LG is rumored to have the successor of the LG G5 — dubbed the LG G6 — in the works, which will not be a modular smartphone unlike the previous iteration.
The latest buzz is that the South Korean company is gearing up to launch its next-gen flagship phone LG G6 "in the very near future." This news comes straight from the horse's mouth i.e. LG's Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Skott Ahn.
On Wednesday, Jan. 4, The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on LG's plans.
"The South Korean electronics maker plans to release a new flagship phone, the G6, "in the very near future," Chief Technologist Skott Ahn said in an interview Wednesday at the consumer electronics expo CES," reported the publication.
Rumors pertaining to the LG G6 have been circling online for a few months. Earlier in December 2016,t was reported that the LG G6 was tipped to release in late February or early March, a month earlier than expected.
In early January, leaked renders of the LG G6's case surfaced online and showed off a strong resemblance to the LG G5.
Now, rumor has it that the LG G6 could be launched during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017, which kicks off February end. Smartphone enthusiasts look forward to the MWC as a number of mobile phone makers unveil new products.
Just like previous years, the tech market may witness the launch of a number phones during the MWC. LG announced the LG G5 during the MWC 2016, which increases the probability that the company will launch the LG G6 at this year's event.
LG G6: Rumored Specifications
LG has not officially revealed the specs of the LG G6; however, rumors claim that the upcoming device will not include the modular design found on the LG G5.
The LG G5 sports a 5.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2,540 x 1,440 pixels. It is likely that the LG G6 will come with a screen size of 5.3-inch or above and 4K resolution.
The LG G5 is equipped with a dual-lens rear-facing camera: one is 16-megapixel and the other 8-megapixel. The phone also includes an 8-megapixel selfie camera. LG is anticipated to enhance the camera capabilities of the LG G6 and the device may include two 16-megapixel rear-facing cameras.
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor and 6 GB of RAM may fuel the upcoming LG flagship. The higher RAM capacity will improve multi-tasking and be welcomed by consumers.
A powerful 2,800 mAh battery powers the LG G5. Customers would hope that successor LG G6 includes a bigger battery that supports longer usage time.
Fingerprint sensors have become an indispensable feature on top-end smartphones and enhance the security of the device. The LG G6 is expected to include an iris scanner, like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which will make it difficult for unauthorized people to access the device.
Expected Price And Availability
In the United States, the LG G6 is expected to sport a price tag that is between $500 to $600. According to the WSJ report, the LG G6 would initially be released in North America, Europe, and home country South Korea. Other regions will likely follow suit.
Why Is The LG G6 Important For The Company?
The modular design of the LG G5 failed to attract as many customers as the company wanted. LG is facing stiff competition from the likes of Samsung, Apple, and more in the mobile phone space and, therefore, it will have to deploy novel features in the LG G6 to lure customers.
"Unlike strong sales in home appliances and television, LG posted historical losses from its mobile communication unit this year. For a rally in shares, the rebound from G6 is important next year," said Kim Ji-san, an analyst with Kiwoom Securities.
With the MWC 2017 a month away, one will soon know if LG indeed takes the wraps off its LG G6 at the event or not.
