Skip to main content

The dual-screen LG G8X ThinQ launches on November 1 for just $700

Andy Boxall/DigitalTrends

Two screens on a regular smartphone? That’s what LG’s G8X ThinQ Dual Screen is promising. It’s similar to the dual-screen attachment LG showed off at MWC 2019 on the V50 ThinQ, but there have been a lot of changes to improve this new version over the first, and it has made it a considerably more interesting solution to our modern multi-tasking woes.

But a dual-screen accessory isn’t the only new feature with the LG G8X ThinQ. From an ASMR mode to a 32-megapixel selfie camera, here’s everything you need to know about it.

The phone

The LG G8X ThinQ is a revised version of the LG G8, also released earlier this year. The design is identical, so it has a smooth, lightweight body that’s warm to the touch. It weighs 192 grams and is 8.8mm thick. On the front is a 6.4-inch OLED screen with a small teardrop notch at the top, and it has an FHD+ resolution. The screen also contains a fingerprint sensor, similar to Samsung’s Galaxy S10 range.

Andy Boxall/DigitalTrends

Inside is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage space, plus a 4,000mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 4.0 for fast charging. The camera is the biggest alteration here over the LG G8, specifically on the front, as there is now a 32-megapixel camera with an f/1.4 aperture. On the back is a dual-lens system made up of a 12-megapixel main lens with optical image stabilization and a wide-angle lens with 13 megapixels. The main rear lens is the same, but the wide-angle has gone down in megapixel count from 16 on the LG G8.

Other features include a new stereo speaker system, a 32-bit Quad-DAC, wireless charging, and a MicroSD card slot. The phone is tough too, as it has both an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, plus it complies with the MIL-STD-810G standard to withstand some rough treatment and extreme temperatures.

The Dual Screen case

Andy Boxall/DigitalTrends

Here’s where a lot of the key alterations have been made. The Dual Screen case now has a 6.4-inch OLED screen that’s the same size and specification as the main G8X ThinQ screen, for improved visuals. It no longer connects using Bluetooth, and instead has a USB Type-C connector inside the case, which means you no longer have any lag between the two screens.

It’s thinner at 14.9mm and lighter at 134 grams, and the screen consumes 10% less power too, but perhaps the best news is that the front panel has a small 2.1-inch OLED screen to show the time and notification icons, plus it can rotate freely all the way around the phone, rather than being set at specific angles. This makes it more versatile, while the screen ensures you don’t have to open the case just to check the time or notifications.

Software, ASMR, and dual-screen features

The G8X ThinQ uses a new version of LG’s own user interface, called LG UX 9.0. LG has listened to feedback and visually improved the software, with more space, bolder fonts, and grouped items for ease of use. There’s a new dark mode, plus many of the buttons have been shifted around to make one-handed use simpler.

More interestingly, the phone has an ASMR mode (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response), so the powerful mics on-board can pick up the faintest of sounds clearly, ripe for your YouTube debut

There are also many special features for use with the dual-screen case, mostly centered around multi-tasking and gaming. You can instantly screen-capture the second screen to attach to a message or email, leave YouTube open for continuous streaming even when using another app, browse Instagram shopping links while still in Instagram, use the case in landscape so the lower screen is only a keyboard, and browse images from the gallery on both screens at the same time.

A custom gamepad mode lets you configure the lower screen to act as a touchscreen control system, making it like a Nintendo 3DS. LG’s working with Nvidia’s cloud gaming system now, and will work with Google’s Stadia in the future. This is just the beginning of what’s possible with the second-generation Dual Screen case on the LG G8X ThinQ.

Price and availability

How much would you pay for a dual-screen, flagship-spec phone? A lot less than you might have thought. Pre-orders for the LG G8X ThinQ will start on October 25, and will be available for sale from November 1. Prices for an unlocked LG G8X ThinQ with an LG Dual Screen will start at just $700. The phone will be available from several major carriers and retailers across the U.S., including Amazon, Sprint, and AT&T.

Updated on October 22, 2019: The LG G8X’s release date and price have been announced.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
The LG G8 ThinQ lets you unlock your phone with your hand’s vein pattern
The LG G8 ThinQ smartphone is now available for purchase unlocked
lg g8 thinq vs v50 review 19

LG's bringing not just one, but two phones to Mobile World Congress 2019. Just a few months after releasing the LG V40 ThinQ comes the V50 ThinQ, which brings 5G connectivity, and then there's the new LG G8 ThinQ, which uses strange air gestures to control the phone.

While the V50 ThinQ has a lot to offer, the G8 ThinQ is the phone many people will consider buying in the near future -- and for good reason. It boasts excellent specs, an improved camera, and will likely be cheaper than the 5G-ready phone. Here's everything you need to know about the LG G8 ThinQ, and check out our full review for more in-depth impressions.
Design
It's true that 2018 was the year of the notch, but it looks like that trend will continue well into 2019. The LG G8 ThinQ has one, and it closely resembles last year's G7 ThinQ. There's a similar 6.1-inch edge-to-edge screen, with the notch cutout at the top for what's known as the Z Camera (more on that later), along with a small chin bezel at the bottom. Apart from that, however, there seems to be slim bezels all around, and it overall looks elegant.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy S10 vs. LG G8 ThinQ: Spec comparison
Samsung Galaxy S10 vs. LG G8 ThinQ: Can LG's flagship stand up to Samsung's?
Samsung Galaxy S10 hands-on

There's a steady stream of new Android phones hitting the market, but it's always worth checking what Samsung and LG have to offer. This year is the tenth anniversary of the Galaxy S range and Samsung's refined design hit a new level in the gorgeous and powerful S10. Compatriot and rival LG turned out the G8 ThinQ, which is equally packed with cutting edge tech and boasts a fresh hands-free gesture system.

It may prove tough to choose between these phones. Should your next smartphone be the LG G8 ThinQ or the Samsung Galaxy S10? Let's compare them and see exactly how they differ.
Specs

Read more
LG G8 ThinQ vs. LG G7 ThinQ
LG G8 ThinQ vs. LG G7 ThinQ: Time to ThinQ about your next phone
LG G8 ThinQ

LG may not be one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers in the world right now, but it's never let that slow down the pace of its research and development. Each new LG flagship has brought in a new special feature, and LG took to MWC 2019 to show off the LG G8 ThinQ -- a flagship with a control system that channels Star Wars, a magical sound-producing display, and the latest raw processing power in the form of the Snapdragon 855.

But if you're already rocking an LG G7 ThinQ, should you feel the need to upgrade? Or, if you're torn between these two phones, is a reduced price on the G7 worth passing over the new G8? Read on to find out as we compare these two LG flagships.
Specs

Read more