LG has unveiled its new flagship smartphone, the G7 ThinQ. After skipping Mobile World Congress this year in favour of its own event, the company is hoping the new device can help it return its mobile business to a profit and restore some of the market share lost to market leaders Samsung and Apple.
The G7 ThinQ runs Qualcomm's latest top-of-the-range processor, the Snapdragon 845 and will be one of the first Android devices to come with Google Lens built-in in order to take advantage of the AI camera features. The device features a 6.1-inch QHD display with 19.5:9 screen ratio, with a choice of six screen modes to optimise the light and power consumption. A polished metal rim gives the phone body a more sleek appearance than the previous G model, and Corning's Gorilla Glass 5 and IP68 dust- and water-resistance ensures durability.
Compared to last year's G6, the camera has been upgraded with an 8MP camera up front and 16MP lenses on the back in both standard and Super Wide Angle configurations. LG has further enhanced the AI features of the camera that first debuted in the LG V30S ThinQ. AI CAM now offers 19 shooting modes, up from eight, and users can improve their photos further by choosing among three other effect options if the one recommended by AI CAM doesn’t suit their tastes. The new 'Super Bright Camera' promises images up to four times brighter than typical of photos shot in dim light, thanks to a combination of pixel binning and software processing in the AI algorithm to adjust the camera settings.
Other camera features include Live Photo mode to record one second before and after the shutter is pressed. Stickers uses face recognition to generate fun 2D and 3D overlays such as sunglasses and headbands that can be viewed directly on the display. The Portrait mode offers bokeh effect using either the standard or wide-angle lens.
Located just below the volume is a button that launches the phone’s AI functions. A single tap of the button will launch the Google Assistant while two quick taps will launch Google Lens. Users can also hold down the button to start talking to the Google Assistant.
Other features include the Boombox Speaker, which uses the internal space of the phone as a resonance chamber to deliver double the bass of conventional smartphones. When placed on a solid surface or box, the smartphone uses its resonance chamber as a woofer to amplify the bass effect even more. The LG G7 ThinQ is also the first smartphone to offer DTS:X to deliver virtual 3D sound, up to 7.1 channel audio with earphones, and LG has again included a Hi-Fi Quad DAC and FM radio for audiophiles.
The G7 ThinQ will be available in blue, black, rose or grey and comes with a choice of 4 or 6 GB RAM and 64 or 128 GB storage, plus support for microSD cards up to 2 TB. It also supports facial recognition, fingerprint sensor and wireless charging.
The LG G7 ThinQ will roll out in the coming days in South Korea, followed by major markets in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Pricing details will be announced locally closer to the time of availability. US operators said that pre-orders are expected to start 25 May and official sales on 01 June.
