LG G8X ThinQ Launch

Smartphones with foldable screens are the talk of the tech community right now, but most are incredibly expensive and somewhat fragile. While LG’s G8X ThinQ’s take on the foldable smartphone doesn’t offer users the seamless experience of a single foldable screen, it does increase your multitasking capabilities. It also doubles your viewing space at a much lower price than the competition.

LG G8X ThinQ Pricing and Availability

The LG G8X ThinQ costs $979 (phone and dual screen) and is now available at Sprint and AT&T.

How the LG G8X ThinQ Compares to Other Foldables

To understand why the LG G8X ThinQ is such a great deal, you’ll need to see it stacked up against other foldable smartphones. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Fold each offer seamless multitasking capabilities in a single foldable device, but their charm begins to wear off when you consider their $1,380+ price tags. The G8X ThinQ’s price sits nicely under $980 (phone and dual-screen case), and the solid all-glass display and water resistance make the phone a lot more durable than the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Fold.

LG G8X ThinQ Design

Most people will want to take advantage of the LG G8X ThinQ’s dual-screen capabilities, but the LG G8X ThinQ is also a stand-alone smartphone with a 6.4-inch screen. You can pop it right out of the second-screen accessory. As a dual-screen device, the G8X ThinQ can be used fully open, in laptop mode, in tent mode, and fully closed. Find out more about what LG’s latest innovation can do in each position below.

Fully Open

When the LG G8X ThinQ is fully open, it boasts two 6.4-inch screens that can be used side-by-side with multiple apps running simultaneously. It lets you easily swipe between apps for effortless multitasking. The dual screens let you run up to three different apps at once via the split-screen feature or use a single app across both devices. Though, it is important to note that if you use both screens for a single image, the hinge will get in the way, so it’s probably not ideal for watching movies or TV.

Laptop Mode

The tension hinge on the LG G8X ThinQ lets you pose the phone from 0- to 360-degrees with ease. Laptop mode, when you position the phone at around 90-degrees, turns the phone into a multitasking beast by enabling you to run up to three apps simultaneously.

The second screen can run one app, while the main screen can run two apps at once using a split-screen. In practice, you can scope out your Instagram feed on the top left screen while scrolling your image library on the right, all while chatting with your friend on the bottom screen.

LG also created custom gaming controllers for laptop mode. After you’ve selected your custom game controllers to use on the bottom screen, the top screen shows the game. You can also use the bottom screen as a glass keyboard and the top for your email—the possibilities are endless.

Tent Mode

The G8X ThinQ has another feature that the more expensive single-screen devices don’t have: tent mode. This mode creates a sturdy “A-frame” that displays each screen on opposite sides of the device, so two people can use the phone at one time. While it’s a new concept, tent mode will come to the rescue at some point, especially if you ever have two kids that you need to keep entertained at once.

Fully Closed

When fully closed, the LG G8X ThinQ sports a 2.1-inch screen that blends in with the all-black case when it’s not in use. The outer display is small because LG needed to use the space for the phone’s large battery, but it still shows your at-a-glance notifications, the time, and battery life.

LG G8X ThinQ Features

On top of being a multitasking beast, the LG G8X ThinQ offers a ton of cool new features that are unique to the device. These features include a dual mirrored camera mode that lets you use the entire second screen as a viewfinder to ensure that you’re getting the best shot every time. It’s especially helpful if you need to record a video of yourself, so you can ensure that you’re in the frame the entire time. You can also use the second screen to control your lighting when you’re taking a selfie.

What Can You Do With the LG G8X ThinQ?

• Take incredible images with the 32MP front and dual 12MP + 13MP rear cameras.
• Flip your device 360-degrees for dual-mirror mode so you can use the second screen as a (huge) viewfinder for the subject when taking photos.
• Record 4K video at 30fps.
• Run multiple apps seamlessly with the G8X ThinQ’s 6GB of RAM and Snapdragon 855 processor.
• Save everything with the built-in 128GB storage that’s expandable up to 2TB.
• Keep going all day long with the 31-hour 4,000mAh battery.
• Stay fully charged with the magnetic USB-C charging adaptor that lets you charge the device while it’s in the dual-screen case.
• Adjust the screen any way you want with its 360-degree free-stop hinge.
• Game in style with LG’s custom virtual gaming controls while playing in laptop mode.
• Type emails effortlessly by turning the bottom screen into a glass keyboard while in laptop mode.
• Entertain two people at once via using the device in tent mode.

Is The LG G8X ThinQ Worth its Price Tag?

Whether the LG G8X ThinQ is worth the price or not largely depends on your individual preferences and priorities. While we ultimately can’t decide if a phone is worth it for you, we can tell you who would get the most out of the LG8X ThinQ and who would be better off considering other devices.

The LG G8X ThinQ is For:

• Early adopters that want a cutting-edge device.
• Avid multi-taskers that live on their phones.
• Businesspeople who need something smaller than a tablet, but something bigger than the average smartphone.
• Gamers that don’t want to compromise valuable screen space while gaming on their phone.
• Photo enthusiasts who need a phone that will help them get the perfectly creative pic, every time.
• Tech-lovers that need a foldable phone, but don’t want to spend over $1,000 to get it.

The LG G8X ThinQ is Not For:

• Those who want a seamless screen experience (the hinge prevents this).
• People who need a lightweight device that can fit in a small clutch or pocket.
• Patient buyers that would rather wait until the mobile industry perfects the foldable smartphone.