LG unveiled at MWC in Barcelona its latest high-end smartphones, the LG G8 ThinQ and its first 5G smartphone, the V50 ThinQ. The latter will come with an optional second screen, turning it into a tablet-size device, similar to the foldable phones recently unveiled by Huawei and Samsung.
LG’s new flagship, the V50 ThinQ comes with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 processor and X50 5G modem. It offers a 6.4-inch 19.5:9 QHD+ Oled screen, 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage, plus a 4,000 mAh battery with quick charging.
In line with the V series thin design, the V50 is just 8.33m thick, while still meeting US military MIL-STD 810G standards for durability. To extend the usage of the phone, LG will offer the Dual Screen, which appears as a phone cover and can open up to double the screen size. This second 6.2-inch Oled can be used separately or in conjunction with the main phone screen and can be positioned at 104 or 180 degrees while running off the main phone’s battery.
The V50 will launch only in markets with 5G, from this spring. LG said it’s partnered with 10 carriers already in markets where 5G service will be launched in 2019, including the US, South Korea, Australia as well as a number of European countries.
G8 brings palm authentication, Crystal Sound Oled
It’s other new phone, the G8 will be available more widely, in a choice of red, black and blue colours. New features on the G series include Crystal Sound Oled, which uses the smartphone’s display as a speaker diaphragm to enhance sound and eliminate the need for a front speaker, and palm vein authentication, using infrared sensors to register the user’s hand when placed before the front camera.
The front ‘Z Camera’ can also use infrared rays reflected off subjects to calculate depth, making features such as Face Unlock possible. As the Z Camera sees objects in 3D, Face Unlock cannot be fooled with two-dimensional photos. The camera can also detect motion to use gestures to control the phone. The Air Motion feature allows users to answer or end calls, take screenshots, switch between applications or adjust the volume, without touching the screen.
The G8 also adopts an Oled screen, at 6.1 inches with QHD+ resolution, as well as the Snapdragon 855 processor, 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. It also comes with LG’s Hi-Fi Quad DAC, a 3,500 mAh battery and a triple rear camera with 16MP super wide angle, 12 MP standard and 12 MP telephoto lenses. In addition, the Video Portrait feature makes its debut on the LG G8, giving users control of bokeh while filming video in Portrait Mode with the rear camera.
LG will offer a slightly different version, called the G8s in certain markets. It comes with a bigger 6.2-inch Oled screen with slightly lower resolution, as well as the Snapdragon 855, triple camera, hand ID and a choice of 64 or 128 GB storage.
