Yes, the major public clouds offer a lot. But what you may not know are the limitations, and how open clouds make the difference. Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021. The LG V40 ThinQ, the latest flagship from Korean electronics giant LG, is finally here. It packs Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip, a bright and colorful OLED screen, and an ultra-loud speaker. Oh, and it has five cameras. The rumors are indeed true: The V40 sports three rear-facing cameras and a two-sensor front-facing module. LG’s betting that those, in addition to carryover AI features from the rest of its ThinQ lineup (namely the LG G7 ThinQ), will help it stand out from the crowd. So do they? We’ve spent the better part of a week running the V40 through its paces. Here are our thoughts. Design Let’s start with aesthetics. The V40 is cut from the same cloth as the V30S ThinQ, with thick layers of protective Gorilla Glass 5 on the back and front that slope at all four corners to meet its aluminum frame. (At 7.7mm and 169g, the phone’s a hair thicker and heavier than the V30S.) It’s an airtight construction that doesn’t exude the luxury of Samsung’s Galaxy Note9 or the iPhones in Apple’s recently refreshed lineup, but it still feels premium in its own minimalist, understated way. The G7’s controversial notch makes a reappearance here, though it can be “hidden” within the settings menu by changing the color of the notification shade to match the phone’s black bezel. In better news, LG shrunk the screen’s bottom bezel to 5.7mm and managed to squeeze in a 3.5mm headphone jack next to the USB Type-C port. And the glass belies the phone’s durability. Like the G7, the V40 is IP68-rated for water exposure (which means it can survive 30 minutes in a five-foot pool), and it’s MIL-STD 810G compliant (it’ll survive drops from a few feet). But it’s not perfect. There’s a tactile hollowness on the rear of the phone that’s characteristic of LG’s Boombox Speaker tech, which uses the inner space between the V40’s rear cover and loudspeaker as a resonance chamber to “increase the base sound level by more than 6dB with twice the amount of bass.” That’s all well and fine (more on Boombox later), but there’s something about it that feels out of place in a flagship — almost like cheap plastic. Cameras One feature of the V40 that practically leaps off the spec sheet is its cameras: It’s got five. That gives it the dubious distinction of being first in North America with a penta-lens setup, having beat Nokia and others to the punch. It has three cameras on the back: A 12MP standard sensor with a f/1.5 aperture, 78-degree field of view, 1.4-micron pixel size, and optical image stabilization A 16MP wide-angle lens with a f/1.9 aperture and 107-degree field of view A 12-megapixel telephoto lens with a f/2.4 aperture and 45-degree field of view, and 2x optical zoom And two on the front: A 8MP standard lens with a f/1.9 aperture and 80-degree field of view A 12MP telephoto lens with a f/2.4 aperture and 45-degree field of view, and 2x optical zoom So why the five-pronged approach? Versatility, LG claims. “The three different [rear] lenses allow for creators to frame shots differently without changing one’s position relative to the subject,” the company wrote in a press release. I’m not convinced a triple-camera setup is, or ever should be, a selling point (the Google Pixel 2’s single rear camera is widely regarded as the best on the market), but LG has a point — there’s something to be said for the added flexibility. I came to rely on Triple Shot mode, which takes three pics simultaneously — one per sensor. LG says the high dynamic range (HDR) shooting mode has been enhanced with facial detection — its contrast adjustments take into account faces, “human posture,” backgrounds, and the scene’s overall sharpness. And it claims that the cameras’ dual phase detection autofocus (PDAF) locks onto subjects in as little as 130 milliseconds between shots. Gallery: LG V40 camera samples It’s tough to judge those improvements on their merits, but my testing paints a mixed picture. On AI Cam mode (which automatically configures settings like white balance and ISO) in decent lighting, shots came out fairly crisp, clear, and mostly free of distortion (with the exception of some color banding). Dimmer environments were a different story — the three cameras (and particularly the telephoto lens) produced ultra-noisy shots that looked almost as if they’d been oversharpened. Wood grains on a table and wall paint textures became amorphous blobs, and shadows similarly lacked fine details. I wasn’t terribly impressed by the dynamic range, either. Like the G7, the V40 tends toward the cooler end of the color spectrum. It’s a matter of taste, but I personally prefer the slightly punchier, more saturated look of photos from Samsung’s Galaxy S9. Two-sensor front-facing cameras are becoming a bit more common than they used to be — Samsung recently jumped into the ring with the Galaxy S8. The idea is to create bokeh, that stylized effect produced by slightly blurring the background while maintaining lock focus on the foreground. Google achieves it with software on the Pixel, but some photographers insist there’s no substitute for physical sensors. Image Credit: Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat Me, I’m not so sure. LG’s front-facing cameras take usable, albeit washed-out, shots, and skin comes off a bit pasty — potentially as a result of excessive post-processing. And I didn’t see much of a difference between the lighting modes (Natural, Studio Contour, Stage, Stage Mono). I’m no videographer. But in the interest of thoroughness, I captured three clips — one on each of the three rear sensors — at 4K at 30 frames per second (fps), the maximum supported resolution. (Other flavors are 1080p and a 1080p slow-motion mode that shoots 240fps.) They came out smooth and jitter-free, if a bit more compressed than I would have liked. On the software side of things, the V40’s camera app ships with a nifty few features. One is Cine Shot, which LG previewed earlier this week. They’re basically still images with segments of looped motion: You snap a photo, highlight the portion you’d like animated, and get an animated GIF. It works with all three of the phone’s front-facing cameras. Image Credit: Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat Another is Google’s AR Stickers, which tap the search giant’s ARCore platform to overlay animated characters on real-world tabletops, couch cushions, and other flat surfaces. Image Credit: Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat Rounding out the selection is Cine Video, which lets you add professionally-created Look Up Tables (or LUTs) to shots captured in RAW or Log formatl additional shooting modes like Food, Panorama, and Flash Jum-Cut; filters that let you layer hues on top of pics and videos; and Snapchat Lens-like Stickers that map the motion of animated characters and accessories to your head, face, and upper body. Display The V30S ThinQ, you might recall, had a 6-inch OLED FullVision display at 2880 x 1440 pixels even. The V40 bumps that up to 6.4 inches diagonally and 3120 x 1440 pixels (536.92 ppi), with an upgraded OLED panel that’s more vibrant and just as bright as before. While the V30 got up to 606 nits (equal to 606 candelas, or the amount of light emitted by a common tallow candle per square meter), the V40 reaches between 500 to 600 nits. That might not approach the peak luminance the G7 can hit on a good day (1,000 nits in Super Bright Display mode), but considering it couldn’t safely maintain those levels for more than three minutes at a time, it’s not too disappointing. I’ll take stability over the bleeding edge every time. So, how does it look? Compared to the Vivo Nex S I’ve been lugging around for the past month or three, the V40’s OLED is noticeably more saturated — mostly in a good way.<doc-sep>From the start, LG's V series has been about content creation and offering more ways to capture the world around you. But over the years, the G and V series have to converged to the point where they're nearly identical. Not unlike Samsung's Galaxy S and Note lines (go figure), the G and V series are basically the same aside from slightly different sizes and some key feature advancements that a staggered release cycle affords. In a world where the LG G7 hasn't garnered the mind share of Samsung's Galaxy S9+, that leaves the V40 in a tough spot considering how much it shares with LG's attempt from earlier in the year. The "hook," if you will, is a five-camera setup that's backed up by neat camera software. But the V40 has more to offer, as the rest of the phone is filled with appealing specs and features lifted directly from Samsung's playbook. VPN Deals: Lifetime license for $16, monthly plans at $1 & more Here's how it all comes together in the LG V40. Five camera fun LG V40 ThinQ A great all-around high-end phone, with a price tag to match. LG managed to make a top-notch phone by following Samsung's lead. The V40 is a beautiful and solid phone that's filled with must-have and nice-to-have features, with top-end specs and a large high-quality display. The software is quick and relatively simple, choosing to lean toward Google's ecosystem more than ever. The triple camera combination is a treat to shoot with and provides both unique and good-looking photos. The only potential shortcoming is underwhelming battery life that isn't as good as you'd expect for the V40's size. $949 at Best Buy Pros: Big, beautiful screen Triple camera is a treat Solid and beautiful hardware Headphone jack and good DAC Wireless charging Simpler software than before Cons: A phone this big should have more battery Secondary cameras missing OIS No higher storage option available Aurora Black model is slippery About this review I've been using a U.S. unlocked LG V40 for 6 days, initially in San Francisco, CA and then in Seattle, WA. The phone's software updated 2 days into the review period to build OPM1.171019.026 with the September 1, 2018 security patch. It was provided to Android Central for review by LG. Solid LG V40 Hardware, display and features The V40 generally follows the industry trend of being a rounded metal-frame phone with smoothly sculpted glass and a typical layout of buttons and ports. The 6.4-inch display is notably larger than the G7, and is ever-so-slightly larger than the Galaxy S9+ — less than 1mm taller, and 2mm wider. It has a notch, of course, but LG made a subtle change to make the bottom bezel the same thickness as the top — and despite the notch up there it has a very nice sense of symmetry when you look at the screen. This is a really nice OLED screen you'll enjoy looking at, but it isn't quite as good as Samsung's. That display is an OLED panel, which marks a move away from the G7's LCD and hasn't exactly been a point of strength for LG phones. You may recall the furor over the Pixel 2 XL's LG-made panel being so bad, but thankfully the V40's panel looks nothing like that. Actually, it looks really good. It's crisp and colorful, with only mild color shifting at tight viewing angles. And it now has a proper auto-high-brightness mode that can enable by default in sunlight and doesn't need to be triggered manually. The max brightness is good enough to easily see the screen in bright sunlight, and it also gets really dim at night. I won't say it's as wonderful as Samsung's latest screens — which are just amazing — but it's darn close, and good enough that I haven't found any reason to complain about its characteristics. The phone is solid, but the matte glass finish is what really takes it over the top — don't get the Aurora Black color. Because it's relatively light, the V40 doesn't seem quite as solid or substantial. At 169 grams it's 10% lighter than the Galaxy S9+ and 16% lighter than the Note 9 — it's also over 1mm thinner. But most people will find the reduction in quality heft a fine trade-off for being able to use the phone in one hand more comfortably. The V40 is still awkwardly tall and a little slippery when it comes to adjusting your hand to reach the top third of the display, but the lower weight helps with usability regardless. The slippery finish is actually exclusive to this Aurora Black V40 that I've been using, because LG has an altogether different finish for its other colors. Moroccan Blue, which is the only non-black option in the U.S., and other international options have a softer matte finish to the glass that is amazing to hold. The frosted glass finish is easier to grip, collects fewer fingerprints and offers a neat color-shifting look that makes the black version even more boring by comparison. It's a shame LG didn't apply this "soft" finish to all of the colors — a big missed opportunity to differentiate entirely from Samsung's glossy backs. The black one looks and feels fine, and has a subtle color-shift effect to a more blue-green in the right lighting, but as soon as your see Moroccan Blue you'll want it — and sadly, it's exclusive to Verizon for some unknown period. LG took Samsung's lead and simply offers every spec and feature the competition has. Elsewhere, LG's done a darn good job of filling the V40 with the features people are clamoring for. It's water resistant, of course. The 64GB of storage is typical, but the SD card slot is a nice bonus for many people. There's also a headphone jack, which is appreciated, and LG continues to get plaudits for including a nice DAC to help it out. LG's so-called "BoomBox" speaker system is an attempt to skip dual speakers in favor of using the whole phone as a resonator for the single speaker at the bottom, and for the most part it works well. When you set the phone down on a table it really helps amplify the sound, and it sounds pretty good — but when you crank up the volume a bit when watching or listening to something as you hold the phone, it feels ... odd. The whole phone vibrates, which isn't pleasing, and you can still run into the age-old problem of blocking the single bottom speaker with your pinky finger. Triple treat LG V40 Cameras We'll eventually reach the point of diminishing returns with the number of cameras on smartphones — but right now, having three distinct sensors and lenses on the back of a phone seems totally normal. LG's marketing talks about a "penta" (five) camera setup on the V40, but of course, only three are on the back with the other two on the front. The set of three breaks down like this: a 12MP main sensor with a standard-view lens, a 16MP sensor with a wide-angle lens, and another 12MP sensor (different from the primary) with a 2X telephoto lens. The main camera took a step up, and the two supporting lenses just add to the experience. The wide-angle sensor and lens are the same as the LG G7, which is fine, but the main sensor and lens have thankfully been upgraded. The main sensor has 1.4-micron pixels, much larger than the G7's 1-micron, and the lens is now a little brighter at f/1.5. There are also purported upgrades to the photo processing, including smarter HDR that chooses how many frames to process based on what's in the scene and specific changes to improve low-light photo quality overall. I'm so glad LG made the sensor and lens upgrade to get more light in. It really shows in the final product, whether you're shooting in low light or not.<doc-sep>LG has taken the wraps off the LG V40 ThinQ, revealing a huge phone with a gorgeous 6.4-inch display, all the power you could want, and five camera lenses. But is it worth spending your money on, or should you invest in another top-level flagship instead? The Galaxy Note 9 is one of the best phones on the market right now, and also comes with a huge 6.4-inch screen, incredible power, and an amazing camera. Which one should you buy? We compared the two to find out. Specs LG V40 ThinQ Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Size 158.7 x 75.7 x 7.7mm (6.25 x 2.98 x 0.30 inches) 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.37 x 3 x 0.34 inches Weight 169 grams (5.96 ounces) 201 grams (7.09 ounces) Screen size 6.4-inch P-OLED display 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display Screen resolution 3,120 x 1,440 pixels (537 pixels per inch) 2,960 x 1,440 pixels (516 pixels-per-inch) Operating system Android 8.1 Oreo Android 8.1 Oreo Storage space 64GB 128GB, 512GB MicroSD card slot Yes Yes Tap-to-pay services Google Pay Google Pay, Samsung Pay Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 RAM 6GB 6GB, 8GB Camera Triple lens 12MP (with OIS) and 16MP wide and 12MP telephoto rear, dual 8MP and 5MP wide front camera Dual 12MP (with OIS) and 12MP (with OIS) rear, variable aperture, 8MP front Video 2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps 2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.0 Ports 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C Fingerprint sensor Yes Yes Water resistance IP68 IP68 Battery 3,300mAh Fast charging (Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0) Qi wireless charging 4,000mAh Fast charging (Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0) Qi wireless charging App marketplace Google Play Store Google Play Store Network support T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Colors Aurora Black, Moroccan Blue Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple Price $900 $1,000 Buy from LG Samsung, Amazon Review score 3.5 out of 5 stars 4 out of 5 stars Performance, battery life, and charging Both of these phones are equipped with the Snapdragon 845, putting them among the most powerful mobile devices in the world. Both will provide smooth performance across a variety of apps, and will handle most mobile games extremely well. The Note 9 is technically more powerful, with the option for 2GB of extra RAM and a water-cooling system that keeps the processor from overheating, enabling it to perform at top level for longer. The V40 packs a respectable 3,300mAh battery, while the Note 9 comes with a whopping 4,000mAh battery. Oddly though, there’s not a huge difference in battery life. We got a day’s use out of each of these phones, but the Note 9 could possibly go into a second day with light usage — not something we thought the V40 could manage. You’ll find wireless charging on both, as well as fast charging. However, the V40 refills faster than the Note 9, thanks to QuickCharge 3.0 support. The LG V40 ThinQ charges faster than the Note 9, but that’s pretty much the only area where it’s superior. The Note 9 wins this fight with more power and a bigger battery. Winner: Galaxy Note 9 Design and durability It’s premium materials all-around here. The V40 and the Note 9 are both made from glass laid over aluminum frames. The Note 9’s design is a touch-up of the Note 8, while the LG V40 is a dead ringer for the V35 and V30. While that benefits the Note 9 — the Note 8 is still a beautiful looking phone — it’s something of a letdown for the V40, which struggles to draw your eyes the same way the Note 9 does. We said it was too subtle in our review, and in this contest, the Note 9 stands out more. You’ll find IP68-rated water resistance in both phones. As both are covered in glass, you will want to invest in a case. We did notice that the lighter weight of the V40 made it feel less solid than the much heavier Note 9. Both phones have excellent designs, and feel great in the hand — but the Note 9 earns the win with a design that’s just that bit more eye-catching. Winner: Galaxy Note 9 Display While the notch will divide opinion, the V40’s 6.4-inch OLED screen looks great. It displays a 3,120 x 1,440-pixel resolution, and thanks to the OLED screen tech, blacks look deep and inky, while colors are beautifully vibrant. But LG’s up against a master here, and the Note 9’s AMOLED display is one of the best in the business. The Note’s 6.4-inch display runs a similar 2,960 x 1,440-pixel resolution, and also displays inky blacks and vibrant colors, but you’ll find the Note 9’s screen gets brighter, making it easier to see in bright sunlight. The LG V40’s display is great, but the Note 9’s is better. Winner: Galaxy Note 9 Camera The LG V40 ThinQ’s headline feature is undoubtedly its five camera lenses — three on the back, two on the front. The three on the back are comprised of a main 12-megapixel lens, a secondary 16-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. It’s an impressive lineup, reminiscent of the Huawei P20 Pro, and it adds a certain flexibility to your snaps. However, it’s not perfect, and quality is inconsistent across the lenses, with the primary 12-megapixel lens being superior to the other two. This can lead to a mismatch in quality when swapping between lenses. It’s also plagued by buggy software. By contrast, the Note 9 only has two lenses on the back — a primary 12-megapixel lens teamed with a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. However, Samsung has spent a long time polishing this particular suite of cameras, and it shows in the smooth software and consistent quality across a variety of situations. The Galaxy S9’s variable aperture returns, and the Note 9 debuts an A.I.-powered Scene Optimizer. While both sport similar A.I. optimization, we definitely prefer the Note 9’s results. Video-wise, you’ll be able to record at 4K at 60 fps on both, but there’s no Note 9-style super-slow-motion on the V40. Both are also capable of portrait modes, but we found the V40’s focusing to be extremely unreliable. Both of these phones were marketed heavily on the strength of their cameras, so this category is of supreme importance. Despite the flexibility of the LG V40 ThinQ’s extra two lenses, it’s still let down by inconsistent quality and buggy software. The Note 9’s polished software and incredible low-light camera win here. Winner: Galaxy Note 9 Software and updates Despite both phones coming with Android 8.1 Oreo, you’ll find Google’s OS hidden under custom skins. The Note 9 comes with the Samsung Experience UI, and it’s a fairly good UI, with plenty of customizable options. The included apps aren’t bad either, with Samsung Pay and Samsung Health being particularly notable. The V40 comes with LG’s UX skin, and it’s quite good, too, with customizable options and some useful features directly from LG. However, you might find a lot of carrier bloatware, depending on where you purchase your phone. Unfortunately, neither phone comes with Android 9.0 Pie, which is a misstep for both. Both have Pie in the works, but we reckon LG will have the update out first, based purely on past performance. Both phones will get two years of Android updates, so you’ll get Android Q on both, too. Though we prefer stock Android, both phones have good custom UIs. However, LG’s update record is generally better than Samsung’s, and helps it win this round. Winner: LG V40 ThinQ Special features The LG V40 ThinQ comes with some specials features that you’re likely to find beneficial. Top of the list is probably the Boombox Speaker, which uses the phone’s internal space as a sound chamber and boosts volume, but the A.I. key comes a close second, providing quick and easy access to the Google Assistant. It’s miles better than the Note 9’s Bixby key. That A.I. is integrated to a high level, including the camera optimization and easy access to Google Lens.<doc-sep>
LG’s V40 comes at a time when LG desperately needs a break. After the V30, V35, and G7 all stumbled out the gate with unforgivable flaws and half-baked features, LG has gone back to the well with the V40. And wouldn’t you know it, LG’s finally got it right. With the changes to the screen, camera, and design, the V40 fixes early every problem I had with its predecessors. Whether that translates into robust sales or any kind of sustained success remains to be seen, but the V40 is a phone that can stand up to the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Pixel 3 XL, and even the iPhone XS Max. The penta-camera system you’ve heard about gives it a massive boost over the G7 without introducing too many gimmicks, and the OLED display is a giant leap over the V30‘s screen. In fact, it’s hard to think of too many ways that LG could improve upon the V40. Barring an in-display fingerprint sensor or a folding screen, LG has turned small improvements into a big change. The V40 could be the sleeper hit of the competitive fall October field. If only it didn’t cost $900. A bigger and brighter screen To look at the V40, it’s easy to mistake it for a G7 at first or even second glance. But put them next to each other and the differences are clear. The V40’s screen is quite a bit bigger at 6.4 inches versus 6.1 inches on the G7, so the frame is naturally larger all around at 158.8 x 75.7 mm versus 53.2 x 71.9 mm on the G7. MICHAEL SIMON/IDG The LG V40 (left) is basically a bigger version of the G7. But the V40 doesn’t feel much bigger for two reasons. One is the thickness. At 7.6 mm, it’s actually 0.3 millimeters thinner than the G7. And despite a significantly larger screen, it’s only 7 grams heavier at 169 grams. The Galaxy Note 9, which has the same 6.4-inch screen and glass body, weighs over 30 grams more. That makes a big difference when you’re carrying and using a phone for hours on end. The V40 retains the notch that so many people despise, but like the G7, you can hide it behind a black status bar if you prefer. Because the V40 has an OLED screen, the effect is even better here. LG also managed to trim dimensions in other ways. The bezels are a little thinner than the G7’s. The unsymmetrical chin and forehead that the V40 has (and all other notched Android phones have) are slimmer than most. The corners and the edges of the glass adhere to the V line’s curvier aesthetic, a slight contrast to the boxier G7. MICHAEL SIMON/IDG The V40 has a notch but don’t worry, you can hide it. The back is equally minimal, with three horizontally aligned cameras and a fingerprint sensor, and a choice of two colors: black and blue. They’re fine, but I missed the silver option of prior handsets. I probably wouldn’t have noticed the “sand blasted” glass had LG not pointed it out, but it’s surely a lot less reflective than on other phones and feels slightly less slippery to the touch. The front of the phone is all about the display, and it might be the best LG’s ever put in a phone. I’ve always been impressed with LG’s LCDs, but the V30’s OLED left much to be desired, so much so that LG switched back to LCD for the G7. The difference between my V30 and the V40 is night and day. The latter delivers bright, vivid, rich colors with deep blacks. None of the banding issues I experienced with the V30 are present here, and I noticed only the slightest of blue shifts, which I was able to eliminate via LG’s excellent color settings. Even the always-on display is crisper and brighter. If it’s true that LG will be supplying Apple with some displays for the iPhone XS, Samsung might want to start worrying. Fast and long-lasting On the inside, the V40 more closely resembles the G7. The specs are identical when it comes to the processor (Snapdragon 845), RAM (6GB), and storage (64GB), areas that LG admittedly hasn’t focused on with the V40. That means you get a Snapdragon 845, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage on the $900 base model. Also noteworthy is the 32-bit Quad DAC headphone jack, a dying spec on other high-end phones.