This post will be updated regularly as we take a closer look at the latest rumors surrounding the successor to the LG G6.
The G6 was a big upgrade over its predecessor. LG got rid of the gimmicky modular design and opted for a gorgeous new glass and metal body with thin bezels.
What will its successor bring to the table? Here are the rumors we’ve been hearing.
LG G7: Name and release date
The nitty-gritty
- The smartphone will not be called the G7, as LG is retiring the G brand.
- Release date rumors are conflicting.
- Some claim the handset will launch in March, while others suggest it might be announced in June.
It looks like the successor to the LG G6 will not be called the G7. According to a report from Digital Daily (via The Investor), LG is retiring the G-series moniker in the first half of the year in favor of a fresh flagship brand. This means LG’s upcoming flagship could be the first to carry the new brand name.
The company is apparently considering a “two-digit number” rather than reverting back to anything with the number one in the title. Why? Because it doesn’t want consumers to think the handset is outdated compared to the Galaxy S9 and iPhone X. There’s no word on what exactly the new brand will be, so we’ll refer to the device as the G7 in this post.
When will the G7 be introduced? Unlike the G6 and G5, LG’s upcoming flagship isn’t expected to be announced at MWC in Barcelona.
The CEO of LG Electronics has apparently ordered a revision of the G7.
A report from The Investor claims that the CEO of LG Electronics, Jo Seong-jin, has ordered a revision of the upcoming flagship. The decision to start over from scratch was made immediately after CES concluded, reportedly because the company hasn’t been able to find a strong selling point for the upcoming device. This means the G7’s release date could be pushed back for a few months.
Another report from ET News (via The Investor) tells us a similar story but is a lot more specific. It claims that the handset might be unveiled in March, putting it a month behind the LG G6 in terms of the yearly release cycle. An industry insider told the website that it could go on sale a month later, on April 20 to be exact.
The third and latest report on this topic comes from Evan Blass, who has a great track record when it comes to these things. He said the smartphone, reportedly codenamed Judy, could be launched in June.
LG hasn’t shared any info about the G7’s launch date, so there’s no word which report — if any — is correct.
LG G7: Specs and features
The nitty-gritty
- The LG G7 could come with a 6-inch MLCD+ display.
- The handset may be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset.
- The flagship is rumored to have an iris scanner on board.
The usually reliable Evan Blass shared a few alleged specs of the G7, giving us an idea of what the smartphone could bring to the table.
It might feature a 6-inch 18:9 Full Vision display, making it larger than that of the LG G6 (5.7-inch) and even the V30 (6-inch). No word on resolution, but we expect it to be QHD+. LG will apparently use an MLCD+ panel on its flagship, which is a fairly new technology. It’s reportedly capable of 800-nit brightness while consuming less battery power than traditional IPS LCD panels.
The G7 is expected to come with the latest and greatest Snapdragon 845 chipset.
The G6 launched with the older Snapdragon 821 last year because Samsung had first dibs on the 835. It looks like the story will be different this year, as the G7 is expected to come with the latest and greatest Snapdragon 845 chipset under the hood, just like the Galaxy S9. Unfortunately, the smartphone might not get an upgrade in the memory department. It’s said to come with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage like its predecessor.
Blass claims the G7 may have a dual-camera setup on board featuring 16 MP sensors with f/1.6 lenses. The smartphone is said to come with stereo speakers, HDR imaging, and IP68 rating for protection against water and dust. Wireless charging is also mentioned, but we don’t know if it will be available globally or exclusive to the U.S. like with the G6.
Other rumors we’ve come across suggest that in addition to a fingerprint sensor, the LG G7 might also sport an iris scanner. This isn’t a new feature, as we’ve seen it on a few Samsung devices so far, but it would be a first for LG.
The rumor is based on a patent for the iris scanner, first spotted by LetsGoDigital. On paper, the scanner appears to be more advanced than the one in Samsung devices. It’s supposed to get the job done in various lighting conditions by adjusting to allow for variations in pupil size. It should also be safer, making sure it can’t be tricked with a photo.
We’ve also come across a report claiming that the G7 will be 5G-enabled, allowing for super-fast download speeds. That won’t mean much if the network doesn’t support it, though.
Read next: What is 5G?
Other specs and features we expect to see include expandable storage, Android Oreo, and a headphone jack. A Quad DAC for an improved audio experience could also be on board, which hopefully won’t be exclusive to South Korea and a few other Asian countries like with the G6.
| LG G7 rumored specifications | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6-inch MLCD+ panel 2,880 x 1,440 resolution 18:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | Snapdragon 845 |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| MicroSD | Yes, up to 256 GB |
| Camera | Dual-camera setup with 16 MP sensors and f/1.6 lenses |
| Water resistant | IP68 |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Software | Android Oreo |
LG G7: Design
The nitty-gritty
- Images of the LG G7 have not leaked yet.
- The smartphone could look a lot like its predecessor.
- The latest rumor suggests we might see an all-new design.
We haven’t seen any images of the G7 so far, so we don’t really know what it’ll look like. But it is possible it will be similar to its predecessor, which is one of the sexiest smartphones LG has ever made.
That means the device could come with a near bezel-less design, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, and a glass back with a metal frame. However, a few refinements are expected. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but the flagship could sport thinner bezels, making it even more compact for its screen size. We would also like to see a clean front without branding, and a few design changes on the back to further differentiate the G7 from the V30.
LG G6 and V30
Of course, LG could surprise us and opt for a brand new design. Evan Blass said this could hapen but did not provide any details on what exactly we might see.
LG likes to experiment, as clearly shown by the G5’s modular design and the V20’s secondary screen. Since both of those ideas weren’t well received by users, we think that the company will stick to the basics with the G7.
LG G7: Price
The nitty-gritty
- The G7 could be more expensive than the G6, retailing for more than $700.
- A price tag between $600 and $650 would be the best case scenario.
The unlocked version of the G6 was listed at $700 on LG’s website at launch, but you could get it for as low as $600 from B&H and other retailers during the pre-order period. There’s no word on exactly how much the G7 will cost, but it’s safe to say it won’t be any cheaper than its predecessor.
A price tag between $600 and $650 would be a great way to go, as that would mean the G7 would undercut the Galaxy S9 by a wide margin. The S8 launched at $725, and its successor is rumored to be even more expensive.
But there’s a chance the price tag could exceed $700. Samsung has been increasing prices of its flagships in recent years and so has OnePlus. LG doing the same with the G7 could have a negative effect on sales.
There you have it — these are all the rumors we’ve come across so far about the G7. When we hear more, we’ll update this page to keep you up to speed with all the latest.
Meanwhile, share your thoughts on LG’s upcoming smartphone with us. Will it be more popular than its predecessor? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Android Zone
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