New LG smartphone shown off in TENAA images, LG’s next flagship?
Samsung’s 2015 strategy has been focused on moving away from past design decisions and aimed instead on a more premium image with toned down software. In contrast, LG’s strategy has largely been the opposite.
While the Galaxy S6 ditched removable backs, batteries, and plastic, the LG G4 offered all those things alongside a more premium leather backed variant for those that weren’t keen on plastic. Now that the Note 5 and S6 Edge+ have arrived with the same design choices, how will LG respond? As it turns out, LG looks to be gearing up for its own phablet-sized flagship, at least if new evidence from TENAA (China’s FCC equivalent) proves accurate.
As you can see, the filing delivers a number of images showing off a previously unknown handset, dubbed the LG LG-H968. The images don’t tell us anything specific about the specs, but the design appears to be made of plastic with a metal frame, and likely packs all the usual things you’d expect from such a device like microSD and a removable battery. You’ll also notice that LG’s iconic rear buttons make a reappearance here. Even more intriguing is the front facing camera, which has the sensors moved behind the glass protecting the display. There also seems to be what might be laser autofocus on the front.
So what exactly is this phone? We already knew LG was working on a “super premium” phone, though they later denied using such language to describe it. There have also been rumors of an LG G Note, suggesting that LG’s next flagship might go directly after the Note 5. That said, the filing here doesn’t mention or show a stylus, and so we can’t say for sure that this device really does pack an S-Pen rival.
Either way, we do believe it is a safe bet to assume that this is a phablet-sized phone and is intended to combat Samsung’s latest, though whether it has a stylus or will actually be called the “G Note” remains unclear. What do you think, do you hope that LG really does offer a Note competitor, is a high-end larger-sized flagship enough to interest you?
LG’s new G Pad II really isn’t anything new
LG’s never been scared of trying new things when it comes to smartphones, even pioneering the strange-yet-convenient back button placement other manufacturers have copied since. By comparison, the company has played it safe with its G Pad tablet range, none of which have had any particularly stand-out features. And after briefly playing the LG’s new G Pad II 10.1 here at IFA, it seems like the company is quite happy sticking to its rather unexciting formula. Last year, LG opted to release three sizes of tablet, but for now at least, the G Pad II only comes in the one form factor, with a 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 display. Slideshow-316996
To refresh your memory, the G Pad II marries a 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 with 2 gigs of RAM, 16GB of storage, 5- and 2-megapixel cameras, a 7,400mAh battery and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. By all accounts, a capable tablet, but there really isn’t much to say beyond that. At 489g (just over 17 ounces), it’s agreeably light for a 10-inch slate, and the one “brilliant bronze” color scheme is neither exciting nor off-putting. Build quality is tight, as you’d expect from an established company like LG, but otherwise, the G Pad II is pretty generic. In fact, one of the more interesting factoids about the slate is that it comes with Microsoft’s Office suite preinstalled.
Of course, not every tablet has to push the boundaries of design, specifications or feature set, but it’s hard to consider LG’s latest effort as anything but “just another option.” And without conclusive pricing for either the WiFi-only or LTE variants, which launch in the US later this month before rolling out to other markets in due course, we can’t really speculate on who it’ll appeal to most. We’ve poked LG for more info on this important missing piece, and we’ll be sure to update you if we hear anything more. On first impressions, at least, the Bluetooth keyboard launching alongside the G Pad II is more interesting than the new tablet itself. Whoops…
Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub.
Filed under:
Tablets, Microsoft, LG
Tags: gpadII, gpadII10.1, hands-on, ifa, ifa2015, lg, lggpadII, lggpadII10.1, microsoft, microsoftoffice
Rumour: LG’s Nexus 5X coming September 29th with $400 price tag
While news from IFA 2015 is still filtering through, it seems that the one topic that makes the hearts of many Android purists skip-a-beat has reared its head again. Yesterday we learned that Google will announce both the LG and Huawei Nexus devices on September 29th, in San Francisco, and now some new details about LG’s latest Nexus device have emerged.
The details come courtesy of Android Authority, whose unnamed source has informed them that LG’s Nexus handset will probably be known as the Nexus 5X.
While the Nexus 5X will be more affordable than the Nexus 6 initially was, according to the source, it will still be around $50 more expensive than the original Nexus 5. To be honest, if the price tag is accurate, the relatively small increase in cost would be what most people would expect to see, especially considering the bump in specifications. The 16GB version of the Nexus 5X is expected to retail for $399, with the 32GB variant running to $449. It should be noted, none of the leaked factoids have been officially confirmed at this point, thus, a normal sized pinch of salt should accompany these details for the time being.
The same unnamed source dropped other interesting tidbits, including that, as long suspected, and alluded to with the tons of leaked renders, LG’s Nexus 5X carries a fingerprint scanner on the plastic rear panel, with a raised camera sensor and dual-LED flash accompanying it. Colour options include white, black, and light blue. A USB Type-C port is also said to be present, which, I’m sure we all hope, will be the full-featured product, and not the stripped down version that is present in the OnePlus 2.
If, and it is an if, these leaked details all come to pass, the Nexus 5X is bound to find its way onto the want lists of many Nexus fans. Especially considering that, for many, the 6-inch Nexus 6 handset was simply too big and costly. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: AndroidAuthority
Come comment on this article: Rumour: LG’s Nexus 5X coming September 29th with $400 price tag
Exclusive: LG’s Nexus 5X coming September 29 for around $400
The Nexus 5X will come two years after the popular Nexus 5.
The LG-made Nexus is coming at the end of the month and it will be slightly more expensive that the original Nexus 5.
A source close to the matter has revealed to us details about Google‘s and LG’s plans for the new generation of the Nexus 5 smartphone. The source warned us that this information is not final, and as such, official details may differ, but we feel very confident in the veracity of this report.
First up, our source confirmed that the new Nexus will be made available in the Google Store from September 29. Both the LG Nexus and the Huawei Nexus will be offered at this point. This confirms a recent report from CNET, as well as an older rumor from Korean media.
The LG Nexus will probably go under the Nexus 5X moniker. We say probably because a decision on the final name has not been taken yet at Google HQ. That name makes a lot of sense: it allows Google to keep its “Nexus #” naming convention, while signaling that this is a new device in a much more intuitive fashion than by adding a “(2015)” or “(2nd gen.) suffix.
The Nexus 5X will look a lot like the device pictured in this leaked image.
Next up, we can confirm that the leaks that have been making the rounds showing the design of the Nexus 5X are accurate. The device will feature a circular rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, along a raised camera and the dual LED flash on the side.
The Nexus 5X will be available in white, black, and light blue, and will feature a plastic back and a USB Type-C port.
Perhaps the most important detail we gleaned from our source is the price of the Nexus 5X: the device will be affordable, but not as affordable as the original Nexus 5. The Nexus 5X will cost $50 more than the Nexus 5, according to our source. That means we can expect a starting point of $399 for the 16GB model and $449 for the 32GB model, assuming Google has decided to stick with 16GB for the base version.
Again, this is non-final info so do not take it for granted just yet. That said, this is a very solid source, so we fully expect this info to pan out.
That’s it for now! How do you feel about a $400 Nexus 5X? Let us know your thoughts.
LG’s roll-up keyboard is cute, but predictably uncomfortable
Getting anyone at all interested in a new portable Bluetooth keyboard is quite the feat, but LG has just about managed it with its new, quirky roll-up peripheral. The Rolly, as it’s inventively named, is intended for those who want to be a bit more productive with their tablet time, and I’ve had a brief tinker with it here at IFA. The benefit of having a keyboard that rolls up around its battery, of course, is that it takes up the least amount of space in your backpack. And neat, the Rolly certainly is. The magnets that run down either side of the key grid are no weaklings, keeping the thing tightly wound and generating a satisfying snap as you roll it up. Slideshow-316994
When unfurled, the Rolly is nice and solid, to the extent you can’t tell there are seams in between the rows of keys. As advertised, the keyboard automatically wakes up the nearest paired tablet — in this case, I tested it with LG’s new G Pad II slate, which came to life as soon as I’d levered open the first row of keys. The feel and travel of the island keyboard is not dissimilar to the MacBook I’m using to write this, but like every portable Bluetooth keyboard ever, it’s no fun to type on. Due to the cramped layout that’s unavoidable at that size, I was missing keys, hitting the wrong ones, and clawing up my hands in the hope they would somehow shrink before RSI set in. Also, the magnets on either side of the keyboard are slightly higher than the keys themselves, but they still feel like keys to peripheral fingertips, resulting in many a useless tap.
But let’s be honest, the Rolly is as much about style points as it is hammering out a quick email at the airport. And me even using the phase “style points” when talking about a Bluetooth keyboard means LG has done something right. With a suggested retail price of $119 when it launches in the US later this month (before dropping elsewhere shortly after), though, you’d have to be rolling in it to pick one up without at least a test drive.
Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub.
Filed under:
Peripherals, Tablets, LG
Tags: bluetoothkeyboard, hands-on, ifa, ifa2015, keyboard, lg, rolly
Hands-on with the LG Watch Urbane Luxe: Android Wear, deluxe
The new Watch Urbane Luxe has a fancy name and comes in a fancy box. But is it fancy enough to justify a $1200 price tag?
At IFA 2015 in Berlin, we’ve met up with LG, who showed us the latest variant of their well-received Android Wear smartwatch series. The Watch Urbane Luxe takes what it’s pretty much a standard Watch Urbane, adds a coating of 23K gold, and an elegant alligator leather band, at a price tag that’s more than three times the regular version’s.
Developed in collaboration with the US-based Reeds Jewelers, the Urbane Luxe will be available exclusively in the US (at least for now) and only 500 units are set to go on sale. This is a very limited edition device, and LG and Reeds hope that the exclusivity will add some additional cachet to what is already a special piece of design. Each device features a serial number and comes in a nice lacquered wood box that does well to complement the Luxe itself.
Why 23K gold, you may ask? According to LG, 24K is just too soft to work as a resistant coating, so the gold is alloyed with a tiny proportion of other metals to give it strength. LG was keen to note that the Apple Watch is just 18K, though the Luxe is just coated with gold, not made of solid precious metal like Apple’s premium Apple Watch version.
The alligator band features a gold-plated “deployment clasp” invented by Cartier, which supposedly adds quite a bit to the smartwatch’s final price. The clasp looks interesting and it’s easy to adjust and use, once you figure out the mechanism, but truth be told, only watch aficionados will care about it for more than a few minutes.
Other than the revamped exterior, the Watch Urbane Luxe is the same device we’ve come to know: Android Wear running on a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 512MB of RAM, with a 1.3-inch P-OLED circular display with a 320 x 320 resolution and a 410 mAh.
The Watch Urbane Luxe is yet another experiment from a company that hasn’t been afraid to experiment with new ideas in the wearables department (just look at the webOS Watch Urbane LTE). It remains to be seen if the results of this experiment will warrant more adventures down the path of luxury from LG or its competitors.
Stay tuned for more IFA 2015 coverage!
Google will unveil new Nexus smartphones on September 29th in San Francisco
We’ve been hearing tons of rumors lately about Google’s upcoming lineup of Nexus smartphones, and it looks like we’ll finally see them officially unveiled in late September. The company is set to hold an event in San Francisco on September 29th, just in time for the holidays.
We’re expecting two Nexus devices, one of which will be a larger Huawei device and the other will be a smaller LG phone. These devices will probably be among the first Android devices to run Android Marshmallow, which we typically see with Nexus devices.
We’ve got a pretty solid idea on what both smartphones will have in terms of hardware, but pricing is still up in the air. Before the Nexus 6 last year, Google tried to set a trend with low cost devices. There’s no telling which direction the new Nexus devices will go, but we’ll know for certain by the end of the month.
source: Cnet
Come comment on this article: Google will unveil new Nexus smartphones on September 29th in San Francisco
Google to reportedly show off two Nexus devices on September 29th
Google users are about to be very happy customers, if this report from CNET is found to be true. According to the report, Google will introduce the new Nexus device(s) on September 29th. Yep, that’s right, Google may be showing off TWO new Nexus phones, instead of only one.
Rumors have been flying around the next device in the traditional Nexus lineup, with reports coming everywhere that this device will be manufactured by the folks over at Huawei. There are other reports that have been leaked with information regarding an updated Nexus 5, dubbed the Nexus 5 2015. The Nexus 5 2015 would more than likely be manufactured by LG since that’s who made the first (and only one to date).
If these reports are true, and we not only get a new Nexus 6, but the updated LG Nexus 5, people will go nuts. Maybe not literally, but I would say that any pre-orders would be sold out within minutes, if not seconds.
One more interesting point to think about is where Google will price these devices. With more and more companies making competitively priced devices, it will be interesting to see where Google decides to place these devices at. It would be safe to assume that neither of these devices would top the $500 range, but stranger things have happened.
Let us know in the comments below what you think about this report, and whether you’re excited to get your hands a new Nexus device. Additionally, let us know which device you would prefer, if the rumors of the Huawei Nexus and updated Nexus 5 come to fruition.
Source: CNET
The post Google to reportedly show off two Nexus devices on September 29th appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Details emerge about LG’s latest smartwatch
Leaks have been flying this past week faster than almost any time in recent memory. We probably have IFA 2015 to thank for that and today we’re talking about the upcoming smartwatch from LG. LG has had several very popular smartwatches since Android Wear was released including the G Watch, the first Android Wear smartwatch, The G Watch R, The Urbane and the truly ridiculous Urbane Luxe which will run you over a grand.
Today we’re talking about an unnamed new smartwatch that looks to be announced later in September. AndroidPolice has received information from two sources divulging the details on the latest smartwatch from the South Korean tech giant. According to their sources, AP claims that we’ll be seeing another circular screen but we don’t know how it relates in dimension to the G Watch R and Urbane.
Additionally it seems we’ll be seeing two buttons appear on either side of the crown. There’s no telling what these buttons will do as of now but LG must have something up their sleeve to differentiate it from the likes of the Moto 360. The body shown off to AP appears to be a brushed and polished metallic materials. There will be a substantial metal bezel around the screen but the watch should be more angular and sharp, making it appear more futuristic and sporty.
The strap doesn’t appear to have changed styles from the Urbane or G Watch R. It will be featuring a clasp and hole system we normally see and feature silicone or rubber material. No other details have been let loose on color, other types of bands, or other body styles.
Personally, these reports excite me. The Moto 360 was the first Android Wear watch that didn’t feel like a toy or a beta version of a real device. Android Wear has been evolving and adding functionality and looks like it’s finally maturing from a hobbyists project into a full fledged consumer product.
Source: AndroidPolice
The post Details emerge about LG’s latest smartwatch appeared first on AndroidGuys.
LG will upgrade your old webOS TV with some fresh features
If you’re still rocking a first-generation webOS TV and regret that you didn’t hold out for a webOS 2.0 set, don’t worry — you’ll soon catch up in some respects. LG is promising a Value Pack Upgrade that gives your webOS 1.0 TV four core features from 2.0, including favorite channels in the launcher, improved search, instant input detection and quick settings. You should also see overall boosts to ease of use and performance. The pack isn’t the same as a full-on webOS 2.0 upgrade, but it might alleviate your early adopter’s remorse when it starts rolling out on September 21st.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, HD, LG
Source:
LG Newsroom
Tags: hdpostcross, lg, smarttv, television, tv, upgrade, webos
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