LG V10

An Android phone with twice the screen and double the front cameras

LG

VERDICT

The LG V10 is a intriguing phone thanks to its sliver of a second screen at the top and dual front camera. The real benefits are the removable battery, microSD slot and 4GB of RAM, but the design isn't refined and it's going to be expensive.

PROS:

• Novel second screen
• Useful wide selfie camera
• Extra durable design
• Slight specs boos

CONS:

• Gimmicky for some
• Design a little too rugged
• Android 5.1.1
• More expensive

I'm convinced Dr. Ram-chan Woo and his LG design team are really mad scientists determined to bend and shape unique smartphones, and LG V10 is their latest monster.

This Android phone would then be a two-headed monster, in their effort to radically disrupt traditional phone features, due to its second screen and dual front camera.

The LG V10 takes a lot of cues from the flagship LG G4, but but the look and feel of this device is completely different. It's bigger, more rugged and has a little bit of extra power.

My time with this Android Lollipop 5.1.1 phone was further proof that while LG isn't bending its latest phone, like it did with the LG G Flex 2, it's still determined to try bold, new ideas, while Samsung and Apple play it safe.

Design

LG V10 is more durable, with an interesting mix of stainless steel sides and a silicone skin back. Its bumpy texture and rubbery feel really contrast with the smooth leather back of the LG G4.

The benefit to this new concoction is that it can survive drop tests like no other phone, according to LG. It's almost as if that case you're going to (or really should) by anyway is built in. Adding to that is a much appreciated double panned Gorilla Glass 4 for extra protection around front.

That means it doesn't need to need to sport the same slight curve as LG's flagship device, and the LG V10 dimensions are 159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mm and a weight of 192g.

Though the LG G4 was a bit thicker at its curved apex, everything else about this new phone is bigger, with the clear intention that it's to rival the iPhone 6S Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

While Apple and Samsung are trending toward aluminum and glass designs, LG is going with a more practical finish, emphasizing durability, a microSD card slot and a swappable battery.

It's going to be able to sell a lot of phones based on that microSD card slot and removable battery, now that Samsung has phased out these features on the Galaxy S6 and Note 5.

LG V10 comes in Space Black, Luxe White, Modern Beige, Ocean Blue, Opal Blue. I got to test the Space Black with silver highlights, and scope out the Luxe White with a gold finish today.

Display

The real eye-catching feature here is the second screen on the front. It's not at all like the rear, e-ink second screen of the YotaPhone 2, though it has the same battery life-saving same goal.

Its 5.7-inch quad HD IPS display expands the screen size of the 5.5-inch LG G4 in a noticeable way. Touching the corners of 2560 x 1440p resolution and 513ppi takes a phablet-sized reach.

Then, and here's where the LG V10 becomes a true Frankenstein marvel, it tacks on a 2.1-inch display at the very top, taking the display size to 5.9 inches, in effect.

It all looks like one seamless display, even though the 160 x 1040 and 513ppi strip at the top has a separate backlight component to it. Get ready to stretch those fingers a bit further.

The extra reach is worth it for faster navigation. The second screen served as a quick way to glance at the time, weather and notifications, or switch out to my favorite apps for contacts.

LG V10's a nearly always-on top display shines this information and settings, even when the main screen is off. Don't worry, it can be turned off like a smartwatch, which I realized upon palming the front of the device.

Multitasking is a bit easier with my most recent apps always present on the top, and incoming calls, text notifications and calendar appointments won't take up any of the room of the main display to annoyingly interrupt what I'm doing.

There's no other phone out there with a dedicated display like this, so the LG V10 is in a class of its own. It adds to the normal, quad HD display I'm used to seeing, yet remains practical.