Which worth buying? Samsung Galaxy Note8 V.S. LG V30+ (V30) Phone camera comparison by Phone & Photo

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As the old flagship models, which were launched in 2017, LG V30 plus and Galaxy Note 8 seem the good value options if you think the latest models are too expensive for now. 

 To me, both of them seem nice and pretty right. Note 8 renders the photos that look sharper and more vivid, while LG V30+ features a quite usable, 120-degree ultrawide-angle lens. You may say it's hardly compatible with any SLR. However, the best camera is the one that's always with you, and nowadays that one is usually in your mobile phone. Especially for travel enthusiasts, a phone camera embedded with wide-angle function is practical and convenient when shooting landscape, buildings, as well as group photos.

 Are you also struggling between these two phones? Let's try to check out the specs:


SPECIFICATIONS COMPARISON
Note8
V30+/ V30 
Resolution
1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio
1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio
Operating System
Android 7.1.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Android 7.1.2 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Processor Type
Exynos 8895 Octa (10 nm) - EMEA
Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) - USA & China
Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm)
Primary Clock Speed
Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Mongoose M2 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) - EMEA
Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) - USA & China
Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo)
RAM
6 GB
4 GB
MAIN CAMERA
1st Dual Rear Camera:12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
2nd Dual Rear Camera:12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
1st Dual Rear Camera:16 MP, f/1.6, 30mm (wide), 1.0µm, 3-axis OIS, PDAF & laser AF
2nd Dual Rear Camera:13 MP, f/1.9, 12mm (120° ultrawide), no AF
MAIN CAMERA Features
Pro mode, Panorama, Slow motion, Hyperlapse, Food mode, Save as RAW file, LED flash, auto-HDR, 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, dual-video rec.
Hybrid Auto Focus (PDAF + LDAF), Manual Mode, LED flash, HDR, Food Mode, Panorama, 360 Panorama 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec., HDR video, LOG-format video
SELFIE CAMERA
8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF
5 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/5", 1.12µm
SELFIE CAMERA Features
Dual video call, Auto-HDR, 1440p@30fps
Selfie Light, Beauty Shot, Auto Shot, Gesture View, Gesture Shot, Gesture Interval Shot

The only difference between LG V30 plus and V30 is the internal storage (V30+: 128 GB, V30: 64GB). Hence, you can refer to this article if you are also interested in V30.


Specifications all look great but still cannot help you to make a final decision. Tests speak louder than specifications.

We took the photos from Note8 and LG V30 plus in several scenes and see how they produce differently. We think they do have a significant difference in many ways. Why not try to check and feel by your own eyes and pick up the right one.

Test 1: Food_meal 

  • Indoor yellow light
  • Auto mode, flash off
Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus

 ( Feel free to click the photos to check the EXIF on Flickr ) 


  • Food mode, flash off
Left(Up):Galaxy Note8_Food mode /
Right(Down):LG V30 Plus_Food mode


Test 2: Food_cake

  • Indoor yellow light mixed natural light
  • Auto mode, flash off
 
Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus


  • Food mode, flash off

Left(Up):Galaxy Note8_Food mode /
Right(Down):LG V30 Plus_Food mode



Under the default mode, V30 Plus renders the color more naturally and more true to life, while Note 8 has more color saturation but a bit artificial though. After applying the food mode, both photos become more saturated and vivid, definitely making the cakes look even more alluring.  


Test 3: Low light 

  • Outdoor low light 
  • Auto mode, flash off
 
Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus


In this low light scene, note 8's white balance performs more accurate than V30 Plus. Mostly colors from V30 Plus are very nice and natural, whereas it has a slightly green color cast at times.


Test 4: Night landscape

  • Outdoor low light 
  • Auto mode, flash off

 
Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus

If you look closely at the sky, you will surprisingly discover that Note8 also captures a touch of stars.

Test 5: Night landscape

  • Outdoor low light 
  • Auto mode, flash off

 
Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus

In this scene, Note8 also captures more details in the sky.

It's obvious that Note8 and V30 Plus produce night scene in so much different color tones. Note8 renders the color warmer overall, whereas V30 plus perceives New York City in a cooler way. You may prefer any of them just depending on personal tastes.


Test 6: Color_Sunny Sky

  • Sunlight 
  • Auto mode, flash off
 
Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus

Under bright sunlight, both Note 8 and V30 Plus expose and render the color excellently.

Test 7: Color_cloudy 

  • Outdoor natural light
  • Auto mode, flash off

 
Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus

Note 8 usually has a bolder color while V30 Plus makes the color more naturally.

Test 8: Portrait_Front (selfie) camera 

  • Indoor natural daylight
  • Beauty mode: Minimum range

  

Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus

  • Beauty mode: Medium range

 

Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus

  • Beauty mode: Maximum range

  

Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus

Since it is "Beauty mode", the main purpose is to make a flattering skin effect. Both phones did a nice job, producing apparently different but natural skin tones. You may prefer anyone over the other per your preference. For Asian girls who prefer snow white skin may think V30 Plus seems better.


 Test 9: Portrait_Low light_Rear (Main) camera 
  • Outdoor lowlight
  • Auto mode ( Flash on)



Left(Up):Galaxy Note8 / Right(Down):LG V30 Plus


In this low light scene, image from Note 8 is overexposed whereas it gives more detail of the background. V30 Plus exposes the main subject more accurately and makes the model's face skin much more naturally. 




Feature test_Ultra-wide-angle_V30 Plus

Here are some samples to show how V30 Plus's ultra-wide-angle leans performs.

 
Left (Up):LG V30 Plus_Default /
Right(Down):LG V30 Plus_Wide angle






 
Left (Up):LG V30 Plus_Default /
Right(Down):LG V30 Plus_Wide angle


 
Left (Up):LG V30 Plus_Default /
Right(Down):LG V30 Plus_Wide angle




LG V30 Plus_Wide angle
LG V30 Plus_Wide angle 



Feature test_Optical zoom_Note 8 

   
     
Note8_Optical Zoom 2X 

    
Note8_Default
    
Note8_Optical Zoom 2X 



Feature test_Bokeh_Note 8 



If you are still having difficulty in making a decision...

There's a simple suggestion:
To any landscape or architectural photography lover, just go for LG V30 Plus (or V30); otherwise, people can choose Note 8 as an everyday camera which comes with more features, such as adjustable bokeh effect, optical zoom, etc.



👉Blind Test at Phone & Photo
    Testing photos under controlled conditions in the lab.

Easily find your true love camera phone in just 1 min!

👉See more camera samples of Note8
👉See more camera samples of V30 Plus


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