LG launches two new phones in South Africa

LG’s V50 and G8 were the two new flagships announced earlier this year at MWC. While most of us expected these to be the new devices arriving in South Africa, LG has pulled a fast one and surprised us with the G8S^ThinQ and Q60.

The Q60 features a 6.26-inch LG HD+ FullVision display with water drop notch and a quad-camera setup – one front and three rear and include features such as Google Lens, Portrait Mode 2.0 (Out-focus), Multi-Frame Noise Reduction, Timer Helper and Flash Jump Cut with PDAF.

LG’s AI CAM makes its way to the Q60 is able to intuitively recognise objects it sees and recommend the ideal shooting. AI tricks are pretty much standard on smartphone cameras these days, however this is usually reserved for high-end devices, so it will be interesting to see how this performs on a mid-range handset.

The AI features continue with the dedicated Google Assistant button which LG has included on the Q60. Hopefully, it won’t end up being as hated as the Bixby button has become on Samsung’s handsets.

Advanced Audio with DTS:X

LG uses the high-end DTS:X, 3D Surround Sound audio technology to simulate a 7.1-channel surround sound system which makes make any content more immersive when playing games, streaming movies, or listening to your favourite Spotify playlist.

LG Q60 specifications:

·       Chipset: 2.0 GHz Octa-Core

·       Display: 6.26-inch 19:9 HD+ FullVision Display

·       Memory: 3GB RAM / 64GB ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)

·       Camera:
– Rear: 16MP with PDAF / 2MP with Depth Sensor / 5MP with Super Wide Angle
– Front: 13MP

·       Battery: 3,500mAh

·       Size: 161.3 x 77 x 8.7mm

·       Network: LTE / 3G / 2G

·       Others: DTS:X 3D Surround Sound / AI CAM / MIL-STD 810G Compliance / Fingerprint Sensor / Google Assistant Button

The Q60 will cost R3699.00 and is available in Moroccan Blue on Vodacom, MTN and Cell C.

G8S ThinQ

TheLG G8S^ThinQ offers many of the stand-out features and technologies applied to the company’s flagship G8^ThinQ, with a few extras.

Introduced for the first time on the LG G8^ThinQ, the Z Camera utilises Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor technology to bring LG G8S^ThinQ owners a choice of unique and secure biometric recognition options. Hand ID uses the Z Camera’s ability to scan your unique circulatory pattern using infrared light to unlock the phone in the dark just as accurately as during the day. The same technology is used with Face Unlock, which is extremely precise and fast due to the Z Camera’s use of infrared light and 3D point clouds which accurately trace the contours and features of the users face. The third new feature that utilises the Z Camera is Air Motion, a touchless command interface that lets you perform various actions such as taking screenshots or controlling music and video playback without even touching the screen.

LG says that they’ve improved their wide-angle lense – which its widest field of view to date at 137˚ – which allows you to enjoy continuous zoom capability without any lag or colour distortion. This, along with the VCX-Forum claim that the G8S^ThinQ camera was ranked as the best among the industry’s current smartphones is a bold move by the South Korean company and one I’ll happily test once I get my hands on a review unit. The front of the device sports a standard lens and the Z Camera, which supports features such as Portrait and Spotlight. The addition of the Z Camera’s ability to quickly measure distances helps produce portraits with more depth and feel. Spotlight detects your facial curvature and simulates studio lighting to bring professional quality and a dramatic edge to your selfies. With Video Depth Control, videos shot on the LG G8S^ThinQ benefit from a beautiful bokeh effect that puts the subject in sharp focus against a soft, blurred background. And if you’re tired of shaky video footage, the G8S comes Steady Cam which delivers smooth, clear videos without the use of an expensive gimbal.

Equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform and a vivid 6.2-inch FHD+ FullVision OLED display (2248 x 1080), the LG G8SThinQ is a multimedia powerhouse. The handset also continues LG’s legacy of superior mobile audio, fitted with stereo speakers that deliver a rich, textured performance and immersive surround sound with the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack and DAC.

Here are some of the key specifications:

·       Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform

·       Display: 6.2-inch 18.7:9 FHD+ OLED FullVision (2248 x 1080)

·       Memory: 6GB RAM / 128GB

·       Camera:
–  Rear       13MP Super Wide (F2.4 / 1.0μm / 137˚)
                  12MP Standard (F1.8 / 1.4μm / 78˚)
                  12MP Telephoto (F2.6 / 1.0μm / 48˚)
–  Front      8MP Standard (F1.9 / 1.12μm / 80˚)
                  Z Camera (ToF Technology)

·       Battery: 3550mAh

·       Operating System: Android 9.0 Pie

·       Size: 155.3 x 76.6 x 7.99mm

·       Weight: 181g

·       Network: 3G / 4G LTE-A

·       Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 5 / NFC / USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Compatible)

·       Biometrics: Hand ID / Face Unlock / Fingerprint Sensor

·       Colours: Mirror Black, Mirror Teal, Mirror White

·       Other: Air Motion / Stereo Speakers / AI CAM / Google Lens / Google Assistant / IP68 Water and Dust Resistance / HDR10 / Qualcomm Quick Charge™3.0 Technology / MIL-STD 810G Compliance  

The LG G8S^ThinQ   retails from R11, 999.00 and will be available from 8 July 2019 exclusively in Mirror Black.