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
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
The V20 is also 4-percent heavier.
Build
Both phones are, in typical flagship fashion, made of aluminum.
Colors
Three color options to choose from for each handset.
Display size
The V20 gives you a 7-percent bigger screen, based on area.
Display resolution
Both have ultra-sharp QHD resolution, meaning the smaller Pixel has a slightly-higher pixel density.
Display type
LG is the rare modern Android manufacturer that chooses IPS over AMOLED.
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
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
Both offer 4 GB of RAM.
Storage
The V20 has the more generous storage on the entry-level (in its case, only) tier.
MicroSD
LG also lets you expand that 64 GB of internal memory by popping in a microSD card.
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
Like Android phones of old, the V20 lets you remove its back and swap batteries.
Fast charging
Both phones have quick-charging tech built-in.
Water resistance
While the Pixel technically has some splash-resistant rating, neither phone has any significant water-proofing.
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)
That overall camera advantage for the Pixel comes despite the V20 winning on aperture.
OIS
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
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
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
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
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
Both handsets released in October.
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.
