April 26, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] LG Electronics unveiled its new premium large-size smartphone V20 equipped with high-end audio capabilities and wide-angle lens cameras in South Korea and the US on Wednesday, as it seeks to revive its struggling handset business.

The LG V20 -- categorized as a “phablet,” a combination of a phone and tablet -- is a follow-up model to the V10, a part of the “V Series” which stands as one of LG’s flagship premium smartphone lines alongside the “G Series.”

LG’s new smartphone is designed to provide users with the best video and audio experience available -- two essential functions that a premium smartphone should focus on, President of LG Electronics’ Mobile Communications Division Cho Juno said.

It is also the first smartphone in the world to run on Google’s latest Android 7.0 Nougat operating system, according to the company. The device comes with a removable battery and is available in three colors -- titan, silver and pink.

President of LG Electronics’ Mobile Communications Division Cho Juno introduces the LG V20 during an unveiling ceremony held Wednesday in Seoul.

“The V20 is a smartphone featuring specialized audio and camera functions. While introducing new functions may also be important, we chose to focus on improving a smartphone’s inherent functions,” Cho told reporters during the LG V20’s unveiling ceremony held Wednesday in Seoul.

Co-engineered by Bang & Olufsen, Denmark’s luxury brand for stereo devices, LG’s new smartphone boasts high-quality acoustics and audio functions.

It integrates the 32-bit Hi-fi Quad DAC (digital to analog converter) technology into its hardware, minimizing ambient noise by up to 50 percent to deliver clearer acoustics. The device is supplemented by B&O’s earphones as well to offer users the best sound experience, LG said.

Deviating from competing models, the V20 also boasts an exclusive, high-definition audio recorder that captures studio-quality sounds using three specialized AOP microphones.
 
Like the V10, the V20 features wide-angle cameras which let users capture high-resolution photos with wider views. The difference is that the V20 comes with a dual-lens camera on both sides of the device -- the 5-megapixel frontal camera with a 120-degree angle and the 16-megapixel rear camera with a 130-degree angle.

LG’s new device, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, also leverages Qualcomm Technologies’ electronic image stabilization, or EIS, technology to record sharper-resolution video footages with minimized shaking.

To expand V20’s usage and applications, LG Electronics’ MC division is preparing to introduce new supplementary items such as audio docks in conjunction with its headquarters, according to head of product planning at LG Electronics’ mobile division Kim Hong-joo.

LG is also working with Korea’s music streaming service providers such as Melon to make more Hi-Fi audio tracks available to users, Cho said, adding that the V20 delivers richer sounds for regular audio files as well.

LG’s new smartphone, whose price has yet to be announced, is slated to begin sales in Korea later this month. The Korean electronics maker also plans to launch the V20 in overseas markets such as the US, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the near future, according to Cho.

The V20’s release comes just days after rival Samsung Electronics recalled its flagship Galaxy Note 7 phablet over battery problems. Some have been raising hopes that LG may benefit from customers who may switch over due to the safety issue raised over Samsung's smartphones.

In addition to Samsung, LG has another major competitor on the way --Apple, which is set to unveil the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, equipped with upgraded functions and new features, in the US on Wednesday.

Despite the heated competition, LG Electronics raised hopes that the successful sales of the V20 can lend a hand in reviving the firm‘s struggling mobile communications business, whose profits have stayed in the red for the past year.

"(LG's MC division) has been experiencing much difficulties lately. And we are hoping that the V20 will serve as a positive turning point for our business," said Cho.

Due to sluggish smartphone sales, LG's MC division has remained unprofitable since the second quarter of last year. In the first and second quarter of this year, the division posted an operating loss of 202.2 billion won and 153.5 billion won, respectively.

By Sohn Ji-young/The Korea Herald (jys@heraldcorp.com)