The new features boasted by the LG G5 were unveiled as the smartphone launched at the MWC 2016. The future phone prototype comes with 6 accessories including a 360 virtual reality headset.
LG launched the G4 successor at the MWC 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Called the LG G5, the new flagship smartphone stands in stark contrast with the G4. Venture Beat reported that the LG G5 is LG's contender for the Apple iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S7.
The LG G5 ditched the plastic case of the G series to go for an all-metal aluminum build. One of the phone's biggest selling features is its new modular design. Users can turn the G5 to a hi-fi audio player, a standalone digital camera, and much more through the phone's Magic Slot.
With the Magic Slot, users can remove the phone's battery and attach modules to upgrade their LG G5. An example is the LG CAM Plus that provides various DSLR camera-like functions such as auto focus, zoom, record, shutter, and exposure lock. Meanwhile, audiophiles can attach the LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O Play module to the G5 for high-definition audio streaming.
According to Gizmodo, the LG G5 seems like the first prototype of future smartphones. The G5 is equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset for a super-fast performance. The phone has an 'Always on Display' mode which allows user to see the time and notifications without completely turning on the phone to save on battery.
Unlike other existing smartphones, the LG G5 is the only one with dual-camera setup: one average 78-degree angle camera and a 135-degree wide angle camera. LG made big improvements on the software for the LG G5, though there were reportedly some bugs on the user interface.
Indian Express said that the LG G5 comes with 6 accessories collectively, called as LG Friends. Besides the LG 360 CAM Plus and LG Hi-Fi Plus, there are the LG Rolling Bot, LG Tone Platinum, H3 by B&O PLAY, LG Smart Controller, and the LG 360 VR headset. The South Korean-based manufacturer said that it will soon release its own VR headsets like the Samsung Gear VR.
The LG G5 can be seen as the first attempt towards the future design and functionality of smartphones. There is still much room for improvement on both the hardware and software of the device. There are reports saying that the LG G5 and its companion accessories will hit market shelves by April.
