LG V20

[tohchr]

Thanks for the input!

I watched so many videos on both, people say the Mate9 battery life was around 1.5 days to 2 days. Yours is 10+ hours only? The LG salesperson told me the V20 battery life is around 4hrs on average.

So it seems your recommendation is the ...

I think u missed the part "SOT" screen on time. This 10 hours screen on is impressive actually. 1.5 to 2 days should be normal usage + screen on + standby and not SOT 2 days.

 

[Alexz_Hong]

Hey guys I can't decide between getting this V20 or the Huawei Mate 9. How's the battery life like for this V20?

The price diff for me when recontracting is only $30. Anyone got recommendation?

I tried both as well, my overall preference is the Mate 9 though. But yours could be different depending on what you're looking at.

LG V20:
- one of the best audio recording I've heard so far on a phone, but speaker is not as good
- manual mode for video and camera one of the best out of the box experience
- removable battery, but battery life is average at best.
- dual sim + mSD card setup
- wide angle camera is really quite fun to play win
- QHD screen with the second display (i don't use it often, but nice for notifications)
- UI looks closer to stock android

Mate 9:
- audio recording is great too albeit a bit weaker, but speakers are much better
- better build quality
- performance is much better (faster CPU, UFS 2.1 storage)
- 4000mAh non-removable battery, but great battery life
- hybrid dual sim setup
- Monochrome camera has great quality, and has nice effects to play with
- FHD screen only, but the display quality still looks really good, even outdoors
- UI doesn't look quite as close to stock Android but tolerable to me, but the performance is top notch still.

If you want I reviewed both phones too on my personal blog.
V20
Mate 9

 

[lgmw33]

Thanks for the input!

I watched so many videos on both, people say the Mate9 battery life was around 1.5 days to 2 days. Yours is 10+ hours only? The LG salesperson told me the V20 battery life is around 4hrs on average.

So it seems your recommendation is the ...

I prefer videos on bigger screen, more fun. Buy several batteries if power is your concern.

 

[Swiftyz]

I think u missed the part "SOT" screen on time. This 10 hours screen on is impressive actually. 1.5 to 2 days should be normal usage + screen on + standby and not SOT 2 days.

Ah right, missed that one. Surviving through the day without the need to charge is considered a bliss for many

I tried both as well, my overall preference is the Mate 9 though. But yours could be different depending on what you're looking at.

LG V20:
- one of the best audio recording I've heard so far on a phone, but speaker is not as good
- manual mode for video and camera one of the best out of the box experience
- removable battery, but battery life is average at best.
- dual sim + mSD card setup
- wide angle camera is really quite fun to play win
- QHD screen with the second display (i don't use it often, but nice for notifications)
- UI looks closer to stock android

Mate 9:
- audio recording is great too albeit a bit weaker, but speakers are much better
- better build quality
- performance is much better (faster CPU, UFS 2.1 storage)
- 4000mAh non-removable battery, but great battery life
- hybrid dual sim setup
- Monochrome camera has great quality, and has nice effects to play with
- FHD screen only, but the display quality still looks really good, even outdoors
- UI doesn't look quite as close to stock Android but tolerable to me, but the performance is top notch still.

If you want I reviewed both phones too on my personal blog.
V20
Mate 9

I just read your blogspot, it is really comprehensive. Indeed I'm also leaning towards Mate 9 with the battery, performance and camera being much better than the V20. Seems like LG wins most in the A/V component. Other factors don't really bother me much.

I prefer videos on bigger screen, more fun. Buy several batteries if power is your concern.

Telco are giving out free battery kit along with the V20, to think of it.. Use 1 battery, charge other with power bank also not bad. No need to hold onto the power bank and phone while using. Hmmmm..

 

[Alexz_Hong]

Ah right, missed that one. Surviving through the day without the need to charge is considered a bliss for many

I just read your blogspot, it is really comprehensive. Indeed I'm also leaning towards Mate 9 with the battery, performance and camera being much better than the V20. Seems like LG wins most in the A/V component. Other factors don't really bother me much.

Telco are giving out free battery kit along with the V20, to think of it.. Use 1 battery, charge other with power bank also not bad. No need to hold onto the power bank and phone while using. Hmmmm..

Thanks! Other things to consider are whether you are the type to keep your phones for long. LG's solution makes it easy to breath new life since can just swap battery. so when you don't want the phone, can hand down the phone to elderly, or kids, and just replace the battery. That's a plus point too. Built in battery also can la, but just need to DIY and it'll be pretty cheap too.

Mate 9 does have a plus point too which is 2 years warranty with free 1-time screen replacement. haha. Both are decent phones I think, just depends on what you prefer.

 

[batboyz]

camera being much better than the V20

Much better is certainly not, probably "better" in auto mode, but in manual mode V20 is still king.

 

[gws898]

I tried both as well, my overall preference is the Mate 9 though. But yours could be different depending on what you're looking at.

LG V20:
- one of the best audio recording I've heard so far on a phone, but speaker is not as good
- manual mode for video and camera one of the best out of the box experience
- removable battery, but battery life is average at best.
- dual sim + mSD card setup
- wide angle camera is really quite fun to play win
- QHD screen with the second display (i don't use it often, but nice for notifications)
- UI looks closer to stock android

Mate 9:
- audio recording is great too albeit a bit weaker, but speakers are much better
- better build quality
- performance is much better (faster CPU, UFS 2.1 storage)
- 4000mAh non-removable battery, but great battery life
- hybrid dual sim setup
- Monochrome camera has great quality, and has nice effects to play with
- FHD screen only, but the display quality still looks really good, even outdoors
- UI doesn't look quite as close to stock Android but tolerable to me, but the performance is top notch still.

If you want I reviewed both phones too on my personal blog.
V20
Mate 9

Great review, but one thing is that the V20 has FM radio. Which i prefer over the Mate 9.

 

[creative11112004]

the heating issue really improved with the disable of native facebook app.

 

[Winterhearts]

Found this Low Light Sample on Youtube....nice!

 

[Ah_keong]

I tried both as well, my overall preference is the Mate 9 though. But yours could be different depending on what you're looking at.

LG V20:
- one of the best audio recording I've heard so far on a phone, but speaker is not as good
- manual mode for video and camera one of the best out of the box experience
- removable battery, but battery life is average at best.
- dual sim + mSD card setup
- wide angle camera is really quite fun to play win
- QHD screen with the second display (i don't use it often, but nice for notifications)
- UI looks closer to stock android

Mate 9:
- audio recording is great too albeit a bit weaker, but speakers are much better
- better build quality
- performance is much better (faster CPU, UFS 2.1 storage)
- 4000mAh non-removable battery, but great battery life
- hybrid dual sim setup
- Monochrome camera has great quality, and has nice effects to play with
- FHD screen only, but the display quality still looks really good, even outdoors
- UI doesn't look quite as close to stock Android but tolerable to me, but the performance is top notch still.

If you want I reviewed both phones too on my personal blog.
V20
Mate 9

Thanks for the great review. you stay near Bishan Park Blk 408?

 

[toshiro_sg]

I encounter some strange behavior in my LG V20, need to see if anyone of you have the same issue. My V20 suddenly goes silent meaning any phone call or msg won't have sound at all only vibration but I check all my sound setting all already max vol., then I do a reboot and all goes back to normal. This happens like 2 times already out of sudden, no warning only when u see miss call then I realise something is wrong. I am on the latest firmware.

 

[Alexz_Hong]

Thanks for the great review. you stay near Bishan Park Blk 408?

Thanks! Not really, but bishan park is in walkable distance. haha.

 

[kopi22]

I encounter some strange behavior in my LG V20, need to see if anyone of you have the same issue. My V20 suddenly goes silent meaning any phone call or msg won't have sound at all only vibration but I check all my sound setting all already max vol., then I do a reboot and all goes back to normal. This happens like 2 times already out of sudden, no warning only when u see miss call then I realise something is wrong. I am on the latest firmware.

I had similar issues but it doesn't affect the incoming call ringtone or message except the lock & unlock sound effects. I realized that the Facebook messenger is the culprit. I need to start up the app and close it again in order for the sound to be working properly again.

My wild guess is that some app is still hogging the sound stacks in the OS. So other apps cannot play the sounds unless that app releases the resources. Perhaps you check which is the last used app and see if you can kill that app explicitly to release the sound resources?

Android.... still quite unreliable.... as compared to iOS.

 

[bedlamite]

Android.... still quite unreliable.... as compared to iOS.

Double edged sword, I guess. Android's level of customisability is also what makes it still so janky

 

[shawniiex]

Great review, but one thing is that the V20 has FM radio. Which i prefer over the Mate 9.

Wow bro, that's such a niche user scenario nowadays.

 

[DragoMaster]

I just noticed 2 dead pixels on my V20's screen, does warranty cover that?

Sent from LGE LG-H990 using GAGT

 

[mie28]

Wow bro, that's such a niche user scenario nowadays.

Its useful when Im overseas and don't wanna waste data on radio though. But yea its niche for people who still listen to the radio that is. 90% of the time Im on Spotify. After being FM radio-less for the last donkey years, its not even the first app I would tend to click to listen to radio. haha. Need to re-adjust again.

 

[mie28]

Double edged sword, I guess. Android's level of customisability is also what makes it still so janky

The Gboard keyboard on mine occasionally crashes too. Got used to restart phone to resolve all these issues - its becoming like Windows

 

[benny888]

The Gboard keyboard on mine occasionally crashes too. Got used to restart phone to resolve all these issues - its becoming like Windows

Absolutely NO crash on my set with Gboard

 

[lgmw33]

I just noticed 2 dead pixels on my V20's screen, does warranty cover that?

Sent from LGE LG-H990 using GAGT

Are they very obvious?