The LG G4 smartphone has already been released, but already reports are emerging that LG is about to release a successor. A rumor posted on a Chinese social networking site, Weibo, suggests that the Korean company is preparing to launch an updated Pro version of its well-received flagship device later this year.
LG G4 Pro rumors multiply
This is not exactly a new rumor, as it had been suggested previously that LG was considering releasing an updated version of its flagship smartphone before the year was out. It was suggested that LG was disappointed with sales of the LG G4 device, and was looking to attract more consumers by providing an even more powerful device than the existing LG G4.
It is worth bearing in mind that some publications consider last year’s LG G3 to be the standout smartphone of the year. This is no mean feat when up against the juggernauts of Apple & Samsung, but some reviewers felt that the LG G3 exceeded even the market-leading iPhone 6. This is a testimony to the quality of the LG range, yet the commercial success of the corporation has not yet matched this critical reputation.
In line with this issue, it was therefore suggested that LG would release a more powerful version of the LG G4 before the end of the year. And it seems increasingly possible that this will indeed come to fruition. The report in question is purporting to come from close to the LG supply chain, and it suggests that we could see an LG G4 Pro version of the smartphone released sometime late in Q3 or early Q4.
Camera upgrade
The leak in question suggests that the rear-facing camera in the LG G4 will be quite staggeringly increased. The 16-megapixel snapper included in the LG G4 is already noted as being one of the most powerful photographic devices in any smartphone available on the mass market. But the report suggests that LG will increase the rear-facing camera to 27-megapixels; certainly a huge shift if this rumor turns out to be correct.
Although other factors contribute to picture quality, such as sensor size, image processing software and aperture, such a massive megapixel rating would point to a potentially hugely powerful camera device. LG has previously released smartphones with a f/1.8 aperture, and if it is able to keep this specification and also nearly double the megapixel rating of the LG G4, then an incredible photographic device is in the offing.
It has also been suggested by some analysts that the particularly large pixel count could be motivated by adding a dual-camera setup. This would very much imitate the camera layout in the recent HTC One M8, which was unfortunately dropped in its successor. Producing such a device for the LG G4 would undoubtedly be a significant technical undertaking, but the Korean corporation might be looking to produce something truly outstanding that really makes jaws drop.
Chip upgrade
Aside from this massive camera improvement, it is also suggested that the LG G4 Pro will feature a massive chip upgrade. This is one area where the smartphone perhaps failed to compete with its most obvious Samsung Galaxy S6 rival. It’s hoped that by upgrading to Qualcomm’s latest 808 chip that the LG G4 will be able to compete with the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6.
LG must also consider the release of the iPhone 6s in the next few months. This latest Apple iPhone release will undoubtedly be significantly upgraded from previous iterations of the series, and the iPhone 6s has already been linked with a vast raft of new upgrades. There is little doubt that Apple will retain the lead in the smartphone marketplace with the iPhone 6s, and thus to distinguish itself from this iconic competitor, LG must produce something truly outstanding with the LG G4 Pro.
Display
With this in mind, it is suggested that LG will increase the screen size of the device from 5.5-inches to 5.8-inches. This would make it significantly larger than the existing iPhone 6 plus, and considering that it is assumed that Apple will not increase the screen size in either of its forthcoming devices, this would ensure that LG has the edge in this department. Samsung has certainly placed a premium on the quality of displays in recent device releases, and improving the quality of the LG G4 screen would enable it to compete with its native Korean arrival.
A 5.8-inch display would mean that the LG G4 Pro was larger than the Galaxy Note 4, but it is not known what upgrade Samsung has in mind for this tablet range during 2015. Rumors have not particularly centred around screen size in relation to this tablet, but Samsung may choose to increase the screen size of the galaxy Note 5 in order to stay ahead of the competition.
Advantages
The LG G4 is already considered to be an outstanding smartphone, with many obvious advantages over its most obvious smartphone rival, the Samsung Galaxy S6. LG G4 has a significantly larger screen than the Samsung device, and it produces higher resolution photographs from its front-facing camera. An 8-megapixel device is one of the most powerful in the mass-market smartphone niche.
Expandable storage and removable batteries which are included in the LG G4 range are both welcome assets to the device, and the micro-USB utilized by the LG G4 has also attractive particular praise. The laser autofocus and the color spectrum sensor which LG has included in the device have also been critically acclaimed, and this is certainly a device which has numerous advantages over some of its biggest rivals.
As LG now intends to upgrade the LG G4 Pro further still, by the end of the year LG may have a device on its hands which can truly challenge the best releases from Apple and Samsung.
