LG V20
Phone Scoop Review
Nov 4, 2016 by Eric M. Zeman
The V20 is LG's biggest, most advanced Android smartphone to-date. The V20 boasts three cameras, a quad HD screen, superior audio capture, and the interesting Second Screen display. It's one of the first few phones to ship with Android 7 Nougat and comes with a staggering amount of software to manage. Is LG's behemoth the right camera-focused flagship for you? Find out in Phonescoop's full report. read review ›
User Reviews
Average Ratings
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still works great
I was impressed by all the bells and whistles that are on the V20, but I am coming from an LG FLIP PHONE. I bought this smartphone because of the fantastic HD camera that is installed and that it has a replaceable battery.
The bad: There are NO audible notifications nor reminders of a calender appointment like on most flip phones, including the phones manufactured by LG and Motorola, so if a text message arrives, or an important appointment time occurs, NOTHING after the first text message notification alert is provided. NOTHING at all for an appointment; no visual nor audible alert.
There is NOT a repeat audible reminder so if you get a phone call that goes to VoiceMail (VM), a TINY reminder on the second screen is all you can expect.
The cell also has poor daylight visibility of its display, a real bummer when I'm trying to use the camera in daytime ambient light!
I get about 2.5 days out of one charge, but that is using the V20 as a non-smartphone (no or very little data time used). I have PureTalk, a AT&T MVNO (uses AT&T network and towers).
Despite this phone being a two-year old model of a top of the line LG product, I like it! Buying older top of the line phones is one way to get good technonogy at a less than excessive price.
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Quite possibly, the best phone I've used in awhile
Carrier: Sprint
I decided that I would join Sprint again. I'd been hearing that their service in the area in which I work, and also live in was getting better, and the reviews weren't lying. I'll hit an occasional spot in the middle of rural nowhere that I won't have signal, but for the most part, I've almost always got 3-4 bars and LTE no matter where I go. Having had an iPhone 7 just prior to this phone, and trying an LG V10 out on ATT, I figured that I'd try this one out, it has EVERYTHING the iPhone has and even more (IR blaster/sensor, and a removable battery to boot)The one thing I missed immensely was my battery life that I had on the iPhone, most likely because of the battery case (apple charging case) I had purchased when I bought it. My first purchase was for an extended battery. I've easily reached 2 days with usage, and have yet to have had a day where the phone has gone dead., I can't speak as well for the standard original LG battery, I had to use it while I waited a week for the new battery and case to arrive, and charged my phone more times than I could count, with just normal use.The camera is one of the best I've had/seen on any phone as of yet. It has two seperate cameras on the back of the phone, one for closeups. And each of them is good. I'd resorted to bringing my digital camera with me wherever I went on vacation or small day trips, not anymore. This phone REALLY takes good pictures.Call quality is decent. I'm bummed that I can't simeltaneously go on the web and call at the same time, even sending a picture message and call at the same time is not allowed, due to Sprints new network. I didn't really utilize this feature all that much whilst I was on ATT, so it really doesn't matter all that much.
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LG V20
Carrier: T-Mobile
This is one of the few phones that I will keep for an extended amount of time. It works very well and I haven't seen any phone that would entice me to trade up.
Pro's:
-Battery life (full day of moderate/heavy use)
-Removable battery
-SD card port
-USB type C (no longer have to figure which direction the connector inserts into the phone)
-GPS (great reception indoors)
-NFC works well
-Bright screen (I rarely have it set to max brightness, normally 3/4)
-Very reliable. No hardware failures yet.
-Fingerprint scanner. This one actually works well. I use it to protect the phone and for banking. Very reliable.
Con's:
-Curved screen at edges (glass screen protectors won't lay flat)
-Lack of accessories (when compared to Samsung or Apple products)
-Lack of dual sim ports
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LG V20 on Verizon
Carrier: Verizon
I was very anxious to try this phone given its specs. I bought one retail at the Verizon store 2 days ahead of the launch date. After using it for 48 hrs I returned it. While I think the phone is solid for most users I couldn't help but feel like it just was up to my standards. I have used every high end Android phone for the past 8+ years. Here's my breakdown:
PROS;
-Big display
-Great camera
-Fast processor
-Expandable memory
-Removable battery
-USB type C charging
CONS;
-LG software
-Mediocre battery life
-Finger print sensor
-Single speaker
-Overall build qualify/feel
-Reception indoors kept going into 3G
I couldn't help but feel like this phone was the V10 with minor changes. LG's software still feels unpolished and makes the user experience less then stellar. Their ideas are great but the execution of those ideas feels incomplete.
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Pleasantly Surprised by LG V20
Carrier: Verizon
PROs: Battery Life-19 hours with continuous use and still 20% left, Speed, Audio, Camera, Second Screen, Fingerprint reader accuracy, Feel?
CONs: No S Pen, No waterproofing, no wireless charging, Feel?
I was very reluctant to exchange my Note 7 because I thought it was the best phone I ever owner. To my surprise, it wasn't. It most definitely has competition from the LG V20. While the Note 7 has the S Pen, waterproofing, edge screen and wireless charging, I still argue that LG V20 "might" be the best phone I've ever used.
Best battery life I've ever had in the past and it is the best I currently have in my household now. We have a Samsung as well as an iPhone. The phone is extremely quick and responsive. There is virtually no lag, but my Note 7 would occasionally lag. It is a large phone with a second screen that I find myself using often. I hardly ever used the Note 7s edge screen. It felt nice in my hands, but I find LG's screen more convenient. For people that are looking for a replacement, I wouldn't look further. However, the LG is a big phone. It is taller and wider, but thinner than the Note 7. It is also considerably lighter, which at first I didn't think I liked. Now I think I prefer. Don't get me wrong, the Note 7 felt very comfortable in my hand. This is a lot wider so it may be tougher for some people to use with a single hand. It's tough to describe the feel. I can't decide which I like better in that area. I won't give it a 5 because I don't believe anything is perfect. However, I would give it a 4.9. LG shocked me with my first LG phone. I like it as much if not more than the Note 7 (my favorite). I live in South Florida and the signal and sound quality so far have been excellent!
The media features have been as good if not better than the Note 7. I was planning on keeping this until the next "Note" was released, but I am not sure now. It will completely depend on how badly I want an S pen again.
