In keeping with the "bigger is better" philosophy driving modern smartphone design, the LG V20 features a large 5.7-inch screen with minimal extraneous real estate given over to bezels. That minimalist approach extends to the phone's profile which measures in at just 7.7mm at its thickest.
To make the most of its size, the LG V20's screen sports a resolution of 2560 x 1440, or roughly halfway between full HD and 4K. It's not the only screen on the LG V20 either; at the very top of the phone next to the camera lens sits a secondary screen you can use to display quick-access information such as notifications, shortcuts to your favourite apps and your top contacts. You can also set this screen to remain on even when the rest of the phone goes to sleep so you can monitor incoming notifications while reducing battery drain.
A second screen isn't the only feature that distinguishes the LG V20 from its competitors. Its audio capabilities are similarly impressive, with a three-microphone array coupled with a quad DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) configuration allowing for high-definition audio capture that should minimise the amount of background noise bleeding into your recordings. Those four DACs help with audio playback, too, as they support lossless audio formats like FLAC and ALAC.
Outside of its unique characteristics, the LG V20 delivers on all the standard features you'd expect from a premium smartphone – and some you might not. For the security-conscious, there's a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone beneath the main camera lens, and this also doubles as the power button since LG has nixed the physical one that normally sits on the phone's side.
You'll also find a 3.5mm audio jack nestled at the bottom of the phone which is sure to delight anyone disenfranchised with Apple, Google and the many other smartphone manufacturers phasing out the traditional port. Alternatively, you can hook up a pair of wireless headphones thanks to the V20's Bluetooth 4.2 support.
The storage situation is typical of most Android-powered premium smartphones, too. The V20 packs 64GB out of the box, but you can easily upgraded this thanks to the microSD card slot.
Speaking of Android, the LG V20 was one of the first Australian smartphones to feature Android 7.0, codenamed "Nougat". Android 7.0 introduced quite a few key features to the popular operating system, including the ability to act upon notifications without having to load up the corresponding app as well as support for running two apps next to each other on the same screen. LG also began rolling out an Android 8.0 update for the V20 in August 2018, though it has yet to hit Australian shores.