Regular readers know that I buy Samsung Galaxy Note devices since 2012 with the Note II, and I continue my annual upgrade because the S Pen helps me to work efficiently. I was disappointed that the Galaxy Fold did not support the S Pen, but I have hope for the future to expand the use of the S Pen.
However, after three weeks with the $ 900 LG V60 ThinQ, I continue to discover features and functions that convince me that it is the best smartphone ever made by LG, and that it rivals others at a price. hundreds less than competitive flagship products. I saw the video below of Juan Carlos Bagnell a week ago and I immediately ordered my Bamboo Ink stylus. It arrived a few days ago and Samsung may have just been supplanted by LG for optimal use of the stylus.
Also: LG V60 ThinQ 5G review: modern network, two-screen option, reasonable price of $ 900
One of the main ways that the LG V60, with dual screen coverage, outperforms the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus is that you can use a Wacom pen on both 6.8-inch screens. Combined with other unique features of the LG V60, this phone should be seriously considered if you are a pen fan.
Wacom Bamboo Ink Stylus
There is no silo for the large Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus, but it is extremely comfortable to hold for long periods of time, and there is a clip on the pen to attach it to your shirt. It weighs only 19.8 g with the battery. The bamboo ink is 145 mm long with a diameter of 9.5 mm.
The Bamboo Ink stylus is powered by an AAAA battery. One is included in the package, with an expected battery life of 15 months with two hours of use per day. Given the capacity of the LG V60 experience, you can use it for more than two hours a day, but the battery will still have a long lifespan thanks to the stylus.
There are two buttons – A and B – on the pen, and as you can read below and see in the gallery, LG provides specific support for this exact pen configuration. Wacom Active ES is used to connect to your phone, not Bluetooth.
A medium point is installed in the Bamboo Ink stylus in the box. You can buy extra soft, medium and firm tips if you prefer a different touch level than the tip of the stylus.
LG V60 stylus software
After installing the AAAA battery in the Bamboo Ink stylus, press and hold the two buttons for a few seconds until the center light turns on. Tap the stylus on the screen of your LG V60 and the pen settings should appear on the screen.
The main pen settings view, available under Extensions> Pen, gives you access to more options for keyboard shortcuts and pen shortcuts – with buttons for previewing memos, drawing sound, and the display pointer. The Show Pointer option is handy for knowing when you are within range of the screen for your four keyboard shortcuts to work.
Press the pen key shortcuts to display four options for customizing the two keys (A and B) on the Bamboo Ink pen. Each key has pressure and hold options. The keys can be used when the stylus is close enough to the screen, which is why you want the pointer to appear on the screen. I have the following configuration on my LG V60:
- Press the A key: Open Keep Notes
- Hold A key: Screenshot (super handy for reviewers)
- Press B: Pen Pop
- Hold B: Pen Settings (I will change this option soon)
Pen Pop shortcuts are similar to Air Actions on the Galaxy Note S Pen. You can activate up to five items to display for Pen Pop, including any application that you have installed on your LG V60. Stylus-specific options, which mimic the S Pen, include:
- New memo: Opens the LG QuickMemo + app for easy note taking
- GIF Capture: Displays a window in which you position yourself on a video currently playing to capture and create a GIF. You can also resize the window to fit your video.
- Draw the cat: A window appears at the bottom where you can create quick recordings with the stylus. I like to take personalized notes for my wife and send them by SMS.
- Quick text: Toggles the text input window on the LG keyboard, it should be your default keyboard, in an empty window where you enter text using instant handwriting to text. It works surprisingly well and it is something that I use more and more every day.
- Pop Lens: For us over 50, having the possibility of enlarging parts of the screen is super practical. A window appears that you can move on either display to display the screen without the need for readers. A simple press also switches the contents of the window to dark mode.
- Coloring book: Open the coloring book folder in QuickMemo + with a variety of blank coloring books that you can select to color on any of your screens. You can even create your own coloring from the photos you have on your phone.
- Scratch art: A QuickMemo + feature opens for your creativity. Scratching is a painting technique where different colors are superimposed under a dark surface, then you use the stylus to reveal the colors.
- Screen Memo: You can use an application and write a note directly on the screen while continuing to use the other application under your note. The only part saved in QuickMemo + is the content of the written pen. Different pen sizes and colors are also available with levels of transparency.
As you can see, there are many options for Pen Pop and some are even better than those offered by Samsung. I particularly like the possibility of quickly creating a screen memo while working with another application, because it is less likely that I will forget my passing thought. Remember you can also work with both screens, so I had a Pop lens on one screen to read text while having Draw chat on the other screen to create pen recordings. The LG V60 is a pen center.
One of the most common things I do with the S Pen on a Galaxy Note is to create memos when the screen is off. Guess what? You can also do this with the LG V60 and a Wacom pen. Make sure the toggle is enabled for a screen memo in the Extensions> Shortcuts area of the device settings. Then just double tap the volume up key to activate the screen saver and write to your heart’s content.
Also: LG V60 ThinQ vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: Which big 5G phone is best for your business?
Daily use and experiences
A major differentiator between the LG V60 and Galaxy Note experiences is the lack of Bluetooth Air Actions support, but it’s true that I find these gadgets and only tried them on the Note 10 Plus during the review period . The Bluetooth functionality of the S Pen also requires that the S Pen be charged and the battery life is limited with this stylus.
The S Pen comes in handy because it’s installed in the Note 10, but it’s also quite small and light. I prefer the design of the Bamboo Ink stylus and I love the LG V60 experience. This capacity on the LG V60 certainly makes me think twice about buying a Note 20 which will probably cost hundreds more than the LG V60.
Frankly, I was quite shocked by the extended stylus support built into the LG V60, having software that almost perfectly matches the Note series. The additional support for the second screen is also a game changer and gives us all a glimpse of what might happen in the Microsoft Surface Duo later this year.
The battery of the LG V60 continues to blow my mind with a screen exceeding seven to eight hours, and the phone lasts a few days with decent use. Compared to the new S20 series, it has battery saving features such as a lack of ultra-high resolution and a lack of support for 120Hz display refresh.
The stylus support on the LG V60 has further integrated my main T-Mobile SIM card into the LG V60, and I like the feel of the Bamboo Ink stylus in my hand. This combination makes me write more on the screen, and I am delighted with the support. LG should consider bundles with this stylus and a big promotion at a time when the next Galaxy Note is still months away from its launch.