Galaxy S9 vs LG G5: Which One Should You Buy?

Galaxy S9 edges ahead with a BeastScore of 64.8/100 — but the right choice depends on what matters to you.

Head-to-head
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe ⇄
Samsung · 2018

Galaxy S9

Galaxy S9
65/ 100
Launch price$720
Lg · 2016

LG G5

LG G5
65/ 100
Launch price$700
Head-to-head

Galaxy S9 wins 1 of 7 categories

Here's exactly where each phone is stronger.

Galaxy S9
Galaxy S9
1 win
LG G5
LG G5
0 wins
At a glance

Bigger shape = better phone.

SpeedCameraSelfieBatteryDisplayConnectivityValue
Galaxy S9LG G5
Category winners

Scores out of 100. How we score

  • SpeedTie
    64
    64
  • CameraTie
    72
    72
  • VideoNot enough data
  • SelfieTie
    40
    40
  • BatteryTie
    58
    58
  • DisplayTie
    62
    62
  • ConnectivityGalaxy S9
    65
    57
  • SecurityNot enough data
  • ValueTie
    68
    68
Key differences
  • Galaxy S9 has the bigger battery3,000 mAh vs 2,800 mAh
  • LG G5 charges faster18W vs 15W
  • LG G5 has a sharper main camera16 MP vs 12 MP
  • Galaxy S9 has the bigger screen5.8" vs 5.3"
  • LG G5 is lighter159 g vs 163 g
  • LG G5 launched cheaper$700 vs $720
  • Galaxy S9 has newer Bluetooth5 vs 4.2
See all specs ↓

Why buy each phone

Swipe ⇄
Reasons to buy Galaxy S9
  • ✓Bigger 3,000 mAh battery (+200 mAh)
  • ✓12 MP main camera
  • ✓5.8" display at 60 Hz
Reasons to buy LG G5
  • ✓4 g lighter (159 g vs 163 g), easier to hold
  • ✓$20 cheaper at launch ($700 vs $720)
  • ✓16 MP main camera

Full specifications

Swipe ⇄
SpecificationGalaxy S9LG G5
1. Display & Screen
Screen typeSuper AMOLEDIPS LCD
Screen Size5.8"5.3"
Resolution & Density2960x1440 (570 ppi)2560x1440 (554 ppi)
Refresh Rate60 Hz60 Hz
Brightness864 nits peak550 nits peak
Screen ProtectionNot listedNot listed
2. Platform & Performance
Chipset / ProcessorNot listed Not listed
CPU CoresNot listedNot listed
GPU GraphicsNot listedNot listed
Operating SystemAndroid 8.0Android 6.0
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory4 GB LPDDR4 GB LPDDR
Internal Storage64GB / 128GB / 256GB32GB
Storage SpeedNot listedNot listed
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics
Primary Camera12 MP, f/1.5, OIS16 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Telephoto ZoomNone (digital zoom only)None (digital zoom only)
Ultrawide CameraN/A8 MP, f/2.4
LiDAR / DepthNoneNone
5. Video
Main Camera Video
Not listed
Not listed
Front Video
Not listed
Not listed
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens8 MP, f/1.78 MP, f/2
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 LG G5 Lightest Chassis
Dimensions147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm
Weight163 g159 g
Build MaterialsNot listedNot listed
SIM TypeNot listedNot listed
Water ResistanceIP68Not listed
8. Battery & Charging
Battery Capacity3,000 mAh2,800 mAh
Wired Fast Charging15W wired fast charging18W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging10W wireless chargingNot listed
Reverse ChargingNot listedNot listed
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerNot listedNot listed
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 5Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth5.04.2
USB Port & SpeedUSB-C 3.1USB-C 3.0
NFCYes (contactless payment)Yes (contactless payment)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsNot listedNot listed
Satellite FeaturesNot listedNot listed
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsNot listedNot listed
Launch Price$720$700
Our verdict

Galaxy S9 wins — BeastScore 64.8/100

The Galaxy S9 is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (3,000 mAh vs 2,800 mAh) and bigger screen (5.8" vs 5.3"). The LG G5 is worth a look if you prefer its faster charging (18W vs 15W).

Buy Galaxy S9 if you want

Larger battery: 3,000 mAh vs 2,800 mAh · Larger display: 5.8" vs 5.3"

Buy LG G5 if you want

Reliable all-round performance.

Common questions

Which is better: Galaxy S9 or LG G5?

The Galaxy S9 is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (3,000 mAh vs 2,800 mAh) and bigger screen (5.8" vs 5.3"). The LG G5 is worth a look if you prefer its faster charging (18W vs 15W). BeastScore: Galaxy S9 64.8/100, LG G5 64.8/100.

What are the main battery and display differences between Galaxy S9 and LG G5?

Galaxy S9 has a 5.8-inch display and 3000 mAh battery. LG G5 has a 5.3-inch display and 2800 mAh battery.

How do Galaxy S9 and LG G5 compare for speed?

Galaxy S9 scores 64/100 for performance; LG G5 scores 64/100.

Similar Smartphones

Gear for the Galaxy S9

All Amazon Finds →

Related articles

All articles →
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Honor Magic V3 vs. OnePlus Open: The Definitive Flagship Foldable Architecture, Hinge Engineering, Crease-Free Displays, and Camera Benchmark Showdown (2026)Flagship Showdown
14 min read

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Honor Magic V3 vs. OnePlus Open: The Definitive Flagship Foldable Architecture, Hinge Engineering, Crease-Free Displays, and Camera Benchmark Showdown (2026)

An exhaustive microarchitectural breakdown, hinge mechanism durability, crease analysis, dual-screen multitasking benchmarks, and periscope camera shootout across the 4 premier book-style foldables of 2026.

Read →
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" vs. Odyssey OLED G9 49" vs. ASUS ROG Swift PG49WCD vs. LG UltraGear 45GS96QB: The Definitive Flagship Super Ultrawide & Curved Gaming Monitor Architecture, Dual 4K 7680x2160 vs. Dual QHD QD-OLED, DisplayPort 2.1 Bandwidth (UHBR 13.5/20), 240Hz Refresh Rates, 2,392 Mini-LED Local Dimming Zones vs. Infinite Contrast OLED, KVM Multitasking, and GPU Driveability Shootout (2026)Flagship Monitor Shootout
16 min read

Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" vs. Odyssey OLED G9 49" vs. ASUS ROG Swift PG49WCD vs. LG UltraGear 45GS96QB: The Definitive Flagship Super Ultrawide & Curved Gaming Monitor Architecture, Dual 4K 7680x2160 vs. Dual QHD QD-OLED, DisplayPort 2.1 Bandwidth (UHBR 13.5/20), 240Hz Refresh Rates, 2,392 Mini-LED Local Dimming Zones vs. Infinite Contrast OLED, KVM Multitasking, and GPU Driveability Shootout (2026)

A comprehensive architectural shootout of the world's most advanced curved super ultrawide monitors. We compare Samsung's 57-inch Dual 4K Quantum Mini-LED titan against 49-inch Gen 2 QD-OLEDs and LG's 45-inch 800R curved WOLED across DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth tunneling, 240Hz motion clarity, text rendering subpixel matrices, multi-window KVM workflows, and GPU horsepower requirements.

Read →
Pixel 10a Now $599 vs Galaxy A57 & iPhone 17e: Still Worth It?Tech News
6 min read

Pixel 10a Now $599 vs Galaxy A57 & iPhone 17e: Still Worth It?

Google quietly raised the Pixel 10a from $499 to $599 in early October, and Samsung pushed the Galaxy A57 up to $599.99 the same week. That puts three "budget" phones at the same $599 starting price as the iPhone 17e. Here is what changed, how the three compare, and which one makes sense now.

Read →