Update (04/03/18): We've updated this article with details on the LG G7 ThinQ name, rumors surrounding the dedicated AI button and f/1.5 aperture camera, and LG's attempt to gauge users' opinions on the notch.
The G6 was a big upgrade over its predecessor. LG got rid of the gimmicky modular design and opted for a gorgeous new glass and metal body with thin bezels. What will its successor bring to the table? Here are the rumors we've been hearing.
Note: This post will be updated regularly as we take a closer look at the latest rumors surrounding the successor to the LG G6.
LG G7: Name and release date
The nitty-gritty
- The smartphone will not be called the G7, as LG is retiring the G brand.
- However, it's now rumored that the company could adopt its terrible "ThinQ" branding for the G7.
- Release date rumors are conflicting.
It looks like the successor to the LG G6 will not be called the G7. According to a report from Digital Daily (via The Investor), LG is retiring the G-series moniker in the first half of the year in favor of a fresh flagship brand. This means LG's upcoming flagship could be the first to carry the new brand name.
The company is apparently considering a "two-digit number" rather than reverting back to anything with the number one in the title. Why? Because it doesn't want consumers to think the handset is outdated compared to the Galaxy S9 and iPhone X. There's no word on what exactly the new brand will be, so we'll refer to the device as the G7 in this post.
However, those earlier reports may not be true. According to VentureBeat writer Evan Blass, the next LG flagship will actually go by the name of "LG G7 ThinQ." This would be an extremely odd move for LG. This is the perfect opportunity for the company to rebrand its flagship series, and instead LG might go with the same, super weird "ThinQ" branding it used on its repurposed LG V30 at MWC.
Goodbye, LG G7. Hello, LG G7 ThinQ.
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) April 3, 2018
When will the G7 be introduced? Unlike the G6 and G5, LG's upcoming flagship wasn't announced at MWC in Barcelona as initially expected. A report from The Investor claims that the CEO of LG Electronics, Jo Seong-jin, has ordered a revision of the upcoming flagship, which pushed back its reveal date. The decision to start over from scratch was made immediately after CES concluded, reportedly because the company wasn't able to find a strong selling point for the upcoming device.
Release date rumors are conflicting at the moment. ETnews claims the handset will be revealed in May, putting it three months behind the LG G6 in terms of the yearly release cycle. However, the usually reliable Evan Blass tells us a different story. He said the smartphone, reportedly codenamed Judy, could be launched in June.
LG hasn't shared any info about the G7's launch date, so there's no word which report — if any — is correct.
LG G7: Specs and features
The nitty-gritty
- The LG G7 could come with a 6-inch display.
- The handset may be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset.
- The flagship is rumored to have an iris scanner and dedicated AI button on board.
Evan Blass shared a few alleged specs of the G7, giving us an idea of what the smartphone could bring to the table.
It might feature a 6-inch 18:9 Full Vision display, making it larger than that of the LG G6 (5.7-inch). No word on resolution, but we expect it to be QHD+. LG will apparently use an MLCD+ panel on its flagship, which is a fairly new technology. It's reportedly capable of 800-nit brightness while consuming less battery power than traditional IPS LCD panels.
According to a report from The Investor, the reason why LG will opt for an LCD panel instead of an OLED one is to save money — LCD displays are much cheaper to produce. To give you an example, the iPhone 8 Plus' 5.5-inch screen costs Apple $52, while the 5.8-inch OLED display for the iPhone X sets the company back $110, according to IHS Markit.
However, the latest report from ETnews tells us a different story. The site claims there will actually be two versions of the LG G7 — one with an OLED display and one with an LCD display. Other than the screen, the two models are expected to be the same in terms of specs and design.
This sounds like a weird strategy, even for LG, so do take this one with a grain of salt. But it is possible. If true, there's a good chance each of the two devices will be aimed at different markets, as selling them both in the same stores would likely confuse consumers.
The G7 is expected to come with the latest and greatest Snapdragon 845 chipset.
The G6 launched with the older Snapdragon 821 last year because Samsung had first dibs on the 835. It looks like things will be different this year, as the G7 is expected to come with the latest and greatest Snapdragon 845 chipset under the hood, just like the Galaxy S9. Unfortunately, the smartphone might not get an upgrade in the memory department. It's said to come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage like its predecessor.
Blass claims the G7 may have a dual-camera setup on board featuring 16MP sensors with f/1.6 lenses. AI features like the ones seen on the LG V30S ThinQ are also said to be on board. The smartphone is rumored to come with stereo speakers, HDR imaging, and IP68 rating for protection against water and dust. Wireless charging is also mentioned, but we don't know if it will be available globally or exclusive to the U.S. like with the G6.
According to another report out of Korea, the G6 successor will feature a dedicated AI button right below the volume keys. That sounds a lot like a dedicated Bixby button to us! That report also claimed that the device will come with a wide f/1.5 aperture camera.
Other rumors we've come across suggest that in addition to a fingerprint sensor, the LG G7 might also sport an iris scanner. This isn't a new feature, as we've seen it on a few Samsung devices so far, but it would be a first for LG.
The rumor is based on a patent for the iris scanner, first spotted by LetsGoDigital. On paper, the scanner appears to be more advanced than the one in Samsung devices. It's supposed to get the job done in various lighting conditions by adjusting to allow for variations in pupil size. It should also be safer, making sure it can't be tricked with a photo.
We've also come across a report claiming that the G7 will be 5G-enabled, allowing for super-fast download speeds. That won't mean much if the network doesn't support it, though.
Read next: What is 5G?
Other specs and features we expect to see include expandable storage, Android Oreo, and a headphone jack. A Quad DAC for an improved audio experience could also be on board, which hopefully won't be exclusive to South Korea and a few other Asian countries like with the G6.
| LG G7 rumored specifications | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6-inch MLCD+/OLED panel 2,880 x 1,440 resolution 18:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | Snapdragon 845 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB |
| MicroSD | Yes, up to 256GB |
| Camera | Dual-camera setup with 16MP sensors and f/1.6 lenses |
| Water resistant | IP68 |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Software | Android Oreo |
LG G7: Design
The nitty-gritty
- The latest rumor suggests we might see an all-new design.
- Leaked renders hint the G7 could sport an iPhone X-like notch.
- LG might choose to copy competitors instead of innovating, which is bad news.
Evan Blass said LG will opt for a brand new design, and he might be right. We have come across concept renders (above and below) designed by Ben Geskin, which show that the device could be very different from its predecessor. To be clear, the renders were not leaked from LG, but are based on a leaked video of an LG flagship prototype taken at MWC 2018 as well as various internet rumors — so do take them with a grain of salt.
The images show that the G7 could sport thinner bezels than its predecessor, but may be equipped with an iPhone X-like notch. Whether that's a good or a bad thing depends on who you ask. However, we did hope LG will come up with a few innovative design features instead of just copying one of its competitors. But again, these are unofficial renders for now, so things can still go either way.
The renders also show a vertically positioned dual-camera setup on the back, as opposed to the horizontal one of the G6. There's also a fingerprint scanner on the back, which means LG won't opt for an in-display reader like the Vivo X20 Plus UD.
Towards the end of March, LG took to Reddit to see just how users felt about the notch. Unsurprisingly, the company received quite a bit of negative feedback about the topic, which caused LG to delete the Reddit thread a few hours later.
If this is indeed the final design of the G7, LG is just asking for trouble. We're not saying that it's ugly, but it doesn't stand out. It doesn't offer anything new, anything we haven't seen before. LG has to be bolder when it comes to design and quit playing it safe. Otherwise, it will never be able to truly compete with companies like Samsung.
LG G7: Price
The nitty-gritty
- The G7 could be more expensive than the G6, retailing for as much as $800.
- A price tag of around $700 would be a good way to go, as that would mean the G7 would undercut the S9 series.
The unlocked version of the G6 was listed at $700 on LG's website at launch, but you could get it for as low as $600 from B&H and other retailers during the pre-order period. However, it looks like its successor could be more expensive.
According to a report from ETnews, the G7 will cost 100,000 won (~$94) more than its predecessor. Based on last year's pricing, this could mean the handest may set you back around $700 or $800, depending on the retailer. For comparison, the Galaxy S9 costs $720, while its bigger brother goes for $840.
A price tag of around $700 (or lower) would be a great way to go, as that would mean the G7 would undercut both the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. But if the price goes up to $800 or maybe even higher, LG could have a hard time luring consumers away from Samsung's offering.
There you have it — these are all the rumors we've come across so far about the G7. When we hear more, we'll update this page to keep you up to speed with all the latest.
Meanwhile, share your thoughts on LG's upcoming smartphone with us. Will it be more popular than its predecessor? Let us know in the comments.
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