LG V10 Review: Big, Bold And Beautiful


Introduction & Specifications

As we head into the holiday shopping season, there are a number of really great smartphones on the market for buyers to consider. Among this group is LG’s latest flagship Android superphone, the V10. As the first phone in LG’s new V Series, the V10 has a number of unique features including dual displays, two front-facing cameras, a removable battery and a manual video mode. The V10 also features high-end hardware, as you’d expect from a top-end model, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 64 bit hexa-core processor, 5.7-inch QHD main display, 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and even a secondary display.

The V10 also features high-end hardware, as you’d expect from a top-end model, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 64 bit hexa-core processor, 5.7-inch QHD main display, 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and even a secondary display.


LG V10 front1

In comparison to previous LG phones such as the LG G3 or the G4, the V10 has a noticeably better build quality. The V10 has solid construction and features 316L stainless steel Dura Guard edging along with a Dura Skin cover that is made of patterned silicone. Together, this construction gives the phone a very durable feel and a really good grip surface.

Here's our quick video walk-around review of the device, to get you started...

If you’re curious about the benefit of a second screen, just think for a minute about the number of times a day you turn on your phone to check the time or date. It’s probably more than you can count. In fact, researchers claim smartphone owners turn on their phone on average 150 times each day. Many of these times are just to check the time. Although we know turning on the display is sure to drain battery life, we do it anyway. This is unnecessary on the V10 thanks to its second 2.1-inch IPS display that sits on top of the phone’s primary 5.7-inch IPS display. The top 2.1-inch Second Screen stays on all the time and can display brief but key information. LG claims it does this with minimal impact on the phone’s battery life. Of course, we’ll put this to the test in the coming pages. Before we do, let’s have a look at the phone’s full specifications:

Processor
Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 Processor
Display
Main: 5.7-inch QHD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440 / 513ppi)
Secondary: 2.1-inch IPS Quantum Display (160 x 1040 / 513ppi)
Memory
4GB LPDDR3 RAM
64GB eMMC ROM
microSD (up to 2TB)
OS
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Camera
Rear: 16MP with F1.8 Aperture / OIS 2.0
Front: 5MP Dual Lens (80° Standard Angle / 120° Wide Angle)
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac
Bluetooth 4.1
NFC
USB 2.0
Network
LTE-A Cat. 6
Ports and Expansion
microUSB
3.5mm headset jack
IR Blaster
Battery
3,000mAh (removable)
Size and Weight
159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mm
192g
Colors
Space Black, Luxe White, Modern Beige, Ocean Blue, Opal Blue
Price
$249.99 with a two-year contract through AT&T, $599 - $672 with Verizon or T-Mobile

AT&T sent this device in for testing and review. The company does seem to have a lead on the V10 currently and is one of the few to offer the device on-contract, while others offer flat fees or monthly lease rate purchases. In the latter case, the LG V10 isn't cheap with all it's extra bells and whistles driving the price up to $599 or higher. If you don't mind 2 year contracts, AT&T will allow you to get into the device much cheaper.

LG V10 back1

As you can see from the specifications above, the V10 has all of the high-end features you’d expect from a flagship phone. But specifications alone don’t provide the full picture. Join us as we dive in to a full hands-on review to see if the V10 handles as good as its specs look on paper.


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