If you were intrigued by the 1st gen LG Dual Screen accessory for the LG V50 ThinQ but waited for the second-gen version to come out, you’re in luck because it was worth the wait – and you didn’t have to wait very long. To that effect, with the LG G8X ThinQ and its accompanying LG Dual Screen accessory, LG has addressed many of the issues we had with the first-gen Dual Screen.
For example, a significant gripe we had with the original Dual Screen was that its display did not match the LG V50’s display. Fortunately, the new Dual-Screen has an OLED display that matches the LG G8X ThinQ’s display to a tee.
LG has also made the 2nd gen Dual Screen thinner. On paper, the new Dual-Screen isn’t all that thinner but in our hands, it does seem noticeably thinner. The Dual Screen now sports a new 360 Freestop Hinge that stops and locks at any angle. This allows you to use the device like a laptop, like a tablet, to lay it like a book, or to use it as a kickstand while recording a video. It’s a form-factor we’ve seen with PC’s for years now, so we’re happy to see it finally on a phone. Also new is the fact that the Dual Screen now sports a cover display that conveniently shows time, notifications, messages, and caller ID while the screen is folded.
Our biggest gripe now with the Dual Screen accessory is that the large hinge running down its middle is distracting. We’re not sure how LG could fix this, but we’d love to see a solution that is more akin to the ZTE Axon M. We’d also like to see it become more svelte and less bulky in general.
LG has also refined the software that takes advantage of the Dual Screen accessory. With the LG G8X ThinQ placed inside of the Dual Screen accessory, you can multitask across two displays or reserve more space to focus on one. For instance, browsing the web on one display while sending Facebook messenger messages on the other is really neat, and it makes for a multi-tasker’s dream scenario. There are now more options for multitasking. For example, you can browse the web and open a link on the other display.
Using the LG Smart Keyboard, the second screen can be filled up with a keyboard. There’s also a My Pick App feature that lets you designate your favorite app to launch each time you open the Dual Screen. You can easily share screenshots using a quick short cut located above the keyboard.
Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, performance on the LG G8X ThinQ is solid – the device earned an AnTutu score of 340921. And thanks to the inclusion of the LG GamePad app, we see gamers really enjoying this device. Using the LG GamePad app, the second screen can become a customizable controller. You can choose from multiple virtual controllers or design your own to match your gameplay needs. We see this device appealing especially to gamers, because ultimately, the customizable gamepad, along with the dual-screen form factor and the phone’s solid performance, transform the LG G8X ThinQ into a pretty killer gaming phone.
The Dual Screen accessory is actually compatible with all apps in the Play Store, but it’s up to developers to really take advantage of its form factor. However, the software still has room for plenty of improvement, but it certainly takes a lot better advantage of the Dual Screen accessory than it did with the 1st gen accessory. LG is also committed to pushing out updates that will keep improving the Dual Screen’s functionality.
Unfortunately, the AT&T model we reviewed came with a ton of pre-loaded bloatware apps. We probably can’t blame LG too much for this, but sheesh.
Verdict
The first-gen LG Dual Screen was difficult to recommend but the 2nd gen is ready for prime time. LG has really refined the software, making the Dual Screen so much more useful. LG has also priced the bundle really well. Although the LG G8X ThinQ itself isn’t a stand out phone, the specs on the G8X alone are nearly enough to warrant a $700 price tag, so throwing in the Dual Screen was a smart move on LG’s part.
Ultimately, we think spending $2k on a 1st gen Galaxy Fold is downright silly. But spending $699 on a foldable phone that offers the best of both worlds in terms of form factors? That’s pretty smart.