LG G6 unveiled at MWC
LG Electronics’ mobile chief Cho Juno unveils the company’s latest flagship smartphone, the G6, at the Sant Jordi Club in Barcelona, Sunday (local time). / Courtesy of LG Electronics
By Lee Min-hyung
BARCELONA ― LG Electronics unveiled Sunday (local time) its much-hyped flagship smartphone, the G6, equipping the device with a series of user-centered improvements.
The new handset features with the world’s first 18:9 ratio full-vision display, which the Seoul-based firm touts as the best proportion for users seeking optimum video-watching and any other visual-related experiences with their smartphones.
The company did not add any “wow factors” into the new premium device, in its apparent decision to stop taking further risks as it had done with its predecessor, the G5, which came with a line of swappable modules.
The Korean electronics firm, instead, focused on enhancing customer-oriented basic features ― such as camera, audio and display. In particular, the company said the G6 reduced overall display power consumption by 30 percent, compared with the G5.
“Users will be able to enjoy a whole new visual experience, backed by the 18:9 ratio display designed to offer an optimized grip,” LG Electronics’ mobile chief Cho Juno said during the launch event, a day before the opening of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) here.
“The G6’s stability and a series of other user-friendly functions will deliver more value, helping us lead the ongoing smartphone innovation,” he said.
LG also included a waterproof feature for the G6, allowing the device to operate up to 30 minutes underwater at a depth of up to 1.5 meters, the company said.
The premium handset vendor also hyped up the phone’s quad high-definition plus (QHD+) display resolution, which expresses more vivid and dynamic visual experiences by producing 564 pixels per inch (PPI), the highest in its smartphone history.
Another key feature is its wide-angle 13 megapixel camera, supporting a 125-degree angle of view.
Starting with the latest model, LG plans to offer its LG Pay mobile payment service via a software update planned for this June, enabling users to make payments by simply touching their devices to a magnetic credit card reader, the company said.
LG also added a series of artificial intelligence (AI) functions to the new device ― such as the AI assistant service, Google Assistant. LG is also seeking to jump on the ongoing AI bandwagon by introducing on-demand warranty service, enabling more precise and faster smartphone repairs.
“2017 will be a meaningful year for a form factor change in the global smartphone industry,” Cho said. “Major handset manufacturers focus too much on innovations, and risk losing user experience.”
The new handset comes in three colors ― astro black, ice platinum and mystic white. The company has yet to unveil the exact price range for the new device.