The LG V series has always been known for ambitious mainstream devices that pack exclusive features, and the new V30+ proudly continues the tradition.
Setting a new standard in the evolution of premium smartphones, the South Korean giant recently took the wraps off the much anticipated V30+, the latest addition to the V series flagship smartphones.
The LG V30+ features many industry-first innovations: the first F1.6 aperture camera lens, the first glass Crystal Clear Lens, the first OLED FullVision display and a Cine Video mode for producing movie-quality videos. Other features include premium sound with advanced Hi-Fi Quad DAC, sound tuning by B&O PLAY and voice recognition. Let’s explore in detail how these features stand out.
Slimmest 6-inch phone
With a thickness of only 7.3mm and weighing just 158 grams, the V30+ is the lightest 6-inch smartphone in the market. Even with a large 6-inch screen, the V30+ is 8 mm shorter and 3 mm narrower than its predecessor (V20), resulting in a compact ergonomic design. The tempered glass that covers both front and back is curved all the way around the edges, making the screen stand out.
Overall, the V30+ seems to marry the designs of LG G6 and Google Pixel 2 XL, which makes a lot of sense, at least to me, as LG manufactured both the devices. However, the main difference lies in the material design. While the Pixel 2XL has a textured, metallic feel, the V30+ borrows the edgeless glass-sandwich design of its predecessors.
OLED FullVision display
The LG V30+ builds on the strengths of the OLED FullVision display in a lightweight, compact and slim body. LG’s OLED display makes for a great mobile viewing experience. It produces vibrant colours even with HDR-ready apps such as Netflix. The colours in the images are rich, offering more depth than what a traditional display is capable of. Viewing angles and brightness are good enough for both outdoors and indoors use.
Second Screen gone, Floating Bar in
The convenience of the Second Screen which was introduced in past V series smartphones has evolved into a new Always-on Display (AOD) feature and Floating Bar in V30+. When the display is off, the AOD replaces the Second Screen by providing shortcuts to Quick Tools and Music Player without turning on the display.
The optional semi-transparent Floating Bar can be customised with up to five apps for easy access to the most used applications. When not needed, the Floating Bar can be dragged off to the side so it doesn’t take up any screen space.
Impressive dual cameras
Designed for content creators, the LG V30+ comes with an 16MP standard camera and a 13MP wide angle camera. The 16MP rear camera sports an impressive f/1.6 aperture, which puts it above the competitors when it comes to low-light photography, at least on paper. However, in real life tests, Google’s Pixel 2 set of devices still leads in the low-light photography.
The main standard angle camera is supported by Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) and Hybrid Auto Focus that combines both Laser Detection Auto Focus and Phase Detection Auto Focus. The other 13MP lens at the back handles wide-angle shots and comes with an improved f/1.9 aperture as compared to f/2.4 found in V20.
Here are some sample images.
For creative users who want to shoot footage with V30+, the Cine Log mode allows to preserve a wide dynamic range and colour gamut for maximum flexibility in producing the desired look during post-production.
LG has also partnered with Graphy, which means that users can select professional images from the Graphy’s website or mobile app and apply the same presets such as white balance, shutter speed, aperture and ISO to photos taken with the V30+. The feature works only in manual mode.
While standard cameras only allow to zoom in on the centre of the frame, Point Zoom in V30+ allows users to zoom in on any subject smoothly using a zoom slider, regardless of its position in the frame. It’s interesting to note, how LG has nicely taken care of small things to take the mobile photography experience a new level.
Interface and audio
The user interface on V30+ is Android Nougat 7.1.2. This might be a setback for some users as Android Oreo 8.0 has already started rolling out on devices. LG has also included its usual batch of pre-installed apps such as LG Health, an FM radio application and QuickMemo+. Overall, the user experience is fast, feature-packed and easy to use.
And while almost all smartphones deliver more or less the same listening experience, LG’s V30+ takes audio performance to a whole new level, thanks to Quad DAC (digital-to-analogue converter). The audio adds to the experience of watching movies and streaming music. Four pre-programmed presets mix and match sound frequencies and decibel scales to produce a quality of audio usually found in professional earphones.
Power-packed performance
The LG V30+ is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile platform and supports Google Daydream, a platform for high quality mobile VR. With Daydream, users can explore new worlds, enjoy personal virtual reality (VR) cinema and play games that put them in the centre of action.
Pairing a powerful processor with an OLED display was the right move for LG not only because the V30+ performed flawlessly in the display department but also because the latest tech gives it an edge over its competitors. From switching between apps and multitasking to graphic-intensive tasks or games, the LG V30+ performs seamlessly.
The phone has Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and rear and meets durability requirements of the US Department of Defence. According to LG, V30+ has passed 14 categories of the MIL-STD 810G Transit Drop Test, making it suitable for military operations too.
Even after I used the device continuously for approximately an hour and half, the smartphone remained cool, thanks to its heat pipe and cooling pad that dissipate heat very quickly. The V30+ is also IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, which means that the phone is perfectly impervious to dust and can be immersed under water up to 1.5 metres for as long as 30 minutes without impacting its function.
The 3,300mAh battery in V30+ is the same as in Galaxy Note 8, which means that delivering an all-day performance is an easy goal for this phone. With Quick Charge 3.0, the V30+ charges from empty to 50 per cent in around 30 minutes. It also supports wireless charging.
For security purposes, the device features face and voice recognition. With Face Recognition, the V30+ can be unlocked instantaneously using the front facing camera and without pressing any buttons, even when the phone’s display is off. Voice Recognition uses a combination of the user’s voice and user-defined keywords (optimally three to five syllables) to unlock the V30+. There is also a fingerprint sensor on the rear of the phone.
Conclusion
Those who are looking for a device that can be utilised for an avalanche of multimedia options, the LG V30+ is their best option.
