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MagyarLG K50 Smartphone Review: A cheap and large format handset
LG has been integrating dedicated Google Assistant buttons for a while now, with it filtering down from flagship devices to mid-range handsets like the Q60. Now, LG has brought the functionality to the K50, its latest entry-level smartphone. The company integrates in-house voice commands within its custom version of Android too. While we liked the Q60 for its large display, good build quality and its competitive pricing, it also fell short of its competitors in benchmarks.
One looks at the K50 paints it in a similar light. Despite having a modern design, dual rear-facing cameras and comparably good connectivity, LG has equipped it with an SoC that may yield lacklustre performance. We shall compare the K50 against the Alcatel 3 (2019), LG Q60, Wiko View 3 and Xiaomi Mi A3 to find out, overviews of which we have included in the table below.
Device Overview
Rating | Version | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 % | v7 (old) | 10/2019 | LG K50 Helio P22 MT6762, PowerVR GE8320 | 170 g | 32 GB eMMC Flash | 6.26" | 1520x720 | |
| 80.5 % | v6 (old) | 07/2019 | Wiko View 3 Helio P22 MT6762, PowerVR GE8320 | 178 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.26" | 1520x720 | |
| 74.9 % | v7 (old) | 08/2019 | Samsung Galaxy A10 Exynos 7884B, Mali-G71 MP2 | 168 g | 32 GB eMMC Flash | 6.20" | 1520x720 | |
| 78.4 % | v7 (old) | 09/2019 | Xiaomi Mi A3 SD 665, Adreno 610 | 173.8 g | 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.09" | 1560x720 | |
| 76.3 % | v7 (old) | 09/2019 | Alcatel 3 2019 SD 439, Adreno 505 | 145 g | 32 GB eMMC Flash | 5.90" | 1560x720 | |
| 82.1 % | v6 (old) | 07/2019 | LG Q60 Helio P22 MT6762, PowerVR GE8320 | 172 g | 6.26" | 1520x720 |
Case - A sleek, 6-inch smartphone
The K50 has a metal frame and a plastic back. The device comes in New Aurora Black or New Moroccan Blue and is MIL-STD-810 compliant, which means it must have successfully passed 14 environmental and climatic tests. However, no independent organisation or agency certifies MIL-STD-810 compliance, so the conditions under which LG tested it are unclear.
Our review unit is well built and fits nicely in our hands without feeling too clunky despite having a 6.26-inch display. Its dimensions and weight put it in the middle of our comparison devices in this regard.
Connectivity - A cheap LG phone with LTE
LG equips the K50 with MediaTek Helio P22 MT6762 SoC and 3 GB of RAM. The former integrates a PowerVR GE8320 GPU among other components, while there is also 32 GB of eMMC flash storage. The K50 supports up to 2-TB microSD cards too should you need more space and can read FAT, FAT32 or exFAT file systems. The device has a dedicated microSD card slot, along with two nano-SIM card slots, allowing you to use both functionalities simultaneously. While both card slots support LTE and voice over LTE (VoLTE), the K50 does not support Wi-Fi calls (VoWiFi).
The K50 comes with a microUSB port too, which operates on the USB 2.0 standard. While the device lacks the more modern USB Type-C port that LG affords it more expensive siblings, it does have a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Moreover, the company has included a notification LED and has certified the device for Widevine L3, meaning the K50 can stream DRM-protected content, like Netflix, in HD.
Software - LG on Android 9.0 Pie
The K50 ships with Android 9.0 Pie, while our review unit had the August 1, 2019 security patches installed at the time of testing. LG has applied its in-house UI atop of stock Android, although the Settings menu is the only area that has received an overhaul. The device has an in-house launcher and app icons by default too, which may take some acclimatising if you have not used an LG phone before.
LG installs plenty of bloatware on the K50, though. Not only are there numerous in-house apps like LG SmartWorld and Smart Doctor, but there are also third-party apps like Amazon Assistant, Facebook, Instagram and McAfee. Our review unit came with the standard set of Google apps too. Almost all these preinstalled apps can only be deactivated and not removed, which eats up some storage. User-installed applications cannot be stored on a microSD card either.
Communication & GPS - Lame Wi-Fi performance and sub-par GPS
The K50 supports GSM, 3G and LTE networks, along with LTE Cat. 4 for up to 150 Mb/s downloads and 50 Mb/s uploads. The device utilises Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and up to IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi for near-field communication too.
While our review unit supports fast Wi-Fi, it cannot use 802.11ac on 5 GHz networks for some reason. Correspondingly, the K50 falls hopelessly short of its theoretical peak transfer speed of 216 Mb/s, only averaging between 55 Mb/s and 60 Mb/s in our iperf3 Client Wi-Fi tests. Regardless, our review unit still managed to finish in the top three of both our Wi-Fi tests, albeit well behind the Xiaomi Mi A3.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | |
| LG K50 | |
| Wiko View 3 | |
| LG Q60 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | |
| Wiko View 3 | |
| LG K50 | |
| LG Q60 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 | |
Our review unit can maintain a satellite fix with up to four metres accuracy when outdoors, something that not all smartphones can achieve at this price. It cannot locate us indoors, though.
We also took the K50 on a bike ride to compare its location accuracy against a Garmin Edge 520, one of our reference bike computers. While the K50 is probably accurate enough for general navigation tasks, it performed poorly during our test. As the screenshots below demonstrate, our review unit regularly records us next to the path on which we were cycling and takes shortcuts to keep up with us.
Telephone Functions & Call Quality - A good connection with this budget handset
The default phone app provides quick access to a numeric keypad for making calls. LG has included tabs for call history, contacts and groups too.
Our review unit has excellent call quality. Not only does it get loud enough to make calls from noisy environments, it also filters out background noise reliably and picks up our voice well.
Cameras - Dual cameras and usable results
LG equips the K50 with a 13 MP main rear-facing camera, along with a 2 MP depth of field sensor. Likewise, there is also a 13 MP front-facing camera, which takes decent-looking selfies. The sensor not only captures fine structures well but also does a good job of reproducing colours vividly. The default camera app automatically selects the best settings for each shot and gives four suggestions from which to choose with the AI-CAM feature. There is no manual mode, though.
Likewise, photos taken with the main rear-facing camera look bright and richly detailed even on cloudy days. The sensor reproduces colours well too and delineates objects well from each other. Blur sets in at low zoom levels, but we noticed this effect less when taking macro-shots.
While we can make out objects in low-light shots, the colours and details are hardly discernible. Overall, the K50 is not the smartphone for you if you like taking photos at night, as scene 3 below demonstrates.
The default camera app also includes QLens, a feature that allows people to search for information about objects that you have captured. The camera app does not feature a manual mode for the rear-facing camera, either.
We also subjected our review unit to further camera tests under controlled lighting conditions. The main rear-facing camera not only reproduces ColorChecker Passport reference colours too lightly, but it also makes our test chart look washed-out too. The sensor captures fine details and structures well, but contrast levels drop off in the middle of the left and right-hand sides of the image.
Surprisingly, the camera does a more accurate job of reproducing reference colours in low light. However, the photo of our test chart that we shot at 1 lux looks grainier and more poorly exposed than the one we took in good lighting.
Accessories & Warranty - The basics and two year's warranty
LG includes a charger, a matching micro USB cable, a SIM tool and a cleaning cloth in the box. Other accessories must be purchased from third parties with LG also selling a set of Bluetooth headphones should you need some.
The K50 comes with 24 months' warranty. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
Input Devices & Operation - A customisable default keyboard app and a fingerprint sensor
LG preinstalls its in-house keyboard app as the default. The size, look, and layout of the keyboard can be adjusted, while LG has also included a one-handed mode. The touchscreen in our review unit responded reliably during our tests, although the slightly resistive finish ended up making our fingers feel tired after multiple drag-and-drop gestures. There is a fingerprint scanner too, which unlocks our review unit quickly and without hesitation.
Display - A glossy 720p panel with PWM
The K50 has a 6.26-inch IPS panel that resolves at 1520x720. The device achieved an average maximum luminosity of 453 cd/m² according to X-Rite i1Pro 2, putting it in the midfield of our comparison table. However, it is also the least evenly lit at 85% distribution and flickers at 100%. Staring at a display with such a low PWM frequency can cause health issues like eyestrain and headaches for some people, so we would recommend trying the K50 before you buy it.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 85 %
Center on Battery: 489 cd/m²
Contrast: 1164:1 (Black: 0.42 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.75 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.95
ΔE Greyscale 4.6 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
93.4% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.164
| LG K50 IPS, 1520x720, 6.3" | Wiko View 3 IPS, 1520x720, 6.3" | Samsung Galaxy A10 IPS, 1520x720, 6.2" | Xiaomi Mi A3 AMOLED, 1560x720, 6.1" | Alcatel 3 2019 IPS, 1560x720, 5.9" | LG Q60 IPS, 1520x720, 6.3" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 27% | -3% | -24% | -4% | -17% | |
| Brightness middle | 489 | 574 17% | 451 -8% | 348 -29% | 648 33% | 477 -2% |
| Brightness | 453 | 552 22% | 430 -5% | 355 -22% | 608 34% | 437 -4% |
| Brightness Distribution | 85 | 91 7% | 90 6% | 91 7% | 89 5% | 87 2% |
| Black Level * | 0.42 | 0.19 55% | 0.22 48% | 0.26 38% | 0.7 -67% | |
| Contrast | 1164 | 3021 160% | 2050 76% | 2492 114% | 681 -41% | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.75 | 5.5 -16% | 5.44 -15% | 5.86 -23% | 8.8 -85% | 4.84 -2% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 7.75 | 9.5 -23% | 11.94 -54% | 15.6 -101% | 13 -68% | 8.32 -7% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.6 | 5 -9% | 7.8 -70% | 3.6 22% | 9.3 -102% | 5.2 -13% |
| Gamma | 2.164 102% | 2.1 105% | 2.206 100% | 2.232 99% | 2.94 75% | 2.144 103% |
| CCT | 7510 87% | 7610 85% | 9149 71% | 7051 92% | 9314 70% | 7376 88% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 100 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 100 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 100 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17365 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
While our tests certify that the K50 has a decent contrast ratio of 1,164:1, it also falls short of all but the Q60 of our comparison devices. We suspect that the reason for this is its comparatively high black value, which we measured at 0.42 cd/m².
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 16 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 5 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 11 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 33 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.1 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 38 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 19 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 19 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 51 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.2 ms). | ||
Moreover, CalMAN determined that the display reproduces colours with rather low levels of red and blue tones. LG has incorporated a blue-light filter within its software that it calls comfort view, the intensity of which can be adjusted with a slider. The filter is not active by default.
The K50 has stable viewing angles thanks to having an IPS display. We noticed no brightness or colour shifts even at acute viewing angles, but the screen looks rather washed-out in bright sunlight. It also has a glossy and highly reflective finish, as the photo below demonstrates. Hence, we would recommend finding a shady spot on a sunny day if you must use the device and avoid looking at it from side-on to minimise reflections.
Performance - A handset for everyday apps
As we mentioned earlier, LG has equipped the K50 with a MediaTek Helio P22 MT6762 SoC and 3 GB of RAM. The SoC integrates a PowerVR GE8320 GPU too, while the internal storage is a touch low for our liking at 32 GB.
As expected, the K50 finished in the lower end of our benchmark comparison tables. While the device may look underpowered on paper, our review unit performed smoothly in daily use and loaded applications quickly.
| PCMark for Android | |
| Work performance score (sort by value) | |
| LG K50 | |
| Wiko View 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 | |
| LG Q60 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (4404 - 7465, n=18) | |
| Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
| LG K50 | |
| Wiko View 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 | |
| LG Q60 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (3805 - 5380, n=21) | |
| GFXBench 3.0 | |
| on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value) | |
| LG K50 | |
| Wiko View 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 | |
| LG Q60 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (15 - 17, n=9) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 165, n=168, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| LG K50 | |
| Wiko View 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 | |
| LG Q60 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (9.1 - 10, n=9) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (12 - 363, n=168, last 2 years) | |
| GFXBench 3.1 | |
| on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| LG K50 | |
| Wiko View 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 | |
| LG Q60 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (10 - 11, n=9) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 158, n=168, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| LG K50 | |
| Wiko View 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 | |
| LG Q60 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (3.7 - 6.2, n=9) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (8.3 - 279, n=168, last 2 years) | |
| AnTuTu v7 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| LG K50 | |
| Wiko View 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 | |
| LG Q60 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (71347 - 88242, n=9) | |
Likewise, while the K50 achieved below-average browser benchmark results, we had no issues during our time with the device. The preinstalled Chrome browser on which we conducted our browser benchmarks always felt snappy and scrolling animations remained smooth. Media content took a little longer to load than websites do, but that is our only gripe here.
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 (Chrome 76) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 (Chrome 76) | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 (Chrome 72) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (22.7 - 24.6, n=5) | |
| LG Q60 (Chrome 75) | |
| LG K50 (Chrome 77) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (38 - 304, n=89, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 (Chrome 76) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 (Chrome 76) | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 (Chrome 72) | |
| LG Q60 (Chrome 75) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (26 - 30, n=7) | |
| LG K50 (Chrome 77) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 (Chrome 76) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 (Chrome 76) | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 (Chrome 72) | |
| LG Q60 (Chrome 75) | |
| LG K50 (Chrome 77) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (3312 - 4508, n=9) | |
| Wiko View 3 (Chrome 75) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| LG K50 (Chrome 77) | |
| LG Q60 (Chrome 75) | |
| Wiko View 3 (Chrome 75) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 (10846 - 12799, n=9) | |
| Alcatel 3 2019 (Chrome 72) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 (Chrome 76) | |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 (Chrome 76) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 28190, n=158, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
The K50 not only has comparatively slow internal storage but also an inferior microSD card reader. Both are good enough for a device at this price, but only the Xiaomi Mi A3 performed worse in AndroBench microSD card tests than the K50 did.
| LG K50 | Wiko View 3 | Samsung Galaxy A10 | Xiaomi Mi A3 | Alcatel 3 2019 | LG Q60 | Average 32 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 12% | 18% | 203% | 24% | 8% | 12% | 1219% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 263.4 | 287.3 9% | 296.4 13% | 502 91% | 305.8 16% | 266.2 1% | 242 ? -8% | 1720 ? 553% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 78.9 | 132.4 68% | 101.7 29% | 184 133% | 87.2 11% | 97.9 24% | 100.5 ? 27% | 1330 ? 1586% |
| Random Read 4KB | 52.1 | 55.2 6% | 73.4 41% | 126.9 144% | 84.9 63% | 53.9 3% | 43.2 ? -17% | 265 ? 409% |
| Random Write 4KB | 12.03 | 8.98 -25% | 13.3 11% | 117.4 876% | 16.05 33% | 13.94 16% | 22.4 ? 86% | 292 ? 2327% |
| Sequential Read 256KB SDCard | 78.9 ? | 81.7 ? 4% | 78.8 ? 0% | 67.8 ? -14% | 86.6 ? 10% | 79.5 ? 1% | 71.8 ? -9% | |
| Sequential Write 256KB SDCard | 58.9 ? | 63.6 ? 8% | 65.3 ? 11% | 50.1 ? -15% | 64.9 ? 10% | 58.7 ? 0% | 52.9 ? -10% |
Games - Gaming at low graphics
The PowerVR GE8320 is powerful enough for casual gaming, and even playing some demanding games at low to medium graphics. Arena of Valor and Asphalt 9: Legends generally ran smoothly, for example, but not if we set them to maximum graphics.
Incidentally, the touchscreen and associated sensors worked well during our gaming tests. The display's resistive finish and the small delay that we encountered when changing the orientation of the device were disappointing, though.
Emissions - A cool device with loud speakers
Temperature
The K50 remained relatively cool during our tests. Surface temperatures peaked at 38.5 °C under sustained load, at which point the device felt a little warm. However, it should generally feel cool to the touch.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 37.3 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 38.5 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.3 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
The K50 has stereo speakers that get rather loud, although they also tend to over-represent high-pitched frequencies too. Overall, the speakers are good enough to use for calls, but we would recommend using external audio equipment, like headphones, for other tasks. These, and external speakers, can be connected via the 3.5 mm jack or Bluetooth.
LG K50 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 65.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 65.7% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 65.7% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (123.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 91% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 2% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 97% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Wiko View 3 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 30.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.7% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.9% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (27.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 66% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 27% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 81% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 15% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Power Management - A 3,500 mAh battery with decent runtimes
Power Consumption
The K50 consumes between 0.7 and 4.5 W under load, values that put it on par with many of our comparison devices. However, it generally fluctuates between 1 W and 2.4 W, making it more efficient than all the devices in our table below, including the average of MediaTek Helio P22 MT6762-powered devices that we have tested.
LG includes a 6 W charger in the box. As our tests certify, the charger has enough capacity to keep the K50 always charging even when the device is being pushed to its limits.
| Off / Standby |   0 / 0.16 Watt |
| Idle |  0.7 / 1 / 1.8 Watt |
| Load |
2.4 / 4.5 Watt |
    
| |
| LG K50 3500 mAh | Wiko View 3 4000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A10 3400 mAh | Xiaomi Mi A3 4030 mAh | Alcatel 3 2019 3500 mAh | LG Q60 3500 mAh | Average Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -7% | -46% | -68% | -18% | -33% | -15% | -65% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.7 | 0.67 4% | 0.7 -0% | 0.8 -14% | 0.63 10% | 0.8 -14% | 0.669 ? 4% | 0.909 ? -30% |
| Idle Average * | 1 | 1.73 -73% | 1.6 -60% | 2 -100% | 1.66 -66% | 1.3 -30% | 1.577 ? -58% | 1.445 ? -45% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.8 | 1.79 1% | 2 -11% | 3.3 -83% | 1.73 4% | 2.2 -22% | 1.851 ? -3% | 1.61 ? 11% |
| Load Average * | 2.4 | 2.18 9% | 5.4 -125% | 4.1 -71% | 3.17 -32% | 4 -67% | 2.91 ? -21% | 6.21 ? -159% |
| Load Maximum * | 4.5 | 3.43 24% | 6 -33% | 7.7 -71% | 4.75 -6% | 5.9 -31% | 4.41 ? 2% | 9.16 ? -104% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
The K50 has a 3,500 mAh battery, the same capacity as the batteries in the Alcatel 3 (2019) and Q60 and 100 mAh more than the one in the Samsung Galaxy A10. Our review unit lasted for 13:42 hours in our practical Wi-Fi test, a good runtime but one which falls short of all but the Galaxy A10 of our comparison devices.
Incidentally, our review unit takes about 2:30 hours to reach full charge with the included charger.
| LG K50 3500 mAh | Wiko View 3 4000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A10 3400 mAh | Xiaomi Mi A3 4030 mAh | Alcatel 3 2019 3500 mAh | LG Q60 3500 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | ||||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 822 | 995 21% | 753 -8% | 985 20% | 923 12% | 949 15% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - A budget handset with more positives than weaknesses
The LG K50 has a large display, solid cameras and is well-built. Its performance reflects its affordable price tag, though. Everyday apps like Facebook, WhatsApp and the default Internet browser run well, but complex gaming is out of the question. The device has decent battery life too.
The LG K50 is excellent value for money in most areas. However, its dismal GPS and Wi-Fi performance tarnish that impression.
We cannot understand why LG has equipped the K50 with such poor GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, though. While the device supports the fast 802.11ac standard, it falls well short of expectations. Moreover, the route that it recorded during our GPS tests resembles a bowl of spaghetti more than a bike ride. Overall, the LG K50 is a decent budget smartphone, but only if you can overlook these shortcomings.
LG K50
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12/20/2019 v7 (old)
Mike Wobker
Price comparison
