In 2019, LG launched its Stylo 5, the latest iteration in the company‘s line of affordable, stylus-equipped smartphones. But just a year later in 2020, LG returned with the Stylo 6, boasting upgrades in nearly every area.
Given LG‘s decision to shut down their mobile division in 2021, both the Stylo 5 and 6 represent the final smartphones ever released by the once-major manufacturer.
But does the Stylo 6 provide enough improvements over its predecessor to be worthy of consideration by budget-focused shoppers? Or was LG simply too late to the party with incremental upgrades that failed to match rivals‘ offerings?
This comprehensive comparison of the LG Stylo 5 and LG Stylo 6 dives into all the key specs, features and real-world performance differences that set these two swan song LG phones apart. Read on to discover which model best balances price, longevity and overall value for money in 2023 and beyond.
LG Stylo 6 vs. LG Stylo 5: At a Glance
Before analyzing each phone‘s strengths and weaknesses in detail, here is a high-level overview of how the key specs and features compare across models:
LG Stylo 5
- Released June 2019
- 6.2" 1080 x 2160 LCD display
- MediaTek Helio P35 chipset
- 3GB RAM / 32GB storage
- 13MP rear camera
- Android 9.0 Pie
- $399 launch price
LG Stylo 6
- Released May 2020
- 6.8” 1080 x 2460 LCD display
- Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 chipset
- 3GB RAM / 64GB storage
- 13MP + 5MP + 5MP triple rear cameras
- Android 10
- $299 launch price
As you can see, LG made noteworthy improvements to display size, memory capacity, OS version and cameras when updating from Stylo 5 to 6. Processing power also increased despite sticking with a budget-tier chipset.
But sheer specs alone don‘t determine real-world experience. Read on to see how these upgrades translated to tangible benefits (or disappointments) for Stylo fans.
Design and Display
Those familiar with LG‘s previous entries in the Stylo line will immediately notice the aesthetic overhaul introduced with the Stylo 6.
While the Stylo 5 featured thick bezels and a generic plastic frame, the Stylo 6 adopts a nearly bezel-less look aided by an edge-to-edge, 6.8-inch display. The aluminum frame also gives off more premium vibes.
Gone too is the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, as LG finally adopted the in-display variety with the Stylo 6. This modern design touch belies the phone‘s budget price tag.
In terms of display quality, both models actually use IPS LCD panels with nearly identical 1080p resolutions. So viewing angles, color reproduction and brightness ratings remain largely unchanged despite the Stylo 6‘s larger screen area.
The Stylo 6 does squeeze a few more pixels per inch out of its panel though, resulting in slightly sharper images. But we‘re only talking 395 ppi versus 390 ppi on the Stylo 5.
Either phone will easily handle everyday media consumption like web browsing, YouTube watching and casual gaming. Just don‘t expect cutting edge display tech at these wallet-friendly price points.
For protection against scratches and cracks, it’s again unfortunate that neither model contains Gorilla Glass or other branded glass upgrades. Buyers will have to be extra careful or invest in a quality screen protector.
Stylus Pen Performance
No comparison of these LG models would be complete without assessing the performance of their iconic stylus pens.
In both cases, simply removing the pen from its silo will automatically launch a notes app – no clicking or tapping required. This encourages quick capture of handwritten notes.
LG also built solid palm rejection into the touch system so resting your hand on screen while writing causes no issues. In day-to-day use, the stylus proved capable for jotting memos, marking up screenshots or documents and even some amateur doodling.
That said, a small but noticeable input lag exists between physical pen strokes and digital ink appearance on screen. This occurs more severely on the Stylo 5 and makes capturing very quick scribbles a bit challenging.
The input delay improved slightly on the Stylo 6, likely thanks to its upgraded chipset. But those coming from a premium tablet or phablet with silky-smooth stylus tech will need to adjust expectations here.
For the target demographic – consumers who simply want the option for handwriting notes without paying extra for a dedicated stylus – either LG model still delivers great value.
Cameras
Like the vast majority of budget smartphones nowadays, the LG Stylo 5 and 6 will never compete with flagship devices when it comes to mobile photography.
That said, LG definitely took steps to modernize imaging capabilities with the Stylo 6‘s triple rear camera array.
The lone 13MP shooter on the Stylo 5 actually holds up OK in brightly lit environments. But forget about quality low light performance even with the f/2.2 lens. And no optical zoom or special effects modes hinder creative opportunities.
LG Stylo 5 Rear Camera
- 13MP
- f/2.2 aperture
- LED flash
The story remains largely the same with the Stylo 6‘s main 13MP lens. Crisp captures in ideal conditions degrade quickly once lighting dims.
But the two supplemental 5MP lenses – ultrawide and depth sensor – do allow for wider framing and simulated background blur. This gives the Stylo 6 a bit more photographic flexibility overall.
LG Stylo 6 Rear Cameras
- 13MP main
- 5MP ultrawide
- 5MP depth
Meanwhile the front facing cameras moved from 5MP on the Stylo 5 to 13MP on the Stylo 6. This noticeable resolution bump leads to better quality selfies with enhanced details and dynamic range.
Bottom line: Serious mobile photographers need not apply with either device. But if capturing better social media pics or documenting memories is a priority, the triple camera Stylo 6 has a clear (if modest) edge.
Performance and Battery Life
With their budget MediaTek and Snapdragon chipsets backed by just 3GB RAM, raw processing power was never going to impress on the Stylo 5 or 6.
And unfortunately, benchmarks confirm the middling performance prospects for both phones even by 2020 standards.
Running Geekbench tests of overall system performance, the Stylo 5 with its Helio P35 CPU scored:
- Single Core: 740
- Multi Core: 3569
Representing a minor upgrade, the Stylo 6 and its Snapdragon 450 posted:
- Single Core: 772
- Multi Core: 3043
For perspective, the contemporaneous OnePlus 8 Pro with Snapdragon 865 crushed both:
- Single Core: 4303
- Multi Core: 13559
Of course that phone retailed for nearly 5x the cost! But it illustrates just how far behind processing power LG lagged by the end.
For simpler tasks like web browsing, map navigation and video streaming, either Stylo model should suffice. Just keep expectations in check around snappy app loading times or smooth intensive gaming.
One area the Stylo 6 does show nice gains over its predecessor comes in battery life thanks to a larger 4,000 mAh power pack (vs 3,500 mAh on the Stylo 5).
In practical use, this allows the Stylo 6 to reliably deliver over 12+ hours of screen time per charge even with heavy use. The Stylo 5 taps out a little over an hour sooner in comparable testing.
Quick charging support (MediaTek Pump Express and Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 respectively) provides around a 50% bump in under an hour for both models as well.
So if maximizing battery life is a priority, the Stylo 6 once again comes out ahead as long as you don‘t mind carrying around a heavier device overall.
Software
Given LG‘s 2021 shutdown, software support now represents a valid concern for potential LG buyers. Will these phones still receive critical updates?
The Stylo 5 launched with Android 9 Pie and LG‘s custom UX skin on board. Owners can now update to Android 10, but that‘s likely the end of the road when it comes to major OS revisions.
LG promised three OS updates for its premium phones, but budget models like the Stylo line typically got shortchanged to just two at most.
With the Stylo 6 launching a year later, it came preloaded with Android 10 out of box. And some variants have now received Android 11 upgrades as well.
But after a second OS jump to Android 12, future support remains highly questionable. Without LG to directly issue updates, carriers may reluctantly keep things updated a while longer. But don‘t expect software support to last nearly as long as Samsung or Apple supports its devices.
This leaves cost-conscious owners of both Stylo models likely looking at third party custom ROM options to keep their phones running modern Android versions 3+ years down the road.
For the immediate future though, LG‘s custom UX skin layered atop Android 10/11 handles daily use admirably on either Stylo variation. And both phones come loaded with productivity apps to complement stylus functionality.
Just be prepared to research custom software mods once Google pushes out Android 14 or 15 in a few years!
Price and Availability
Considering LG shut down all mobile operations midway through 2021, buying either of these phones new today presents challenges.
Major retailers simply aren‘t carrying new LG stock anymore. However, you can still find the Stylo 5 and Stylo 6 resold in open box and refurbished condition if seeking to minimize costs.
When first launched in 2020, the LG Stylo 6 retailed for $299 unlocked highlighting LG‘s budget ambitions for the series. Today if buying refurbished, expect to pay around $160.
Meanwhile the older LG Stylo 5 hit shelves at a slightly higher $399 MSRP given its 2019 release. Refurbished Stylo 5 phones now sell for approximately $140 or less.
So technically the newer Stylo 6 costs a small premium. But given its better feature set, cameras and battery life, I believe the extra $20 or so makes it the best value LG option left standing in 2023.
Neither pricing quite reaches "impulse buy" levels. But if you want to grab an LG swan song phone with stylus functionality before remaining inventory disappears forever, act soon!
LG Stylo 6 vs. LG Stylo 5: Key Differences Summarized
To recap the notable changes LG introduced with the Stylo 6 upgrade over the older Stylo 5:
- Modern nearly bezel-less design
- Larger 6.8" 1080p LCD display
- Rear fingerprint unlock
- Triple 13MP + 5MP + 5MP rear cameras
- Upgraded Snapdragon chipset
- 64GB internal storage
- 4,000 mAh battery
- Ships with Android 10
The above features add up to a clearly superior product that outpaces its predecessor in nearly every metric. While hardcore mobile users will justifiably view both LGs as underpowered, the Stylo 6 in my estimation represents one of the top value smartphones out there for budget-focused consumers.
And as LG‘s swan song device, buying a Stylo 6 arguably offers the best closing specimens of LG‘s pioneering smartphone engineering efforts.
The Verdict: LG Stylo 6 Wins
When evaluating LG‘s final smartphone entries primed to battle growing Chinese rivals, the Stylo 6 stands out as a marked improvement that reminds industry watchers of LG‘s leftover potential.
Had LG kept innovating with the same zeal reflected in the Stylo 6‘s feature set, perhaps they could have reversed mobile fortunes rather than waving the white flag entirely in 2021.
But analyzing what might have been makes little sense. As interested shoppers today, our focus lands squarely on which exiting LG phone best balances price, performance and longevity.
And in that regard, the LG Stylo 6 simply outclasses its Stylo 5 predecessor across too many categories to ignore.
Enthusiasts will rightly note the merely average core specs trailing premium alternatives. Yet, for social media usage, web browsing, maps and even some photo capturing, the Stylo 6 handles daily needs.
Factor in solid construction, excellent battery life and a serviceable stylus, and this last LG lumpia has my full recommendation for budget buyers seeking a well-rounded experience with unique differentiators.
The LG Stylo 5 wasn‘t a bad phone in 2019 by any means. But it‘s clear the company realized key areas requiring improvement to truly compete. And with the Stylo 6, they delivered their most compelling product in the series to date.
So why settle for the past when the future offers more for less? Grab the feature-packed LG Stylo 6 while you still can and don‘t look back!
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the LG Stylo 5 or LG Stylo 6?
Definitely choose the newer LG Stylo 6 over the Stylo 5. For just $20-$30 more when buying refurbished, the Stylo 6 brings better cameras, battery life, memory and software support.
How long will the LG Stylo 6 keep working?
With LG Mobile‘s official shutdown, OS updates will likely stop at Android 12. But as long as you install apps like WhatsApp, Gmail or Maps from the Google Play Store, core phone functionality should continue for 3-4 years assuming hardware holds up.
Why did LG stop making phones?
Lack of profitability and increasing competition from Apple, Samsung and low-cost Chinese makers left LG unable to gain mobile market share. Rather than invest further and risk larger losses, LG decided to exit the smartphone business entirely in summer 2021.
Which performs better for games, LG Stylo 5 or 6?
With basic chipsets and 3GB RAM, neither phone stands out for mobile gaming. Simpler titles like Candy Crush will work fine. But expect sluggish frame rates if attempting intensive 3D games. For gaming needs, look at mid-range options like the OnePlus Nord N300 5G releasing later this year.
