Recently, I acquired the LG V20 through a cell-phone carrier. Over the past week of owning and using this mobile phone, I have many wonderful things to say about its performance, default user interface, and its many features that I had never used or seen before. The phone's price varies, depending on where you buy it. Some cellular companies are offering it for as high as $830, some as low as around $450. I'd never say a phone should be worth more than a couple hundred (and should definitely not be worth over $700), but the V20 is exceeding my expectations and $450 honestly seems like a fair price for this particular phablet.
An unexpected upgrade
My previous phone was a Galaxy S4, and, while that phone may be outdated, the V20 was a good step up from the S4. It's larger, wider, brighter, and the weight it has to it is satisfying. It makes me think twice about pulling it out of my pocket, for fear of dropping it. On the back of the phone, we have a bright flashlight light, a camera, and a lock button, all located near the top of the phone's exterior which is pretty typical for most phones nowadays. The lock button also has a fingerprint reader, allowing you to unlock your phone by lightly pressing your finger onto it. I really love this feature because it guarantees a longer life for the lock button.
Nougat fresh out of the box
When I first received the phone, the user interface (UI) was typical of an Android. You have a home screen and you can have multiple screens to put app shortcuts onto. However, it did not come with an app drawer out of the box and I wasn't too keen on that. It was very similar to the iOS in that respect.
Luckily, there is an option in the settings to enable it, giving you that old Android feel. The OS on the V20 is Nougat and I was really excited to try out the OS for myself. It has a very sleek UI and not too much is going on with it. It's simple when it needs to be, and its complicated when it needs to be. Nougat is just an all-around stellar OS for a phone and its aesthetic is pleasing to the eye.
Twice the screens, twice the fun!
Lastly, my favorite feature of the phone: the secondary screen. There is a small "window" above the V20's screen that sits next to the front facing camera. It works and behaves just like any other touch screen and its handiness has proved itself many times. It can be used to play/pause music, call/text a favorited contact, answer or decline a phone call, enable/disable things like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and so many other things. All of this from a convenient screen that is independent from the phone's main screen. This blew me away when I first saw it and it's easily my favorite feature because I do so many things with it without actually unlocking my phone, which further increases the life of the lock button.
All-in-all, I'd say the V20 is working for you to help you maintain it longer. The screen is a nice size, the basic functions are all there, and it even has a headphone jack. If you're thinking about getting a new Android phone in your future, consider the Lg V20. It's new, but not brand new, which is bound to make both you and your wallet happy.
