LG G8X ThinQ: a super cool gadget
LG has its own vision of what a foldable phone should look like: the G8X ThinQ. On its own, this phone doesn't break any bricks. But thanks to the second screen integrated into the shell, it's pretty good!
Folding smartphones take centre stage at IFA 2019 in Berlin: First we have Samsung, which is presenting the second version of its Galaxy Fold 5G followed by LG with its G8X ThinQ.
That said, the phone itself - only available in the colour "Aurora Black" - is nothing exceptional since it's not a smartphone with a foldable screen as such. The star is the foldable shell, which incorporates a second screen. "Foldable" does not mean that the screen surface is enlarged, but that multitasking is simplified.
That's pretty clever. LG is thus avoiding direct competition, and that's until the foldable market is ready. But I'll come back to that...
When the gadget eclipses the phone
The G8X ThinQ itself isn't the most exciting phone in the world. It packs a Snapdragon 855 SoC, has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The dual camera module at the back consists of a standard 12MP camera and a 13MP wide-angle camera. The front module has a 32MP sensor, but according to LG, it should take 8MP photos by default. Other goodies? A 4000mAh 4.0 battery with fast charge function, a 3.5mm jack socket and finally a fingerprint sensor under the slab.
That's not bad, but in 2019, it's not enough to break three legs of a duck.
The shell that integrates the second screen steals the show from the phone, which proves, incidentally, to be very easy to use after testing it a little.
This second screen is a direct evolution of the LG V50 ThinQ presented at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019: both phones come with a shell featuring a second screen. But unlike its predecessor, the G8X has exactly the same screens: colour, size, resolution and OLED display technology. That's all well and good, but one thing catches your eye though, and that's the notch on the second screen even though there's no front-facing camera. Weird!
The reason, we're told, is mainly aesthetic. According to those in charge of the stand, shoppers shouldn't be distracted by two different forms of display. To others yeah! I think it's simply cheaper for LG to buy or produce exactly the same screen components in duplicate. Speaking of cheap: a glance at LG's press release reveals that the phone is expected to be released with the case shell for around £999.
. Another important point is that in Germany the G8X will be sold with the shell, while in Switzerland some operators would like to sell it separately. We'll know more towards the end of the year when the G8X goes on sale.
Whatever the case, what we need to know is who the second screen is aimed at. I'm going back to LG's concept mentioned above: multi-windowing.
Usage case: multi-windowing
Imagine, you clip the phone into the shell, which has a USB-C connector linking the G8X ThinQ to the second 6.4-inch screen with FHD Plus resolution (for both screens)!
You can then launch two applications simultaneously, YouTube on the left and WhatsApp on the right, for example. So you can watch videos, chat with friends and surf Google at the same time! You can even write an e-mail on one side and search the Internet on the other.
The photo app is compelling. You can preview the photo on the other screen without leaving sensor mode. Practical, isn't it? Another advantage is that you can move apps from one screen to another using a swiping motion with three fingers. It's very cool.
This smartphone also has a widescreen mode. In the web browser to be exact. If you opt for this mode, the browser opens simultaneously on both screens. It's brilliant.
Close the phone and the fully reflective front becomes visible. At the top edge is a 2.1-inch monochrome display offering time, date, battery level and notifications. In bright light, however, the display is barely visible.
Conclusion: an interesting phone
The LG G8X ThinQ is a smartphone that's all about multi-tasking. And not just a little, either. The biggest criticism we could make is that there are only a few apps from third-party providers that actually use the second screen, like Fortnite: the first screen acts as a controller, the second displays the game in progress.
The advantage? Third-party providers don't need to make app adjustments or program additional smart software solutions into the phone for app adaptation to the oversized screen size of a Galaxy Fold or Mate X. According to LG, the second screen is not designed to enlarge the screen diagonal.
Whatever the case, there are plenty of apps for the second screen, provided of course that the concept of multi-windowing is kept in mind.
I'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.»