LG has unveiled its first 5G smartphone ahead of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019, hosting a launch event on Sunday night in Barcelona for the V50 ThinQ that’s set to go on sale in spring.
The LG V50 ThinQ is a 6.4-inch phone with Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chip, the Snapdragon 855. It comes with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 4,000mAh battery and a triple rear camera (with 12/12/16-megapixel sensors) and a dual, 8/5-megapixel selfie camera.
The precise release date may vary by region depending on 5G availability. As for price, since the V40 launched at over $900 USD — and the 5G modem is likely to drive the price up here — expect this to sit somewhere north of $1000 USD (or $1300+ CAD) when it arrives. Remember that you’ll also likely have to pay extra for your 5G data plan, so the V50 could be a seriously expensive choice.
If you want to spend even more, there’ll also be an optional extra accessory: the Dual Screen, a V50-exclusive that adds on a second display, hinged so that you can fold it over at any angle.
This second screen is also OLED and measures 6.2-inches. After connecting to the V50, it behaves as an extension to the main screen, opening up a host of two-screen features, such as the ability to run two apps side by side, and using the second screen as a virtual gamepad for mobile games. The second-screen accessory can be folded forward or backwards, the former “closing” the phone as if it’s a clamshell laptop, while the latter allows each screen to face opposite directions to resemble a device with screens on both sides.
It also has a hearty 4,000mAh battery within, although as mentioned, the second-screen attachment will draw from that too.
There’s no word on availability just yet but expect device partner Sprint to test the 5G network in the United States.
