For 2016, LG today announced their flagship smartphone, model G5, which claims to be the first modular phone with the ability to transform into a better digital camera, audiophile-grade music player or to quickly swap out a depleted battery in seconds. But I wonder, why anyone would want all of that. Instead of building everything into the phone, LG wants to sell you separate components that you’ll slide and in and out when you need them. Who wants to carry all that extra stuff around?
The LG CAM Plus camera module can be attached through the battery slot to deliver a comfortable grip and convenient control of a standalone camera. It provides physical buttons for power, shutter, record, zoom, LED indicator and comfortable grip. It also offers intuitive auto focus and exposure lock, features usually found on standalone digital cameras. When attached to the LG G5, it provides an additional battery capacity of 1,200mAh to allow for longer shooting times for more fun and enjoyment.
The LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY provides a Hi-Fi DAC audio player developed in collaboration with B&O PLAY to meet the needs of audiophiles. It offers 32-bit upsampling technology first introduced on the LG V10, with support for 32-bit 384KHz high-definition audio playback. LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY can be used either as a module with the LG G5 or as a separate Hi-Fi DAC by connecting to any smartphone or PC. However, aptX HD 24-bit Hi-Fi wireless audio is built-in.
The high-end LG G5 is equipped with the powerful, yet energy-efficient Snapdragon 820 processor which offers advanced features such as 64-bit performance, Adreno 530 graphics and lower-power Qualcomm Hexagon DSP. This basically means it’s fast, up to 40% faster graphics performance and up to 40% more power efficiency compared to the previous generation, according to LG.
On the back, LG G5 has two cameras: one with a standard 78-degree lens and another with a 135-degree wide angle lens, the widest available in any smartphone. The 135-degree lens on the LG G5 offers a viewing angle that is approximately 1.7 times wider than those of existing smartphone cameras and 15 degrees wider than the human eye’s field of view. The wide angle lens makes it easier for users to capture more landscape, taller buildings or larger groups without having to position oneself further from the subject.
The 5.3-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum display on the LG G5 offers an Always-on feature to show the time and date continuously even when the G5 is in sleep mode. This means that you can always see the time at a glance, even during important meetings or when your hands are full. LG says this feature will only consume less the 1% of battery life. Even so, the G5 claims to charge 27% faster and be 45% more efficient than the previous generation.
With Daylight Mode, the LG G5 provides better outdoor visibility beyond that of current auto brightness technology. Daylight Mode detects surrounding light conditions and instantaneously increases or decreases the brightness of the display, up to 850 nits. Even before your eyes have adjusted to the different lighting conditions, the G5 will be ready.
Price and Availability
The LG G5 & Friends will be available soon at AT&T, Best Buy, B&H, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon.
Specifications:
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor
- Display: 5.3-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440 / 554ppi)
- Memory: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM / microSD (up to 2TB)
- Camera: Rear: Standard 16MP, Wide 8MP / Front: 8MP
- Battery: 2,800mAh (removable)
- OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- Size: 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7mm
- Weight: 159g
- Network: LTE / 3G / 2G
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a,b,g,n,ac / USB Type-C / NFC / Bluetooth 4.2
- Colors: Silver / Titan / Gold / Pink
