LG Nexus 5 (2015) shows up in clearest image we have seen

All eyes are on the upcoming Nexus device(s) as the end of the year approaches. What surprises may Google have for us? Well, as it goes with all Nexus releases, there’s not much of a surprise, as these handsets are the main topic of conversation around the rumor mill. This year we are expecting two devices, one from Huawei and one from LG.

We have a good deal of information on both smartphones, which you can read in our rumor roundup. If what you are looking for is a good image, though, today we are taking a look at the best one we have seen so far. The photo comes from Android Pit, a Germany-based website that seems to have some helpful sources in hand.

Though the image may look like a render, it is not. The photo was straightened and the background was cleaned out, in order to protect the source. The guys over at Android Police have also confirmed this is a legitimate image, based on their own findings. The only main difference is that the version AP has seen has the LG logo below the Nexus wording. But this could simply be due to regional differences.

There’s nothing new to see, really, but the image does corroborate previous rumors. We can see that nifty fingerprint reader, a laser auto-focus module, a dual-LED flash and an unspecified camera. Otherwise, the phone looks exactly as we would expect it to, with the large Nexus branding in the middle.

Just in case you have been out of the loop on Nexus news, this specific device is said to feature a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3 GB of RAM, a 2700 mAh battery and even a USB Type-C connector.

It is also rumored that this device will be released under the LG Nexus 5X moniker, but that is yet to be seen. Furthermore, the new Nexus will probably be revealed this September 29th and is said to cost under $400. Once again, you an learn more by reading our 2015 Nexus rumor roundup.

Enjoy the image! And don’t forget to hit the comments and tell us what you think of the new Nexus 5. Are you thinking of buying one?

LG G Pad 2 10.1 hands-on and first look

LG’s tablet offerings haven’t necessarily been all that exciting as of late, at least when it comes to the high-end market. That all seems to be changing now, as the company just recently announced a newer, larger addition to its G Pad line. Could this new device be a viable option for those looking for a high-end Android tablet, or will it fall short against other big devices from the competition? To help answer those questions, we go hands-on with the newly-announced LG G Pad 2 10.1.

Once of the first things you’ll notice with this G Pad 2 is its big 10.1-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 and a pixel density of about 224. Despite its large screen, though, this is actually quite the nimble device, coming in at just 7.8mm thick. It features a soft metallic finish on the back that may look great, but can still be quite slippery at times. Much like other tablets of this size, the somewhat large side bezels and the side-mounted dual speakers suggest that LG primarily imagined this tablet for landscape usage.

Underneath this large screen sits a 2.26GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and Adreno 330 GPU, with 2GB of RAM, only 16GB of on-board memory and a microSD card slot for expandable storage. There’s also a5MP rear-facing camera, a 2MP front-facing camera, as well as a non-removable 7400mAh battery powering the device that should be able to keep it running for some time. Given that LG decided to go with a Full HD panel instead of a more power hungry Quad HD screen, we’re sure battery life will be just fine with the G Pad 2 10.1.

In terms of software, many folks think LG’s G UI software overlay can be a bit crowded and bloated at times. This isn’t really a problem here, as there seems to be ample room on the big 10.1-inch display for handling everything LG’s Android skin brings to the table. You’ll find all of the familiar software features on this tablet that we’re used to seeing on LG devices – QSlide applications, Dual Window functionality (perfect for larger displays), Quick Memo Plus, various LG widgets, and much more. It’s true, LG tends to oversaturate its G UI software when it comes to sheer number of additional features, but we’re sure Qualcomm’s capable Snapdragon 800 CPU will be able to handle most things that are thrown at it.

The G Pad 2 10.1 comes pre-loaded with Microsoft Office for Android tablets, which also comes with an additional 100GB of free OneDrive cloud storage for two full years. Obviously this doesn’t make up for the fact that LG only opted to throw in 16GB of on-board storage with the tablet, but for those who don’t own a microSD card, this will help out a bit.

LG also recently announced a fun little accessory called the LG Rolly, an ultra-portable wireless keyboard, which is perfectly suited for this device, but can be paired with other tablets as well. Typing on this particular keyboard is really easy, and all you have to do is fold it out, and place the tablet on the stands that help prop the device up. The keyboard is very impressive, with keys that offer a lot of tactile feedback, but there large gaps in between the lines of keys here that will take some getting used to. One AAA battery powers this foldable keyboard, and with it priced at around $100, it is a great option to have for use with any other tablets you may have in your possession as well.

So there you have it for this first look at the LG G Pad 2 10.1! Overall, the latest tablet from LG is another fantastic offering, and the complete package is quite impressive. We can’t wait to put this tablet through its paces when we give it the full review treatment.

LG G4 Note rumored for October 10th launch

A new LG smartphone passed through TENAA yesterday, which could be the anticipated second flagship that LG has planned for the second half of the year. Last week, LG’s Cho Juno confirmed that a new flagship would be unveiled sometime in Q4 2015 and reports from Korea suggest that October 10^th could be the launch date.

According to the source, an LG official recently let the release date slip during a briefing about the company’s plans for the second half of the year. However, nothing else about the handset seems to have been mentioned.

We don’t know much about the next LG flagship, although the TENNA pictures suggest that the company’s laser auto focus technology may be heading to the phone’s front camera too. LG is expected to launch a large Note-like handset, with names like the G4 Pro, G4 Note and G4 Script all floating around. However, we didn’t spot a slot for a stylus or pen in those TENAA images.

Is this LG’s next flagship smartphone?

The smartphone may also not be quite the premium model that we had expected earlier in the year. LG has since backtracked on suggestions that the new smartphone would notably “stand above the G series” and some rumors are pointing to a familiar plastic build material, rather than the metal or glass being adopted by many of LG’s competitors.

Ultimately, we will just have to wait a little longer to find out what LG has planned for October. I’m sure that additional details will trickle our way over the next month.

LG G4 Note rumored for October 10th launch

A new LG smartphone passed through TENAA yesterday, which could be the anticipated second flagship that LG has planned for the second half of the year. Last week, LG’s Cho Juno confirmed that a new flagship would be unveiled sometime in Q4 2015 and reports from Korea suggest that October 10^th could be the launch date.

According to the source, an LG official recently let the release date slip during a briefing about the company’s plans for the second half of the year. However, nothing else about the handset seems to have been mentioned.

We don’t know much about the next LG flagship, although the TENNA pictures suggest that the company’s laser auto focus technology may be heading to the phone’s front camera too. LG is expected to launch a large Note-like handset, with names like the G4 Pro, G4 Note and G4 Script all floating around. However, we didn’t spot a slot for a stylus or pen in those TENAA images.

Is this LG’s next flagship smartphone?

The smartphone may also not be quite the premium model that we had expected earlier in the year. LG has since backtracked on suggestions that the new smartphone would notably “stand above the G series” and some rumors are pointing to a familiar plastic build material, rather than the metal or glass being adopted by many of LG’s competitors.

Ultimately, we will just have to wait a little longer to find out what LG has planned for October. I’m sure that additional details will trickle our way over the next month.