LG Velvet quietly launched in key market ahead of May 7 event
LG just up and launched the LG Velvet after first announcing May 7 as its official launch date. The first phone to take advantage of LG’s rebranding initiative, Velvet was announced inconspicuously through an official Korean blog post.
So what’s the phone all about? Well, we already knew a bunch about the Velvet thanks to official teasers, but we now have most of the specs and availability information at hand.
Let’s take a quick look at LG’s new high-end 5G phone in the specs table below.
| LG Velvet specs | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.8-inch Cinema FullVision display 20.5: 9 aspect ratio U-shaped notch LG Dual Screen functionality |
| Processor | Snapdragon 765 5G |
| Cameras | Rear: Triple camera setup 48MP primary 8MP ultra-wide 5MP depth Front: Undisclosed |
| Storage | N/A |
| RAM | N/A |
| Battery | 4,300mAh |
| Connectivity | 4G and 5G |
You might notice that a few specs are missing from the LG Velvet spec table above. This is because the company hasn’t revealed them just yet. We’ll probably get to hear more about those undisclosed specs during LG’s livestream event on May 7.
Meanwhile, let’s take a closer look at all that the new Velvet has to offer.
A refreshed design
The first thing you’ll notice about the LG Velvet is that it has a very minimalistic design. It’s got a 6.8-inch display with a 20.5:9 aspect ratio. LG calls this the Cinema FullVision display.
In terms of its specs, it sounds like the same display as the LG V60 ThinQ, although LG has not clarified if the Velvet also touts an OLED panel. But the lack of a rear fingerprint scanner here points to an in-display fingerprint sensor, which is only commercially available on OLED screens for now.
For the rear panel, LG decided not to indulge in the clunky square or rectangular camera modules we’ve become so accustomed to on phones like the Galaxy S20 series, iPhone 11, and others.
Its new “Waterdrop” triple camera design refers to the rear camera module, which takes inspiration from a falling droplet of rain. The three rear sensors are vertically stacked in descending order of size, with the flash at the bottom of the pile.
Elsewhere, we see a slim chassis with metallic accents. The notched display curves to the edges, which are rounded off to give the impression of more screen real estate. LG calls this the “3D Arc” design, which in our opinion, looks a lot like the other curved screens we’ve been seeing lately. LG says when the phone is viewed from the bottom, it looks to have a long oval shape or what it refers to as a “Symmetrical Ellipse.”
A familiar camera setup
LG
The triple rear camera setup on the LG Velvet is not something out of the ordinary, and it’s definitely not a flagship-grade arrangement.
The phone has a pretty standard primary, ultra-wide, and depth sensor combo. In fact, the 8MP ultra-wide lens has a lower resolution than any of LG’s recent flagship ultra-wide cameras, like the 13MP sensor on the LG V60 or the 16MP shooter on the LG G7.
We’re not sure if the phone is using a Samsung or Sony 48MP sensor, but LG’s high-end smartphone cameras have mostly been based on Sony’s image sensors, so there’s likely a Sony IMX586 or IMX689 offered here. LG applies the familiar quad-binning tech on the main sensor to combine four pixels to form one large pixel.
For video shooting, the LG Velvet includes a “Voice Out Focus” feature that can separate background noises and ambient voices from videos.
Unfortunately, we don’t have more details about the camera features of the Velvet. LG hasn’t even revealed the front camera configuration, but it’ll likely share more information on May 7.
Dual display and stylus support
The Snapdragon 765 phone also supports LG’s noteworthy Dual Screen accessory, alongside a stylus pen. The accessories will not be bundled with the phone though and will be sold separately.
We previously heard that the phone will feature an app called Nebo, to convert handwritten notes into digital documents. This is apparently why LG is offering stylus support with the Velvet.
Battery and charging
The LG Velvet comes with a 4,300mAh battery and LG says its low-power software algorithm will minimize any unnecessary power consumption. We’ve been seeing intelligent battery management algorithms for some time now so this isn’t something new. The phone will probably terminate unnecessary background functions and apps in order to save battery life.
Price and availability
The LG Velvet has launched in its home market of South Korea for now. LG says it will be available in the country starting May 15 in four colorways: Aurora White, Aurora Gray, Aurora Green, and Illusion Sunset.
There’s no official word regarding pricing yet, although LG’s claim of it being a “mass market flagship” points to a price below that of its traditional flagships.
The phone’s international availability is yet to be announced. Our guess is LG will do that through its livestream on May 7.
More posts about LG
from Android Authority https://ift.tt/34sI3RH
Post a Comment