LG V20 Official Release News and Updates: The Best Smartphone for Audio and Video? Specs and Price Details Revealed
Will the V20 Stick to LG's Promise of Delivering a Smartphone for Heavy Media Consumption?
It's out with the old and in with the new as LG releases the new V20 smartphone. Can the new flagship device be the saving grace of LG after its dismal G5 market reception?
Design and Build
Gone is the iconic rubber finish of the V10 that provides the user extra grip. The metallic finish of the G5 makes its way the V20, complete with military-grade STD-810G certification for maximum durability. The modular design introduced by the G5 is not implemented here though. However, the new flagship stays true to LG tradition of providing a removable battery pack, a welcome feature after the battery recall fiasco of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
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The 5.7-inch Quad HD display returns from its predecessor, complete with a new IPS Quantum LCD technology. The secondary screen featured in the V10 comes back for the V20 with improved brightness and a 160 x 1040 resolution.
Performance
Being a true flagship device, the V20 packs nothing but the best and latest technologies. It is powered by the quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor and the Adreno 530 GPU. It has a 4GB of RAM, with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. This is still expandable via a microSD card of up to 256GB.
The battery pack gets upgraded to 3200 mAh, with Quick Charge 3.0 technology. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is also present. As promised, it also comes with the Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, giving the device a buttery smooth performance optimized for its top-notch hardware. The proprietary LG UX 5.0 is skinned on top of the Nougat, but with minimal changes as opposed to its predecessor.
Camera
The LG V lineup is primarily marketed as a media beast smartphone. The V20 does well with its promise, as the dual camera lens setup from the G5 makes its way here. The main 16-megapixel sensor with an f/1.6 aperture makes a return here, with a 75-degree viewing angle. Sitting next to it is an 8-megapixel with an f/2.4 aperture and a very wide 135-degree viewing angle.
The main camera features a new three-part focusing system. The laser and phase-detection autofocus are used upon taking the shot, with the output being enhanced by the contrast autofocus. It can also record videos of up to 4K resolution at 30fps. The V20 camera comes with Qualcomm's new Steady Record 2.0 system that uses both Optical and Electronic Image Stabilization for maximum steadiness.
The previous dual-lens setup for the selfie snapper does not make the cut though. The V20 sports a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/1.9 aperture, which offers a wide angle view.
Audio
Audiophiles would certainly be delighted upon music consumption, as LG does not skimp with the V20's audio features. Hi-Fi audio for video gives users the access to advanced audio functions, including a recording distance limiter and a low cut filter. It also features a 24-bit/ 48 kHz Linear Pulse Code Modulation for analog audio sampling.
The LG V20 is also the first smartphone in the world to feature a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, which is powered by the latest ES9218 Quad DAC chip from ESS Technologies. This feature will reduce ambient and white noise, as well as sound distortion for an excellent listening environment. The device can also play popular lossless audio formats like FLAC, DSD, AIFF, and ALAC, complete with a 75-level fine volume and balance controls.
Price and Availability
After its initial launch in San Francisco, the LG V20 will first be on sale in South Korea. Other regions are expected to follow shortly after. No pricing information has been released yet, although the anticipated price tag is within the $600-$700 mark similar to its predecessor.
