LG is preparing to launch its first flagship smartphone this year, the LG G6 on the backdrop of lacklustre sales of its predecessor, the G5 and a muted reception of its second flagship smartphone for 2016, the LG V20.
According to sources speaking to Korean tech news media, the new flagship device’s display will have a wider 18:9 aspect ratio compared to the 16:9 found in most current smartphones including those from LG. Some tablet makers like Apple with its iPad have embraced the 4:3 aspect ratio to suit content consumption on their unique sizes something which LG should be familiar with as one of its older smartphones, the LG Vu, had a similar weird aspect ratio thanks to its nearly square display.
The 18:9 display will be achieved by slightly increasing the number of pixels from 1440 x 2560 to 1440 x 2880 which is still within Quad HD territory. LG Display is understood to be calling it QHD+ and LG Electronics is likely to heavily market its flagship smartphone as “the world’s first 18:9 QHD LCD”.
LG is expected to officially unveil the G6 on the eve of the start of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world’s largest trade show dedicated to showcasing the best in mobile technology, in Barcelona, Spain. The device is expected to start selling in its home market of Korea from March 10th and immediately thereafter, in other markets around the world. That timeline puts it in the cross-hairs of Samsung which is expected to unveil the Galaxy S8, its upcoming flagship smartphone, and take it to market within the same time frame.
Last week, an LG executive confirmed that the company would be dropping the radical modular design it adopted for last year’s G5.
