LG G3 is official with 5.5-inch Quad-HD display

Korean smartphone manufacturer LG today unveiled the new G3 Android smartphone at simultaneous press events in New York, London and San Francisco. The phone will be the company’s new flagship smartphone and will go head to head with Samsung’s Galaxy S5, HTC One (M8) and Sony Xperia Z2.

Unlike its competitors, LG G3 sports a Quad-HD (2560x1440p) display of 5.5-inches. The smartphone is also the first Android device with a laser auto-focus, which the company claims, will help the camera sensor in focussing faster and allow the consumers to click images instantly.

“This technology enables the G3 to capture the best moment ? even in low light ? by measuring the distance between the subject and the camera using a laser beam. So no more fuzzy pictures of your son scoring his first football goal and or missed shots because your camera couldn’t decide quickly enough which toddler in the playground to focus on,” LG explained in a press release.

Among other specifications, LG G3 is powered by 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor. The phone packs 2GB of RAM (3GB RAM version will be released in some markets), 16GB/ 32GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot. On the imaging front, the company has included a 13MP rear camera with OIS+, which is LG’s fancy implementation of optical image stabilisation and 2.1MP front shooter. All these features are nicely packed in an 8.9mm thick chassis, which is made of plastic with metal finish.

Coming to the software, the G3 runs on Android 4.4.2 and includes a bunch of software optimisations including the company’s Knock Code unlock mechanism, the new Smart Notice service, which works like Google Now and provides suggestions and recommendations based on user behaviour, phone usage patterns and location. Other software tweaks include Smart Keyboard, Smart Security, Content Lock, Kill Switch (remotely disable your phone), and Guest Mode.

“The smartest innovation in a fast evolving smartphone market is creating harmony between advanced technology and a simplified user experience. LG G3 is the result of our effort to actualize that idea into a tangible product. And we are extremely pleased with the result,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.

Colours and availability

The LG G3 will be released in Metallic Black, Silk White, Shine Gold, Moon Violet, and Burgundy Red colour options. It will be available globally via more than 170 carriers and goes on sale first in South Korea, beginning May 28. Launch details for other countries will be revealed by LG on a later date.

Specifications

• Operating system: Android 4.4.2, KitKat
• Dimensions (mm): 146.3×74.6×9.1, 151 grams
• CPU: 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (801)
• RAM: 2GB/ 3GB
• Display: 5.5-inch Quad-HD, 2560x1440p
• Battery: 3000mAh
• Memory: 16GB/ 2GB, MicroSD card slot, up to 128 GB
• Rear Camera: 13MP rear, LED flash, 4K video recording support, Optic image stabilizer with Laser Auto Focus
• Front Camera: 2.1MP front
• Cellular: 4G LTE (900/1800/2100/2600/850), 3G (850/900/1700/1900/2100), 2G (850/900/1800/1900)
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, USB v2.0, HDMI via Slim Port
• Others: DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Mira Cast, FM Radio, GPS