The upcoming LG G5 and its "LG Friends" took part in possibly the world's fastest unboxing, by more than one definition.
From the codriver's seat of a speeding Subaru WRX, T-Mobile senior product manager Des Smith ripped the phone and its accessories from their packaging during the frenzied unboxing.
T-Mobile used the stunt, filmed at DirtFish Rally School in North Bend, Washington, to build up hype for the LG G5, which will launch at its stores on April 1. The wireless carrier will start taking advance orders two days before the launch.The G5 will hit other major U.S. wireless carriers, so T-Mobile needed a bit more incentive than a novel stunt.
Customers who purchase G5 handsets from T-Mobile before April 17 will be eligible for a free LG Battery Bundle, which is valued at $80. And those who pick it up sooner, before April 5 to be specific, the company will give them a $200 LG 360 Cam.
Supplies of the camera appear to be in much shorter supply than the battery pack, though there's the possibility that both offers could sell out before the cut-off dates.
T-Mobile is offering the LG G5, which costs $629 off contract, for $26.25 per month for 23 months - the cost for the 24th month is $26.24. It's a zero down, interest-free offer.
Regardless of where consumers opt to pick up the G5, the phone is worth a look for anyone in the market for a high-end handset.
"The rave responses to the LG G5 from the press and the industry are proof that the smartphone is exciting again and it is obvious that the LG G5 is well worth waiting for," says Morris Lee, LG Electronics MobileComm's senior vice president and head of North American sales and marketing.
The G5's modular build allows the device to interface with a variety of accessories, collectively known as "LG Friends."
The G5's supporting cast include a camera grip that provides stabilization and swaps out with the phone's battery. There's a VR viewer and a 360-degree camera.
The phone itself features a 16-megapixel rear camera with a wide-angle lens, an octa-core processor, 32 GB of storage space, 3 GB of RAM and a memory card slot. It has a 5.3-inch screen, puts out 1,440 x 2,560 pixels and is shielded by Gorilla Glass 4.
Grab your helmet and watch @askdes unbox the #LGG5 during the ride of his life. https://t.co/yULFUALtBu
— T-Mobile (@TMobile) March 18, 2016
