Opinion | Boombox speakers just a gimmick? DxOMark casts aspersions on the LG G8 ThinQ's audio abilities

LG has a reputation for being a leader in terms of smartphone audio, and we've waited with bated breath for DxOMark's take on the LG G8 ThinQ's audio. Well, the website has finally published that review, and the results are, well, unexpected.

The LG G8 ThinQ recorded an overall audio score of 52. That makes it the third-worst device DxOMark has tested, being marginally better than the Black Shark 2 Pro and Sony Xperia 1. 

In the playback category, the LG G8 ThinQ earned a score of 52. That's one more point than the Honor 20 Pro with its mono speaker setup. Interestingly, DxOMark found the bass and overall volume of the G8 ThinQ's speakers lacking. Those are the very things LG's much-vaunted Boombox Speaker system is supposed to excel at, and that raises plenty of questions.

I own an LG V40 ThinQ with a similar setup and have never found the phone's speaker quality to be groundbreaking in any aspect. There is plenty of truth to DxOMark's take.

The recording category is the real shocker. LG is widely regarded by enthusiasts to have the best mic performance among Android phones, but the G8 ThinQ only manages to earn a score of 52 in that category. That score means it's the second-worst device DxOMark has tested, only ahead of the Black Shark 2 Pro, and that's mind-boggling.

We're not sure what to think about this review, as it goes against what most users of the phone say. Sadly, DxOMark's audio reviews don't cover earphone performance. That's a category the G8 ThinQ would excel at with its Hi-Fi Quad DAC, right? You never can tell with DxOMark.