As expected, LG has officially announced its next Android flagship and in doing so, drops a long-standing brand from its portfolio. The LG G2 represents a clean break for LG as it seeks to become more competitive against its arch competitor Samsung. To that end, LG has dropped the Optimus branding from its high-end flagship devices and has dropped it for new devices going forward. The phone itself features the following specifications:
- 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 5.2-inch 1080p display (423 ppi)
- 16-32GB of internal storage depending on model selected
- 13 megapixel rear camera with optical image stablization and a 2.1 megapixel front camera
- 3,000mAh battery
- LTE-Advanced support in select markets
- Android 4.2.2
- Controls moved to rear of the device
LG has also announced the first implementation of its Practical UX – a suite of functionality designed to make the phone easier to use for the majority of people and designed to eliminate the learning curve usually present with manufacturer specific Android smartphones. The feature set is as follows:
- Answer Me — Automatically answers the call after lowering the ringtone when the phone is raised to one’s ear.
- Plug & Pop — Recommends options or related features to choose from when the earphone or USB cable is detected.
- Text Link — Allows information embedded in text messages to be selected and easily saved in a memo or calendar and searched on a map or the internet.
- QuickRemote — Not only can LG G2 be used to remotely control popular home entertainment devices, it can also learn from conventional remotes and be customized to operate multiple devices with flexible layouts and keys.
- Slide Aside — Enables easier multitasking by simply “sliding” open apps off to the side using a three-finger swipe.
- Guest Mode — Protects owner’s privacy by displaying only pre-selected apps when guests access the phone with a secondary unlock pattern.
The phone will be carried by all four major US carriers, while no word was given on LTE-Advanced support.
