In this specs-driven world where bigger and faster are usually key indicators of a smartphone’s success, LG took an unexpected turn and decided to take on a radical approach on its new flagship smartphone, the LG G5.
Instead of bombarding people with the latest and greatest tech the handset has to offer all throughout the presentation, the South Korean firm focused more on the unique features of the new smartphone starting with its minimalist design.
The G5 looks nothing like its predecessor, a testament that LG has built this smartphones from the ground up. Unlike the leather-covered back panel of its predecessor, the LG G5 sports an all-metal body which houses the key components like the Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM, and the removable 2,800mAh battery pack.
Introducing the #LGG5: https://t.co/7SXfVCR7Dc pic.twitter.com/RuaXMU3a9M
— LG USA Mobile (@LGUSAMobile) February 21, 2016
The front panel is almost entirely occupied by the handset’s 5.3-inch IPS display which is slightly tapered at the top. The panel is imbued with an Always-On technology which can be configured to display the time and date or a customized signature. According to LG, the said feature will only consume 0.8% of the battery per hour.
Over on to the back side you’ll find a pair of cameras: a a standard 16-megapixel shooter with a 78-degree glass and a secondary camera with an 8-megapixel resolution and 135 degrees wide-angle lens. These cameras can be used individually, allowing users to choose which camera is best suited to capture the scene, or simultaneously which opens a lot of doors for creative shots.
We’ve pretty much covered the basic stuff, so let’s get on with the kicker: the modular part. The portion below the display where the ‘LG’ logo is printed can actually be taken out by pushing down on a button on the side. Doing so will remove the handset’s 2,800mAh battery in the process.
The removable bottom panel can be swapped out with either an LG Cam Plus module or the LG Hi-Fi Plus with Bang and Olufsen PLAY module. The former, as you’ve probably guessed is geared towards photo buffs, acting as a camera grip and giving them additional control over their composition with physical keys that control various aspects of the camera.
The LG Cam Plus module also comes with its own 1,200mAh battery pack which will definitely come in handy during prolong shooting with the LG G5.
Meanwhile, the LG Hi-Fi Plus with Bang and Olufsen PLAY module comes with a built-in DAC or digital-to-analog converter which provides better sound performance.
LG says that it will share the design of the removable modules to third-party manufacturers, in order for them to come up with more modules which in turn will diversify the selection of the consumers.
LG G5 specs:
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor |
| Memory | 4GB |
| Display | 5.3-inch IPS display, 2560 x 1440, Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Storage | Expandable 32GB on-board storage |
| Camera | 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel rear cameras + 8-megapixel front camera |
| SIM | Dual-SIM, 4G/LTE |
| Battery | 2,800mAh |
| Weight | 159g |
| Dimensions | 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm |
| Others | Dual-band Wi-Fi AC, Bluetooth 4.2 LE with apt-X and A2DP, NFC, USB Type-C port, Fingerprint sensor, and Quick Charge 3.0 |
| Color | Silver, Titan, Gold, Pink |
It’s still early, but it seems that LG got a good thing going with its new flagship smartphone. There’s no doubt that it has set the bar a little bit higher for Samsung who is slated to reveal the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in a few hours.
The LG G5 will ship starting on April, but its SRP still remains unknown as we speak. More information about the LG G5, the nifty modules, and the other accessories that it’s compatible with can be found on the link below.
Related: Flagship War: LG G5 vs Samsung Galaxy S7
