LG Electronics has been releasing one innovative phone after another to revive its smartphone business. Last year, the company launched the LG V40 with five cameras but it didn’t taste much success. It was one of the most underrated smartphones of 2018. The Korean company is preparing to launch its next-gen LG G8 ThinQ at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) next month.
LG G8 ThinQ to be unveiled on February 24
LG has sent out press invites teasing touchless gesture controls. The teaser has sparked speculations that LG G8 ThinQ could be the company’s first phone to get the feature. The 13-second teaser video starts with a piece of paper laid on the screen. Then a wave of a hand from the left to right side on the paper brings up Goodbye Touch. Then another wave of the hand in the opposite direction brings up MWC 2019 LG Premiere.
The short video ends with the location and date of the event. LG Electronics is set to hold its unveiling event on February 24th at the Center de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB) in Barcelona. The idea of touchless gesture controls sounds interesting in theory, but a lot would depend on the implementation.
Samsung had introduced a similar technology called Air Gestures with the Galaxy S4 to let users interact with the device without having to touch it. But it was not that intuitive and consumers didn’t like it. According to the Korean media, the LG G8 ThinQ would have a new ‘touchless input’ user interface, where users can control the device through hover gestures from up to 11 inches away from the screen. The phone will have a sensor on the front to recognize your gestures.
Only time will tell whether the LG G8 ThinQ’s gesture controls would be a useful feature or a mere gimmick. Back in 2013, the Korean company introduced motion recognition with its smart TVs to allow users to control the TV via an on-screen cursor. Consumers could control the on-screen cursor using their fingers.
Earlier this month, folks at CNet reported that the LG G8 ThinQ would have an optional second screen. Don’t confuse it with a foldable or flexible phone because the second screen won’t bend or fold like Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy F. Instead, users will reportedly be able to attach the second screen to the device for a better experience while playing games, watching videos or multi-tasking. It would look like a single device when the two screens are attached.
It’s unclear whether the second screen would be sold as a separate accessory or come bundled with the device. It looks like LG is exploring several innovative features to find out which ones stick with consumers. The G8 ThinQ is said to sport a 6.1-inch display, Android 9 Pie software, and Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 processor.
LG to launch a 5G phone at MWC
While the LG G8 ThinQ is expected to be the star of the show on February 24th, the Korean company could introduce other devices as well at the same event. Last year, it had launched the LG V30S ThinQ – a minor upgrade over the V30 ThinQ – at the Mobile World Congress.
CNet reports that LG Electronics would also unveil its first 5G smartphone at the MWC next month. The company will showcase the 5G phone to visitors until the MWC ends on February 28th. Just like LG G8 ThinQ, the yet unnamed 5G phone would run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 processor, which is said to be 45% faster than its predecessor. It means the device would rely on Qualcomm’s X50 modem for 5G speeds.
The 5G phone will reportedly have a built-in vapor chamber for better heat management. A giant 4000mAh battery would ensure that the phone lasts well over a day of normal usage. LG said the 5G phone had been designed for heavy content consumption. The company plans to sell its 5G phone in the US through Sprint starting in the first half of this year.
LG is also said to be working on a foldable smartphone, but the company is in no rush to launch it. It has trademarked names like LG Foldi, LG Bendi, LG Flex, LG Duplex, suggesting that the company is serious about the foldable display technology.
