The rumour mill has been particularily active in anticipation of LG’s next major flagship, especially after reports emerged that LG was entirely reconsidering its branding.
Now that the device’s name has been confirmed, as well as its May 2nd launch date, details surrounding the device are forming a more cohesive picture of what it looks like.
Below, find everything we know about the LG G7 ThinQ so far, along with a collection of the most reputable rumours.
New name, new focus
After much speculation, LG has confirmed that it will call its next premium handset the G7 ThinQ. The word ‘ThinQ’ isn’t new for LG as the company recently launched the LG V30S ThinQ with a strong focus on artificial intelligence.
LG stated in its press release announcing the launch that the G7 ThinQ is “an evolution of the foundation laid by the LG V30S ThinQ.”
The release goes on to fairly clearly state what we can expect in terms of AI for the G7 ThinQ.
“The V30S ThinQ incorporated AI technologies that enhanced the most frequently used features including voice recognition and Vision AI to improve camera convenience. The LG G7 ThinQ will offer improved interconnectivity with LG devices such as home appliances, TVs and more.”
In the Korean press release, LG notes that the device is equipped with ‘Voice AI,’ which performs various voice commands; ‘Vision AI’ for camera use; and ‘Empathy AI’ — though the latter goes unexplained.
Dedicated AI button
Backing up this focus on AI, leaks and rumours abound that the smartphone will feature a dedicated launch button for an AI, much like the Bixby button included in recent Samsung devices.
It’s unclear as of yet whether this button will launch Google Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa or LG’s ‘Q voice’ assistant — or whether it will be entirely configurable, which would no doubt make it more popular than Samsung’s Bixby-only trigger.
The button may also serve as a quick way to control other LG’s other ThinQ products and smart appliances.
Notched display
Would it be a 2018 smartphone without a notch? It seems not.
According to everything we’ve seen so far, from Android Headlines to Evan Blass, indicates the G7 ThinQ will have a notch at the top of its 6.1-inch display. Hate or love it, that trend is here to stay.
However, a video leak from early March suggests the notch will be optional in the same way as the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro, providing users the ability to level out the top bezel if they find it unsightly.
Other design elements
In addition a notched display, an OnLeaks render of the device shows a headphone jack, rear-facing fingerprint sensor, bottom-firing speaker and dual-camera setup.
Meanwhile, Android Headlines‘ render shows the device’s ultra-slim bezels and a wide variety of colour options. Tech Radar‘s leaked images of the display confirms the same notch-shape and appearance.
Hardware specs
Along with the leaked renders and images came several key specs. The device is set to carry a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage.
Camera upgrades
According to internal documents obtained by Android Headlines, the LG G7 ThinQ will have two 16-megapixel cameras — a step up from the two 13-megapixel cameras on the LG G6.
The camera experience will also feature AI software that automatically adjusts colour, saturation and contrast in photos, and is said to come with Google Lens support.
Additionally, the G7 ThinQ will reportedly use ‘superpixel’ technology, which refers to the process of combining multiple pixels to create a larger pixel. This feature is often used to improve low-light performance.
Reports also indicate the device’s camera will deliver 3D and 2D camera stickers, portrait mode and a feature that captures video ahead of capturing a photo — like the iPhone’s Live Photos or Google’s Motion Photos.
Heard any other rumours? Let us know in the comments.
Header image credit: Android Headlines.
