Galaxy S10 Too Pricey? Say Hello to LG G8

The Android phone market is rather saturated at the moment. Between Samsung’s numerous Galaxy handsets, Google’s Pixel line and ample competition from other third-party developers, Android users have a ton of options. The newest competition for Samsung’s Galaxy S10 flagship phone is the LG G8, a more budget-friendly Android heavy-hitter.

LG G8

Head to Head

The LG G8 is expected to retail for around $820, a solid $80 less than Samsung’s own Galaxy S10. How does it stack up in terms of features, though? Well, the G8 sports a 6.1-inch display, gorgeous OLED screen and bright colors contrasted with deep blacks.

The design is entirely water-resistant, like all modern smartphones, and it sports wireless charging capabilities. It runs on the same Android Pie operating system as the S10, and sports similar specs. The Snapdragon 855 chipset is as impressive as ever here, and the 3,500-mAh battery offers ample time away from the charger.

What’s Different

There are a few things going on here that set the G8 ThinQ apart from the competition. One such wrinkle is the presence of an actual headphone jack, something that premium smartphones haven’t sported for a couple of years. While most phones offer a dongle to convert your old-school headphones to USB-C, it’s nice to not need that.

Is it Worth It?

Samsung announced an astonishing five new phones while LG was launching the G8. Among them are the Galaxy Fold, the long-rumored folding phone that Samsung has been teasing for years. It’s clear that the LG G8 ThinQ has to go head-to-head with the Galaxy line.

From price point to features, the G8 is clearly a direct challenge to Samsung. Can it stand up against the competition though? Aside from the headphone jack and a unique look, it doesn’t bring a lot to the table. Its features are largely found elsewhere, done better and with more style.

Bottom Line

The Samsung Galaxy S10 is a bit pricier, but only a bit. For an extra $80 you can upgrade to the best Android phone money can buy. If the LG G8 cost $700, or maybe $600, this would be a different article altogether. However, for the surprising sticker price of $820, it’s simply not worth it.

Everything you find here is solid, but is done better on other phones in the same price range. After all, you could spend a similar amount of money on a Google Pixel 3 and end up with a much superior product. Sadly, this is a phone for no one: not high-end enough to beat Samsung, not inexpensive enough to be a budget option.