MWC: LG Unveils the Dual-screen V50 5G, New G8 ThinQ With Palm Vein Authentication and Air Motion Control

LG Electronics is not showing a foldable device at the MWC in Barcelona, but announces its newest G and V series 5G flagship smartphones.

The company announced the LG V50ThinQ 5G, the G8 ThinQ and the more affordable G8sThinQ.

LG V50ThinQ 5G

The LG V50ThinQ 5G is ready for the 5G networks featuring a 6.4-inch QHD+ OLED FullVision Display with 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

Audio has been upgraded to produce a performance enhanced by the DTS:X technology onboard. The phone also supports Qualcomm aptX and aptX HD audio technologies for premium Bluetooth audio quality and low latency.

LG also implemented Video Depth Control in both the front and rear cameras to ensure that moving subjects remain in focus. By analyzing distance and depth with Dual FOV technology, users can capture exactly what they see making it possible to produce videos that look polished and professional.

LG’s first 5G device is powered by the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform with the Snapdragon X50 5G modem and LG’s optimized software. The phone is also equipped with a 4,000mAh battery, 20 percent larger than in the V40ThinQ, and a new Vapor Chamber heat-dissipation system which is more effective than conventional heat pipes to keep internal temperatures low.

Inheriting the V series’ thin design, the LG V50ThinQ 5G is only 8.3 millimeters in thickness and weighs only 183 grams. To maintain its sleek profile with uninterrupted lines, the rear lens housing on the new V smartphone are completely flush with the back of the phone. All this is achieved without sacrificing the durability of the LG V50ThinQ 5G, which continues to comply with 14 U.S. military MIL-STD 810G standards.

LG is partnering with 10 major carriers in markets where 5G service will be launched this year, including the United States, South Korea, Australia as well as a number of European countries.

Dual Screens

LG's newly developed 5G-powered smartphone comes with dual screens -- something similar to Samsung’s recently unveiled foldable phone but with a different user interface. The feature allows users to watch two different screens installed on a single handset.

The technology allows users to enjoy separate images or videos on parallel screens without technical delays, the firm said. Dual Screen is an optional accessory for the LG V50ThinQ 5G. Designed to resemble a cover case, Dual Screen opens up to give LG V50ThinQ 5G owners a second 6.2-inch OLED display for double the viewing, gaming and multitasking. The Dual Screen display and the LG V50ThinQ 5G can be used independently, allowing for many interesting usage scenarios. For example, users can watch a movie on one screen while simultaneously searching IMDB on the other.

With Dual Screen attached, an icon appears on the display of the LG V50ThinQ 5G which can be tapped to power on the second display or switch between the two screens. A multi-window feature divides each screen in two, making it possible to display and use multiple applications at the same time. In select games, the Dual Screen can be used as a dedicated controller, resolving the age old problem of thumbs getting in the way of the action. The Dual Screen can be positioned in two angles – 104 and 180 degrees – and because it runs off the phone’s battery, there’s no need to charge it separately.

“Instead of one big screen (spread out) on foldable phones, we came up with the idea for multitasking,” Rafael Kim, who manages product planning from LG Electronics. “Not only can we offer faster connectivity, but we are seeking to give faster interface to the users.”

The company had said it would not release a foldable phone after Samsung grabbed global attention with its first foldable gadget, the Galaxy Fold. The phone was introduced in San Francisco, the US, last week.

LG G8ThinQ

The new LG G8ThinQ is offering consumers convenience-enhancing features with a focus on delivering advanced optics and audio capabilities. What’s more, the subtle design philosophy that discards all nonessential design elements gives the LG G8ThinQ a stylish appearance. Aesthetics are not limited to the front of the device as its zero-protrusion rear camera creates a smooth surface. Crystal Sound OLED, an audio advancement that uses the smartphone’s display as a speaker diaphragm, eliminates the need for a front speaker.

LG G8ThinQ is the first smartphone with advanced palm vein authentication, made possible by the combination of the ToF Z Camera and infrared sensors. More secure than fingerprint recognition technology, LG’s Hand ID identifies owners by recognizing the shape, thickness and other individual characteristics of the veins in the palms of their hands. Simply placing a pre-registered hand in front of the front-facing camera for a split second is all it takes to unlock the LG G8ThinQ and all its content.

The Z Camera comes into play again when capturing selfies in portrait mode. LG claims that the Z Camera measures infrared rays reflected off subjects to calculate depth faster and more accurately than other image sensors, making features such as Face Unlock possible. Because Z Camera sees objects in 3D, Face Unlock is impossible to fool with two dimensional images of a face as photographs have no depth. What’s more, ToF technology in LG’s Z Camera isn’t affected by ambient light so accuracy is unaffected by light from external sources.

The Z Camera is also implemented to advance the user experience with Air Motion. Without touching the phone – useful especially when driving – users can answer or end calls, take screenshots, switch between applications or adjust the volume. Controlling the LG G8ThinQ is as simple as waving a hand or pinching the air, increasing convenience for active consumers when wearing gloves or swimming.

Unlike existing cameras capable of distinguishing only the subject and the background, the front-facing camera in the LG G8ThinQ measures the distance between the subject and the camera in millimeters to control the intensity of the background blur up to 256 levels for selfies with more depth. With an image sensor of 1.22μm (approximately 10 percent larger than in the LG V40ThinQ), the LG G8ThinQ can produce a clean image that is also even faster with Auto Focus.

Video Portrait makes its debut on the LG G8ThinQ, giving users control of bokeh while filming video in Portrait Mode with the rear camera. By analyzing distance and depth with Dual FOV technology, users can capture exactly what they see making it possible to produce videos that look polished and professional.

Beyond optics, LG G8ThinQ excels when it comes to multimedia performance as the first G series device from LG to feature OLED display technology. The large QHD+ FullVision Display measures 6.1-inches with 564 pixels per inch.

High-end sound comes standard with LG smartphones and the LG G8ThinQ is no exception, with the bass-loving Boombox Speaker now capable of stereo output. Realistic surround sound is made possible with DTS:X, while a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC delivers unmatched sound details. LG G8ThinQ also supports Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) technology, allowing for compressed high-resolution audio streaming without compromising sound quality.

G Series Option for Everyone Else

Another member of LG’s G family will be available in the months following MWC. The LG G8sThinQ features Qualcomm’s fast Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform mated to a vibrant 6.2-inch OLED display powered by a 3,350mAh battery. Three rear-facing cameras, dedicated night shot mode and low-light HDR technology makes this device a content creation powerhouse while Z Camera allows for enhanced security with Hand ID and Face Unlock. Air Motion, precise depth-of-field and stereo speakers round out the package that is bound to appeal to users looking for a G8 experience at a more affordable price.

Key Specifications:

LG V50ThinQ 5G

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform with Snapdragon X50 5G Modem
Display: 6.4-inch 19.5:9 QHD+ OLED FullVision (3120 x 1440 / 538ppi)
Memory: 6GB RAM / 128GB / microSD (up to 2TB)
Camera:

Rear: 16MP Super Wide (F1.9 / 1.0μm / 107˚)

12MP Standard (F1.5 / 1.4μm / 78˚)
12MP Telephoto (F2.4 / 1.0μm / 45˚)

Front: 8MP Standard (F1.9 / 1.12μm / 80˚)

5MP Wide (F2.2 / 1.12μm / 90˚)

Operating System: Android 9.0 Pie
Size: 159.2 x 76.1 x 8.3mm
Weight: 183g
Network: 3G / 4G LTE-A / 5G
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 5 / NFC /
USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Compatible)
Colors: Astro Black
Other: Full-range Stereo Speakers / Boombox Speaker / AI CAM / Google Lens / Google Assistant / Super Far Field Voice Recognition / 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC / DTS:X 3D Surround Sound / IP68 Water and Dust Resistance / HDR10 / Face Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Technology / MIL-STD 810G Compliance / FM Radio

Dual Screen for LG V50ThinQ 5G

Display: 6.2-inch FHD+ OLED FullVision (2160 x 1080)
Size: 161.6 x 83.4 x 15.5mm
Weight: 131g
Contact Type: Pogo Pin (3)
Colors: New Aurora Black

LG G8ThinQ

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform
Display: 6.1-inch 19.5:9 QHD+ OLED FullVision (3120 x 1440 / 564ppi)
Memory: 6GB RAM / 128GB / microSD (up to 2TB)
Camera:

Rear:16MP Super Wide (F1.9 / 1.0μm / 107˚)

12MP Standard (F1.5 / 1.4μm / 78˚)
12MP Telephoto (F2.4 / 1.0μm / 45˚)

Front: 8MP Standard (F1.7 / 1.22μm / 80˚ with AF)

Z Camera (ToF Technology)

Battery: 3500mAh
Operating System: Android 9.0 Pie
Size: 151.9 x 71.8 x 8.4mm
Weight: 167g
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
Colors: Carmine Red / New Aurora Black / New Moroccan Blue
Other: Air Motion / Boombox Speaker + Crystal Sound OLED Stereo Speaker / AI CAM / Google Lens / Google Assistant / Super Far Field Voice Recognition / 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC / DTS:X 3D Surround Sound / IP68 Water and Dust Resistance / HDR10 / Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Technology / MIL-STD 810G Compliance / FM Radio