LG V40 ThinQ: News, Rumors, Release Date, Specs, and More!

This is LG’s most powerful phone of 2018.

Last year saw a big shift for LG’s V series. Unlike the V10 and V20 that experimented with metal designs, removable batteries, and secondary ticker displays, the V30 introduced a slick glass back, incredibly slim bezels, and a pOLED screen made by LG itself.

We’re anticipating the V40 to share a lot of similarities to its predecessor and this year’s recently announced LG V35, and as new information trickles in, we’ll be regularly updating this guide to help keep you up-date on everything that’s going on.

Without further delay, here’s everything we know about the LG V40!

The latest LG V40 news

July 19, 2018 — LG to launch the V40 on October 5, reported to have a 90% screen-to-body ratio

A new report from ETNews recently broke, and if you weren’t already excited about the V40, this just may change your mind.

Following last month’s rumor of the V40 having a total of five cameras, ETNews says that three of these will be on the back of the phone and consist of 20MP primary, 16MP wide-angle, and 13MP telephoto sensors. The remaining two cameras will be on the front and allow for a 3D facial recognition system.

Speaking of the V40’s front, it’s said that we’ll be met with an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 90%. LG will apparently have a “different from the conventional” method for keeping bezels so small, suggesting that the company might have found an alternative solution to the notch.

Lastly, LG will reportedly announce the phone during IFA late next month and then begin sales on October 5.

June 26, 2018 — The V40 will reportedly have a total of five cameras, a notch in its display, and face unlock system

News dump alert! Our friends at Android Police recently spoke with a source that’s apparently familiar with the V40’s development, and as such, we’ve got some juicy new details about the phone.

First and foremost, it’s reported that the LG V40 will ship with a total of five cameras. We can’t say with 100% certainty how these will be positioned on the phone, but it’s likely we’ll get two on the front and three on the back. Speaking of cameras, LG’s working on a new face unlock system that could feature 3D mapping technology, not unlike the iPhone X’s Face ID.

Something else to take note of is the fact that the V40 is said to come with a notch in its display. LG will allow you to use software to hide the notch just like it does on the G7, but as expected, this is a trend you just can’t escape for the time being.

Other reported features are the Snapdragon 845, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a dedicated Google Assistant button next to the volume rocker.

What specs can we expect?

Talk about the V40’s specs is still relatively quiet, but even so, we can make a few guesses about what it’ll come equipped with.

At the heart of the V40 will likely be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor. This has been the chipset of choice for most 2018 flagships, and as we’ve seen before, the 845 is a beast when it comes to performance, camera processing, battery life, and more.

Something else the V40 will likely carry is an OLED display. In May, LG confirmed that it reserves its OLED panels for entries in the V series. Unless something has radically changed since then, this is a sure bet that the V40 will be graced with an OLED screen.

Lastly, the V40 will come with at least two cameras on the back. We don’t know what kind of sensors will be used or what the aperture rating will be like, but similar to past LG flagships, we should get a primary lens with a regular focal length and a secondary, wide angle one.

When will the LG V40 be released?

According to one source, the V40 is scheduled for a release in either the late summer or early fall of this year. If accurate, this will see it launched during a similar window compared to the September 21 release of the V30.

Along with this, another publication claims that the V40 will be announced during IFA (late August / early September) and then go on sale about a month later on October 5.

How much will it cost?

We have a pretty good idea as to when the V40 will be released, but what about its price?

Details on this are still few and far between, but to make an educated guess, let’s first look at past retail pricing for other entries in the V series.

• LG V10 — $600
• LG V20 — $830
• LG V30 — $800
• LG V30S — $930
• LG V35 — $900

LG’s been steadily increasing the price of its V phones with just about every release, and based on the most recent V30S and V35, I think it’s safe to say that the V40 will cost around $900 and possibly cross that $1000 threshold.

The V series has never been cheap and the V40 won’t be an exception to that rule.

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Comcast Bows Out of Competition for Fox, CEO Congratulates Disney as Bidding War Ends

After a summer of back-and-forth bids between Comcast and Disney for select entertainment assets owned by 21st Century Fox, Comcast today confirmed that it is bowing out of the bidding war for Fox. The company says the move is to instead focus on acquiring European satellite TV provider Sky, another much-sought-after entertainment company that is seeing interest from the likes of Comcast, Fox, and Disney (via Variety).

For the purchase of 21st Century Fox, this means that Disney is now expected to finally win the bid and close out the acquisition deal in the near future. The most recent steps in that process saw Disney and Fox agree to a $71.3 billion cash and stock deal, which has now also been approved by the Department of Justice on the condition that Disney sells off 22 regional Fox sports networks.

In the announcement confirming that it will not place another bid on Fox, Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts congratulated Disney and its CEO Bob Iger:

“Comcast does not intend to pursue further the acquisition of the Twenty-First Century Fox assets and, instead, will focus on our recommended offer for Sky,” the company said in a statement Thursday.

Brian L. Roberts, Comcast chairman-CEO, added: “I’d like to congratulate Bob Iger and the team at Disney and commend the Murdoch family and Fox for creating such a desirable and respected company.”

Disney originally announced interest in acquiring 21st Century Fox last December, starting its bidding at $52.4 billion in stock before Comcast forced it to increase the amount and introduce a cash component. Once the acquisition is final, Disney will own Twentieth Century Fox Film and Television Studios and Fox-related cable and international TV businesses.

At the time, Disney leadership said that the new Fox assets will build on the company’s “commitment to deliver the highest quality branded entertainment,” as well as fuel its ability to “create more appealing content.” The company also referenced its intent to deliver a “more compelling” entertainment experience to Disney consumers “whenever and however” they choose.

Disney said that the Fox assets would accelerate its use of certain technologies, including the recently acquired BAMTech platform, which it aims to use for its solo-streaming service. With the acquisition, Disney will immediately gain a large stable of old and new television shows and movies to populate its upcoming streaming service, expected to launch in 2019 and compete with Apple’s own streaming TV service.

Tags: Disney, Comcast, Fox
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2018 13-Inch MacBook Pro With Touch Bar Has Four Full-Speed Thunderbolt 3 Ports

Apple has confirmed that the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is equipped with four full-speed Thunderbolt 3 ports.

2018 models ship with Intel’s eighth-generation Core i5 or Core i7 processors, which both support up to 16 PCI Express lanes, providing enough bandwidth for maximum data transfer speeds up to 40Gb/s on all four Thunderbolt 3 ports.

2016 and 2017 models of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar could be configured with sixth- and seventh-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, which supported up to 12 PCI Express lanes, limiting full speeds to the two left-side Thunderbolt 3 ports, with reduced bandwidth on the right-side ports.

Now, users have the freedom to plug higher-performance peripherals into any Thunderbolt 3 port they desire without compromise.

All three generations of the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar have always had four full-speed Thunderbolt 3 ports, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro with function keys has only two Thunderbolt 3 ports, both full speed.

Related Roundup: MacBook ProTag: Thunderbolt 3Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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Apple Confirms 2018 MacBook Pro Keyboard Has ‘Membrane’ to ‘Prevent Debris From Entering the Butterfly Mechanism’

In an internal document distributed to Apple Authorized Service Providers, obtained by MacRumors from a reliable source, Apple has confirmed that the third-generation keyboard on 2018 MacBook Pro models is equipped with a “membrane” to “prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism.”

Image Credit: iFixit
The relevant excerpt from the service document:

Keyboard and Keycaps
The keyboard has a membrane under the keycaps to prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism. The procedure for the space bar replacement has also changed from the previous model. Repair documentation and service videos will be available when keycap parts begin shipping.

In its teardown of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar last week, the repair experts at iFixit were first to discover the thin, silicone barrier underneath the keycaps, and theorized that it was to prevent dust indeed.

Publicly, Apple has only confirmed that 2018 MacBook Pro models feature an “improved third-generation keyboard for quieter typing,” but many suspected that the silicon membrane was actually to prevent “contaminate ingress,” fancy speak for the crumbs from your sandwich that you ate at your desk for lunch.

Following years of anecdotal complaints from customers, and a few class action lawsuits, Apple initiated a worldwide service program last month, offering free repairs of 2015-and-later MacBook and 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro keyboards, which are equipped with low-profile butterfly switch mechanisms.

We’ve already reported about the service program in more detail, but the gist is that those particular MacBook and MacBook Pro models can experience issues with sticky, unresponsive, or inconsistently functioning keys when small particles like dust or crumbs get stuck underneath the shallower keycaps.

We’ve reached out to Apple for comment.

More details to follow…

Related Roundup: MacBook ProBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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Apple Highlights Upcoming Retail Grand Openings in Milan and Walnut Creek

Apple this week has begun highlighting the impending grand openings of two new retail locations in Milan, Italy and Walnut Creek, California.

Apple Piazza Liberty in Milan will see a grand opening on Thursday, July 26, and in celebration Apple has put together a collection of colorful pieces of art and photographs created by twenty Italian artists and designers.

On a new webpage on Apple.com, the company highlights the artists and the Apple products they used to create their works. These include product designer Valerio Sommella (iPad Pro, Procreate, and iMac Pro), musician Charlie Charles (iMac), illustrator and animator Stefano Colferai (iPhone X and MacBook Pro), and more.

Every day in Milan, artists and designers reinvent the future. Twenty of them asked what they will do tomorrow, and here are their answers: a snapshot of the city’s creative energy.

Apple discovered the artists and incorporated their creations into the tagline of the new store ahead of the grand opening, which visitors can see on nearby barricades: “Cosa farai domani, Milano?” or “What will you do tomorrow, Milan?”

Colferai’s project (left) and Apple Piazza Liberty (right) via @stefanocolferai on Instagram
Of course, Apple Piazza Liberty will host a variety of Today at Apple sessions, including live music in the location’s amphitheater on opening night by musician LIM, a “crazy self-portraits” session with Olimpia Zagnoli on July 27, a photographic laboratory with Piotr Niepsuj on July 28, and a “draw the summer” class on July 29. Local customers can begin signing up for these sessions on July 20.

In the U.S., another Apple retail location will be opening around the same time as the Milan store, this one on Saturday, July 28 in Walnut Creek, California. Opening at 10:00 a.m. local time, the relocated store is taking the place of a former California Pizza Kitchen and will now be named Apple Broadway Plaza.

The former location lacked many of the modern features of Apple’s new retail store initiative, so Apple Broadway Plaza will debut with an emphasis as a local community gathering space that can be used for Today at Apple sessions. The building is located in the Broadway Plaza outdoor mall in Walnut Creek, and has been under construction for over a year.

For more on the latest of Apple’s retail plans, be sure to visit our Apple Stores Roundup.

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BlackBerry to use the oldest trick in the book to push new keyboard phone

BlackBerry may have another device on the list for 2018 — a lower cost version of the Key2. Evidence of its possible existence comes from a leaked picture allegedly showing what’s being called the BlackBerry Key2 Lite, which shows the back of a phone with BlackBerry’s familiar logo, and a Key2-like shape.

The device differs from the Key2 slightly. The chassis on the device pictured has a red color, and will apparently be made of plastic rather than metal. It’ll come in a blue or copper color as well, according to mobile leaker Evan Blass, who posted the picture on Twitter. The dual-lens camera BlackBerry introduced on the Key2 is present though, although the specifications may not be the same. While the Key2’s rear panel is also textured, the effect is different on the Key2 Lite.

Apparently codename BlackBerry Luna, the cheaper materials used in the device’s construction should make the phone cheaper to buy than the Key2, which starts at $650. What’s interesting is that being called the Key2 Lite and sharing the Key2’s basic design, means the phone will have a physical keyboard, potentially introducing the feature to a wider audience. Outside of the expensive KeyOne and Key2, the only other Android-based BlackBerry phone you could buy was the all-touchscreen BlackBerry Motion.

We’ve already had indirect hints about the Key2 Lite. When Digital Trends spoke to BlackBerry’s global head of device portfolio Gareth Hurn in January, he told us there would be two phones with keyboards released in 2018. The BlackBerry Key2 turned out to be the first, and now it appears the Key2 Lite will be the second.

When will the phone arrive? Blass mentions in a subsequent tweet the phone could launch at the end of August or in September, potentially at the IFA technology show in Berlin, which begins on August 31 and runs until September 5. We don’t know anything about the specification yet, or if BlackBerry will remove some of the Key’s special keyboard functionality to lower the price further. It’s always possible the Key2 Lite will use the KeyOne’s keyboard, just with the Key2’s improved design.

We’ll keep you updated with BlackBerry Key2 Lite rumors here.

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BlackBerry KEY2 picking up July security patch in latest update

The KEY2 is picking up its first security patch via an OTA update.

BlackBerry is rolling out a software update to the KEY2 that includes the July 01, 2018 security patch. The phone made its debut last month running Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box along with BlackBerry’s security suite. We’re still digging through the update, but the latest build removes the Wi-Fi calling feature — it’s likely BlackBerry will re-introduce it in a future update.

There’s plenty to like in the KEY2. It has a fantastic keyboard, and has much more robust hardware in the form of a Snapdragon 660 chipset, 6GB of RAM, up to 128GB of storage, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 3500mAh battery. The device isn’t exactly affordable at $650, but if you’re looking for a physical keyboard coupled with decent hardware, there isn’t anything else out there that comes close.

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Vivo NEX with pop-up camera launches in India for ₹44,990 ($650)

Vivo NEX undercuts the OPPO Find X by $200 in India.

Vivo unveiled the innovative NEX a month ago in China, and the phone is now making its way to India. The phone retails for the equivalent of $700 in China, but Vivo is selling the NEX for just ₹44,990 ($650) on Amazon India. That’s a fantastic deal when you consider the tech on offer.

The Vivo NEX is powered by a Snapdragon 845, and comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage — that’s the default variant in India. There’s also a 4000mAh battery with Vivo’s own fast charging tech, dual 12MP + 5MP cameras at the back — with the primary camera featuring Sony’s IMX363 imaging module, along with 4-axis OIS and 1.4um pixels.

The highlight is the 92% screen-to-body ratio, facilitated by a retractable front camera that’s hidden away when not in use. The slider pops up in under half a second, and aside from being an elegant solution to the notch, it just looks cool.

That’s not all, as the NEX also comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor. Vivo claims it’s faster than the sensor it used in the X21, and after using the phone for two days, that is indeed the case. On the software side of things, the Vivo NEX is running Android 8.1 Oreo based on Funtouch 4.0, and while the skin leaves a lot to be desired, it is very well optimized for the hardware.

We’ll have much more to share regarding the Vivo NEX in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. In the meantime, be sure to take a look at our hands-on post. If you’re looking to pick up the NEX, Amazon India is offering a flat ₹4,000 cashback on HDFC credit and debit cards, and there’s a slew of financing options available from Bajaj Finserv and leading financial institutions.

With the OPPO Find X costing ₹59,990 ($870), the Vivo NEX is a relative bargain. Amazon is also touting an assured buyback value of ₹22,495, so if you’re planning to upgrade after ten months (the offer is valid up to 11 months), you’ll get half the device’s value after returning the NEX.

See at Amazon India

Catalyst Galaxy S9 Impact Protection Case review: Jack of all trades

Catalyst provides excellent protection in a sleek, stylish package.

Way back in 2014, a Kickstarter was launched for an iPhone 4 case called the EscapeCapsule. It was a fully-enclosed waterproof case that went on to collect nearly $55,000 in funding from almost 600 backers, and today, the company is known as Catalyst with a case for just about every Apple product you could think of.

This July, Catalyst finally expanded outside of the Apple ecosystem and launched its Impact Protection Case for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Even though most Android users are probably unfamiliar with the company, Galaxy S9 customers should pay close attention as this is one of the best cases you can buy for the phone.

Catalyst Galaxy S9 Impact Protection Case

Price: $39.99

Bottom line: Offers more than enough protection in a slim, good-looking package.

The Good

• Drop-protection up to 9.9-feet
• Surprisingly thin and light design
• Textured, easy-to-press buttons
• Optional wrist lanyard is included

The Bad

• Fewer colors available compared to iPhone cases

See at Amazon

This thing does it all

Catalyst Galaxy S9 Impact Protection Case What I like

As the name “Impact Protection Case” suggests, this is a case that’s designed to be a bit more rugged than the average bear.

Catalyst promises drop-protection up to 9.9-feet (or 3-meters) with a unique Impact Truss System that helps to absorb the impact of particularly nasty falls, and in my experience, this results in more than enough protection to keep your phone safe and secure no matter what you’re doing.

The sides of the case feature a rugged rubber finish that feels great in the hand, the textured buttons are very easy to press, and the back features a clear finish so you can still appreciate the design of your S9.

Despite all of this security, wireless charging still works like you’d expect and Catalyst includes a free wrist lanyard that you can attach to the bottom-right corner to ensure you always know where your phone’s at.

A few other highlights include extra-wide cutouts for the 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C port, the orange buttons against the blue frame for the color I have look stunning, and popping the case on and off is much easier than some competitors.

While all of that would be great on its own, what really struck me the most about this case is how it doesn’t really add any unnecessary bulk to the S9. The phone is still very manageable in the hand and doesn’t feel much heavier at all. As someone that hates cases but gets anxiety when carrying a phone naked, this is a great middle ground.

The cost of luxury

Catalyst Galaxy S9 Impact Protection Case What I don’t like

As for what I don’t like about Catalyst’s Galaxy S9 case, there’s not a lot.

There are three excellent colors to choose from right now (Stealth Black, Blueridge Sunset, and Clear), and while all of these look great, I’d like to see the Coral, Sunset, and other eye-catching shades from the iPhone X case brought over at some point down the road.

Also, while the $39.99 price is reasonable considering the quality of case you’re getting, I can understand how some people may be turned away from it.

Catalyst Galaxy S9 Impact Protection Case

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this review, but after rocking the Catalyst Impact Protection on my S9 for the past few days, I’ve been exceedingly happy with it.

As mentioned above, the case looks great, has incredibly tactile buttons, and offers fantastic protection from all angles without making the S9 overly bulky.

Add that together with good button cutouts, the free lanyard, and a solid choice of color combos, and there’s not much to complain about.

5
out of 5

It’s disappointing that not all of the colors from the iPhone X Impact Protection Case made their way over here and the $39.99 price tag might be too rich for some, but those two small gripes aside, this is a phenomenal accessory that every S9 and S9+ owner should look into.

See at Amazon

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Deal: Verizon now offering BOGO offers on the Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL

If you still haven’t had the chance to pick up a new Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL, there’s no better time than right now as Verizon is currently offering a sweet deal.

For a limited time, when you buy a Google Pixel 2 or 2 XL on an installment plan, you’ll get another Google Pixel 2 for free! If you go with a Google Pixel 2 XL instead, you can get a second one discounted after receiving $649.99 in credits — you don’t even need to trade in a smartphone in order to be eligible for this deal.

Conditions:

• Must sign up for a 24-month installment plan
• Google Pixel 2: $27.08/month in handset payments
• Google Pixel 2 XL: $35.41/month in handset payments
• Credit will appear on your monthly bill up to $649.99 over a 24-month period (will appear within 2 billing cycles)
• Must sign up for a new line with Verizon to be eligible

Verizon’s eligible plans start at just $55/month for 5GB of data and unlimited talk and text. If you don’t use up your data allowance for the month, your remaining balance will roll over to the next month. You also don’t need to worry about paying data overages if you use too much data—simply turn on “Safety Mode” from “My Verizon” and your data will simply be slowed down until your next billing cycle begins.

See at Verizon