If You Were Not Already Confused Enough, New LG V40 ThinQ Leak Does The Job

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LG Electronics’ flagship smartphone lineup has become pretty confusing since last year. The company is introducing new phones at a torrential pace with little differentiation. Even a hard-core tech enthusiast will have a hard time telling the differences between the LG V30, V30S ThinQ, V35 ThinQ, and LG G7 ThinQ. All of them were launched within last year and all of them have similar specs. With the imminent LG V40 ThinQ launch, the Korean company would have released four smartphones in the V-series in less than a year. The latest LG V40 ThinQ leak creates further confusion among fans.  

Is the device found in firmware files indeed LG V40 ThinQ?

LG Electronics is expected to release the V40 ThinQ in October. The new LG V40 ThinQ leak suggests that the company could launch another flagship device around the same time. XDA Developers has obtained firmware files that hint at the V40 ThinQ. But a few discrepancies in the firmware files point to it being another, yet-unknown smartphone.  

Code-named “judypn,” the new phone has the same base code “judy” as the V35 ThinQ (judyp) and G7 ThinQ (judyln). The LN in the G7 ThinQ’s “judyln” suggests it was an LCD phone with a display notch. The P in the V35 ThinQ’s “judyp” stands for P-OLED display. The V35 ThinQ doesn’t have a display notch. Based on the code-name patterns, the PN in “judypn” should mean a P-OLED display and a notch.  

P-OLED or Plastic-OLED screens have individual pixels that emit light. Unlike AMOLED screens that use a glass substrate, the P-OLED screens use a plastic substrate. LG’s P-OLED screens are thinner, lighter, cost-effective, and more flexible than OLED screens with glass substrates. LG Electronics has reserved P-OLED screens for the V-series, so there is a good chance the “judypn” is LG V40 ThinQ.  

If you take a look at model numbers, they suggest that “judypn” is indeed the V40 ThinQ. The phone has model numbers LM-V400N, LM-V405N, and LM-V409N. The recent V35 ThinQ had model numbers LM-V350 and LM-V350N. The pattern for the LG G7 ThinQ was different with model numbers LG-G710, LM-G710, LM-G710N, and LMG710VM.  

A big discrepancy in the LG V40 ThinQ leak

Based on these factors, you wouldn’t be wrong to conclude that “judypn” is indeed the V40 ThinQ. But there are a few things that don’t line up well in the LG V40 ThinQ leak here. For instance, the firmware files suggest the device will have dual cameras on the back and only a single lens on the front.  

So, what’s wrong with dual cameras? There is nothing wrong. In fact, the LG V35 ThinQ and G7 ThinQ both have two cameras on the back and a single camera for selfies. But Korean site ETNews and folks at Android Police have reported earlier that the V40 ThinQ would sport triple cameras on the back and dual cameras on the front. 

Both Android Police and ETNews have proved reliable in the past, so their reports should be fairly accurate. ETNews has revealed that the rear setup would include a 20MP main sensor, a 16MP ultra wide-angle lens, and a 13MP telephoto lens. At least one of the two front-facing cameras would enable 3D facial recognition similar to Apple’s Face ID. 

This discrepancy in the LG V40 ThinQ leak has caused further confusion.  There could be multiple reasons for the discrepancy. One, the firmware files themselves might not be complete. LG Electronics could update them in the coming weeks to add an additional camera on the back and the second camera on the front.  

Another possibility is that the firmware files are not for the V40 ThinQ. They could belong to another similar device with only dual rear cameras coming out later this year. This possibility can’t be ruled out considering recent LG flagship phones have only tiny differences in design and specs.  

The third and final possibility is that the firmware files are for the LG V40 ThinQ and they are complete. It means the device would have only dual cameras on the back and a single lens on the front. LG doesn’t have extensive expertise in smartphone photography. So, even if the company adds a third lens on the back, there is little chance it would be able to take on the likes of Huawei P20 Pro, the upcoming flagship iPhones, Google’s next-gen Pixel 3, and Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 9.  

Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long to find out how accurate the new LG V40 ThinQ leak is. Carrier sources have told ETNews that Korean telecom operators such as LG Uplus, SK Telecom, and KT would start selling the new device on October 5th. The international launch is expected to take place a couple of weeks later. LG Electronics will reportedly hold a launch event soon after the IFA trade show to show off the V40 ThinQ in mid-September.  

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