Mid-range battle: LG Q6 vs Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)

LG has recently taken the wraps off its Q6 series of smartphones: the Q6, Q6 Plus, and Q6a. Although each of them has a different RAM/storage combo, all are considered to be mid-range handsets. They will go head to head with other mid-rangers on the market including the Galaxy A5 (2017), among others.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the differences as well as similarities between the LG Q6 smartphones and Samsung’s Galaxy A5 in terms of specs. This should give you a better idea of which one is better and more suitable for your needs. Let’s dive in.

Specs comparison

The LG Q6 smartphones all sport 5.5-inch Full HD+ FullVison displays with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Just like the G6, they have thin bezels that make them a lot more compact than other devices with the same screen size. They are powered by the Snapdragon 435 chipset and pack non-removable 3,000 mAh batteries.

All three devices are identical in terms of specs — as well as looks — aside from the already mentioned RAM/storage combo. The Q6a features 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, the Q6 has 3 GB of RAM and 32 of storage, while the most high-end model — the LG Q6 Plus — offers 4 GB of RAM along with 64 GB of space.

LG has decided to equip its Q6 series with a primary 13 MP standard angle sensor, as well as a wide-angle 5 MP selfie snapper. The devices are made from metal, run Android 7.1.1 Nougat with LG’s custom UI on top and, unfortunately, don’t have a fingerprint scanner.

The Samsung Galaxy A5, on the other hand, comes equipped with 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD resolution. Unlike the Q6 series, it has the standard 16:9 aspect ratio. What’s interesting is that even though it has a smaller display, it actually has a larger footprint than its competitors. Although the difference isn’t that big, as it’s only around 4 mm taller and 2 mm wider.

The smartphone is powered by the Exynos 7880 chipset and features a non-removable battery that has the same capacity as the one found in the Q6 series — 3,000 mAh. Only one variant of the device is available with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, which is the same combination offered as the LG Q6.

The Galaxy A5 sports a metal frame, a 3D glass back, and is IP68 rated. This means that it’s dust and water-resistant and will survive in up to one and a half meters of water for a period of 30 minutes. It features a primary 16 MP camera with an f/1.9 aperture and as well as a fingerprint scanner located on the front, below the display. There’s also a selfie snapper on board that has a 16 MP sensor.

When it comes to software, it ships with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow on board with Samsung’s skin on top, but you’ll be able to upgrade it to Nougat.

Which one is better?

The LG Q6 series and Samsung Galaxy A5 are quite different in a lot of ways, which means it’s hard to proclaim one as the winner. The Q6 smartphones have a larger screen than the Galaxy A5 but are still smaller thanks to the bezel-less design. The screen also has a different aspect ratio, which is the same as the one you’ll find on the G6 flagship. This makes them a little bit thinner as well as taller.

The phones feature a metal body and come in three different variants, while the Galaxy A5 is available in only one version and has a glass back that’s quite the fingerprint magnet.

The Samsung Galaxy A5 also offers a few things you won’t find on LG’s smartphones. The first one is the fingerprint scanner that’s embedded in the Home button up front. It’s almost a standard feature on mid-range devices these days, which is why it’s quite weird that LG didn’t include it. The other big difference is the IP68 rating that we’re normally used to seeing on high-end devices. Accidents do happen, so it’s nice to know that the device won’t die on you if you spill something on it, for example.

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Of course, when you’re making a purchasing decision, specs and features aren’t the only things you should compare. As most people, you’ll probably take the design into consideration as well. Which one comes out on top in this category is impossible to say, as design is a very subjective topic.

The Q6 series looks a lot like the G6, which is probably considered a good thing by most users, as LG’s flagship has been well received so far. It stands out from the crowd thanks to the thin bezels, which will certainly help with one-handed use. The Q6 Plus comes in ASTRO Black, Ice Platinum, and Marine Blue, while the other two models are also available in Terra Gold.

The Galaxy A5 looks quite similar to a lot of other Galaxy devices, which have always been extremely popular among consumers. It doesn’t really stand out from the crowd as much as the Q6 devices, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It really depends on what you’re after. The smartphone is also available in quite a few different color options which are Black Sky, Gold Sand, Blue Mist, and Peach Cloud.

Of course, price is also a major factor that influences consumers’ purchasing decisions. However, as LG hasn’t officially announced how much its smartphones will retail for, but rumors say it will be around 420,000 won ($365) in South Korea. That’s a little lower than the Galaxy A5 (2017), depending on the market, so Samsung’s popular device has a fight on its hands.

Which one would you rather get? One of the LG Q6 smartphones or the Samsung Galaxy A5? Let us know in the comments below.