South Korean models pose with LG's new premium smartphone V20 during a launch event in Seoul on September 7, 2016. (Photo : (JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images))
LG has finally unveiled its LG V20 smartphone that will run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and Android 7.0 Nougat. The device has been released as the successor to the 2015 LG V10 and the company's new flagship for 2016.
The LG V20 is an upgrade of its precursor's cutting-edge multimedia features, according to LG Electronics and Mobile Communications President Juno Cho via LG official website. The smartphone provides a unique mobile experience and sets a new standard for premium phones for consumers.
Just like the LG V10, the new flagship smartphone comes with a 5.7-inch IPS LCD display. It is natively clocked at 1440p (2560 × 1440 pixels), which equates to 513ppi density. The manufacturer has incorporated a secondary display that is longer and brighter.
As opposed to the LG V10's ruggedness and rubber back, the new smartphone provides a smoother, more premium feel because of its AL6013 aluminum alloy casing. The LG V20 feels more like the LG G5 except for the aluminum coated plastic casing associated with the latter, according to The Verge.
The tech giant adopted LG G5's camera system and curated the LG V20's rear with a 16MP OIS shooter with a 75-degree field of view. The shooter was paired with an 8MP fixed-focus camera with a 135-degree field of view.
The two rear cameras are fitted with a laser autofocus system and a color sensor. Below the cameras is the power button that also functions as a fingerprint sensor.
In addition, the LG V20 features the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8992 chipset as the G5. The phone as well comes with 4GB of RAM and a base internal memory of 64GB, unlike 32GB in the G5. The V20 supports microSD storage expansion cards besides a larger removable battery of 3200mAh.
Similar to the V10, the V20 comes with a MIL-STD 810G-shock resistance rating, making it more durable than the G5. The manufacturer not only opted for a removable metal back plate that pops off with a single button press, but also avoided the modular design of the G5.
It is important to note that the LG V20 becomes the first smartphone to ship with Google latest OS, the Android 7.0 Nougat. In addition to the Nougat's native allure and new features, LG made the secondary display for the V20 to have more capabilities using the new OS version.
The new smartphone will roll out before the end of Q3 2016, implying that units will hit the retailer's shelves before the end of this month. While there is no official price tag given, if the manufacturer opts to follow the same premium pricing like that of the V10, customers should expect the V20 to have a starting price of $700.
Here is footage for more features of the LG V20:
