LG Electronics released the video Thursday before its October 1 debut in New York.
The video is apparently an attempt to drum up interest in a handset that will enter a crowded market. Both Google and Apple will release new smartphones around the same time as LG, writes Katie Collins for CNET.
LG V10 to enter crowded smartphone market
Google is to release new Android smartphones, one of which is actually manufactured by LG. The latest version of the Apple iPhone is also scheduled for release, with the 6s and 6s Plus expected to sell well.
LG is attempting to stand out from the crowd with the strange front face of the V10, which it showed off in Thursday’s promotional video. The short clip confirms the existence of dual cameras on the front of the phone and a second “ticker” screen to display app shortcuts, both of which had been seen in leaked photos.
The ticker screen is somewhat reminiscent of the apps edge on the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, but LG’s version appears directly above the main screen instead of down the side of the handset. The leaked photos were first posted by @evleaks and later reported by Android Police, and have now apparently been confirmed by LG.
LG – Strange design could prove popular with fans of Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
A dual-screen smartphone may allow LG to gain market share at the expense of Samsung, its South Korean rival that has so far had more success selling its smartphones to the world. LG has reported declining sales throughout 2015 despite the launch of the new flagship LG G4 in April, but the V10 may provide a much needed boost in the fragmented Android smartphone market.
Demand for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge was so high following its release last year that Samsung struggled to keep up. Samsung’s success would appear to suggest that there is a market for smartphones with strange design features.
LG has form for producing unconventional smartphones, including the LG G Flex 2. The handset is curved, with a rounded back and a concave screen that follows the curve of the face, and shows the company’s willingness to experiment.
