LG G5 release date, news and features


LG G5 release date, news and features

Update: The LG G5 release date is at the top of the month and pre-order are already underway. Here’s everything we know about this new Android phone.

The LG G5 is the first modular smartphone from the South Korean company, and it has an all-metal design. This means you can upgrade it with accessories, but still appreciate its premium look and feel.

That’s good news for anyone looking to buy a new smartphone in 2016. Even though the LG G4 got a lot right, its design kept it from properly challenging the more ornate Samsung Galaxy S6.

LG G5 release date

The LG G5 is an entirely different phone this year. Its a 5.3-inch Android phone with a QHD display and metal body. It feels smooth in the hand with seams only for its modular-focused bottom chin.

It’s still a bit plain compared to the glass-and-metal Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. But that’s okay, because its internals and modular expansion idea are anything but ordinary.

Watch our special LG G5 preview walkthrough below

The LG G5 is launching at the top of the month, and its price is cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge and iPhone. Is it worth it? Let’s dive in to discover more about this phone.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? LG’s flagship smartphone for 2016
  • When’s it out? April 1 in the US and UK
  • What will it cost? $629 (£500, no AU release date or price yet)

LG G5 release date

You won’t have to wait very long for the LG G5 release date. The company’s flagship Android phone is arriving two months earlier than its typical annual refresh cycle.

LG G5 release date

No foolin’, official LG G5 release date in the US and UK is April 1, delivering on the company’s promise to launch it in “early April” in North America and Europe.

Of course, this means you have to get through the rest of March with your old phone and resist that tempting Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge deal.

That said, it’s still sooner than we expected. Last year, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 were announced at MWC and got a two-month head start on April’s LG G4 (which really didn’t come to stores until June). Not this time.

LG isn’t allowing the Samsung Galaxy S7 and HTC One M10 to do the same all over again. The HTC 10 is supposed to take the bucket seat in April.

The LG G5 acts as the company’s main flagship phone for 2016, but it’s just the first of two LG flagship phones this year, the company has confirmed, so it’s going to be a big year for phones.

LG G5 price

The newly announced LG G5 price is consistent with a flagship smartphone from the company, and it’s again cheaper than its chief South Korean challenger, the Samsung Galaxy S7.

LG G5 release date

In the US, it’ll cost $630 at full retail price via T-Mobile, and that can be broken down to $26.25 a month over 24 months on the no-contract carrier. US Cellular has it $26.50 a month over two years.

AT&T, Verizon and Sprint haven’t announced an LG G5 price, or a release date for that matter, but the trio of top US carriers will undoubtedly carry the phone before its April 1 launch.

In the UK, LG’s flagship phone for 2016 is retailing for £500, which is a £20 jump over the LG G4 launch price. There’s no price for the handset in Australia, but we’ll keep checking.

The great thing about LG’s phones is the cost will plummet quickly over the course of the year, so it could be well worth waiting if you’re not in a hurry for a smartphone upgrade.

LG G5 design

We’re finally seeing a truly premium LG flagship, which is a nice change from the plastic the company usually uses, and the less said about that leather-backed LG G4 the better.

LG G5 release date

It measures 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7mm, and while this phone won’t be curved like its G series predecessor, it is smaller and easier to hold thanks to its 5.3-inch display. Reaching all corners of the screen is now possible.

LG is keeping the microSD card slot and removable battery, even with the metal unibody look, and it does this with an innovative new design. It hasn’t forgotten its power user roots.

LG G5 release date

The LG G5 battery tray acts a lot like a SIM card tray does in some flagship phones. It’s just a really large slot in which the phone chin comes off. The MicroSD and SIM card trays are one piece that come out in tandem.

  • Here’s how the LG G5 compares to last year’s LG G4

LG G5 display

You’re never going to have to turn on the LG G5 display to check the time because it features an always-on display that shows dimly lit critical information, even when it’s off.

LG G5 release date

Touting it as the screen that never sleeps, it shows the time, date and up to four notifications icons. It reminds us of the much-loved Moto Display on the Moto X Style.

The 5.3-inch LG G5 is smaller than last year’s phone, so if you’re upgrading, you won’t have to stretch your grip quite as much. Almost every corner of the screen is in reach.

LG G5 release date

It’s still a beautiful quad HD display that uses an IPS LCD, not an AMOLED. LG says this eliminate the chance of burn-in from the always-on display.

KnockOn is unchanged just like the screen resolution. The functionality in which you can double tap the display to wake the device.

LG G5 camera and battery

There’s more than one LG G5 camera on the back of the phone, and that’s exciting news if you ever had to back up in order to properly snap a wide photo.

LG G5 release date

It includes both normal angle and wide angle lenses, reaching as far as 135 degrees, wider than the human eye. You can fit in everything at close range, including an entire spaceship.

LG G5 release date

Yes, the wider camera is just 8 megapixels (MP), but the 16MP is meant for high quality photos at a camera angle.

LG G5 release date

LG G5 release date

The front-facing camera is also 8MP but has a normal angle. The groundbreaking idea behind the LG V10 and its wide selfie camera didn’t make this cut here.

The battery dropped two hundreds mAh. It’s a 2,800mAh capacity, instead of the LG G4’s 3,000mAh size. That makes sense because the screen size and shrunk and the always-on display is supposed to stop you from checking your phone 150 times a day.

LG G5 Quick Cover

As you can see, there are going to several third-party LG5 cases to protect your new phone, but the South Korean company is also touting its own first-party LG G5 Quick Cover case.

LG G5 release date

This form-fitting metallic case not only gives us a better idea of what the phone will look like, it features a window to see the always-on display notifications and touch controls it answer incoming calls.

Its see-through mesh lets you answer (or dismiss) calls without ever having to flip open the top part of the case. LG made sure the metallic finish matches the more luxurious, metal-based LG G5.

LG G5 OS and power

The LG G5 contains a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM, which is the same specs configuration we’re expecting to see in other flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S7.

LG G5 release date

It’ll only come in one internal storage size, 32GB, but don’t worry, you can upgrade that with a microSD card slot, up to a supposed 2TB of storage – whenever such a capacity comes out, of course.

LG G5 runs Android Marshmallow although, as expected, it’s heavily heavily skinned by LG. The operating system tweak has gotten a splash of paint.

LG G5 ‘magic slot’

Although LG doesn’t call it the “Magic Slot”, its phone does indeed contain a way to add accessories such as a camera upgrade, new audio technology and extra battery power. It seems to take inspiration from Google’s Project Ara with a modular design at the bottom of the phone.

LG G5 release date

To pull off Hi-Fi audio, LG partnered with B&O Play for “an enhanced high-quality audio experience” on the LG G5. Their direct-to-analog audio converter module plugs into the bottom modular slot and allows for 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC upsampling technology for crystal clear tunes.

LG G5 release date

The LG G5 takes cues from the Nexus 5X design, as it has a fingerprint scanner on the back, along with a new USB-C port on the bottom, moving it away from the standard micro USB data and charging port.

LG G5 rivals

The LG G5’s biggest rival is the Samsung Galaxy S7. This phone arrived at the same time as the G5, with an announcement a few hours after the LG’s MWC press conference.

Not only does it have a huge name behind it, but it has a sleek, premium design, a QHD screen, an improved camera and a whole lot of power, so LG could have its work cut out to compete.

The HTC 10 will also probably be launching soon, likely in April, and while not much is yet known about that it’s sure to have a stylish look and similar flagship specs.

Source: techradar.com

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25 Comments
  1. Reply Dedrick Schuster IV March 20, 2016 at 7:41 am

    The G4 has a superior screen and now (yesterday) with a 932Mb Marshmellow upgrade, feels smoother and lighter in operation.
    Owned the G Pro 2 and G3 before… among others.
    If the G5 doesn't meet expectations buy a G4 or a V10 at a more affordable price.

  2. Reply Norberto Considine V March 20, 2016 at 7:54 am

    Come to papa…

    As long as they keep the Gorilla Glass on the front screen, I won't have many complaints. The modularization idea sounds nifty, but very gimmicky, unless the extensions are quality-made (UNlike game accessories made by 3rd party companies that are not Hori).

    I don't understand the discussion to jump to 4K displays on a 5" phone; as some have stated, its severe overkill, as you can't really tell the difference on such a tiny display unless you're REALLY squinting to find it – it's just marketing fluff overall and would probably murder battery life. Just hope they stick with the microSD card slot, and don't cheap out like some of the other big companies have (or like the G2 did when it came over from SK…), along with keeping the removable battery.

    The "always on" display seems like a good idea, as long as it doesn't hoard battery power. And once someone cracks the G5 (because they WILL, no doubt about it), then who cares about bloat? Delete that crap right off of there and install what you want on it. That's what I've done with all my phones and devices since I marched out of the digital stone age, and I couldn't be happier.

    But whatever; if comes offered at a cut rate alongside the latest contract shackling, I might seriously consider getting one. Otherwise the G4 is still a decent bet, leather back and all (though I think they've run that out by now).

  3. Reply Kelton Kerluke March 20, 2016 at 7:55 am

    I was specifically talking about Android, idiot. If I wanted an Apple phone I'd already have the 5S. I guess your brain isn't as large as your phone if you couldn't pick up on the context of my original post.

  4. Reply Denis Hackett March 20, 2016 at 7:56 am

    It's not! It's ergonomic and intuitive. You have instant access to the buttons rather than have to fiddle around and spend more time moving your thumb to figure out if you are pressing up or down, especially since these phones are 5.5"+ so you are likely to drop/slip them out of your hand whilst doing this. With the buttons on the back there is no danger to this.
    One of the best innovations for a smartphone ever!

  5. Reply Cathrine Cremin March 20, 2016 at 7:57 am

    I have a G4.
    Not a fan of this phone personally.A little to gimmicky for my tastes.
    I have a pretty good Idea of what I want from my next phone.
    I went with the G4 for the camera this time. My other big want with a phone is decent audio.
    The G4 is ok but still lacks.
    So camera no worse than the G4, QHD screen, front facing stereo speakers and improved battery life will be my tick list next time around with the speakers being the main thing this time around.

  6. Reply Malachi Boyer March 20, 2016 at 7:58 am

    Well, if you're coming from a G4, then the G5 may not seem as huge a leap. Though if you're coming from say, a G3, it's worth the jump

  7. Reply Dorthy Spinka March 20, 2016 at 8:07 am

    I have an LG G3 and an iPhone 6S. There are enough flagship metal phones out there. LG did the right thing by being different and the fact that more and more of the others are moving away from removable batteries will just strengthen the market share. I was quite happy with the G3 and wasn't really looking for a new phone but needed to help out a friend which is why I got his iPhone. Not being able to switch out batteries whenever is such a drag.

  8. Reply Dr. Hector Doyle IV March 20, 2016 at 8:11 am

    Additional Feature: Nuclear Fusion Reactor inside LG G5

  9. Reply Alice Lehner March 20, 2016 at 8:11 am

    Totally! I see the new iPhone models my friends show off and I just tell them it looks the same as the one before lol That and they slip out easily and the screen cracks. I went into Carphone Warehouse and he told me the iPhones are the ones they get in for repairs mostly for cracked screens.

  10. Reply Maxie Zieme March 20, 2016 at 8:12 am

    You might be the only one who thinks so bro, everyone whoever sees the LG G4 leatherback likes it.

  11. Reply Miss Marta Kunde March 20, 2016 at 8:18 am

    The G5 will have a metal case. NOT GLASS. The antennae most likely will be on top or on the bottom module that pops out and that area won't be metal. Manufacturers have evolved from antennae gate. I don't disagree with you and I own two LG G4's (unlocked H815's) and love the heck out of them. But the reality is the G4 was a flop for LG. (especially in their home Korean market) The sad fact is LG has no choice. IP, Samsung sell allot more devices and they are metal and glass. This is what the masses want pure and simple. LG has to build what sells. Its as simple as that. But my hat is off to LG to figure out how to make a metal phone and keep the replaceable battery. At least they did not cave in to the "sealed battery" nonsense.

    My complaint is with the smaller screen. The G5 itself is a taller device then the G4. So the body to screen ratio is worse on the G5 then the G4 yet has a noticeably smaller screen. Probably the biggest asset of the G4 is that its a big phone that does not feel big. That's a rare thing and IMO carved out its own niche in this regard. The always on screen is nice but taking .08 percent power an hour is a fail. That pretty much destroys the concept of Marshmallows awesome stand by times. Sometimes my phone still shows 100 percent after a nights sleep. But the good news is you will be able to shut off the always on display on the G5 which will consume at least 6 to 7 percent overnight.

    Overall, I would still buy this over a IP or Samsung. The removable battery/SD slot still puts it at the top of my list.

  12. Reply Juliana Zboncak PhD March 20, 2016 at 8:27 am

    Nope. Other than mentioning the Z5 Compact, nothing in your original post mentions that you wanted an Android phone. Dunno why you have to be so hostile tho. Have a nice day.

  13. Reply Lessie Runolfsson March 20, 2016 at 8:36 am

    The V10 wouldn't sleep out of your hand though. I've never had the G3 slip either but the V10 won't and probably the G4 neither since it's leather. But yeah, plastic or glass are probably even easier to slip than plastic, and they require a case because glass shatters and metal gets noticeable marks. So not sure about why anyone would get metal/glass just to put plastic on it…

  14. Reply Jedidiah Blick March 20, 2016 at 8:36 am

    You should really try the back buttons. After using Note 2 for 2.5 years and switch to G4 it was simply brilliant. Then I had to go back to Note 2 (as it was my backup phone) when the G4 was damaged I see that the classic volume and power button design is really bad… I miss my G4 and it's back buttons. You just have to give it a try… It's very useful when taking pictures too…

  15. Reply Garth Rempel March 20, 2016 at 8:43 am

    Marshmallow is an older android OS???

  16. Reply Dr. Christopher Crooks March 20, 2016 at 8:45 am

    The good thing with LG is that come 3mths after launch, the price has dropped to £350 as pedestrians are just not comfortable buying the LG brand for smartphones and prefer Fisher Price Samsung or Apple.
    That or just buy it from eBay from sellers in South Korea. Even after the import taxes it's cheaper than buying it in the UK new and generally you will get the highest spec version that might not be available in the UK either (like the 32GB/3GB RAM Euro G3). This is what I did and it cost me £380 including taxes when the 32GB/2GB UK version was still going for £550 in Carphone Warehouse.

  17. Reply Prof. Myles McCullough March 20, 2016 at 8:51 am

    I agree. I wish they would make a smaller 5.2" at least for us that prefer to not destroy our pockets. If I go out to a club I have to leave it (G3) in the coatcheck as otherwise it will eventually make a hole in my pocket – if it even fits in the 1st place!

  18. Reply Victor Langworth Sr. March 20, 2016 at 8:52 am

    Hahaha you have a point there! How about a super high quality thermoplastic like ABS or carbon nanotube material? That's premium!

  19. Reply Margret Jacobs March 20, 2016 at 8:55 am

    Honestly I'm still rocking my LG G2 with marshmallow based cyanogen mod. Best camera in a smartphone I've ever used, one of the best looking screens I've ever used in person. One of the best batteries in a smartphone. Just an overall freaking awesome phone and I won't be upgrading until this thing kicks the bucket. But if it did die today I would have no issues with grabbing a G5.

  20. Reply Prof. Vicky Bergnaum Sr. March 20, 2016 at 8:56 am

    I LOVE the LG skin. The stock Android is boring and dull in comparison to the colourful LG skin. Each to their own.

  21. Reply Joey Tremblay March 20, 2016 at 8:57 am

    That's probably true but not enough to matter. The majority of people here are more informed than typical consumers but 85% of the people (I make up stats, but I'm probably right) would purchase 4k over 1080p when doing a side-by-side spec comparison simply because they think 4k is 4 times better than 1k.

  22. Reply Travis Crooks III March 20, 2016 at 8:59 am

    Apple is coming out with the iPhone 5SE. 4 inch screen, though I'm not sure that's small enough for you

  23. Reply Dr. Lolita Kautzer March 20, 2016 at 9:01 am

    There are tons of phones with no buttons on the back, so it was good to have LG to make a difference with G2-G3-G4. I actually love the buttons on my LG G4. If I skip G5 it will be only because they didn't keep three button combo on the back…

  24. Reply Fredy Erdman Jr. March 20, 2016 at 9:03 am

    You may, if its right up to your face on a VR mount.

  25. Reply Prof. Coby Medhurst March 20, 2016 at 9:03 am

    Please help me out folks, LG G5 vs Galaxy S7. I like my S5, but so far, reviews are making me second guess. Thanks! Hardware seems compatible, but LG seems more flexible with add ons and what not. Hard choice.

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