We have all grown accustomed to the yearly refresh schedule at this point, whether or not we actually buy a phone every year or not.
But it looks like LG doesn’t want to keep up that schedule. In fact, it doesn’t sound like LG wants to see itself as launching phones because it has to, according to LG Electronics Vice Chairman Cho Sung-jin. According to the Chairman, LG doesn’t want to launch phones just because its rivals are launching devices, and it may mean that it doesn’t keep up a yearly refresh schedule. Interestingly enough, we may even see more variants of the G- and V-series handsets along the way, too:
“We will unveil new smartphones when it is needed. But we will not launch it jut because other rivals do. We plan to retain existing models longer by, for instance, unveiling more variant models of the G series or V series.”
That would be a big shift, to be sure. LG and Samsung have been going head-to-head in the early part of the year, for quite some time, with the former company launching the G-series handsets, and the latter launching its Galaxy S flagship brand. And then again, later in the year, Samsung has typically launched the Galaxy Note phablet, while LG has turned to the V-series device as its competing product.
It will be interesting to see what this turns into. The suggestion that we could see more models of both the G- and V-series handsets seems to suggest that while LG might not stick to the yearly refresh cycle, we could see just a bunch of different devices released throughout any given year with these brands.
LG Electronics CEO Cho Seong-jin says the company plans to unveil new smartphones “when it is needed,” rather than to maintain competition with rival devices.
LG wants to “retain existing models longer” with the release of additional variants, for example.
What this means for the hypothetical LG G7 and LG V40 remains to be seen.
LG is planning a rebrand its flagship G series this year (more on that below), but it looks like the company’s plans might stretch farther and wider than a reshaping of naming conventions. Its mobile division is coming off the back of 10 quarter-on-quarter losses, so now could be a good time for a change.
LG Electronics Vice Chairman and CEO Cho Seong-jin sat down at CES yesterday to discuss, among other things, LG’s future mobile strategy (via The KoreaHerald);specifically, when it would reveal its next flagship.
“We will unveil new smartphones when it is needed. But we will not launch it just because other rivals do,” said Cho.
“We plan to retain existing models longer by, for instance, unveiling more variant models of the G series or V series.”
LG has traditionally released devices around the same time as its South Korean rival Samsung, but after beating the Galaxy S8 to launch in 2017 with its LG G6, and still (by all accounts) getting trounced by it in sales, it’s little surprise that this strategy is being rethought. LG might not adhere to a strict yearly release cycle, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t see a new flagship the LG G7 or LG V40 released this year.
Additionally, though Cho referenced the G series in his comments, we can still assume this was for convenience’s sake — a rebrand would still be in line with the other changes in its mobile division strategy.
Cho focused on LG’s new approach as something the company could sustain. “We found it is important to retain a good platform for a long [time] and concerns rise over the supply of lithium materials,” he said.
Those may be viable reasons, but LG could just as likely be changing its strategy because its mobile business just isn’t profitable anymore. At the last count, LG’s mobile unit was still responsible for hundreds of millions of lost dollars, and it’s expected to see its 11th quarterly loss in a row in the Q4 2017 earnings announcement coming soon. Retaining a good platform is one thing, but making phones that will sell in astronomical quantities probably wouldn’t hurt either.
LG took to CES to change things up. While every major smartphone brand has historically launched a flagship per series every year (or twice a year if you’re OnePlus), LG will no longer be doing so.
LG hosted a press conference at CES 2018 where Vice Chairman Cho Sung-jin said that its models will stick around for longer then before, with more variants launching between new models.
“We will unveil new smartphones when it is needed. But we will not launch it just because other rivals do… We plan to retain existing models longer by, for instance, unveiling more variant models of the G series or V series.”
This move seems to be a way for LG to downsize its mobile business, which has been losing money for the last 10 quarters. Losses have been shrinking thanks to the budget segment, but the flagship models still haven’t been selling as well as its rivals.
Nonetheless, this move could ease people’s minds about buying an LG flagship for the long term. Hopefully the company also steps up its game with software support and security updates to keep those customers happy.
We’ve already shown you the first things you should do with the LG V30. Now, we can dig deep into the features. LG traditionally packs a lot of stuff into their phones. The V30 is no different, but they’ve also scaled back in some areas. It’s a nice full list of features without burring the users in choices. We’ll help you get the most out of your V30 with this list.
How to take a screenshot on the LG V30
Taking a screenshot is a great tool for showing people what you’re looking at. It’s one of the most basic functions you can do with a phone. The V30 has a couple of different methods to perform this task.
Method 1:
Press and hold the power and volume down buttons simultaneously
Method 2:
Open the Floating Bar
Tap one of the Capture shortcuts
You can draw on the screen, record a long screen, crop, or create a GIF
Set up the fingerprint scanner
The fingerprint scanner on the back of the V30 can be used for a few things, such as Android Pay and Google Play Store purchases, but the most common use is unlocking the phone. The V30 has one of the fastest and most reliable sensors I’ve used. You definitely should give it a shot.
Go to Settings > Fingerprints & security
Tap on Fingerprints (confirm your password)
Select Add fingerprint
Scan your fingerprint
Unlock the phone with your face
Unlocking phones with your face is all the rage these days and the V30 can do it too. LG’s “Face Print” is one of the best face unlocking implementations I’ve used. It can work along with the fingerprint scanner (you don’t have to pick just one). You should check it out and give it a try.
Go to Settings > Lock screen
Select Face Recognition
Tap NEXT
Tap START and follow instructions
Tap OK when done
Skip the lock screen in safe places with Smart Lock
The V30 has many convenient unlock methods, but sometimes you shouldn’t need any of them. A feature called “Smart Lock” lets you tell your phone when it’s safe to disable lock screen security. This allows you to lock your phone when you need it, but it won’t be locked when you’re in trusted situations.
Go to Settings > Lock screen
Select Smart Lock
Choose one of the Smart Lock methods
Currently, there are 4 types of Smart Lock, and you can use more than one at a time. Each one will explain how it works when you select it. Trusted places is a good place to start.
Make sure you can find your lost or stolen phone
The worst thing that can happen to a new phone is for it to be lost or stolen. Thankfully, you have some options for retrieving the device. The V30 comes with something called “Android Device Manager” pre-installed. If your phone is lost or stolen you can simply go to this website, log in with your Google account, and locate your phone. You can also remotely ring, lock, and erase the device. The best thing about this is there’s no set-up required. It just works.
Set up the Floating Bar
LG replaced the Second Screen with a new feature called “Floating Bar.” It has essentially the same features of the Second Screen, but it’s a widget that floats on your screen. You can drag it around wherever you want, but it’s always just a tap away.
Go to Settings > Floating Bar
Toggle it on
Toggle on the items you want in the bar
Tap Shortcuts and Quick contacts to customize
Get quick info with the Always-On Display
The V30 has an Always-on display that allows you to see the time, date, and notifications while the display is turned off. This feature really shines with the OLED displays. It’s pretty handy to see the time or whether you need to read a notification.
Go to Settings > Display
Tap Always-on display
Toggle the switch to ON
Tap the settings gear icon to choose how it looks
Wake the phone with a double-tap
If you haven’t used an LG phone in a while, you’re about to discover something you won’t be able to live without. Since the power button is on the back, sometimes it’s hard to quickly wake up the phone. You can simply double-tap anywhere on the screen and the display will light up.
Putting the phone to sleep works the same way. If you’re using the stock LG launcher you can double-tap on any blank space, but if you’re using a 3rd-party launcher you have to double-tap the status bar. Give it a try.
Put the Settings in list mode
On most V30 models, the Settings is organized with a tabbed layout. We’ve found that the tabs usually make it more difficult to find what you’re looking for. To go back to the more traditional list view, simply tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right of the Settings and select List view. You can also slide out the list of settings from the side.
Delete unwanted apps
Some carrier models of the LG V30 will come with a lot of apps pre-installed. It’s very annoying to see apps you never intend to use. The good news is we can uninstall, or at least disable, most of the bloatware. There are two methods to remove apps.
Go to Settings > Apps
Locate the appropriate app
Note: For system apps, tap the Menu icon > Show system
Tap UNINSTALL
Tap OK to confirm
OR
Open the app drawer
Tap the Menu icon
Select Arrange apps
Tap the (X) icon on an app to remove
How to draw on the screen
You can draw on pretty much anything with a tap of a button on the LG V30. It’s a button that you can find in the Quick Settings or Floating Bar. When you tap the button, it takes a screenshot and lets you draw on it. Not only is it great for doodling, but it’s great for taking notes.
Expand the Floating Bar
Swipe to the screen capture shortcuts
Tap the pencil icon
Edit the image and tap the check mark to save it
Bring back the App Drawer
The default LG home screen does not include an app drawer. All of your apps will be on the home screen just like how it is on the iPhone. If you use a 3rd-party launcher, this isn’t a problem, but if you use the stock launcher you might want the app drawer. Thankfully, LG has a way to get the drawer back.
Go to Settings > Home screen
Tap Select Home
Choose Home & app drawer
Hide apps in the launcher
Now that we have the app drawer back, there may be some apps you don’t want to see in it. Sometimes these are apps you need to have installed, but you don’t want them cluttering up your app drawer. Thankfully, it’s easy to hide apps.
Open the app drawer
Tap the menu icon
Select Hide apps
Check the box for the apps you want to hide
Tap DONE
Change up the look with a Theme
By default, the V30 comes with a bright white theme. It’s not an ugly theme, but you may prefer something darker or just plain different. The good news is you can choose from a few pre-installed themes and even download themes directly from the Play Store. Here’s how to do it.
Go to Settings > Theme
Select one of the preloaded themes
Tap APPLY
Themes installed from the Play Store will show up in the same place. Here’s an example of a theme you can download from the Play Store.
Get a new keyboard
LG’s default keyboard isn’t terrible, but you probably already have a favorite keyboard. Changing the keyboard is an essential part of what makes Android unique. It’s easy to change on the V30.
Go to Settings >Language & keyboard
Select Current keyboard
Tap SELECT MORE
Toggle on your desired keyboard
Go back, select Current Keyboard again
Select your keyboard
To find Settings for your keyboard
Go to Settings >Language & keyboard
Tap the name of your keyboard
You’ll see all the settings
Turn off the “Rounded Square” icons
For everything that LG does well, software design is not on the list. One of the things you’ll notice right away is the “rounded square” icon shape on the default LG home screen. It’s kinda ugly, but the good news is you can turn it off and go back to the stock icons. Here’s how to do it:
Go to Settings > Home screen
Select Icon Shape
Choose Original
Tap OK
Adjust how apps scale to the 18:9 display
The V30’s display is taller than most phones. It has an 18:9 aspect ration, whereas most devices have 16:9 displays. All that means is you get some extra vertical space for apps. By default, most apps run completely fine on the tall display. Where you may run into some issues is with fullscreen apps, such as games. You can adjust the scale.
In a fullscreen app, swipe up from the bottom to reveal the nav buttons
Tap the App Scaling button
You’ll have three options:
Compatibility (16:9)
Standard (16.7:9) (default)
Fullscreen (18:9)
If the app is misbehaving, put it in compatibility mode.
You can also adjust App Scaling in the Settings.
Go to Settings > Display
Select App scaling
Tap the app you want to adjust
Choose one of the options
Change the display size
LG allows you to adjust the display size on the V30. Whether you have good eyes and want to take advantage of that extra screen real estate to show more of everything, or you want to further enlarge text, icons, everything, it’s all possible thanks to DPI scaling. Here’s where you’ll find it:
Go to Settings > Display
Scroll down and select Display size
Move the slider to the left or right to either shrink or blow up the entire UI
Change the wallpaper
Changing the wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to instantly personalize your phone. It’s super easy to do. Simply press and hold on any empty space on the home screen. Select the Wallpapers tab in the bottom right of the screen. You’ll be able to choose from installed apps and pre-loaded wallpapers. You can also change the lock screen wallpaper. Go to Settings > Lock screen > Wallpaper.
Add or reorder home screen pages
Adding extra home screens gives you more room for widgets and apps icons. LG doesn’t allow you to simply drag an app or widget to a blank screen to create a new home screen. You have to follow these steps.
Pinch to zoom out on the home screen
Tap the (+) on the blank home screen
Now you have a blank screen
Reorganize the Quick Toggles
There are a bunch of super handy Quick Settings toggles in the notification shade. Pull down once to see a few to toggles or pull down again to see a bunch more. You can customize the order of these toggles and add or remove certain ones from the list.
Swipe down to show the notification shade
Swipe down again to expand the Quick Settings
Tap the EDIT button (bottom right)
Drag and drop icons in the notification panel
Tap the menu icon to add/remove brightness, volume, etc.
Customize the Navigation Bar
The V30 has software nav button on the bottom of the screen. Unlike physical buttons, they can disappear to make room for fullscreen apps, or in this case, be customized to show more buttons. You can rearrange the existing buttons, change the color, and add up to two extra buttons.
Go to Settings > Display > Home touch buttons
Select Button combination
You can drag and drop the buttons in any order you like, but there can’t be more than 4 in the bar
Changes will show up in the navigation bar immediately
You can choose the color of the buttons on the previous page
Add shortcuts to the lock screen
By default, you’ll probably see shortcuts for phone and camera on the lock screen. While these are handy for most people, they might not be your first choices. LG allows you to add up to five shortcuts to the lock screen.
Go to Settings > Lock screen
Select Shortcuts
Simply tap on a shortcut and choose the desired app from the list
Tap SAVE when you’re done
Take advantage of ALL the megapixels
The V30 features a great camera. With a dual lens system, users can switch between the regular 16MP camera or a super wide angle camera on the fly. On some models, the camera doesn’t take full advantage of the all the megapixels by default. While it’s nice to see the viewfinder filling up the entire display, it’s basically chopping off the top and bottom. You should fix it.
Open the Camera app
Tap the Settings icon
Select Photo size
Choose 4:3 (16MP)
Flip to the front-facing camera
Go to Settings > Photo Size
This time select 4:3 (5.0MP)
Use the wide-angle camera to get everything in frame
One of the best things about LG phones is the wide-angle camera on the back. It allows you to get much more in the frame of a photo or video. You can switch between the cameras on the fly, even in the middle of a video.
Open the Camera
You’ll see two icons on the top or side of the app (depending on orientation)
The single tree icon is for the standard camera
The icon with three trees is for the wide-angle camera
Tap whichever one you’d like to use
Get Instagram pics with Snap Shot mode
LG has added a new “Snap Shot” mode to take advantage of the 18:9 display. Square mode uses the top half of the display, a 1:1 square, as the viewfinder. When you snap a pic it moves to the bottom half of the display for review. It stays there until you snap another pic. This mode is perfect for Instagram.
Open the Camera
Tap the MODE icon
Select Snap Shot
Switch to Manual mode for more control
LG has one of the best camera interfaces around. It can be as simple or as complicated as you’d like. Auto mode removes most of the buttons from the screen so you can just tap to focus and take a photo. Manual mode is only for advanced users. It has settings and sliders for things like focus, ISO, shutter speed, and more.
Open the Camera
Tap the MODE icon
Choose Auto (default) or Manual (there are options for manual video and photo)
Try all the unique camera shooting modes
The camera is also packed with several nifty “modes” that are fun to play around with. In the Auto interface, you’ll see an icon labeled “MODE”, tap it to see a list of different shooting modes. These modes will allow you to do some interesting things with your photos and videos.
Panorama: stitch together photos to create a panorama shot
360 Panorama: creates an immersive 360-degree panorama
Snap Shot: assemble short clips into a 60-second video
Pop-out: take a photo with both rear cameras to create a PIP effect
Time-lapse: record long videos that are sped up for a short video
Slow-mo: record a video in slow motion
Food: specifically for food shots. Adds white balance slider
Feel like a movie director with Cine Video
One of the big features that LG talked about with the V30 is a new camera mode called “Cine Video.” This feature allows you to add professionally created lighting effects and color grading to your videos. You can get some really cool looking videos with the Cine Video tools.
Open the Camera
Tap the MODE icon
Select Cine Video
Tap the Cine icon (looks like movie film, next to MODE icon)
Select one of the presets and adjust the sliders
Record the video like usual
Take selfies with a gesture
Another cool trick is called Gesture shot. You can take a selfie by holding your open hand up to the camera and then closing it into a fist. The feature actually works really well, and it can come in handy quite often. Gesture shot is enabled by default, so all you have to do is use it.
Hold up your open hand to the camera until brackets appear around it
Make a fist once to take one photo (a 3-second timer will count down to the shot)
Make two consecutive fists to take 4 burst shots
Use your voice to snap a photo
You can also use your voice to snap a selfie (or any photo). With “Cheese shutter” enabled you can say “cheese, smile, whiskey, kimchi, or LG” to snap a photo with your voice. It’s that easy.
Open the Camera
Tap the Settings icon
Switch the toggle on for Cheese shutter
Automate tasks with LG Smart Settings
LG phones come with a feature called Smart Settings. It allows your phone to automatically adjust settings based on your location or connected devices. For example, your favorite music app can open when your plug in headphones or WiFi can be disabled when you leave your house.
There are four different things that can trigger the Smart Settings: arriving at home, leaving home, plugging in earphones, and connecting a Bluetooth device. Each one has several options available.
Go to Settings > Smart Settings
(you may need to turn on My Place in Settings > Location first)
Select one of the Smart Settings
Toggle it on and adjust the settings
Get every last drop of battery life
The V30 has pretty good battery life, but you still might end the day with not much life left. There are built-in settings for getting every last drop of juice when your battery is low. Battery Saver can turn off background activities and limit resources. It works great and only requires a short set up.
Go to Settings > Battery & power saving
Tap on Battery saver
Select Extended or Maximum mode
Select Edit mode to customize
Show battery percentage in status bar
Want to keep a close eye on battery life? You can put the actual battery percentage in the status bar. You’ll see the number for battery percentage next to the battery icon.
Go to Settings > Battery & power saving
Toggle the switch for Battery percentage on status bar
Pin apps and safely hand off your phone
If you’re like most people, your phone is full of personal information and sensitive content. Handing off your phone to someone else can be a little nerve-racking. Screen pin is a feature that lets you lock your phone to one app. You can “pin” a specific app so the user can’t do anything else.
Go to Settings > Fingerprints & security > Screen pin
Toggle the switch on
Also, toggle Pin with screen lock on
To use Screen pin open the app you would like to pin, press the Recents button in the nav bar, scroll up and tap the thumbtack icon in the bottom right corner of the most recent app (not the pin in the title bar). To unpin an app simply long-press the back and Recents buttons simultaneously.
Take advantage of the SD card slot
While some phones these days don’t have microSD card slots, theLG V30 still has one. You can easily upgrade your storage capacity without buying any cloud storage subscriptions and relying on a data connection. Check out these great cards.
The volume buttons on the V30 are not only for adjusting the volume. You can also use the volume buttons to quickly launch the camera or take notes when the display is off. All you have to do is double-tap the volume up or down buttons.
Go to Settings > Shortcut keys
Switch the toggle to ON
Double tapping Volume Up will launch the Capture+ app for taking notes. Double tapping Volume Down will quickly launch the camera.
Silence your phone automatically with Do Not Disturb
Everyone has certain times of day when they don’t want to be bothered by notifications. Do Not Disturb allows you to choose those certain times and days for your phone to automatically go into silent mode. It can be incredibly useful, and you should definitely use it.
Go to Settings > Notifications > Do not disturb
Select Schedule > (+) button
Choose the days of the week you’d like it to be enabled
Choose the start and end time
Choose if you’d like Priority interruptions or total silence during this time
Crank up animations for faster performance
The V30 is a very fast phone, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be faster. To speed things up and make the UI feel more snappy, you can increase the speed of the animations. But you’ll first need to activate the hidden Developer Options by following these steps:
Go to Settings > About phone
Select Software info
Tap Build Number 7 times until you see “You are now a developer” message
Go back to the main settings and you’ll see Developer options
To speed up animations:
Go to Settings > Developer options
Scroll down select Window animation and choose .5x
Select Transition animation and choose .5x
Select Animator duration scale and choose .5x
How to factory reset the LG V30
If you ever want to start fresh or sell your phone, you need to do a factory reset. This will wipe the device clean, so make sure none of your personal information is left. It will be like you turned the phone on for the first time again.
Open the Settings app
Scroll down and select Backup & reset
Tap Factory data reset
Tap RESET PHONE (confirm password)
Find the best Android apps & games
An awesome phone is nothing without some equally awesome apps. We’ve compiled tons of helpful guides for finding the best apps and games in the Play Store. Before you dive in and rummage around, you’ll want to check out these lists first.
One of the biggest surprises this fall happens to be the LG V30, a refined product that has been highly praised by critics as the no-bull smartphone – offering a wealth of uncompromising features. Meanwhile, the hype surrounding Apple’s latest device, the 10th anniversary iPhone X, is in full swing as buyers packed stores and shops to pick it up recently. Apple’s reputation isn’t necessarily on the spot, given how its iPhones are continually popular amongst consumers, but for LG, they’re on the upswing after last year’s sour performance, so it’ll be interesting to see if the V30 can remain relevant now that the iPhone X is here.
Design
When you stack these two titans next to one another, it’s apparent that there’s no shortage of premium qualities with their designs. It’s so blatantly rampant, as the two phones share almost the same philosophies – a metal meets glass construction. However, the stainless-steel bands of the iPhone X combined with its slightly heavier weight does give it a more substantial feel in the hand. In terms of size, the iPhone X is slightly more manageable, since it’s shorter and narrower than the V30. But at the end of the day, it’s clear that the two phones simply look stunning!
What we like about the V30‘s design over the iPhone X is that it features a slightly more water-resistant construction; an IP68 rating versus the iPhone X‘s IP67. Furthermore, it packs the ever-so-useful 3.5mm headphone jack and a fingerprint sensor. The latter has been omitted with the iPhone X, replaced instead by its new Face ID technology, but we still certainly appreciate this alternative form of security.
Display
Apple might’ve moved beyond 1080p resolution with the iPhone X, which flaunts a 5.8-inch 1125 x 2436 Super Retina Display that leverage OLED technology, but the V30 is still technically more pixel packed with its larger 6-inch 1440 x 2880 FullVision P-OLED display. Not surprisingly, they hopped on the trend of boasting that near bezel-less look with their fancy looking new displays, so they’re more than equipped for all of your multimedia consumption.
Briefly comparing the two, it’s tough to make enough of an assertive affirmation about which one is more superior, but we can definitely say that the viewing angles on the iPhone X‘s display is better. For now, we’ll be reserved before making a final judgement – that’s until we can fully test out the qualities of the iPhone X’s new Super Retina Display. With the V30, it has already established itself as a strong contender with its strong brightness output and high contrast.
User Interface
Apple’s iOS versus Google’s Android, this is a battle we’ve seen countless times before. With LG‘s skin on the V30, it manages to retain a faithful experience to stock Android, but there are some useful additions thrown into the experience that enhance the experience, like its always-accessible floating bar. As for the iPhone X and its latest iOS experience, there are some new tweaks and tricks up its sleeve, like its new Animoji feature, but the core stuff continues to favor simplicity and straightforwardness.
Honestly, the two competing platforms have grown so much since their inceptions, so either can suffice for all sorts of needs. Android clearly continues to offer more customization and control by the user, but Apple’s control has been lessened. That new Animoji feature with the iPhone X is intriguing, providing users with a new form of interacting through messages, but knowing how the two platforms eventually adopt ideas from each other, it shouldn’t surprise us if and when a similar feature comes out for Android.
Processor and Memory
Just for specs sake, the LG V30 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC accompanied with 4GB of RAM – whereas the iPhone X leverages Apple’s new A11 Bionic with 3GB of RAM. Until we can properly put the iPhone X through our barrage of testing, we’ll just mention our quick takeaways with their performances during our initial look. And with that, it’s just unbelievable how snappy the iPhone X runs. We’ve been using the V30 for quite some time now, exhibiting the tight responses you’d expect from a high-caliber phone, but it blows us away the noticeable difference in how the iPhone X performs with simple navigation around the interface!
Both handsets start with base storage capacities of 64GB, but there’s also an iPhone X with a 256GB capacity as well. That’s surely nice and all, but it can’t take away from the storage expansion of the V30 courtesy of its microSD card slot.
Camera
Dual-camera systems have been the trend amongst top-tiered smartphones this year, but even though these two prized smartphones offer them, their purposes are totally different. With the iPhone X and its dual 12MP cameras, it’s meant to deliver those creamy looking portrait shots as your subject is surrounded by beautiful bokeh. Oppositely, though, the LG V30‘s combo of having a main 16MP camera and a 13MP wide-angle one, is meant more to deliver a wider capture with compositions.
The intent of each camera system is definitely on the opposite ends of the spectrum, as the iPhone X seems to be the kind of camera for those who want simplicity in capturing shots, with an attention to portraits and those blown out backgrounds. Those wishing for more control, the V30‘s implementation offers a rich set of tools for content creators, especially on the video side. Then again, the iPhone X is notable for offering 4K capture at 60 FPS.
Regardless, we’re eager to compare the two and uncover who is going to deliver the better end result quality – both stills and videos, of course.
Battery
The LG V30, with its 3300 mAh battery cell, has already proven its endurance in delivering solid battery performance. It’s not the longest lasting thing we’ve tested, but it’s definitely up there still. Oppositely, though, the iPhone X‘s 2716 mAh battery will be scrutinized moreover not only for the fact that the capacity is a little bit underwhelming, but it makes us wonder how it’ll perform with that new, higher resolution display.
Thanks in part to their glass surfaces, the two are endowed with wireless charging technologies, which is always a nice complement to find in a high-end phone.
Expectations
What makes the LG V30 so compelling is that unlike its contemporaries (iPhone X included), it’s not priced so exorbitantly that it would make it unreachable to mere mortals. Although, based on the craziness and demand from consumers on launch day for the iPhone X, it seems people are willing to enter this new threshold for a smartphone.
Starting at roughly $829.99 at most retailers and carriers, the LG V30 seems like a value rich option in comparison to the $1,000 cost of the iPhone X. For the additional $130 you’re required to fork over for the iPhone X, it makes us wonder how much more you’re getting from Apple’s latest gadget. Still, we can’t stress enough how we appreciate some of the design cues found with the LG V30, like its headphone jack, in addition to how it’s a great option for video content creators.
The iPhone X, on the other hand, has a lot to prove to consumers at $1,000.
Apple's iPhone 8 Plus takes on LG's G6 in our smartphone camera shootout. Let's look at color, clarity, exposure, and overall user experience.
We put the LG G6 and Apple iPhone 8 Plus head to head in a smartphone camera showdown.
Last year, Apple failed to take the top spot in our four-way smartphone camera shootout between the iPhone 7 Plus, LG V20, Google Pixel XL, and Samsung Galaxy S7. But this year’s iPhone 8 Plus includes some major improvements over the iPhone 7 Plus, and looks perfectly positioned to take on the LG G6, our current pick for best smartphone camera.
So which phone offers better camera performance—the latest iPhone or the G6? We took a ton of photos to find out. Oh, and in case you’re wondering where the Pixel 2 stands in this battle, just give us a few more days. We’re currently doing extra camera tests with Google’s amazing new phone, and will have definitive results soon.
We put both the Lg G6 and iPhone 8 Plus head-to-head in a wide variety of testing environments.
Specs
Apple’s iPhone cameras have been a bit stagnant in recent years, but the iPhone 8 Plus is turning that around with some huge changes under the hood. The sensor has been updated with “deeper” dual pixels, the lenses have new color filters, and Apple has switched to a proprietary image signal processor (ISP).
The camera might not look too different from last years model, but the improvements made to the iPhone 8 Plus are major.
The rest of the specs remain similar on paper. The dual-lens system features one normal lens and one telephoto, providing a 2x optical zoom. Both cameras have 12MP sensors, with the normal lens sporting an f/1.8 aperture and the telephoto lens stuck with a much lower f/2.8 aperture. Just like last year, Apple made the mistake of forgoing optical image stabilization (OIS) on the telephoto lens, including it only on the normal lens.
LG’s G6 has been through many camera shootouts and emmerged victorious.
LG’s G6 features better specs in its dual-lens system, and takes a different approach to its second camera. Most notably, LG pairs the G6’s normal lens with a super-wide-angle lens, allowing for more of a scene to be captured in a single frame. Both sensors are 13MP, with the normal lens rocking an f/1.8 aperture and the super-wide angle having an f/2.4 aperture. The G6 also has one of the best stock camera apps around, including a powerful and easy-to-use manual mode.
For this camera showdown, I’m going to focus mostly on the results from the main cameras for both phones. And I’ll use them the way most people do: straight out of the pocket, with the stock camera app, and HDR set to auto. Our testing categories are broken into four sections: color, clarity, exposure, and user experience. And for this shootout, we hired the beautiful model Valeria to help us with real-world testing.
Color
The first category we’re going to cover is color, and here I’m looking for accurate color balance, along with reproduction of natural skin tones.
The iPhone is a bit warmer where the G6 is cooler, but colors are spot-on compared to the naked eye.
Right off the bat, I can say that the iPhone 8 Plus and its new internals produce some of the most accurate color results I’ve seen in a smartphone camera. The new sensor and lens color filters are partially to thank, but the majority of this power comes from Apple’s new ISP.
Apple really made skin tone reproduction a focus with the 8 Plus.
The bluish hue of the G6 makes the concrete appear unnatural.
In low light, the bluish hue of the G6 negates the warm glow from the floresent bulbs, but has the effect of muting the skin tones.
Against this brick wall, the iPhone is actually a bit cooler than the G6. The color on the flowers is a bit too punched-up on the 8 Plus, but the white balance is on point.
Past iPhones have struggled in the color category, so it makes sense that Apple would put so much effort into correcting its faults. No matter what lighting scenario I threw at it, the 8 Plus performed more like a DSLR than a smartphone. The color battle is a blow-out for Apple, and easily goes to the iPhone 8 Plus.
Clarity
Next we’ll go over clarity, and these results are a bit more nuanced. Here I’m looking at the sharpness of each image, and how each camera decides to maintain a clear photo across multiple lighting scenarios. You’ll want to click on each image to see clarity flaws in detail.
Both phones hold their own and retain plenty of detail.
Zooming in reveals that the iPhone does produce a bit more detail compared to the G6.
The LG G6 stands up quite well to the iPhone 8 Plus and even outperforms it in a few scenarios, like far distances and macro. But the 8 Plus has the upper hand at normal shooting distances, so it’s suited quite well for day-to-day use.
A wide city shot looks fairly even.
But punching in on the bricks shows how each camera deals with compression and noise reduction. The G6 is a tad cleaner.
The iPhone has a great punch to it.
But upon closer inspection, the G6 is clearly superior here.
In normal shooting distances, the iPhone hits its sweet spot.
Zooming in shows a clear difference between the two books.
In low light, both phones stumble in different ways. The G6 holds a bit more dynamic range in the darkest of areas and has a very aggressive OIS system that helps maintain detail. But the 8 Plus has a more pleasing grain structure and super-quick autofocus.
In this superlow-light shot, neither photo is great.
And zooming in shows a bit more insight into the grain structure between the two.
Autofocus performance makes a huge difference, especially in low-light situations.
Not only was the G6 slower to focus, in this shot it missed focus all together.
In fact, I was stunned by the speed and accuracy of the iPhone’s autofocus system. That’s enough to give the iPhone 8 Plus the edge, and take the clarity category.
Exposure
For our exposure test results, I’m going over the dynamic range capabilities of each phone, and how they chose to expose for the scene. I’ll include a histogram in each shot so you can check out the graphs for yourself.
Both phones handle exposure very well, but fall down in some specific ways. The G6 chose to overexpose this street scene compared to the iPhone, but both blew out the sky.
The exposure category was a tight race, with both phones handling themselves very well in almost every lighting condition. The G6 has a flatter image, making the photos look washed-out when compared to the iPhone. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Having a flatter image allows for more flexibility in editing, and guards against bad exposure decisions.
The G6’s photo looks washed-out compared to the 8 Plus, but the exposure is accurate and keeps from clipping.
Most of the contrast can be added back into the image using even the most basic tools found in Instagram.
Both shots are accurate and have their advantages. The iPhone is just more aggressive in adding pop to the image.
Nonetheless, almost all of the exposure decisions the 8 Plus makes are spot-on. Basically, the iPhone maintains accuracy while retaining a nice punch, right out of the camera, with no editing. So it really comes down to personal preference on how you like your phone to handle processing. I support both approaches.
The G6 goes for less showy results, but leaves open the door for more editing flexibility. The iPhone has more wow factor, but doesn’t make bad exposure decisions. So I’m calling the exposure category a tie.
User experience
The last category to hit is user experience. Because even if the camera is amazing, it’s not worth using if the experience is horrible.
The G6 has great advantages, like the ability to quickly launch the camera app with a double-press to the volume key. I also believe LG has the best stock camera app you could ever want on a smartphone. For instance, you get a manual mode with a histogram, RAW photo support, and some really cool modes that leverage the G6’s dual camera system.
The iPhone, on the other hand, is snappy, straightforward, and easy to use. I never second-guessed the 8 Plus’s ability to accurately pull focus, even in low light.
The biggest difference between using both phones are their second cameras. The iPhone uses a telephoto lens that gives you an effective 2x zoom, which is good for capturing far-off subjects. But Apple’s Portrait Mode offers even more value from the telephoto lens. It uses the two-lens system to gather depth information, and introduces blur into the scene, providing stunning results.
Despite the shortcomings of the technology, Portrait Mode on the iPhone 8 Plus continues to impress.
On the LG side, we have a second lens with a super-wide field of view, allowing more of a scene to fit into the shot. As awesome as Portrait Mode is—especially when shooting with a model—I just found myself having way more need for a super-wide lens during day-to-day use.
I personally found way more uses for the wide-angle lens on the LG G6.
These features really boil down to personal preference. I’m only going to give the slight edge to the LG G6 in this category, mainly on the strength of its camera app features—you can just simply do more with LG’s camera.
Conclusion
So after four categories we have a clear winner: Apple’s iPhone 8 Plus!
The G6 beat some awesome phone cameras this year, and it’s been a great ride for LG. But after a couple of lackluster years, Apple finally stepped up to the plate and created a truly stunning camera system.
Photos shot with the iPhone 8 Plus have the most accurate colors I’ve seen from a smartphone camera. The accuracy approaches DSLR levels, even in low light. I believe the strength of this new system lies within the new ISP. If this phone is any indication, we should see even better results coming from Apple’s upcoming iPhone X.
The LG V30 has just launched in the United States and it’s the company’s best looking and most powerful phone so far.
It comes with some neat functionalities that you may not know about, so that’s why we’ve outlined some of the basic tips and tricks that you can do to enjoy it a little bit more and make the most of its features.
Let’s waste no time and get started with…
KnockON: double tap the screen to turn it off or on
All recent LG phones come with this one trick built in: simply double tap the screen to turn it on or off. This is particularly useful on the V30 as the fingerprint reader is on the back and if you just want to check the time or see something on the lockscreen, you can simple double tap the screen.
Add more useful icons to lockscreen
First, go into Settings.
Select the Lock Screen tab in the Display section.
Choose the Shortcuts menu
You will see “+” buttons for the empty spots. Add any app you like to the lockscreen.
Here is how it all looks after we’ve filled all the available spots!
Customize Always-on Display
First, go into Settings.
Select the Always-on Display section in the Display tab.
Tap on the big Content field.
Choose the look you like best!
Consider setting a Daily timeout when the feature will be off (usually at night) to save battery.
Bring back the app drawer
First, go into Settings.
Select Home Screen under the Display section.
Tap on the Select Home button.
Select Home & app drawer, and you’re done!
Enable, disable and/or customize Floating Bar
Last year’s LG V20 came with a tiny secondary display right above the main screen, where you could access useful shortcuts. That secondary screen is gone on the V30, but you have a new Floating Bar feature from where you can access your contacts and shortcuts to apps and neat actions. It should be enabled by default, but you will want to customize it or even disable it if it gets in your way. Here’s how to do it.
First, go into Settings.
Next, select Floating Bar in the General tab. (There is an on / off toggle right here to turn it on or off.)
Here, you can customize which apps and contacts to appear as shortcuts!
You can also add new shortcuts.
Capture a GIF from a video you are watching
You can create a GIF really easily using the floating bar shortcut. Remember to keep GIFs short in duration and do not forget that they do not have sound. With this in mind, here is how you create a GIF from a video on the LG V30 (you can then share GIFs on social media like Facebook and Instagram):
Open a video you like, tap on the floating bar arrow and select the GIF option
Adjust the size of the capture window by dragging its edges up, down and to the side. When you are ready press the record button to initiate GIF capture and start the video.
Once you are done with your GIF, it will automatically be saved in your Gallery, in the GIF Capture folder.
Tap on the edit button to fine tune that GIF!
Save the results and find them in your Gallery.
How to take a screenshot
Simply hold down the power key on the back of the phone and simultaneously press the volume down key, wait for a moment and you will see the screen blink. A screenshot is captured and it is automatically saved to the gallery.
Set your screen for comfortable use at night
(Comfort View)
Comfort View on the LG V30 is a useful option for those who use their phone at night. The blue light from a screen makes it harder to fall asleep after using a phone and this option removes the blue spectrum of the light, so you can use your phone and still fall asleep without your phone interrupting your body’s biological patterns.
First, go into Settings.
Select Comfort View under the Display section.
Enable the “Use Comfort View toggle”
Consider scheduling it, so it automatically starts at night.
Change Icon Shape
ROUND SHAPE ONROUND SHAPE OFF
1. First, go into Settings.
2. Next, select Home Screen in the Display tab.
3. Here, tap on Icon Shape.
4. And change the icons to use their original shape!
Change the order of your navigation buttons, add buttons
Where should the back button be on Android? Some people think it should be on the right, closer to where your thumb is since it’s arguably used more often. Well, you can do those kinds of customizations on the LG V30.
First, go into Settings.
Scroll down to Home touch buttons under the Display section.
Tap on Button combination.
Here you can add new buttons or change the place of the existing ones. Some people prefer having the back button on the right!
Change the screen resolution to get better battery life
First, go into Settings.
Scroll down to Screen resolution under the Display tab.
Select a lower resolution like the Medium one to get better battery life.
You can even go down to 720p for further battery savings, but the drop in sharpness will be more noticeable here.
Remember, you can find the location of a stolen or lost phone
The last thing you should know is that as long as your phone is registered with a Google account, you can easily find it, pin-point its location on a map if you’ve lost it, or lock and erase the contents of the V30 if it’s been stolen. For this, you can open the Google Find My Device website from any platform, log in with your credentials and you will see the location of your phone.
Should you buy the LG V30 or the Pixel 2 XL? It’s a hard decision.
I was the last person to leave Google‘s Pixel hardware event in Toronto this week, the cleaning staff already entering the converted movie studio to remove the painstakingly crafted demo spaces for Google Lens, augmented reality, and the Pixel 2 camera’s Portrait Mode. I just didn’t want to give the damn phones back, them feeling so good and comfortable and right in my paw.
And gave them back I did, but not before I snapped some photos of the Pixel 2 XL next to the LG V30. I’m saying this both to hedge against the poor quality of the photos themselves (Lightroom’s Clarity can’t fix what isn’t in focus) but to emphasize that, Samsung flagships aside, I think this is the most interesting comparison to come out of the entire event.
See, the LG V30 goes on sale pretty much now — it’s already available at Verizon and AT&T, and will be next week at T-Mobile and Sprint — despite being announced in August and seeded to reviewers shortly thereafter. LG has a knack of announcing its phones well before they actually go on sale, which means that despite a great product, they tend to lose the momentum of public discourse in the weeks following.
Anyway, what that means is that the October 5 release date of the V30 is only two weeks before the LG-made Pixel 2 XL, which is astonishing if you think about it.
So which should you buy? Honestly, that’s a difficult question to answer. But let’s try to get you closer to that truth.
What’s the same
Both the LG V30 and the Google Pixel 2 XL share a number of hardware similarities, and while they don’t look the same, they are built on similar bones.
LG brought its Plastic OLED technology to the V30 first, but it appears that the Pixel 2 XL has either the same panel, or one very similar — they’re both six inches at 2880×1440 pixel resolution, with the increasingly-common 18:9 / 2:1 aspect ratio. I like this compromise between width and height; unlike the Galaxy S8+ and Note 8, neither the V30 nor Pixel 2 XL feels top-heavy or onerous to use in one hand. That’s not to say they’re one hand-friendly the way the smaller 5-inch 16:9 Pixel 2 is, but they’re easier to maneuver without risking a drop.
The panels themselves are excellent. These are OLED displays with vivid colors, perfect blacks, and awesome calibration; both LG and Google boast of full DCI-P3 color gamut support.
Those screens, curved at each corner, fit into chassis only slightly larger, making them practically bezel-less. But LG does a better job on the V30, mainly because it eschews front-facing stereo speakers for a single bottom firing port. The Pixel 2 XL is slightly taller, and a bit wider, as a result, but to me it’s not a dealbreaker — I haven’t heard them just yet, but I love the idea of phone speakers with actual impact.
Both phones are powered by the same underlying hardware, too: Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, between 64GB and 128GB of storage (though only on the V30+, which is limited to Sprint and US Cellular), and a sizable battery — 3300mAh for the V30 and 3520mAh for the Pixel — along with IP67 water resistance. Thankfully, the rear fingerprint sensors are in the same (gratifying) place — though only the Pixel’s lets you swipe down to reveal the notification shade. Come on, LG!
On a high level, that’s where the similarities end. And that’s what makes this comparison so interesting.
What’s different
The LG V30 focuses on so many different things than the LG-made Pixel 2 XL, and that’s why I love Android. The V30 is a shiny slab of glass on the front and back, which supports wireless charging. The Pixel 2 XL is … not. It has a unibody metal chassis, but a portion of the back is covered in glass, which is both a design and signal benefit, since Google doesn’t have to break up the look with plastic antenna lines. The metal back is rendered slightly more tactile, and less slippery, thanks to a finish that can only be described as plasticky. When I first picked it up I had to be reassured the phone was indeed aluminum — it feels more like the Nexus 5X than the original Pixel XL.
Of course, the V30 has two cameras, one 16MP sensor with a wide-angle lens, and a 13MP sensor with an extra wide-angle lens. The two form the basis of one of the more interesting and fun camera experiences on the market, and as we’ve said before, no one does landscape photography better than LG. At the same time, many of LG‘s new video modes are substantially more robust than anything you’ll find on a Samsung or even Sony device, and far surpasses that of Google‘s simple camera app, which even lacks a dedicated manual mode.
At the same time, Google‘s focus (pun intended) on a single camera, which is lower-resolution with larger individual pixels than the V30‘s main sensor, allows for some incredible low-light shots. Google also boasts of a computational portrait mode, while its HDR+ capabilities bring out color and detail in situations that many other phones would fall flat.
We’ve spent a lot of time with pre-production versions of the V30‘s hardware and came away impressed, but I’m fairly confident that, when put head to head with the Pixel 2 XL, it won’t square up in most situations. The Pixel also has Google Lens, which further reinforces the company’s lead in using the camera for contextual gain; point it at a sign and get information about the words, or its location. Point it at a dog and (hopefully) find out the breed (it’s a Great Dane). That’s all very cool, but it remains to be seen if people will actually use the feature.
If you care about audio quality at all, the V30 isn’t just better than the Pixel — it’s the best out there.
LG also puts a tremendous amount of effort into shoring up its audio game; not only does the V30 have a headphone jack, but its Quad DAC and powerful amplifier ensures that all headphones, even high-impedance ones, sound excellent. It’s also possible to tune the phone’s sound to suit one’s individual ear, with additional filters and settings that even 2016’s V20 lacked. This is as robust an audio-visual experience as you can get on any phone today — but it requires a tremendous amount of tweaking to get there.
The original Pixel was renound for its awful Bluetooth performance, so it’s a bit concerning that its successor lacks a headphone jack. Sure, there’s a dongle in the box, but it’s one sure to be quickly lost or discarded. At the same time, Google is patterning with companies like Libratone to deliver “Made for Google” Bluetooth accessories, which consist of easy pairing and (we assume) consistently good performance. It really would be nice if Google were to deliver a phone that didn’t experience base-level problems for once.
LG also delivers some very decent headphones in the box, whereas Google delivers… well, that dongle.
The last two differences are obvious, but worth pointing out. Google‘s software is worlds ahead of LG‘s in many respects; not only does the Pixel 2 XL ship with Android 8.0 Oreo, but its interface and general aesthetic feels substantially more mature; LG, which has made strides in recent years, ships the V30 with Android 7.1.2, and though many of the more hard edges have been softened, it’s still easy to find nits to pick. For example, LG still insists on shipping its own keyboard, which is terrible, and its default launcher lacks an app drawer and hits icons with an ugly stick.
The Pixel 2 XL is sure to get more updates sooner, but LG‘s software is a lot better than it used to be.
At the same time, Android 7.1.2 is a known quantity, both mature and easy to understand, and LG benefits from this extended lead time; the V20 was one of the first devices to ship with Android 7.0 Nougat and experienced some awful bugs that took months to resolve. I’ve yet to experience a single show-stopping issue with the V30. The original Pixel on Oreo, on the other hand, has developed a cottage country of complaints since the update became available.
But updates are going to come to the Pixel must more quickly, and for longer, than the V30 can hope to see. For starters, Google updates the Pixels directly, and is promising three years of both security updates and, for the first time, platform updates. The V30 is being sold primarily through carrier channels, so it will have to go through approval processes that often take longer. We can hope that the V30 receives Oreo sooner than later, but it’s the next update, Android P, where that lead will lengthen on Google’s behalf.
Which should you buy?
The LG V30 costs between $800 and $840 at U.S. carriers, which works out to around $32 to $34 per month for 24 months. The V30+, which is available only at Sprint and US Cellular, runs closer to $920, or $38 per month. The Pixel 2 XL starts at $849, but can be had at Verizon or the Google Store for around $35 per month for the 64GB model and $39 for the 128GB version.
So the cost is a wash.
That leaves the features, and to my eyes the V30 has a more robust collection of experiences for the advanced user, especially when it comes to audio and photography. Not only does the Quad DAC provide better sound, but there’s a headphone jack with a powerful amplifier and plenty of adjustability. The dual camera setup is tons of fun, and the manual mode is just wonderful. The V30 has wireless charging, too, and the all-glass design keeps it lighter than the Pixel 2. The overall body is smaller, too, though you forgo front-facing speakers.
The Pixel 2 XL is a simple phone. It’s meant to be easy to understand and use, and accessible to any and all who buy it. It hides much of the complexity that Android is famous for. Its design is also sure to be divisive; it’s both whimsical and utilitarian, and while the larger Pixel doesn’t have the substantial bezels of its smaller counterpart, it probably won’t win any design awards.
Google hasannounced a very limited beta program for Android Wear, allowing its flagship smartwatch, the LG Watch Sport, to test out some upcoming features based on Android 8.0 Oreo.
” Today, we are launching the beta of the next Android Wear update. As we mentioned at Google I/O, this will mainly be a technical upgrade to API 26 with enhancements to background limits and notification channels. “
The update is not significant from a consumer perspective at this point, since it doesn’t change the Android Wear 2.0 user interface that started rolling out earlier this year. Instead, it updates the core AW code to Oreo, giving it access to two important features phone users have been enjoying for some time: notification channels, and background limits.
The former lets apps on the watch follow the same rules as apps on the phone; if you limit a particular app from sending specific notifications, that behavior will be imitated on the watch.
” For notifications generated locally by Android Wear apps, users will be able to customise the notifications channel they want to see, right on their watch. “
Given that Android Wear is becoming more phone-independent, notification channels will likely benefit those who rely on apps that generate their own notifications rather than just forwarding them from the phone.
Background limits are battery-saving properties that should extend the battery life of some watches.
” There are increased restrictions on background services. Developers should assume services can no longer run in the background without a visible notification. In addition, the background location update frequency will be reduced. Battery-saving best practices such as using JobScheduler should be adopted to ensure your app is battery-efficient and able to perform background tasks when possible. “
There’s no word on when Google will make the Android Wear beta program available to more watches, but it’s good to see the company sticking with its development path nonetheless. You can sign up for the beta if you have the LG Watch Sport.
From a phone that packs a molecular scanner to a phone with an integrated thermal camera, you can’t say that the world of Android does not include some weird devices. The niche train waits for no one, however, and LG decided to buy a ticket with the K7i, the first phone that tries to keep away the mosquitos.
The feature, which LG calls “Mosquito Away,” uses the K7i’s big hump at the bottom to emit ultrasound waves that theoretically keep the mosquitos away from your delectable skin and blood. LG has used Mosquito Away in its air conditioners and TVs, but this is the first time one of its phones incorporates it.
For the record, I’m just as skeptical about this as you might be, and for good reason. Per the BBC, a 2010 article that examined 10 field studies concluded that ultrasound mosquito repellent devices “have no effect on preventing mosquito bites” and “should not be recommended or used.”
In other words, LG’s Mosquito Away seems more like a marketing gimmick than a legitimate function. Still, I’ll give LGsome credit for advertising such a feature in India, which has its fair share of mosquitos.
Even if you find Mosquito Away at least a bit interesting, the K7i seems pretty weak on paper. Equipped with a 5-inch, 1280 x 720 resolution display and a 2,500 mAh battery, the K7i also features an unnamed quad-core processor clocked at 1.4 GHz and 2 GB of RAM. The 16 GB of internal storage can be bumped up by an additional 156 through the microSD card slot, with an 8 MP camera around back and a 5 MP sensor up front.
Finally, the K7i runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The K7i’s 7,990 rupee ($121) price tag does not take away the fact that the phone runs software that is over two years old. Making things worse, there are no plans to update the K7i to Nougat or Oreo.
According to a recent report from South Korea citing unnamed industry sources, CEOs of LG Display and Huawei will attend a top management meeting on October 3 in order to lay down the plans for a long-term collaboration on small and mid-sized OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panels. The need for this collaboration has apparently been partly fueled by Samsung Display’s inability to meet the high demand for OLED panels in China, which prompted Huawei to follow a two-way strategy and secure both South Korean tech giants as its main OLED suppliers.
Recent reports suggest that the possible collaboration between LG Display and Huawei should not only secure a stable supply chain for the Chinese smartphone maker but should also help in establishing a mutual growth strategy for both companies in the future. Next year, LG Display is said to supply Huawei with two to three million small to mid-sized OLED panels which will be manufactured at its E2 and E5 plants in Paju, but the company intends on increasing its OLED manufacturing capacity at its E5 and E6 plants as well. The transaction is supposedly worth between 200 and 300 billion won, which translates to between $176 and $265 million, and the amount of panels required from LG Display by Huawei will increase as the OEM continues to adopt OLED technology in more smartphone models moving forward.
The report also suggests that Samsung Display is currently experiencing difficulties with supplying OLED panels to its own smartphone branch as well as its largest client Apple and due to the company’s “clear supply priority,” some Chinese OEMs have had issues with receiving their OLED modules in time, according to industry sources cited by BusinessKorea. In any case, Huawei is expected to continue collaborating with Samsung Display, and the company’s upcoming Mate 10 smartphone will apparently be equipped with non-flexible OLED panels manufactured by LG’s closest competitor. Judging by recent developments, Huawei intends on adopting OLED technology for more smartphones next year, indicating that the demand for LCD smartphone panels could continue to decline, assuming that the increasingly high demand for OLED panels can be met by the industry’s biggest players, including LG and Samsung.
LG will reportedly manufacture OLED displays for Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo. The OLED displays are said to be shipped by early 2018.
LG is the second largest manufacturer of OLED panels in the world and according to a report by Business Korea, the South Korean company will soon start supplying its OLED panels to Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo. We can hope to see the above-mentioned companies using LG’s new OLED panels in their upcoming flagship smartphones.
About 20 to 30 percent of the small and mid-sized LG OLED displays have already been ordered by the above-mentioned companies and the company is said to start shipping the OLED displays in early 2018. LG has been using its OLED panels on its smartphones for quite some time now. Both of LG’s flagships this year, the LG G6 and LG V30 will come with FullVision OLED screen
With the launch of the iPhone X, Apple has also adopted the OLED display whereas Samsung has been using OLED panels in its smartphones from quite some time. Samsung’s flagships Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus and the recently launched Galaxy Note 8, all featuring an AMOLED display.
A recent report confirms that Google’s upcoming flagship smartphone, the Pixel 2 XL will be manufactured by LG.
OLED displays are less power consuming than traditional displays and result in longer battery life for smartphones. OLED displays have significantly better refresh rate compared to LEDs or LCDs. OLED panels also support the Always-On feature as seen on the Samsung Galaxy S8.
