In a world of disappearing headphone jacks, the LG’s V30+ is the saviour device for audiophiles who want the very best audio experience a flagship can provide. The Korean manufacturer has gone overboard on specs in the latest iteration of its premium V series, most notably on its inclusion of a Quad DAC sound system that audibly sets it apart from the competition.
With Apple Music, Anghami and Spotify being among the most downloaded apps in the Arabian Gulf region, having the option to squeeze out a flush listening experience separates this phone from other flagships.
Using wired headphones, listeners experience auditory depth in all musical genres – there was plenty of clarity in The Foo Fighter’s latest riff-heavy album, Concrete and Gold, while driving a trunk-rattling bass on hip-hop tracks.
Away from its audio performance, the V30+ is a delight to hold, with a Gorilla Glass 5 back that resists scratches and drops, and a flat screen beneath a pane of glass that curves just slightly into the frame. It’s available in “Aurora” black or “Cloud” silver.
LG has dropped its interesting-in-theory but largely pointless dual screen set-up of the V20, instead opting for a 6-inch Oled screen, a first for the manufacturer. For those who still find curved screens gimmicky (including me) the V30+ provides an alternative that not only has a flat screen, but a more reasonable 18:9 aspect ratio, compared with the Samsung S8’s 18.5:9 or iPhone X’s awkward 19:5.9.
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Read more:
Sony's WF-1000X headphones are great for noise-cancelling
Apple endorses wireless charging, but are you ready to cut the cord?
Huawei's Mate 10 closing the gap with Apple and Samsung
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As with other LG smartphones, the fingerprint scanner, in the middle of the phone’s back, is snappy and doubles up as the phone’s main button. Some users may find it a bit unwieldy at first; I got used to it, although the button placement is a liability for clumsy users like myself, and isn’t helpful for unlocking the phone when resting on a surface. The placement is better though than the Galaxy S8’s sensor though, with no danger of smudging the phone’s impressive dual camera lenses.
LG wants you to believe that its phone camera technology is capable of taking studio quality images and video, which is stretching it a bit. Nevertheless, taking images and videos with the V30+, as with its predecessors, is an overwhelmingly positive experience, and really shines in low-light situations where the f/1.6 aperture of the main 16MP lens reduces noise and keeps lines crisp. The wide-angle 13MP lens is great for nature shots, or just for getting the most out of a scene.
Battery-wise, the V30+ comes with a 3,300mAh battery that’s bigger (on paper at least) than the Galaxy S8 or iPhone X. As a heavy-user, I experienced a full day’s use without any need to recharge the phones 3,300MAH battery.
All of the above means that the V30+ ticks plenty of boxes that hard-core consumers will look for in a flagship device. But it falls short in two key areas.
First up, LG needs to drop its heavy-handed Android skin. As a Nexus and Pixel user, nothing runs as smoothly and sensibly as the stock Android experience. While it’s understood that companies like LG and others (yes, Samsung, we’re looking at you) need to push their own software, the further companies get from the original OS, the worse the performance.
And secondly, the LG V30+ is overpriced. At an MSRP of Dh3,099 LG is still trying to position itself right up there with the very best (and most expensive) smartphones on the market from Samsung and Apple. But the reality is that LG just doesn’t enjoy the loyal customer-base of their Korean rivals or the fanatical devotion of Apple-users, meaning that the V30+ may struggle to find traction in a competitive market.
That would be a shame though, as the LG V30+ is a solid piece of hardware, and deserves to carve up a dedicated user-base as a specialist phone for its superb audio performance. For non-audio buffs that are looking for a great screen and impressive cameras, its hard to go wrong with this phone.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Read more about the coronavirus
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
