Mobile Technology

Google Pixel XL vs. LG V20

Google Pixel XL vs. LG V20
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Google Pixel XL (left) and LG V20
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Google Pixel XL (left) and LG V20
View 27 Images
Camera aperture (rear)
1/27
Camera aperture (rear)
Battery
2/27
Battery
Build
3/27
Build
Camera megapixels
4/27
Camera megapixels
Color options
5/27
Color options
Processor
6/27
Processor
Dimensions
7/27
Dimensions
Display resolution
8/27
Display resolution
Display size
9/27
Display size
Display type
10/27
Display type
Dual camera
11/27
Dual camera
Fast charging
12/27
Fast charging
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Google Pixel XL (left) and LG V20
13/27
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Google Pixel XL (left) and LG V20
Hi-Fi audio
14/27
Hi-Fi audio
Optical Image Stabilization
15/27
Optical Image Stabilization
MicroSD
16/27
MicroSD
Starting price (full retail)
17/27
Starting price (full retail)
RAM
18/27
RAM
Release
19/27
Release
Removable battery
20/27
Removable battery
Second screen
21/27
Second screen
Software
22/27
Software
Storage
23/27
Storage
VR
24/27
VR
Water resistance
25/27
Water resistance
Weight
26/27
Weight
27/27
View gallery - 27 images

If you're shopping for an Android smartphone this holiday season, two of your best options are Google's Pixel XL and the LG V20. While the Pixel is probably the better all-around choice, the V20 will better serve certain groups of customers. Let's compare their features and specs.

Size

Dimensions
Dimensions

The LG V20 is 3-percent taller, 3-percent wider and 4-percent thicker. As we'll see in a moment, though, it pays you back with a bigger screen.

Weight

Weight
Weight

The V20 is also 4-percent heavier.

Build

Build
Build

Both phones are, in typical flagship fashion, made of aluminum.

Colors

Color options
Color options

Three color options to choose from for each handset.

Display size

Display size
Display size

The V20 gives you a 7-percent bigger screen, based on area.

Display resolution

Display resolution
Display resolution

Both have ultra-sharp QHD resolution, meaning the smaller Pixel has a slightly-higher pixel density.

Display type

Display type
Display type

LG is the rare modern Android manufacturer that chooses IPS over AMOLED.

Second screen

Second screen
Second screen

LG put a little strip of secondary screen above the main one. It serves as a scrolling ticker for notifications, as well as a place where you can launch app and settings shortcuts.

Processor

Processor
Processor

In our experience, the Pixel has noticeably snappier real-world performance: It's the rare Android phone that's every bit as buttery-smooth (in day-to-day tasks) as a current-gen iPhone.

RAM

RAM
RAM

Both offer 4 GB of RAM.

Storage

Storage
Storage

The V20 has the more generous storage on the entry-level (in its case, only) tier.

MicroSD

MicroSD
MicroSD

LG also lets you expand that 64 GB of internal memory by popping in a microSD card.

Battery

Battery
Battery

The Pixel has more battery capacity, and it also fared a hair better in our benchmark (streaming video over Wi-Fi, it dropped 11 percent per hour vs. the V20's 12 percent).

Removable battery

Removable battery
Removable battery

Like Android phones of old, the V20 lets you remove its back and swap batteries.

Fast charging

Fast charging
Fast charging

Both phones have quick-charging tech built-in.

Water resistance

Water resistance
Water resistance

While the Pixel technically has some splash-resistant rating, neither phone has any significant water-proofing.

Camera megapixels

Camera megapixels
Camera megapixels

The V20 comes closer than most phones, but the Google Pixel has the best smartphone camera we've ever used (past a certain point, megapixel counts cease to become a defining factor in image quality).

Camera aperture (rear)

Camera aperture (rear)
Camera aperture (rear)

That overall camera advantage for the Pixel comes despite the V20 winning on aperture.

OIS

Optical Image Stabilization
Optical Image Stabilization

It's also despite the Pixel not having Optical Image Stabilization. Google's advanced image-processing algorithms defy the expectations we'd normally garner from specs alone.

Dual (rear) camera

Dual camera
Dual camera

The V20 does, however, have a second camera that enables a quick-toggle into landscape photography, where you can capture wider scenes.

Hi-Fi audio

Hi-Fi audio
Hi-Fi audio

It's niche, but this is the V20's killer feature, with its 32-bit "Quad" DAC (for superior wired-headphone audio) and AptX HD Bluetooth codec (for superior wireless audio). If you're an audiophile, or at least own a pair of audiophile-friendly headphones, this is a great handset.

Fingerprint sensor

Both handsets have back-facing fingerprint sensors.

VR

VR
VR

If you want a taste of mobile VR, the Pixel XL works with the sleek-looking Google Daydream View headset. Its game selection is teensy-weensy at the moment, but it will grow over time.

Software

Software
Software

We consider this a big advantage for the Pixel, as it runs stock Android Nougat, and will receive updates to future versions immediately. The V20 runs Nougat too, but it's LG's highly customized (i.e. bloatier and slower) variant.

Release

Release
Release

Both handsets released in October.

Starting price (full retail)

Starting price (full retail)
Starting price (full retail)

US carrier pricing for the V20 is all over the place, so you'll want to double-check this with yours before buying. The Pixel is set at a firm $769 full retail.

For more on these two, you can peruse our individual reviews of the Pixel XL and LG V20.

View gallery - 27 images
1 comment
1 comment
JosephGreen
Emily, honey, if you couldn't be more biased towards the Pixel. I own both & the Pixel is boring. It has a nice background and is snappy, has a nice camera, & that's it. No wonder the battery's lasted longer, there's nothing on the phone. The V20 on the other hand, is like a premium phone from the future with all the bells and whistles the cameras, microphones, screens, etc have. Coming in at a whopping 12.7GB OS should tell you there's a lot under the hood, no bloatware apps (you can actually uninstall ALL apps, hahaha Google & Sammie fans,) and still snappier than the Pixel. There are video reviews out there that even show comparsions how the V20 is faster in Real World scenarios. I suggest people give the V20 another look before you pick over a brand.