LG G8 ThinQ (2019) Released: Here's Why You Might Want It
The latest LG smartphone was revealed at MWC 2019 last month, but just had store dates and pricing revealed today. This is one of two major LG smartphones the company releases each year – the lesser of the two, but still the premium choice by most other smartphone brands' standards. There's the LG G line (this one), and the LG V line (the most recent of which, the LG V40, was released in late 2018) (SEE NOTE BELOW).
The LG G8 ThinQ has a 6.1-inch display with an 83.5% screen-to-body ratio. This is just a TINY bit less impressive than the 6.1-inch display on the Galaxy S10, which has an 88.3% screen-to-body ratio. Meanwhile the iPhone XS has a 5.8-inch display with an 82.9% screen-to-body ratio. The LG display has 100% DCI-P3, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and an always-on display.
Inside you'll find the latest version of Android, version 9.0 Pie, with the latest in Qualcomm processors. That's the Qualcomm SDM855 Snapdragon 855, the same model you'll find in the Samsung Galaxy S10. Both LG and Samsung have microSD card slots with up to 512GB added data storage*, while the iPhone XS has no such slot. *UPDATE: It would seem that the LG G8 has 2TB of microSD card capacity – madness!
The LG G8 ThinQ works with a pair of cameras on its back, one 16MP Wide (f1.9 / 1.0μm / 107˚), the other 12MP Standard (f1.5 / 1.4μm / 78˚). There's a "Z Camera" (ToF sensor) on the front alongside a more standard 8MP camera.
Biometrics in this device include Capacitive Fingerprint Sensor, 3D Face Unlock, and "Hand ID". The 3D ToF (time of flight) sensor is easily the coolest thing on this device – and it'll be a major asset when LG starts releasing additional features in the near future. You'll learn a massive amount more about this and other savory feature details in the LG G8 ThinQ hands-on we've got from back in late February.
NOTE: The last LG V model released in stores was, indeed, the LG V40. However, the most recently revealed model was shown for the first time last month right alongside the G8. The LG V50 5G will be released later this year – LG just wanted to get a head start on it so it'd be clear that they're working on a 5G smartphone, just like the other big brands.
The release of the LG G8 ThinQ will begin on April 11th, 2019. Retailers and wireless providers that'll have the device include: AT&T, Best Buy, B&H, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon, and Xfinity Mobile. If you're so pumped up you can't wait to own this device, and won't even let yourself read one review, pre-orders begin tomorrow, March 29th, dependent on carrier. The price of the LG G8 ThinQ at launch is approximately $820 USD.