LG formally announced that its newest X series of handsets is ready for global shipment, and customers will start receiving their LG X smartphones this week.
South Korean LG fans will be the first to get their hands on the new phones, followed by customers in Latin America, Asia and Europe.
The OEM created hype at the MWC 2016 by showcasing its LG G5 flagship, but also told the media that more affordable options are in tow. With the X series, LG aims to offer solid mid-tier smartphones that pack strong configurations and features. LG wants to take some of the high-end features from its flagship devices and accommodate them into the X cam and X screen mid-range phones.
The X cam
The X cam borrowed from the G5 handset the idea of having a dual-camera on the rear. The two snappers are different: one is a 13-megapixel and features default lens, while the secondary one is a 5-megapixel sporting wide angle lens. The front-facing camera is an 8-megapixel.
This particular setup allowed the manufacturer to embed a number of cool features. When you take a shot with both cameras, you can assemble them by creating a picture-in-a-frame effect. There is also an Animated Photo effect, where you get a special-effects hybrid that is half photo, half video-shot.
Here are the essential technical specs for the X cam smartphone, but keep in mind that some of them might see slight changes in different markets.
The screen is a 5.2-inch FHD In-cell Touch. Processing power comes from a 1.14GHz Octa-Core CPU that is backed by 2 GB of RAM. LG X packs 16 GB of default storage space.
The device uses a power source of 2,520 mAh and Android 6.0 Marshmallow as its operating system. The OEM says that the smartphone will run on LTE bands, exclusively.
Looking at the size, the LG X cam's measurements indicate 147.5 x 73.6 x 5.2mm~6.9mm. Four color options are available for the device: White, Titan Silver, Gold and Pink Gold.
The X screen
The X series found inspiration in the LG V10, and packed a little secondary display on the aptly named "X screen." The little LCD stays always on, allowing users to have a quick peak at notifications while saving significant battery life.
"Starting with the X series, we're introducing the best in camera and display technology in a mass-tier device, something that has never been done before," says Juno Cho, CEO and president of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.
The important specs for X screen are: a display combo made of a 4.93-inch HD In-cell Touch and a 1.76-inch LCD which has a 520 x 80p resolution; a 1.2GHz Quad-Core CPU with 2 GB of RAM for support; a camera duo made of a 13-megapixel and a frontal 8-megapixel. The X screen has a single main camera, whereas the X cam has dual cameras on its rear.
The storage space is 16 GB, just like the previous model. The power source is slightly tinier, at 2,300mAh. The X screen handset runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and also has LTE exclusivity.
X screen's measurements are 142.6 x 71.8 x 7.1 mm and available with three color options of White, Black and Pink Gold.
There is no official information on when the devices will land in the U.S. or what the pricing range will be, but it is safe to assume that the price tag of the X series will be way lower than that of LG G5 or V10.
