LG V30

While LG has experienced rocky sales in their last few releases, they haven’t given up on the smartphone market yet. They’re hoping the release of the V30 will spark interest in new customers.

LG has pulled all the stops for the V30 in terms of design. Many reviewers consider it one of the best-designed phones the company has released. They have reduced the bezels on the side of the screen to where most barely notice them and combine them with a metal frame and curved glass back.

While attractive, experts experienced slight scratching when the phone rubbed against loose change or keys. Many also were worried about shattering the glass if they dropped it.

The phone measures 5.97-by-2.97-by-0.29 inches and weighs 158 grams—making it larger, albeit lighter, than the iPhone X. Despite its large size, critics found it easy to use one-handed and comfortable to hold thanks to its ergonomic design.

It comes with an IP68 water-resistance rating. This means it can survive a quick dip in the pool or a puddle.

A 6-inch, 2K OLED display dominates the front of the phone. Most critics enjoyed the vibrant, rich colors, excellent sharpness, and overall contrast when watching movies or gaming. At the same time, the 18:9 aspect ratio doesn’t work perfectly with all apps, games, and video formats.

Muddy whites and poor viewing angles let down some reviewers. While not horrible, they note it’s the weakest part of the phone—especially when pitted against other flagships like the Pixel 2 and  Huawei Mate 10 Pro.

What the V30 might lack in a dazzling display, it makes up for with an octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM. Although this might be slightly less raw horsepower than the Pixel 2, most reviewers barely noticed a difference in real life tests. Apps opened fast and performing everyday tasks was a breeze. They didn’t notice any frame rate drops when playing demanding games.

The 3,300mAh battery also impressed, lasting through a full day of intense usage. If that wasn’t enough, it comes with Qi wireless charging so you don’t need to carry a charger with you if you need a refill.

LG was one of the first manufacturers to use a dual-camera system, so it’s not a surprise to see this arrangement on the V30. The main camera is 16MP with a very wide f/1.6 aperture. 

Interestingly, experts were surprised that it had a hard time illuminating dark scenes, finding the Samsung S8 and Pixel much better options.

Although it wasn’t great at taking pictures in the dark, they noticed it performed better in dim shots, providing a good balance of detail and contrast.

In better lighting, they could take crisp and vibrant pictures that rivaled the Galaxy S8 Plus. The catch was that they had to move out of full-auto mode and choose their own settings. Full-auto often resulted in white balance and exposure issues. They were let down with the slow autofocus—especially in low light settings.

Despite some issues, most reviewers were very happy with the LG V30.  Tech Radar states, “… the V30 holds its own thanks to a dollop of power… and a capable camera…” Trusted Reviews is a bit more muted in their recommending stating, “[It’s] an excellent Android phone – but it misses the mark in a few areas.”