LG V10 hands-on and first impressions

The LG V10 has finally been announced and you can bet we rushed to get our hands all over it. After spending some quality time with the device, we can tell you we like what we see so far. Is it the phone for you? It could be, but that is a question we would rather leave for the full review. For now we simply want to give you a quick look at the new high-end smartphone and show you a glimpse of this very unique gadget.

Design

Though the phone definitely has an eccentric style to it, it retains the overall look LG has now become famous for. It includes signature elements such as the rear button layout and ultra-thin bezels, as well as the overall shape that characterizes LG handsets.

The most significant differences with the LG V10 are the materials and build quality applied. The latest LG flagship features a resistant metal frame composed of SAE grade 316L stainless steel. In addition, the back cover and other parts of the device are covered in plastic. But this is no regular plastic – it’s Dura Skin, which is soft to the touch, yet durable. Aside from helping with nicks and scratches, Dura Skin aids in handling shocks, allowing the phone to achieve a military standard 810G rating. This is something you can usually only get from those bulky heavy duty cases.

The back also happens to have a very interesting pattern, but some of you may be more excited about the fact that you can pull it off, which grants access to both the removable battery and the microSD card slot. These are both LG staples users will appreciate, as the features are a rare thing in current Android smartphones. It’s kind of an “LG thing” now.

Also different are the rear buttons. They may look similar to those in previous LG handsets, but the manufacturer has added capacitive features to the power button, as well as a fingerprint reader.

And of course, we can’t forget the obvious inclusions to the front of the device, which really set the LG V10 aside from the competition. There is a small secondary screen bar above the main display, as well as a dual front-facing camera setup right next to it. Both new elements make this a rather tall phone, so handling does take some time getting used to.

Display

Let’s talk about that gorgeous screen. The V10 sports a 5.7-inch IPS LCD Quantum Display with a QHD (2560x1440p) resolution. That equates to a pixel density of 513 ppi. In terms of panel quality, Quantum Display was introduced with the LG G4, so we can expect a similar experience with this handset. Colors are not saturated or deep, but this is a good thing for those of you who prefer color accuracy, which is definitely something these LG panels are good at.

But the sensation here is that second screen, isn’t it? It’s actually quite an interesting little addition. The 2.1-inch ticker has a 106×1040 resolution, and for now it’s mostly used for displaying the weather, time, date and battery info while the main display is off. Once you turn that bigger panel on, this ticker area becomes a second screen for your shortcuts and favorite apps. Pretty convenient. We certainly hope more functionality is added with time; there’s plenty of potential here.

Performance & Hardware

We can find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC under the hood, as well as an Adreno 418 GPU and 4 GB of RAM. Not much to see here, as this is a processing package we have seen before with the LG G4. Regardless, this is not a bad thing – the LG G4 performs amazingly, and so does the LG V10, which does come with an additional GB of RAM. This should help with multi-tasking, as well as easing a bit of the load that comes with running that secondary display.

Other hardware specs are also important, and the LG V10 comes with enough to keep your needs met. This thing has a whopping 64 GB of internal storage, which should be plenty for most. If that’s not enough, though, you can also expand your memory via microSD by up to 2 TB.

One of the most notable additions to the hardware is the fingerprint reader, which you can find embedded in the power button. Obviously, this sensor can be used to unlock the phone and turn the display on. It is also compatible with Android Pay and other Android-supported biometric processes.

Audiophiles will be satisfied by the addition of 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC by ESS Technology. This new system detects connected devices and provides sound control options. The V10 is also the first to adopt Qualcomm’s QFE2550 closed-loop antenna, allowing for better voice quality and improved network coverage.

On the battery front, we can find the same 3000 mAh battery the LG G4 features. This is no longer something special, but users do appreciate having the ability to carry spare batteries. Those removable batteries change everything.

Camera

You won’t be disappointed with the LG V10 camera; the handset sports the same photography technology we found on the LG G4. That 16 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture can do marvels, and it just so happens to be among the very best in the industry. Camera enthusiasts will especially like the high level of control the camera app offers. One can manipulate the ISO, shutter speed and more.

Now, one part that is definitely not the same as with any other previous LG smartphones is the front-facing shooter. Yes, there are two cameras in the front – but why? It turns out the dual 5 MP lenses don’t do anything fancy, but the little they do definitely helps. They make shots wider, which is a welcomed addition for those dandy selfies.

Software

Have you used an LG smartphone before? Those who have will feel right at home with the LG V10. It still runs that G UI, on top of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The interface continues feeling a little bloated, even if not as much as in the past. What is most important is performance, though, and the level of optimization does make for a smoother, snappier experience.

The second screen is an important factor in the software side of things, and it will definitely change the way you use your phone. This ticker can be set up as “always on” to show the weather, time, date and battery icon when the main display is off. After turning the main screen on, the secondary display will show your shortcuts and favorite apps.

My favorite part about the secondary screen is that it displays any notifications that come through while you are using the phone. This means your videos, games or any other content won’t be interrupted! Pretty sweet.

Wrapping up

So there you have it, guys. This is your first look at the LG V10, and so far it’s looking to be one of the most unique devices of 2015. It is rugged, innovative and very powerful. You can be sure we will be all over it when it’s time to review it, so do keep it tuned to Android Authority for more details. This phone will be a fun one to cover!

But what do you guys think? Are you liking the LG V10? Thinking of buying one, or do you feel its “extras” are more gimmicks than anything? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.