With the many ups and downs, LG has had over the recent years, making an impact in the smartphone world hasn’t been easy. But all this time the company wasn’t shying away from taking on the heavyweights, even if some cases, like the LG G5, were always going to end up in shambles. Given LG has done some impressive work in the past (hint: LG G3), it’s a shame that G6 wasn’t a success either, but at least they have the ThinQ series of smartphones up and ready, the latest of them being the LG G8 ThinQ and LG V50 ThinQ, the latter the first from the company to support 5G network.

These two make part of what is still a great collection of LG phones that we can recommend to our readers, be it a high-end, midrange or budget phone. It all depends on your needs and budget.

The best LG phones [March 2019]

 Device  USA  UK  India
LG V50 ThinQ To be confirmed To be confirmed To be confirmed
LG G8 ThinQ To be confirmed To be confirmed To be confirmed
LG V40 ThinQ From $850 £700 INR 49,990
LG G7 ThinQ $750 ($627 on Amazon) £559 INR 40,000
LG V35 ThinQ $650 NA (£459 for V30) NA (INR 27,990 for V30+)
LG G7 One NA NA NA
LG G7 Fit NA From £330 NA
LG Q7+ $350 ($380 on Amazon) £309 INR 15,990
LG Stylo 4 (LG Q Stylus) $200 (Cricket Wireless), $250  (T-Mobile), $210 (Amazon Prime), $200 (Unlocked – Best Buy) £288  INR 14,890
LG Q60 To be confirmed To be confirmed To be confirmed
LG K50 To be confirmed To be confirmed To be confirmed
LG K40 To be confirmed To be confirmed To be confirmed

LG isn’t having the best of times in the smartphone business, something that was evident at the MWC 2018 when the company could only manage to give us a recycled LG V30. But at the MWC 2019, we got a new 5G phone accompanied by a sequel to the 2018 G7 ThinQ, both of which have made it to our list of the best LG phones you can buy in 2019. Of course, this list will change in case LG unveils better handsets, but until then, let’s check out what you get when you buy any of these great LG handsets.

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LG V50 ThinQ

LG V50 ThinQ 5G

The first from LG to support 5G network, the LG V50 ThinQ picks up from where the V40 ThinQ left off by packing in top-notch hardware specs, a five-lens camera setup, a much bigger battery to match the big boys from Samsung, an equally huge display screen, and all the bells and whistles of any LG flagship phone from the recent past: IP68, MIL-STD 810G, Boombox, 3.5mm audio jack, wireless charging, etc.

Specs
  • 6.4-inch 19.5:9 QHD+ (3120×1440) POLED FullVision display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor
  • Snapdragon X50 5G modem
  • 6GB RAM
  • 128GB expandable storage, up to 2TB
  • Tri-lens main camera: 16MP (super-wide lens of 107°, f/1.9 aperture) + 12MP (standard lens of 78°, f/1.5 aperture) + 12MP (telephoto lens of 45°, f/2.4 aperture)
  • Dual-lens front camera: 8MP (standard lens of 80°, f/1.9 aperture) + 5MP (wide lens of 90°, f/2.2 aperture)
  • 4000mAh battery
  • Android 9 Pie
  • Extras: 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, Quad DAC, Stereo Boombox, Quick Charge 3.0, 10W wireless charging, IP68, MIL-STD 810G, face unlock, Rear-mounted FPS, NFC, etc.

The LG V50 ThinQ will first be carried by Verizon and Sprint in the U.S. and is also expected to land on T-Mobile and AT&T later in the year, beginning Q2 2019. It is then that well get to know the pricing details.

LG G8 ThinQ

LG-G8-ThinQ-Red

The LG G8 ThinQ is the successor to the G7 ThinQ, but with nothing new to showcase in terms of design, the G8 ThinQ takes on a different route to try and impress the masses. In addition to introducing new ways of interacting with the device, a bigger battery and a display screen that you haven’t seen before on any phone, the G8 also comes with up to three ways for secure biometric authentication.

The most interesting of all is the Hand ID tech that uses your veins to securely lock your phone, but of course, you can still use the more traditional fingerprint scanner or 3D face unlock for facial recognition. With all these allied to a 2019 specs sheet, you have a flagship phone that undoubtedly outshines any of the previous G series devices.

Specs
  • 6.1-inch 19.5:9 QHD+ (3120×1440) AMOLED FullVision display screen
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 128GB expandable storage, up to 2TB
  • Dual-lens main camera: 16MP (wide-angle lens, f/1.9 aperture + 12MP (standard lens, f/1.5 aperture)
  • Dual-lens front camera: 8MP (standard lens, f/1.7 aperture) + ToF sensor (Z Camera)
  • 3500mAh battery
  • Android 9 Pie
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, IP68, MIL-STD 810G, NFC, Rear-mounted FPS, Crystal Sound OLED stereo speaker, Boombox Speaker, 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, DTS:X 3D Surround Sound, AI CAM, HDR10, Quick Charge 3.0, FM Radio, etc.

LG V40 ThinQ

Smartphones are today’s portable cameras and vendors want the best for you. Some like Google believe software is enough to achieve different photo effects, but others like LG think having a dedicated lens for these effects is a much better proposition.

On the back of the LG V40 ThinQ are three camera lenses – the usual LG combination of a standard and wide-angle lenses plus a telephoto lens, making up for an interesting setup. The front also has two camera lenses – a standard and wide-angle lens – making it a total of five lenses on the V40. The phone also comes with lots of AI (ThinQ) that promises more improvements to your photography experience with the phone.

Being a flagship phone, the LG V40 also ships with top-notch hardware specs and features in order to battle fairly against the likes of Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Google Pixel 3 XL, but as we all know, this is 2018 hardware. The G7’s Boombox speaker is also on board and so is the much-loved 3.5mm audio jack alongside a USB-C port – a combination that shouldn’t be taken for granted these days.

Specs
  • 6.4-inch 19.5:9 QHD+ P-OLED display with a notch
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 64GB or 128GB storage with microSD support
  • Tri-lens 12MP + 16MP + 12MP main camera
  • Dual 8MP + 5MP selfie camera
  • 3300mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo
  • Extras: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack,  BoomBox speaker, DTS:X 3D Surround Sound, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Quick Charge 3.0, wireless charging, etc.

Even better is that with a new crop of LG flagship phones on the market, you can have the V40 at a greatly discounted price, which is a good thing for anyone shopping for a top-end phone but is running on a budget.

LG G7 ThinQ

LG G7 ThinQ might not be the latest jewel from the Korean company, but it is no slouch either. Boasting high-end specs and features, the year-old phone is now receiving discounts now that the LG G8 is here. With an update to Android 9 Pie, the phone should be as good as new for anyone coming from something pre-2018. The company has included a setting to hide the notch, which should work just fine for LG fans who want nothing to do with it.

In terms of specs, the G7 packs year-old hardware and lots of other 2018-like specs and features, but once again, this doesn’t make it a poor buy. In fact, you are still getting one of the best smartphones from the past year at about half its launch price, which is one of the best LG deals, if not the best available today.

Specs
  • 6.1-inch 19.5:9 QHD+ LCD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset
  • 4/6GB of RAM
  • 64/128GB of expandable storage (up to 2TB)
  • Dual-lens 16MP + 16MP main camera
  • 8MP front camera
  • 3000mAh battery
  • Android 8.0 Oreo
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, IP68, MIL-STD 810G, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, 32-bit Hi-Fi QDAC, Quick Charge 3.0, Wireless charging, rear-mounted scanner, Face unlock, NFC, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Boombox speaker, etc.

If, however, you simply dislike the notch on the V50, G8, V40 or G7, the LG V35 ThinQ is also a great alternative, as you can see below.

LG V35 ThinQ

The LG V35 ThinQ has a design that resembles the V30 and V30S. However, on the inside, you’ll find hardware specs that largely mimic the LG G7. In fact, the only standout differences between the V35 and G7 can be seen on the display screen, amount of RAM and the battery capacity.

Specs
  • 6-inch 18:9 QHD+ (2880 x 1440) OLED display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
  • Dual-lens 16MP+ 16MP main camera
  • 8MP front-facing camera
  • 64GB of expandable storage
  • 6GB of RAM
  • 3,300mAh battery
  • Android 8.0 Oreo
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, Wireless Charging, Super Bright Camera, 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC and DTS:X 3D Surround Sound, NFC, Super Far-Field Voice Recognition, AI CAM, Google Lens, IP68 Water and Dust Resistance, MIL-STD 810G certification, Face Recognition, Fingerprint Sensor, etc.

While getting hold of the V35 ThinQ shouldn’t be a problem in the U.S., the same might not be true for other markets.

LG G7 One

The first from LG under the Android One program, the LG G7 One has a few things to share with the standard LG G7 ThinQ. The design remains mostly the same, with the notch keeping its place on the same-size display screen and a similar QHD+ resolution, but the back has a single-lens camera instead of two.

Also, unlike the 2018 G7 ThinQ, the G7 One runs on a 2017 chipset, the Snapdragon 835, but this is no slouch either. In fact, considering that the version of Android 8.1 Oreo that comes preinstalled is clean, you are likely to miss the difference in performance between the SDM835 and SDM845, the successor. The latest version is Snapdragon 855, which is found in the likes of LG G8 and LG V50 ThinQ.

The LG G7 One also brings with it a good number of nifty little additions from the standard G7, among them IP68 and MIL-STD 810G certified design, Boombox Speaker, Google Lens, and a dedicated Google Assistant key, among others. Those in the U.S. also get support for wireless charging.

Specs
  • 6.1-inch QHD+ 19.5:9 FullVision display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
  • 4GB RAM
  • 32GB expandable storage, up to 2TB
  • 16MP main camera
  • 8MP front camera
  • 3000mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo (Android One)
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, NFC, AI CAM†, Bright Camera, Boombox Speaker, Google Lens, IP68 Water & Dust Resistance, MIL-STD 810G Compliant, Google Assistant Key, Face Recognition, Fingerprint Sensor, Quick Charge 3.0, 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, DTS: X 3D Surround Sound, etc.

LG G7 One isn’t officially sold in the U.S., but Canadians can have one quite easily.

LG G7 Fit

LG launched the G7 One alongside another G7 variant dubbed LG G7 Fit. The G7 Fit has nearly the same design as the standard G7 ThinQ, but like the G7 One, you get a single-lens camera on the back. The device is powered by a 2016 flagship processor, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, just like the LG G6.

Although it has the same processing unit as the G6, the G7 Fit is not necessarily an upgrade over its counterpart. The notched screen is bigger, but the battery has grown smaller. You also get Oreo out of the box perhaps with a promise of an upgrade to Android 9 Pie and Android Q, a luxury you won’t enjoy with the LG G6.

Specs
  • 6.1-inch QHD+ 19.5:9 FullVision display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
  • 4GB RAM
  • 32GB or 64GB expandable storage, up to 2TB
  • 16MP main camera
  • 8MP front camera
  • 3000mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo
  • Extras: Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, NFC, New Second Screen, AI CAM, Google Lens, QLens, Boombox Speaker, 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, DTS: X 3D Surround Sound, IP68 Water and Dust Resistance, MIL-STD 810G Compliant, Face Recognition, Fingerprint Sensor, Quick Charge 3.0, etc.

The LG G7 Fit isn’t officially sold in the U.S., but in the UK, it can be had through Amazon and other retailers.

LG Q60

LG Q60

For anyone who can’t afford the high-end LG phones, the company has some cool options in the midrange segment, led by the LG Q60.

On paper, the LG Q60 doesn’t disappoint, especially considering that it’s a midrange device. The major highlight here is the tri-lens camera on the back, but that’s not all. As it is becoming a norm with devices in the Q series, the Q60 has a MIL-STD 810G compliant body, but no confirmed IP6X water resistance.

The device also boasts a huge 3500mAh battery, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, a notched display screen, and the 3.5mm audio jack, among others, as detailed below.

Specs
  • 6.26-inch 19:9 HD+ (720×1520) FullVision display screen
  • 2.0GHz Octa-core processor
  • 3GB RAM
  • 64GB expandable storage, up to 2TB
  • Tri-lens 16MP + 5MP + 2MP main camera
  • 13MP front camera
  • 3500mAh battery
  • Android 9 Pie
  • Extras: Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm jack, DTS:X 3D Surround Sound, AI CAM, Google Assistant button, MIL-STD 810G compliant, etc.

One little problem, though, is the availability of the LG Q60. In fact, LG has yet to make pricing and availability details in various markets public, but we expect the device to be available somewhere in Q2 2019.

LG K50

LG K50

Another great, affordable smartphone from LG is the LG K50, which poses as an understudy to the LG Q60. The two share the same body but with a few differences here and there, beginning from the outside, more specifically, the main camera array.

Instead of three, the LG K50 has two lenses on the back, but it keeps some of the other specs and features found on the Q60, including the front camera, battery capacity, MIL-STD 810G body, and so on, as listed below.

Specs
  • 6.26-inch 19:9 HD+ (720×1520) FullVision display screen
  • 2.0GHz Octa-core processor
  • 3GB RAM
  • 32GB expandable storage, up to 2TB
  • Dual-lens 13MP + 2MP main camera
  • 13MP front camera
  • 3500mAh battery
  • Android 9 Pie
  • Extras: Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm jack, DTS:X surround sound, Google Assistant button, AI CAM, MIL-STD 810G compliant, etc.

Similar to the LG Q60, details about pricing and availability of the LG K50 remain scarce, but given the K series has been in the past sold in multiple markets, including the U.S., we may see this device stateside in Q2 2019.

LG Q7

The LG Q7 is to the G7 ThinQ what the LG Q6 is to the G6. That is, the Q7 poses as a watered-down G7 while the Q6 is similarly a watered-down version of the G6. The LG Q7, just like its predecessor, borrows a lot from the premium LG G7 ThinQ, including rocking some impressive features like IP68 and MIL-STD 820G ratings, USB-C, among others. However, there’s no notch, if that’s a concern for you.

So, if you really like the LG G7 but can’t afford it, the best option is to tap into the powers of the LG Q7, which comes in three variants whose availability and pricing is market dependent. For instance, those in the U.S. can grab the Plus variant through T-Mobile.

LG Stylo 4

Until you get acquainted with the likes of Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or the older Note 8, you won’t know the world of possibilities the stylus opens. However, the price of the Note 9 means that it’s a no-go zone for some who’d want to have this tool on their phones. Enter LG Stylo 4.

As the name suggests, the LG Stylo 4 has a stylus and even though you won’t get the same features and capabilities as the Note 9 S Pen, it’s the closest you can get. Besides, at such an affordable price tag, you shouldn’t be expecting anything more than what is on offer, right?

It’s worth noting that the LG Stylo 4 comes in several variants (and names) depending on your carrier and there’s also an unlocked variant that ships with slightly tweaked specs.

Specs
  • 6.2-inch 18:9 FHD LCD display
  • Snapdragon 450 processor
  • 3GB RAM
  • 32GB expandable storage
  • 13MP back and 5MP front cameras
  • 3300mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo

The LG Stylo 4, which sells in India and other countries as the LG Q Stylus, is already available on T-Mobile and Cricket Wireless and as an unlocked variant. The latter is compatible with all major U.S. carriers, including Verizon and Sprint.

LG K40

LG K40

Coming in as the natural successor to the rather old-school LG K30, the new LG K40 conforms to the latest design standards that include thinner bezels, a taller 18:9 aspect ratio, and what LG calls FullVision display. Speaking of, you get a slightly bigger screen and battery capacity, but at the expense of a compact body.

The inclusion of top-end features like MIL-STD 810G certification, DTS: X Surround sound, active noise cancellation with a dedicated microphone, and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner is negated by the exclusion of a USB-C port in favor of a microUSB port, which is, by all means, a downgrade from the LG K30, which has a USB-C port. On the brighter side, the 3.5mm audio jack keeps its place.

Specs

  • 5.7-inch 18:9 HD+ (720×1440) display screen
  • 2.0GHz Octa-core processor
  • 2GB RAM
  • 32GB expandable storage, up to 2TB
  • 16MP main camera
  • 8MP front camera
  • 3000mAh battery
  • Android 9 Pie
  • Extras: Bluetooth 4.2, microUSB, Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm jack, DTS:X surround sound, AI CAM, Google Assistant button, MIL-STD 810G compliant, etc.

Like other LG phones released in 2019, the LG K40 comes with a dedicated Google Assistant button. Availability and pricing of the phone will be confirmed at a later date.

Wrap up

LG might not be having the best of times in the smartphone industry, but it’s obvious the company isn’t going to throw in the towel. The flurry of phones available in every smartphone category says it all and while the sheer numbers mean consumers have a vast collection of devices to choose from, their availability across all markets remains a major concern. But as you can see, there’s something for everyone.

So, which is the best LG phone from the list that you don’t mind buying this 2018? Let us know in your comments below.