The G5's display is powered by the new Adreno 530 GPU and has a so-called 'always on' feature, allowing users to consult the clock and basic notifications without fully illuminating the screen.The device has two rear-facing on-board cameras, one 16 megapixel and the other an ultra-wide-angle 8 megapixel with a 135-degree field of capture. Owners can also attach a separate, 360-degree, twin-lens digital camera the LG 360 CAM, one of a range of companion accessories, known as LG Friends, that can be connected via the battery slot.
Other plug-in accessories for the new phone, which is available in four different colours (silver, titan, gold and pink), include a portable audio player developed jointly with hi-fi maker Bang & Olufsen, which can be used separately, and virtual-reality goggles that allow users to view 360-degree visual content via a cable linked to the G5 instead of having to insert the device itself into a headset. The LG CAM Plus camera module has physical controls and an internal battery allowing for longer shooting times.
The G5, presented at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, has a Category 12 modem allowing theoretical download speeds over LTE of up to 600 Mbps and upload of 15 Mbps. Unlike the always-on display feature on LG's recent high-end V10 smartphone, the LG G5's does not use a secondary screen, and LG claims power consumption, at 0.8 percent of the battery's capacity per hour, will deliver substantial energy savings for owners, many of whom check their device up to 150 times per day. The G5's 2,800mAh battery is compatible with Quick Charge 3.0, which can recharge 27 percent faster than the previous generation.
Onboard storage totals 32GB, and this can be extended by up to 2TB with a microSD card. The device measures 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7mm, weighs 159g and features USB-C connectivity. The LG G5 is expected to launch this spring in Europe for a recommended retail price of EUR 699. US carriers Sprint, Verizon and AT&T all said they will offer the phone, with more details on pricing and availability to be announced in the coming weeks.
Other LG Friends accessories launched alongside the G5 include the LG TONE Platinum, the first Bluetooth headset equipped with the aptX HD codec, for lossless 24-bit audio, and the LG Rolling Bot, a remote-control mini robot capable of capturing both still and video images which can be used as a live monitoring system for the home as well as handling pet-care duties and controlling compatible appliances.
Apps launched with the G5 include the LG Smart Controller for operating and viewing real-time images from compatible drones and the LG Friends Manager for controlling the entire new range of accessories.
