Skip to main content

Huawei P10 vs. LG G6: Battle of the big-brand flagships

huawei p10 vs lg g6 our first take ab 0022 970x647 c
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Samsung sat out of this year’s Mobile World Congress, leaving Huawei and LG free to compete solely against each other. Huawei announced the P10 and P10 Plus, the latest in its P series of devices, and LG launched the G6, the successor to last year’s failed G5.

While both smartphones offer killer features, which is superior? Check out a full list of specifications for each of the phones, as well as a quick breakdown of how their features compare to one another.

Specs

Huawei P10

LG G6

Size 145.3 x 69.3 x 7 mm (5.72 x 2.73 x 0.28 inches) 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm (5.8 x 2.83 x 0.31 inches)
Weight 5.11 ounces (145 grams) 5.75 ounces (162 grams)
Screen 5.1-inch IPS-NEO LCD capacitive touchscreen 5.7-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, Dolby Vision/HDR10 compliant
Resolution 1,080 x 1,920 pixels (432 ppi) 1,440 pixels x 2,880 (564 ppi)
OS Android 7.0 Nougat (EMUI 5.1) Android 7.1 Nougat (UX 6.0)
Storage 64GB 32GB (64GB in select regions)
MicroSD card slot Yes Yes
NFC support Yes Yes
Processor Kirin 960 2.4 GHz Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
RAM 4GB 4GB
Connectivity LTE, GSM, HSPA, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi LTE, GSM, HSPA, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
Camera 20-megapixel and 12-megapixel monochrome and color rear cameras with OIS, 8-megapixel front 13-megapixel dual rear with OIS, 5-megapixel front
Video 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.2 Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor Yes Yes
Other sensors Gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity, compass Gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometer
Water resistant No Yes, IP68 rated
Battery 3,200mAh 3,300mAh
Ports USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Marketplace Google Play Store Google Play Store
Color offerings Ceramic White, Dazzling Blue, Dazzling Gold, Prestige Gold, Graphite Black, Mystic Silver, Rose Gold, Greenery Mystic White, Astro Black, Ice Platinum
Availability None in USA AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile
Price 650 euros ($694) $672 on Verizon
DT review Hands-on 4.5 out of 5

Power and productivity

Huawei P10 Our first take
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

As both phones are flagship offerings, neither holds a serious advantage in terms of specs. The P10, however, features a Kirin 960 octa-core processor, powered by four ARM Cortex A73 cores alongside four A53 cores. Combined with a Mali-G71 GPU — which is based on the new Bifrost architecture — the Kirin system-on-a-chip is capable of maintaining peak performance for longer than the G6’s Snapdragon 821 chip, making it ideal for tasks such as gaming and video streaming. The Snapdragon is no slouch, though, and it’s the best Qualcomm can offer until the 835 version arrives soon. Qualcomm chips typically outperform Kirin chips in benchmarks, though real-world use is similar.

Both smartphones sport 4GB of RAM and 32 to 64GB of storage. The LG G6 offers wireless charging and 32GB of storage in the U.S. variant, but South Korea and some Asian markets get a quad-Digital-to-Analog Converter for high-quality audio as well as 64GB of internal storage. Europe, sadly, gets neither of these features.

Thankfully, both support storage expansion via MicroSD card slots, and they have nearly identical battery capacities, though the G6’s 3,300mAh battery barely outstrips the P10’s 3,200mAh counterpart.

Winner: Huawei P10

Design and display

Image used with permission by copyright holder

While Huawei looks to break new ground with a vibrant selection of colors curated by Pantone, LG finds success with a radical new look, opting for a nearly bezel-free and glass-and-steel design.

The P10, crafted mostly out of ceramic and aluminum, features a textured “hyper-diamond cut” that really shines (literally) on certain models, and its modest 5.1-inch screen is a nice departure from the ginormous phablet-style displays with which many smartphones are equipped. The phone’s side panels are also on the flat side, giving it a more distinguished feel, and the camera lenses are flush with the frame.

The G6, on the other hand, boasts a 4-to-1 screen-to-body ratio, a result of the 5.7-inch Quad HD screen’s 18:9 aspect ratio. Eliminating the bezel (mostly) allows the G6 to fit snugly into most people’s palms, creating a comfortable experience as it has a smaller frame than most 5.5-inch phones. Texting and navigating with one hand is easy, considering the size of the screen. The G6 also supports a higher resolution (1,440 x 2,880 pixels) than the P10 (1,080 x 1,920 pixels), packing in far more pixels per inch. Still, the P10’s IPS-NEO display ensures that images will look just as good when viewed from an angle.

Winner: LG G6

Software, camera, and more

Software

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

While both phones run Android Nougat, LG has an edge as the G6 runs the more recent 7.1 version of the operating system. LG also built many of the default apps to interact specifically with the G6’s 18:9 screen, essentially dividing the screen into two squares. It’s a neat trick that cleans up much of the Android UX — particularly when multitasking — and automatically modifies app icons so that they’re all the same shape and size.

The P10 also runs Nougat, except with Huawei’s EMUI 5.1 over the top. This extension, which helped make the Mate 9 far more user-friendly than its predecessors, adds some new features. For example, the fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone can be used to navigate the phone. EMUI also modifies memory usage to help apps launch faster, though, so that’s a plus.

Still, the win goes to the G6 for offering a cleaner and more useful user experience.

Winner: LG G6

Camera

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Like the Mate 9, the P10 is equipped with three separate cameras — two on the back, and one in front. All three are built by German camera company Leica, which lends a sense of legitimacy to photographs taken with the phone. A 20-megapixel monochrome sensor sits beside a 12-megapixel color sensor, which itself boasts a f/2.2 aperture and optical image stabilization. Both rear cameras feature bokeh control, and the new Portrait Mode utilizes advanced facial recognition mapping (190 points in 3D space) to adjust lighting, even while people are moving around. The front camera, a more-than-respectable 8-megapixels, boasts a sensor that improves brightness and widens the camera’s dynamic range.

That said, the G6 can hold its own, thanks to the dual 13-megapixel lenses on the back of the phone. What’s unique is that one of the lenses is wide-angle, allowing you to capture far more in a shot than most smartphone cameras. The 5-megapixel selfie camera isn’t too shabby, either. The G6’s camera UI is also unique and more useful as you can see your gallery of photos and take new ones at the same time.

Ultimately this decision comes down to personal preference — if you’d rather have the wide-angle lens, the G6 is for you. But if you’re more of a black-and-white or portrait photographer, then go for the P10.

Winner: Tie

Price and availability

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

Both phones are set for release in the coming months, but the P10 won’t be available in the United States. There’s still hope for Huawei devotees — after all, the Mate 9 released saw a U.S. release in January — but for now, only the G6 is likely to be available domestically. The newest iteration of LG’s flagship series is set to arrive at the end of March, and so far we know it will cost $672 on Verizon. Expect the price to be similar from other carriers.

Winner: LG G6

Overall Winner: LG G6

Huawei’s 10th phone in the P-series is truly extraordinary, from its powerful processor to its trio of high-quality cameras. Unfortunately, the lack of domestic availability bumps it down a notch, while LG’s G6 excels across the board, especially with its nearly bezel-less design.

The G6’s bigger, brighter display is sure to impress, while its clean UI makes multitasking easier. You can’t go wrong with either choice, but for the foreseeable future, you can’t go with the P10 at all in the U.S. That makes the G6 our winner.

Editors' Recommendations

Nick Hastings
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick is a Portland native and a graduate of Saint Mary's College of California with a Bachelor's of Communication. Nick's…
Huawei P40 Pro Plus vs. Huawei P40 Pro: Does the Plus add a lot more?
Huawei P40 Pro and P40 Pro Plus Cams

The Huawei P40 Pro Plus has arrived, stealing the limelight from its stablemate, the Huawei P40 Pro. The P40 Pro has probably the best camera on a smartphone, but the P40 Pro Plus goes even further, adding a "SuperZoom" 8-megapixel periscope lens that gives your zoomed photos visibly better clarity and detail. On top of this, it adds an oven-baked ceramic rear case, making its reverse side more durable -- and bulkier -- than its less expensive stablemate.

However, aside from an even more powerful camera and a more luxury design, is the Huawei P40 Pro Plus really any better than than the Huawei P40 Pro? In this article, we test the two models to find out, comparing them across six categories: Design, camera, performance, software, special features, and price. Hopefully, this should help you work out which one is right for you.
Specs

Read more
Huawei P40 Pro Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: Uber-flagship throwdown
samsung galaxy s20 ultra vs huawei p40 pro camera zoom comparison and cameras

What does it mean to be Pro, Plus, or Ultra? The newly released Huawei P40 Pro Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra will certainly help you define those terms. Both boast some of the best displays, performance, and smartphone cameras you'll find on the market today. They'll also cost you a pretty penny. If you're ready to drop some cash for the best of the best, though, look no further.

To help you decide which is better, we break down the two phones and even give you our overall winner. Sit back and grab your score chart, because we're pitting the Huawei P40 Pro Plus against the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Specs

Read more
These are the best Huawei P30 cases to protect the triple-lens flagship
Huawei P30

Despite having a more impressive bigger sibling, the Huawei P30 is a heck of a flagship phone, with Huawei's latest and most powerful processor, a variety of stunning colors (check out the Breathing Crystal and Amber Sunrise variants), and an amazing triple-lens camera with a 3x optical zoom and Huawei's new SuperSpectrum technology.

But while it's an impressive flagship phone, it's just as prone to damage as any other phone. Since you're likely to be spending upward of $650 on it, protection is a must. We've done the hard work for you; here are the best Huawei P30 cases you can buy right now.
Spigen Rugged Armor Case

Read more