AT&T LG Velvet hands-on: Affordable 5G phone with dual display option and compelling design features Review
The LG Velvet is a person of the most cost-effective 5G phones accessible right now and immediately after shelling out a couple of months with a person it is likely to be difficult for me to shell out twice as much for a flagship cell phone right now.
Previous month ZDNet’s Cho Mu-Hyun posted a specific evaluate of the LG Velvet that was introduced in Korea. For the past couple of months I have been analyzing the first US version of the device, the LG Velvet 5G from AT&T, that is now accessible to obtain for $599.ninety nine.
The LG Velvet 5G is now only accessible in the US from AT&T, but will be coming to T-Mobile and Verizon sometime this summer. US customers will be capable to pick up the LG VELVET 5G in Aurora Grey, Aurora Silver, Aurora Pink, and Pink White. AT&T delivers the Aurora Grey and Aurora Silver products with my time spent with the Aurora Silver shade.
Also: LG Velvet Assessment: A skilled cell phone with a distinctive look
I have spent a substantial amount of time with the LG V60 ThinQ on T-Mobile and my SIM card keeps getting a safe home in that device in huge component due to the practical and valuable Twin Display screen deal with accessory, lengthy battery daily life, and over-all design and style.
The transfer to fall the odd ThinQ branding was a good a person and I also look ahead to looking at far more from LG in naming upcoming units outside of the classic G and V series.
AT&T LG Velvet technical specs
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
- Display screen: 6.eight inch, 2460 x 1080 pixels resolution OLED 20.five:nine factor ratio (395 ppi)
- Operating program: Android 10 with LG UX nine. UI
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB inside with microSD growth card slot
- Cameras: 8MP ultra-vast (a hundred and twenty degrees) f/two.two f/one.eight and 48MP rear cameras with 5MP ToF sensor. sixteen megapixel f/one.nine front-struggling with digicam.
- Water resistance: IP68 drinking water and dust ranking
- Shock resistance: MIL-STD 810G
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.eleven a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth five.one, GPS, NFC
- Battery: 4,three hundred mAh non-detachable with Qualcomm Fast Demand 4.+
- Proportions: 167.two x seventy four.one x 7.nine mm and one hundred eighty grams
Wanting at other flagships that price tag hundreds far more, the LG Velvet 5G has decrease technical specs for the processor, RAM, and display screen refresh fee. However, as opposed to the rest of the smartphone planet, the LG Velvet has 3.5mm headset jack and an solution to conveniently increase a fully able second screen.
Even though I loved the authentic Galaxy Fold and am considering the $two,000 successor, the solution to increase a fully purposeful second display screen for these moments I require to improve my effectiveness is difficult to defeat. I can also pop the LG Velvet out from the Twin Display screen deal with and rest confident it will survive functioning with me in the rain.
LG Twin Display screen deal with technical specs
- Display screen: 6.eight inch, 2460 x 1080 pixels resolution OLED 20.five:nine factor ratio (395 ppi)
- Outside deal with display screen: two.one inch mono
- Hinge: 360 Freestop
In regards to 5G, the T-Mobile and AT&T LG V60 ThinQ products guidance Sub6 (very low-band) and mid-band (Dash is now using it) networks. The Verizon product supports the a lot quicker, shorter variety mmWave 5G (substantial-band) technology, but not these other bands so it is not as universal as the Samsung Galaxy S20 Moreover and Ultra.
Also: LG V60 ThinQ 5G evaluate: Modern-day community, two screen solution, realistic $900 price
Hardware
Cho did a amazing position strolling as a result of the lovely design and style, cameras, and other hardware capabilities of the LG Velvet in his previously evaluate so you should look at it out for all of these details.
Even though I am a fan of the LG V60 ThinQ, I like the a little narrower experience of the LG Velvet. The Twin Display screen deal with is far better as well as it only has a slender band for the display screen on the front somewhat than a entire glass panel that is topic to breaking.
The LG Velvet does not have a ninety Hz or a hundred and twenty Hz substantial refresh fee display screen as we see on the most recent flagships, but as lengthy as you do not use a person of these units first then you are likely just great. I have been a bit spoiled by a hundred and twenty Hz shows recently and am not positive I can go again to 60 Hz as a day by day driver.
Software
Even though I value the chance to eventually test out AT&T’s 5G support, I am not a fan of what AT&T does to a cell phone by loading it up with apps, utilities, and providers it is pushing onto buyers. Some of these are beneficial for AT&T customers, but lots of others replicate Google providers or increase unneeded bloatware that consumes onboard storage.
There are also a couple of LG apps put in on the device, which include an picture gallery, LG Wellness, LG Pay, audio participant, Hd audio recorder, and QuickMemo+.
LG even now has a terrible software launcher and I hope that some working day they will listen to my cry and enhance in this spot. There are loads of ways to customize the device and you can cover most of the AT&T apps even if they can’t be deleted.
Also: The LG V60 ThinQ difficulties the Samsung Galaxy Take note 10 for stylus champ
Daily activities and conclusions
When I first listened to about the LG Velvet, I was expecting a device entire of compromises and a start unworthy of LG. I’m happy to report that the LG Velvet is an fantastic 5G smartphone and a fantastic price at $600.
The cameras carried out extremely nicely, the battery took me as a result of far more than a entire working day, AT&T 5G was fast and protection was fantastic when I was out and about, and I by no means noticed any lag or general performance problems on the cell phone. I adore the Twin Display screen deal with that would make consuming media an great cellular expertise. With the extremely able stylus guidance on both of those screens, the LG Velvet offers you a good look at what you can anticipate in the Microsoft Surface area Duo device.
Small business customers searching for a efficiency device will adore the functionality of the LG Velvet with the Twin Display screen deal with. It is simple to get do the job performed when you have two 6.eight inch shows to do the job with and can retail outlet a ton of information on a microSD card. LG ought to eventually receive some lengthy-awaited regard with the LG Velvet and I personally can’t wait around to test out the T-Mobile version later this summer. Seem to see the LG Velvet soon seem on my 10 greatest smartphones record.
