LG W10

The LG W10 sports a 6.19-inch screen with a resolution of 720×1500 pixels. It has an octa-core, Cortex A53 MediaTek Helio P22 and a 4000mAh battery. The phone also gets a PowerVR GE8320 GPU for enhanced graphical performance. 

The device runs on the latest Android v9.0 (Pie) OS. As for storage, it offers 3GB RAM coupled with 32GB internal memory, expandable up to 256GB via microSD card. Cameras on the device include a dual camera set up on the rear –  13 MP + 5 MP shooters, and an 8MP camera at the front. There are other sensors as well including an Ambient Light sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope. 

The LG W10 is available in two colour variants – Tulip Purple and Smokey Grey. In Inda, it was launched for Rs. 8,999.

The LG W10 features a sturdy and neat design. It has a unibody construct and is the lightest phone of the W-series. The glossy back panel is reflective and is made of high-quality polycarbonate. The shiny back also means that it is a fingerprint and smudge magnet. The rounded edges make it easier to hold and use. At the back, you can see the dual camera module located at the top left portion, whereas the fingerprint scanner lies conveniently at the top middle part of the panel. 

On the right side of the frame, you’ll notice a power button; the volume rocker is located on the left. As for the SIM tray, it lies on top. Interestingly, LG W10 features a 2+1 card slot, meaning that you can use two SIMs and a microSD card simultaneously. The bottom portion houses a micro USB port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a speaker.

The display sports a notch and an expansive viewing space. It houses the selfie camera, the earpiece, and a flash. The side-bezels are practically non-existent. However, it does have a small chin at the bottom.

The LG W10 sports a big 6.19-inch HD+ FullVision Display having an aspect ratio of 18.9:9 and a pixel density of 269 PPI. It has an iPhone X-like wide notch that is not very appealing – compared to today’s standard of tiny-notch displays this certainly seems outdated. However, you do get three customizable options to adjust the notch. 

While the display looks bright enough, the screen resolution and PPI are on the lower side. Hence, you cannot expect too much from this phone. The colour reproduction and saturation levels are decent enough for indoor viewing. Outdoors, you might face some issues with the display. Even at the max brightness levels, you may find it difficult to view the screen content with ease.

The LG W10 packs an octa-core Cortex A53 MediaTek Helio P22 SoC along with a PowerVR GE8320 GPU. Coupled with the 3GB RAM space, the phone promises to deliver smooth and lag-free performance for the most part. It is a known fact that the MediaTek Helio P22 is not the fastest performing processors out there – in terms of performance, it sits between the Snapdragon 450 and the Snapdragon 625.

As for routine and everyday tasks like calling, texting, web surfing, listening to music, etc., the phone delivers a glitch-free experience. However, you must know that it is not a gaming phone. Despite the GPU presence, the phone is unable to handle games well, particularly the graphics-intensive ones. 

Coming to the UI, LG has managed to address the software complaints by incorporating the W-series phones with out-of-the-box stock Android. This means that you’ll face no bloatware issues or unnecessary ads. Plus, you will also get updates from time to time. For lovers of the stock Android, the LG W10 is a good budget option. 

The phone gets a dual camera setting at the back – a 13MP primary sensor and a 5MP depth sensor. Although the camera UI isn’t incredibly intuitive, it is good enough for an entry-level smartphone. Apart from the standard camera options like AutoFocus, PDAF, HDR, etc., there’s also an AI-boost feature for delivering enhanced colour reproduction, beautification, and bokeh shots.

In favourable light settings, the rear cam can pull off some bright and detailed shots. Images captured in daylight look vivid with decent colour representation. However, in dimly-lit conditions, the camera performance suffers – captured shots depict a significant amount of noise and end up looking grainy. Also, there isn’t enough detail present. 

As for the 8MP selfie camera, although it isn’t the best out there, it should suffice for your social media needs. Selfies taken in the right lighting conditions appear detailed and focused, but those captured in low-light appear hazy and lacking in detail. 

Overall, the camera should suffice for your basic photography needs.

When it comes to battery, the LG W10 emerges as a solid performer. It has a massive 4000mAh battery that can easily pull through an entire day on a single charge. And since you cannot do much power-intensive and graphics-intensive tasks on the phone, the battery longevity will be exceptional. There’s no fast charging feature though. 

Connectivity options on the phone are – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Mobile Hotspot, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS with A-GPS, micro USB port, FM Radio, 3.5mm jack, and 2G/3G/4G support.

Honestly, the LG W10 feels like a reliable budget phone – it has a huge display, a great battery backup, a mediocre processor, and to top it all – stock Android. For a phone priced at 9k, you really cannot set your expectation bar very high. With decent specs and competitive pricing, the  LG W10 can take on the entry-level phones of Xiaomi and Realme.