LG V40 ThinQ Specs Leaked: Five Cameras, Notched Display, Face Unlock

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In less than a year, LG Electronics has launched three phones in its flagship V-series. The LG V30 was introduced late last year. Then came the LG V30S ThinQ and V35 ThinQ, though all of them have failed to bring LG back in business. The next phone in the V-series has to bring some radical changes to stand out from the crowd. A new report claims that the LG V40 ThinQ will feature as many as five cameras. That’s an interesting way to differentiate the product in the crowded Android market.

LG V40 ThinQ to sport dual front cameras, triple rear camera setup

Reliable Twitter tipster Evan Blass recently reported that the Korean company was developing the LG V40 ThinQ under the code-name ‘Storm.’ The phone will retain the ThinQ branding to highlight its AI capabilities. David Ruddock of Android Police has learned from a source familiar with LG’s plans that the V40 ThinQ would be the company’s first flagship to sport five cameras. Not all cameras will be on the back, though.

Android Police reports that the LG V40 ThinQ will have two cameras on the front and three lenses on the back. It seems like every major vendor is interested in the triple rear camera setup since the debut of Huawei P20 Pro. The P20 Pro is currently the world’s best smartphone camera, beating the likes of iPhone X, Google Pixel 2, and Galaxy S9 Plus. Apple’s upcoming iPhone X Plus and Samsung’s next-gen Galaxy S10 are also rumored to have a triple camera setup on the back.

The LG V40 ThinQ’s rear camera setup would consist of a wide-angle lens, an ultra-wide shooter, and a third lens whose purpose is not known yet. The third lens could be used for enhanced optical zoom or depth of field bokeh effects. On Huawei’s P20 Pro, there is a wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens, and a monochrome sensor. Huawei uses the third lens for better zoom and low-light photography. For LG, it makes sense to offer a telephoto lens as the third sensor.

The V40 ThinQ would sport a dual camera setup on the front. The source told Android Police that at least one of the two front cameras will allow for 3D facial recognition similar to the iPhone X’s Face ID technology. It’s not the first time LG will be using dual front cameras on its phones. The Korean company had introduced two front snappers with the original LG V10, but removed the second camera in later V-series handsets.

The dual front cameras and triple rear cameras could help the LG V40 ThinQ grab some eyeballs. But it will be the phone’s real-life camera performance that will determine its popularity among smartphone camera enthusiasts. Samsung, Huawei, Apple, and Google are far ahead of LG when it comes to smartphone photography. Google’s Pixel 2 has only a single lens on the back, but it manages to take some of the best photos and videos.

Other expected features

The publication added that the LG V40 ThinQ would look similar to the LG G7, which has a premium design. It will have a display notch that you’ll be able to hide via software. The upcoming flagship will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset, which runs most of the premium Android phones of 2018. The V40 ThinQ will retain LG’s signature Quad DAC.

The handset will also have a dedicated button on the side to activate Google Assistant. LG Electronics will reportedly keep the fingerprint reader on the back panel, similar to the G7 and V35 ThinQ. If it happens, the phone will have facial recognition as well as the fingerprint sensor for authentication and security. With three camera lenses, the LG V branding, the LED flash, and fingerprint reader, the rear panel is going to look crowded.

It is unclear whether the LG V40 ThinQ will have an OLED screen or LCD panel. The G7 came with an improved LCD screen, but LG has traditionally used OLED panels on the V-series phones. Recent reports suggest the V40 would feature an OLED display that will offer more vibrant colors and better energy efficiency.

LG V40 ThinQ release date

LG is expected to unveil the V40 later this fall. The launch of V30S ThinQ and V35 ThinQ has confused the rumor mill about the V40’s release date. LG has said in the past that it would no longer follow a specific release timeline. It will bring new phones when it has something new and useful to offer. Evan Blass has claimed that the V40 would debut in “late summer / early fall.”

The five camera phone could give LG a chance to revive its fortunes in the smartphone business. Chinese vendors such as Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus have dramatically affected LG’s sales in emerging markets. The re-emergence of the Nokia brand is also giving the likes of LG and HTC a tough time.

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