Lg Velvet 5G UW Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

Welcome to my review of the LG Velvet, a smartphone released in August 2020. As a tech enthusiast, I've had the pleasure of getting my hands on this phone and putting it through its paces.

Design and Build Quality

The LG Velvet's design and build quality are impressive, making it a phone that feels both premium and modern. The phone measures 167.2 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 x 0.31 in), and the glass front and back are held together by an aluminum frame. The phone is slim, and the weight is evenly distributed, which makes it comfortable to hold and use.

The back of the LG Velvet features a unique raindrop design, which gives the phone a distinct look and feel. The camera module is located in the top left corner, and it blends in well with the design of the phone. The LG Velvet is also IP68 dust and water-resistant, which means it can handle a dip in the pool or a walk in the rain without any issues.

Despite its slim design, the LG Velvet feels sturdy and well-built. The phone is MIL-STD-810G compliant, which means it has been tested to withstand extreme temperatures, humidity, and other environmental factors. While this doesn't guarantee that the phone is rugged, it does provide some assurance that it can handle everyday wear and tear.

Overall, the LG Velvet's design and build quality are top-notch. The unique raindrop design, combined with the premium materials and solid construction, make it a phone that looks and feels great.

Display

The LG Velvet's display is one of its standout features. With a large 6.8-inch P-OLED screen, it boasts an impressive 88.6% screen-to-body ratio, making it perfect for media consumption and gaming. The resolution of 1080 x 2460 pixels also provides sharp and clear visuals, with a density of 395 ppi.

The display technology used in the LG Velvet is P-OLED, which delivers rich and vibrant colors, with great contrast and deep blacks. The display is also HDR10+ certified, meaning it can play HDR content from streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Brightness and outdoor visibility are great thanks to the LG Velvet's high maximum brightness level of 800 nits. This makes it easy to use the phone even in bright sunlight. Touch sensitivity and responsiveness are also excellent, making it easy to navigate the phone's interface and apps.

Overall, the LG Velvet's display is a highlight of the phone, offering an immersive and enjoyable viewing experience. Whether you're watching movies, playing games, or browsing the web, the LG Velvet's display is sure to impress.

Performance

The LG Velvet is powered by the Snapdragon 765G chipset, which is a mid-range processor that offers solid performance. This octa-core processor is clocked at 2.4 GHz and is paired with 6GB of RAM, which allows for smooth multitasking and app usage.

In terms of real-world usage, the LG Velvet performs admirably, with snappy app launch times and smooth navigation. Multitasking is also a breeze thanks to the ample amount of RAM, and the phone can handle demanding apps and games with ease.

Gaming on the LG Velvet is a pleasant experience, with the Adreno 620 GPU providing impressive graphics performance. Games like PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile run smoothly on the device, with no noticeable lag or stuttering.

Benchmark scores on the LG Velvet are also impressive, with the phone scoring well in tests like Geekbench and AnTuTu. While benchmark scores aren't always a true indicator of real-world performance, they do provide a good reference point for comparing devices.

Overall, the LG Velvet's performance is solid, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a mid-range phone that can handle demanding apps and games. While it may not be as powerful as some of the flagship devices on the market, it offers great value for its price point.

Software and User Interface

The LG Velvet runs on Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, with LG UX customization. The software experience is smooth and intuitive, with LG's signature minimalist design language. The user interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, with customizable home screens and a clean app drawer.

The phone comes with a few pre-installed LG apps, such as LG Health and LG Pay, but overall, the bloatware is kept to a minimum. Users can also download more apps from the Google Play Store, which has an extensive selection of apps and games.

One feature that sets the LG Velvet apart from other phones is the Dual Screen accessory, which adds a second screen to the device, providing multitasking capabilities and a more desktop-like experience. The second screen can be used for various purposes, such as browsing the web while watching a video, or using two apps side by side.

LG has also included some useful software features, such as the ability to customize the navigation buttons, gesture controls, and a screen recorder. The phone also has a built-in dark mode, which can reduce eye strain and save battery life.

Overall, the software and user interface on the LG Velvet are well-designed and user-friendly, with some unique features that set it apart from other devices. The phone is also expected to receive future software updates, ensuring that it remains up-to-date and secure.

Camera

The LG Velvet comes equipped with a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 48 MP primary lens, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, and a 5 MP depth sensor. The camera app is user-friendly and offers various shooting modes and features, including manual mode, night mode, and portrait mode.

In daylight, the LG Velvet's primary camera captures stunning, vibrant images with excellent detail and color accuracy. The ultrawide lens is also impressive, capturing a wider field of view with minimal distortion. However, the 5 MP depth sensor struggles to accurately detect and blur the background in portrait mode.

In low light, the camera performance is decent but not exceptional. The main lens captures decent shots, but the images lack sharpness and detail. The night mode improves the overall image quality but takes several seconds to capture the shot.

The camera's zoom capabilities are limited, with only 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom. The image stabilization works well for both photos and videos, producing smooth and steady footage.

The front-facing 16 MP camera captures sharp and detailed selfies with accurate skin tones. The camera app offers various beauty modes and features, including a makeup filter and an adjustable skin tone setting.

Overall, the LG Velvet's camera performance is impressive, especially in daylight. However, it falls short in low light conditions and portrait mode. The camera app offers various shooting modes and features, making it a versatile and fun camera to use.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

When it comes to connectivity and networking, the LG Velvet 5G does not disappoint. This phone is compatible with multiple cellular networks, including GSM, CDMA, HSPA, LTE, and 5G, making it a versatile option for users with different carriers.

In terms of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, the Velvet 5G supports the latest standards, including Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 5.1. This ensures fast and reliable wireless connectivity for streaming, browsing, and online gaming. Additionally, the phone comes with NFC support for contactless payments and easy file sharing between compatible devices.

As for navigation and location services, the Velvet 5G supports GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, and QZSS, which allows for accurate and reliable location tracking. The phone also features a variety of sensors, including a fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, and barometer, which enhances the phone's functionality and user experience.

Overall, the LG Velvet 5G offers excellent connectivity and networking features, making it a reliable and versatile smartphone for users who prioritize seamless connectivity and fast data transfer speeds.

Additional Features

The LG Velvet boasts several additional features that make it a compelling smartphone. First and foremost, the device is water and dust resistant, with an IP68 rating that ensures it can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. This feature is particularly useful for those who love taking photos and videos in the great outdoors, or for those who are prone to accidents.

In terms of storage, the LG Velvet comes with 128GB of internal memory, which should be sufficient for most users. However, should you need additional space, the device also supports microSDXC cards, which can be used to expand storage up to 1TB.

Audio quality is also a highlight of the device, with stereo speakers that deliver loud and clear sound. The LG Velvet also retains the increasingly rare 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a welcome feature for audiophiles who prefer wired headphones.

Finally, the LG Velvet also features a powerful 4300mAh battery that offers all-day battery life. The device supports fast charging (up to 25W), as well as wireless charging (up to 9W), making it easy to top up your battery on the go.

Overall, the LG Velvet's additional features make it a well-rounded smartphone that offers a great user experience. Whether you're looking for a device that can handle the elements, has ample storage space, delivers great audio quality, or offers long battery life, the LG Velvet has got you covered.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When it comes to comparing the LG Velvet with other related phones on the market, there are a few key contenders to consider. One popular option is the Samsung Galaxy S21, which boasts a similar screen size and resolution, as well as a powerful processor and 5G connectivity. However, the LG Velvet has a more unique design and arguably better camera capabilities, with a triple-lens setup that includes a depth sensor.

Another option to consider is the OnePlus 9, which also offers 5G capabilities and a powerful processor. However, the LG Velvet has a larger screen and a more premium design, with a glass front and back and aluminum frame. The LG Velvet also has a headphone jack, which may be a consideration for some users.

For those looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Google Pixel 4a is a great choice. It has a similar display size and resolution to the LG Velvet, as well as a great camera and a more affordable price point. However, it lacks 5G connectivity and may not have the same level of performance as the LG Velvet.

Overall, the LG Velvet stands out for its unique design, great camera capabilities, and strong performance. While there may be other phones on the market with similar specs, the LG Velvet offers a premium experience that is hard to beat.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the LG Velvet is a solid mid-range smartphone that offers a lot of value for its price. It boasts a sleek and modern design, a vibrant OLED display, and reliable performance thanks to its Snapdragon 765G chipset. The camera setup is also impressive, producing high-quality images and videos in various lighting conditions.

While the battery life could be better and the software experience may not be everyone's cup of tea, these slight drawbacks are outweighed by the phone's many strengths.

Overall, the LG Velvet is a great choice for those looking for a stylish and capable smartphone without breaking the bank. It's a perfect fit for anyone who values a good camera, a beautiful display, and solid performance in a mid-range device.

In the end, the LG Velvet is a well-rounded smartphone that delivers where it counts, and its competitive pricing makes it a top option for anyone on a budget. If you're in the market for a great mid-range phone, the LG Velvet is definitely worth considering.