10 Reasons the LG V10 Smartphone Is Worth a Closer Look

From its second screen to its stainless steel design, LG’s V10 comes with enough quality features to make it a worthy option in the Android smartphone space.

The display bundled with the V10 is about equal in quality to other high-end devices. The screen measures 5.7 inches and has a quad-HD resolution of 2,560 by 1,440. According to LG, the handset’s screen offers 513 pixels per inch, which should deliver a fine visual experience for users.

Easily the most interesting design choice in the V10 is LG’s decision to deliver a secondary display. At the top of the main screen, LG offers another 2.1-inch display that’s designed to show information, like time and weather. In addition, the second screen can be set to be a dedicated area for launching shortcuts or apps. It’s a great addition that could improve user productivity.

Although the V10 is a brand-new smartphone and Google’s Marshmallow is now available, LG has opted for Lollipop in the smartphone. The issue with that is Lollipop won’t come with all of the security features found in Marshmallow and LG has so far not shared how it will handle OS updates. Marshmallow would have been nice, but Lollipop will have to be enough for users.

It’s not often that the front-facing camera built into a smartphone is worth paying attention to, but with the V10, that’s precisely the sensor to check out. The V10 ships with 5-megapixel dual front cameras that have two separate lenses. According to LG, the lenses can be used to take wide-angle selfies or aim at one item and provide two points of view. It’s a neat idea that may prompt others to follow in LG’s lead.

One of the key features of the V10’s design is its protection against spills. According to LG, the device is wrapped in stainless steel and was tested by an independent third party to verify how durable it is. LG says it passed easily. While most devices are tested in-house for their durability, the fact that LG relied on a third party for its evaluation suggests it has real trust in the handset’s stainless steel and silicone skin.

Interestingly, LG is going after movie directors with the V10. The company says that the rear-facing camera built into the smartphone has a manual mode that will allow video recorders to modify everything from shutter speed to frame rate to ISO. The camera can also record in Ultra HD. It’s a perfect option, LG argues, for those who want to “create professional-quality videos.”

Since Samsung and LG are competitors, it’s perhaps no surprise that mobile wallet Samsung Pay isn’t bundled with the handset. However, LG did ink a deal with Google to bring its Android Pay to the platform. The V10 is one of many devices that support Android Pay to offer a more secure payment option.

LG’s V10 has a Knock technology that, based on the pattern, allows users to get into the smartphone. The combination of “knocks” on the screen makes breaking into the handset a bit more difficult than determining passcodes. In addition to that, however, LG says it has added a fingerprint sensor to the V10 to help secure Android Pay access as well as providing a backup security method for logging into the smartphone. Enterprise customers will like to hear that.

LG’s V10 is the first smartphone to come with Qualcomm’s TruSignal antenna. The feature is designed to automatically boost signal quality and optimize signal strength based on a person’s location. The result, according to LG, is “fewer dropped calls, faster data and better call coverage.” It should be interesting to see how well the feature works.

LG’s V10 is launching on both T-Mobile and AT&T starting this week. Both companies are offering the smartphone for no money down with monthly plans. T-Mobile is offering the V10 for $25 per month with a monthly plan, while AT&T’s plans range from about $23 to $35, depending on how quickly users want to upgrade to a new device. AT&T also has a two-year commitment option at $250. Overall, the V10’s pricing is solid for what customers are getting.