Should you get the LG V40 or the LG50 5G?

We use every Android phone possible, both with 4G and now 5G, to see what each one brings to the table and tell you when the time is right to transition to the latest networks.

Our pick

LG V40

$850 at B&H

Pros

• Less expensive for effectively same experience
• Available unlocked and to use with any carrier
• Great screen

Cons

• No future 5G capabilities
• Less than stellar battery life

The V40 may not be everyone's first-choice flagship, but it's a really good phone that competes with top-end devices at a sub-$900 price. Sure it doesn't have 5G, but its price makes it a much better value proposition than the V50 — and you'll be able to choose (and change) your carrier because it's available unlocked.

First to 5G

LG V50

$1150 at Sprint

Pros

• 5G is ready for the future
• 20% larger battery
• Great screen
• Newer processor

Cons

• Overpriced for what you get
• Only available from Sprint and Verizon
• Heavier than V40

The V50 is a good phone, but it isn't substantially different from the V40. You get access to a 5G network, and a larger battery is always nice, but it also costs $300 more than the unlocked V40. Plus, you'll be limited to just Verizon or Sprint, and 5G isn't worth switching carriers for right now.

The V40 and V50 are nearly identical

The LG V50 has a different name, but is nearly identical to the LG V40 released months earlier. It's built with the same materials, has the same-sized screen, and has the same specs other than four simple changes: a newer Snapdragon 855 processor, 5G radios, 128GB of storage and a larger 4000mAh battery.

Those changes lead to small increases in thickness and weight for the V50, though you won't particularly notice those on account of the V40's already thin and light hardware.

	LG V40	LG V50
Operating system	Android 9 Pie	Android 9 Pie
Display	6.4-inch OLED, 3120x1440 (19.5:9) HDR10	6.4-inch OLED, 3120x1440 (19.5:9) HDR10
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM	6GB	6GB
Storage	64GB	128GB
Expandable	MicroSD	MicroSD
Rear camera 1	12MP, 1.4-micron, OIS, f/1.5, 78-degree lens	12MP, 1.4-micron, OIS, f/1.5, 78-degree lens
Rear camera 2	16MP, 1-micron, f/1.9, 107-degree lens	16MP, 1-micron, f/1.9, 107-degree lens
Rear camera 3	12MP, 1-micron, f/2.4, 45-degree lens, 2X zoom	12MP, 1-micron, f/2.4, 45-degree lens, 2X zoom
Front camera 1	8MP, f/1.9, 80-degree lens	8MP, f/1.9, 80-degree lens
Front camera 2	5MP, f/2.2, 90-degree lens	5MP, f/2.2, 90-degree lens
Connectivity	802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C	802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C
Audio	BoomBox speaker 3.5mm headphone jack 32-bit Quad DAC	BoomBox speaker 3.5mm headphone jack 32-bit Quad DAC
Battery	3300mAh Non-removable	4000mAh Non-removable
Charging	Quick Charge 3.0, Fast wireless charging	Quick Charge 3.0, Fast wireless charging
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Security	Capacitive fingerprint sensor	Capacitive fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	158.8 x 75.7 x 7.6 mm 169 g	158.8 x 75.7 x 8.4 mm 183g

Being the "same" as the V40 definitely isn't a bad thing, and if you're comparing these two phones it means you're already drawn to the features and design that LG has to offer. But it's worth noting that the improvements in the V50 are minimal, even though it's listed with a different name that would indicate there's more of an upgrade at play.

How much do you want to pay for 5G?

With so much shared between the phones, the differentiator in this comparison is access to a 5G network — and the associated price and carrier restrictions associated with it.

Getting access to a small 5G network is not worth $300 more than the V40.

Considering the V50 is so similar to the V40 but with the potential to use 5G in the future, it would be a no-brainer to go for the V50 ... except for the fact that it's about $300 more. The V40 launched at a high price, but in the months since it's dropped considerably — and now it can be had for under $900, whereas the V50 is over $1100. That's a big price differential for a small improvement, and while the V40 is a fine value at about $850 its core tenets don't really stand up to the scrutiny placed on a phone that costs hundreds more.

In addition to the cost aspect, which is likely the most important for people, there are also carrier restrictions in place for the V50. You can only get the LG V50 from Sprint or Verizon, and at this point with the small size of 5G networks it isn't worth switching carriers in order to get this phone. If you use T-Mobile or AT&T, or a prepaid MVNO, you'll only be able to go with the V40 because it's available unlocked.

If you like what LG is offering in its high-end phones, we recommend you get the LG V40. It's hundreds of dollars less than the V50, and you won't miss the 5G capabilies — by the time the network matters, you'll be ready to upgrade to a new phone again.

Our pick

LG V40

A good phone that you can buy and use on any network.

$850 at B&H

The V40 doesn't offer 5G connectivity, but its much lower price makes it a better value proposition. For about $850, the V40 is a good phone with high-end specs, a great screen and capable cameras. Plus, it can be had unlocked so you can choose (and change) your carrier as you see fit.

First to 5G

LG V50

Hundreds more for a couple small changes and a network you may not have access to.

$1150 at Sprint

The V50 is a solid phone, because it's effectively the same as the V40. Yes you get access to a 5G network and a larger battery, but that's hardly worth the $300 extra it costs over the V40. And beyond that, you'll be limited to either Sprint or Verizon, which further complicates things for some people.