLED screen, a sleek and resilient design, superb raw processing power, a capable camera, and a large battery. Even better, it is leading the way with LG's new UX 9.0.
The most advertised part of the G8X is not the phone itself, but its Dual Screen optional accessory. And while we say optional - it is a tough task to find the G8X sold without the DS case in the USA. It's the other way around across Europe.
Judging by the price, the LG G8X ThinQ primary market seems to be the US - the G8X + DS case bundle there costs $699. While in Europe the G8X goes for €930 on its own, and if you want the Dual Screen option, and you should, you are looking at north of €1000.
And it makes sense for LG to advertise the G8X as something like a foldable phone with that case. Because without the accessory, the G8X doesn't stand out with much. Yes, it is a flagship, but one that we've seen done more than enough times, and it's coming a bit too late to this fight.
The competition
While looking like a cheap foldable phone, the G8X is neither cheap nor a real foldable gadget (although it folds).
If you are after a foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold is probably the only smartphone that you can consider for the job. It has raised some concerns about the endurance of its foldable screen and is quite bulky, but it does a very good job at being a tablet that folds and goes into your pocket. The Fold costs over $2000 though.
Other than that, there are plenty of flagships that can do better for the same cash. You can get the Galaxy S10+ with a punch-hole AMOLED and a more capable camera setup. Or the OnePlus 7T Pro with a much better 90Hz and notch-free AMOLED screen, a faster processor, and more attractive design. Or go for the Xperia 5 and enjoy its cinematic screen and excellent triple 12MP camera on the back.
Samsung Galaxy Fold • Samsung Galaxy S10+ • OnePlus 7T Pro • Sony Xperia 5
The original LG G8 and the G8s are now cheaper, and they offer better screens, Face ID, and you can get them with an additional zoom camera at the back, too.
LG G8 ThinQ • LG G8S ThinQ
The verdict
The LG G8X ThinQ is a powerful smartphone that few will probably buy. As a standalone phone, the G8X does what it is advertised for, but there is a great chance many users own a similar phone already, maybe even a better one.
As a bundle with the Dual Screen case, the G8X has a fighting chance but only in the USA, where its price is much more reasonable. The accessory is pretty unique on the market and does come in handy in a variety of use cases. Gaming is excellent with it, as well as side-by-side multitasking. And it's easily removable, so if you don't want to carry a bulky phone, you don't have to lug it around.
The holiday season is upon us, and if LG plays its cards right, maybe the G8X could turn as the best offer for Black Friday or Christmas. It's a great phone that becomes a nice versatile tool with the Dual Screen case, it's just not the greatest phone there is, and yet LG is asking a price like it is.
Pros
- Stylish design, durable body, no camera hump
- A large P-OLED screen, HDR 10 support
- Snapdragon 855 chip is inside
- Excellent battery life
- Loud stereo speakers
- The dual-camera takes great pictures, day and night
- LG UX 9.0 is a huge step in the right direction
- The Dual Screen experience is unique, in a good way
Cons
- Expensive outside the US
- The selfies are terrible in quality
- Unimpressive 4K video recording across the board
- The nominal max brightness of the OLED panels could have been higher
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