LG Electronics today unveiled the V20, the latest in its V series of smartphones, delivering multimedia capabilities, Google's new Android Nougat software, and wide angle cameras. The V20 boasts new features including Steady Record 2.0, Hi-Fi Quad DAC, HD Audio Recorder and front and rear wide-angle lens cameras. It is also the first smartphone to come preloaded with Android 7.0 Nougat OS and the new Google In Apps phone search function.

LG has developed the V20 with "storytellers" in mind – for anyone who has something to say, anyone who has an experience to share.

The LG V20, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with X12 LTE, introduces Steady Record 2.0, leveraging Qualcomm Technologies’ electronic image stabilization (EIS) 3.0 to record sharper video footage while neutralizing shaky images. The gyro-based EIS improves sync accuracy between the image and the gyro by reducing sync latency to only 50 milliseconds. EIS is complemented by digital image stabilization (DIS) which further improves video quality in post-processing by adjusting objects across frames and minimizing distortion caused by rolling shutter for smoother action.

LG V20 owners can record Hi-Fi videos and manually control the settings for perfect audio quality using options such as Low Cut Filter (LCF) that removes unwanted background noise and Limiter (LMT) that sets recording distance. The LCF reduces background noise while the LMT zeroes in on voices the user wants to record. The V20 also captures audio using 24-bit / 48 kHz Linear Pulse Code Modulation (LPCM), the same format used in professional video equipment.

The V20 is the first smartphone to feature a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, powered by ESS Technology, designers of high-performance audio products. Powered by ESS SABRE ES9218, the Quad DAC in the V20 delivers clearer sound by minimizing distortion and ambient noise by up to 50 percent. With 75-stage fine volume and L/R balance controls as well as support for lossless music formats including FLAC, DSD, AIFF and ALAC, the V20 delivers high-quality sound to any pair of earphones.

The HD Audio Recorder lets users capture studio quality audio with a wider dynamic frequency range using three high AOP microphones to record sound that surpass audio recordings on conventional smartphones. With Studio Mode, manually control sound with keys similar to ones found in video cameras and use Music Recorded to create high quality audio suitable for auditions by recording singing voices over existing music.

LG continues its collaboration with B&O PLAY. The result in the LG V20 is a natural, balanced sound.

The wide angle capabilities of the front and rear cameras capture photos with an inclusive background, meaning users get more in the frame and leave nothing out. The 5MP front camera with a 120-degree lens expands the selfie experience to take bigger pictures with even more friends. The 8MP rear camera with its 135-degree lens is perfect for taking pictures inside a gigantic stadium. The large aperture standard angle lens captures images at a maximum of 16MP with its 75-degree lens.

The Auto Shot Function on the front camera produces selfies with its face detection feature, which triggers the shot when the subject is ready and smiling. There is no need to press the shutter button, which usually increases camera shake and the likelihood of a blurred shot.

The V20’s Hybrid Auto Focus (HAF) is integrating three AF mechanisms – Laser Detection AF, Phase Detection AF and Contrast AF – for both videos and photos. The V20 determines if LDAF or PDAF is best for a particular shot and then refines the focus with Contrast AF.

The Second Screen feature that was first introduced on the V10 has improved in visibility. With double the brightness and 50 percent larger font size compared to the V10, the smaller display located above the main display allows users to view notifications and alerts in outdoor situations at a glance.

Now with the Expandable Notifications feature, users can tap a button on the Second Screen to enlarge notifications in order to check long messages at a glance and quickly send a reply or share information.

The LG V20 comes with the mobile user interface LG UX 5.0+, an upgraded version of the LG UX 5.0 first introduced on the LG G5.

The LG V20 also features Multi-window to display two apps at once in a split screen allowing users to drag text, images, and files from one app to another. The combination of these advancements together with the 5.7-inch main IPS Quantum Display offers great multitasking capabilities.

The LG V20 is also the first phone to showcase Google’s In Apps. The new search mode featured in the Google app, helps users find content not only from built-in apps including contacts, emails, text messages and photos, but also from user-installed apps. It also enables users to discover recently accessed apps, people to get in touch with, messages to read or activity across apps without having to type a query.

To achieve both a sophisticated look and solid durability, LG uses aluminum, together with a new silicon-based material. AL6013 metal, found in aircrafts, was selected to cover the back of the phone. If dropped, the top and bottom of the phone are protected from damage by Silicone Polycarbonate (Si-PC). This material, found in helmets, reduces shocks by more than 20 percent compared to conventional materials.

The LG V20 has also passed the MIL-STD 810G Transit Drop Test for durability conducted by an independent laboratory that conforms to U.S. military standards. The test determined that the V20 could withstand shocks and still function when dropped repeatedly from a height of four feet and landing in various positions, including the front, back, sides and corners.

On the inside, the V20 packs 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. It supports microSD cards up to 2TB, and the (replaceable) battery is rated at 3200mAh. If you do get caught without another battery to put in, the V20 is Quick Charge 3.0-compatible through its USB-C jack.

The LG V20 will be available in Korea starting this month followed by other regions. It will be available from retailers like Best Buy and B&H in the third quarter, as well as from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint.

LG announced its V20 just hours before rival Apple Inc is due to launch its latest iPhone. At its annual product launch in San Francisco on Wednesday, the Apple is expected to reveal an iPhone without a headphone jack, paving the way for wireless headphones, a touch-sensitive home button that vibrates, double-lens cameras for the larger 'Plus' edition and other incremental improvements.

Key Specifications:

• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor
• Display:
  • Main 5.7-inch QHD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440 / 513ppi) /
  • Secondary IPS Quantum Display (160 x 1040 / 513ppi)
• Memory: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM / 64GB UFS ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)
• Camera: Front 5MP with F1.9 Aperture (Wide Angle) / Rear 16MP with F1.8 Aperture OIS (Standard Angle) and 8MP with F2.4 Aperture (Wide Angle)
• Battery: 3200mAh (removable)
• Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat
• Size: 159.7 x 78.1 x 7.6mm
• Network: LTE-A 3 Band CA
• Connectivity: X12 LTE (up to 600 Mbps LTE Category 12 with 3x Carrier Aggregation) / Wi-Fi (802.11 a, b, g, n, ac) / USB Type-C /
• Bluetooth 4.2 BLE / NFC
• Colors: Titan / Silver / Pink
• Others: Hi-Fi Video Recording / Steady Record 2.0 / HD Audio Recorder / Studio Mode / High AOP Mic / Second Screen / 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC / In Apps / B&O Collaboration / Finger Print Scanner / Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0