LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen review

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