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LG's 2023 OLED TVs arrive in late March starting at $1,399 (updated)
LG is now shipping its 2023 OLED TVs, with the most affordable model starting at $1,2399.
LG's 2023 OLED TVs are up to 70 percent brighter
LG has unveiled its 2023 range of OLED TVs, and the G3 models are up to 70 percent brighter.
LG sees its future in smartphones and cars
If you had to summarize LG's financial health in a few seconds, you could just shrug and say "life's good." That's because the Korean company is one of the few in the technology industry right now that's actually making a decent profit from the hardware it sells. In the last three months, the company managed to get 15.4 million smartphones out the door, largely due to the fact that LG phones are getting more popular in the US. It may not be an exciting thing to write about, but the company's white goods arm also brought home a sizeable chunk of cash.
Buy an LG G3 in the US, get a free VR headset
LG's new mobile VR headset -- which is basically just a plastic version of Google's cardboard VR viewer -- is finally hitting American shores. The company just announced that it'll be throwing in a free headset, simply called the VR for G3, with the purchase of its latest flagship Android phone at participating retailers. Since it's adopting the Google Cardboard platform, which is just a box that you can plug your smartphone in for simple VR experiences, there really isn't much to LG's offering. You just need to slide in a G3 unit and load up a VR app (LG will also link users to some VR gaming content). It also features a magnet that works together with the phone's gyroscope (again, just like Google's box), that lets you select things without interacting with the screen. Unfortunately, it's still unclear how existing G3 owners can get their hands on LG's VR headset (we've dropped a line for additional details).
AT&T brings Lollipop to the LG G3 in the US
LG was quick to declare that the G3 would get an Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade back in the fall, but that promise hasn't mattered much if you own a US-edition phone -- you've been stuck on KitKat all winter. You'll be glad to hear that the rollout has finally arrived stateside, though. AT&T is now pushing Lollipop (specifically, 5.0.1) to G3-toting customers when they're on WiFi. As with international updates, most of the improvements involve under-the-hood tweaks like the faster runtime. This isn't a Material Design makeover akin to what you'd see on a Nexus or Moto X, for better or for worse. The other big US carriers also haven't followed suit, but an AT&T release hints that other networks might not be too far behind.
LG builds its own mobile VR headset for the G3
Korea's two largest companies are Samsung and LG, and while Samsung has been making a big splash in the VR world, LG has remained conspicuously silent. That's because the company has been working with Google to build a headset for the LG G3 that'll do a similar job to the Gear VR. The charmingly-named VR for G3 is a plastic headset that'll let you slide the phone into the hardware, with special holes cut for the smartphone's rear volume keys.
LG's phones are the first to get an Android Lollipop upgrade (updated)
So much for Google's Nexus phones being the first to get Android 5.0 Lollipop. LG has announced that it's rolling out the sweetened software upgrade to G3 users in Poland this week, ahead of seemingly every other smartphone on the planet -- yes, including the LG-made Nexus 4 and 5. As you might imagine given the timing, LG isn't reinventing the interface. Most of the improvements are either straightforward or under the hood, such as the new notifications and the ability to unlock your phone with nearby devices (such as an Android Wear watch).
Living with the G3: Can LG's newest flagship be as good as its predecessor?
You typically expect the latest smartphones to represent clear steps forward over their predecessors. However, I've been hearing a lot of people characterize the LG G3 as a baby step ahead of the G2, or even a step backward. That had me more than a little worried. Was I going to hate the follow-up to one of my favorite phones from 2013? There was only one way to find out, so I spent a few weeks with the G3 to see if those fears were overblown.
LG's next phone will be the first with one of its own CPUs inside
LG has been trying for years to catch up to Samsung and Apple in phone sales, and its next step on that path is to make a device with an LG CPU inside. The G3 Screen phone that it's releasing this week in Korea will have an eight-core "NUCLUN" (pronounced NOO-klun) processor, based off of an ARM big.LITTLE design similar to Samsung's octacore Exynos chips. NUCLUN has four 1.5GHz cores for the tough tasks, and four 1.2GHz cores for easier stuff that help it save on battery life. Otherwise, there's also a 5.9-inch 1080p screen and support for the new, faster LTE-A networks that download at up to 225Mbps. Until now, LG's phones have mostly relied on Qualcomm chips for their processing needs, but Dr. Jong-seok Park believes going its own way will help the company "achieve better vertical integration" and greater flexibility going forward. Of course, we're wondering when a NUCLUN-powered phone will go on sale outside of Korea, but considering the progression of Exynos, that could take a while.
LG unveils a cheaper G3 that comes with a Galaxy Note-baiting stylus
Have we reached complete, utter, smartphone product launch saturation? Nah. Here's another one. LG's latest (and not unexpected) announcement has some charm of its own, fusing a G3-esque body and UI with a 5.5-inch screen and a new stylus that looks like it'll slide into the phone. (LG's prior stylus models sometimes had the pen accessory float around separately -- it wasn't a good thing.) It won't house the same incredible screen as the G3 flagship, unfortunately. In fact, the display is a less-than-mediocre 960 x 540 resolution, yeesh. LG's pegging the giant phone at a keener price-point -- one it hasn't shared in the announcement -- which could make an interesting option for those pining for sketching skills sans flagship prices. There's a quad-core processor, and a 13-megapixel camera without the laser-beam focus to round out the notable hardware points and it'll first land in Brazil, before rolling out across Asia and Europe. Oh and it will be making an appearance at IFA -- as will we. We'll let you know how it fares in the flesh.
LG's G3 A is a stripped-down version of its flagship smartphone
LG has to be pleased by the overall reception to the G3, from press and consumers alike. That said, perhaps in an effort to keep the momentum going, the electronics company just launched the G3 A, a smaller and slightly lower-specced version of its popular flagship handset, the G3. This isn't to say LG's new, 5.2-inch G3 A, which will be available in South Korea through SK telecom, is by any means a dud, as it does sport some pretty good features of its own. The smartphone comes with a 1080p screen, a Snapdragon 800 processor (2.6GHz) alongside 2GB RAM, 32GB of built-in storage, Android KitKat and, best of all, the same 13-megapixel camera found on the G3. Of course, growing the G3 family is nothing novel to LG -- the company announced the G3 Beat recently and, apparently, there's also a G3 Stylus on the way.
LG may soon imitate Samsung's Galaxy Note with the G3 Stylus
LG hasn't finished with new G3 variants yet, judging by a promotional video (below). It appears that a G3 Stylus will soon join the flagship Quad HD G3 and its much smaller and lesser equipped sibling, the 4.7-inch G3 Beat. There's not much to go on other than the stylus, though it looks even bigger than the 5.5-inch G3. Don't count on an Optimus Vu resurrection, though -- a previous UA profile leak detailed an LG Stylus with a qHD 960 x 540 screen, which would make it similar to the new G Vista for Verizon. If that proves accurate (and it may well not be), the new handset would be less Galaxy Note 3 and more Galaxy Note 3 Neo. Meanwhile, Samsung's latest stylus-equipped Galaxy Note 4 device is expected soon with a 2,560 x 1,440 screen -- that's "QHD" with a capital "Q."
AT&T will sell the G Pad 7.0 for 99 cents -- with a couple catches
We can't say for sure how great a tablet the new LG G Pad 7.0 is -- we haven't had the chance to try it out yet. But if you were already planning on buying the G3 smartphone on AT&T, you might consider picking up the tablet too: Starting on Friday, Ma Bell will throw in the tablet for just 99 cents extra. Now, before you get too excited, there are of course a couple catches. Maybe some dealbreaking ones. To qualify for that insane 99-cent price, you'll have to purchase either the G3, G Flex or last-generation G2, and you'll need to either sign a new two-year service agreement or renew your contract through AT&T's "Next" early upgrade plan. Also, the tablet needs to be on-contract too. Ouch.
LG wants you to play games through your phone case
Are you an impulsive gamer? So impulsive that you can't even wait to unlock your phone before you start playing? If so, LG is entirely willing to cater to that (frankly disconcerting) behavior. The company has just launched Puppy Pop, the first game designed to work with the G3's QuickCircle case. It's a clever demo of what that round case window allows, although it's only a game in the loosest sense of the word. All you're doing is matching as many puppy heads as you can before time runs out -- it might do for a quick diversion at the bus stop, but it's not hard to see this wearing thin over time. You can grab the app today if you're curious, although you might want to wait for more substantial titles down the road -- or better yet, unlock your G3 and make full use of the phone you paid for.
LG's G3 Beat has laser autofocus and a smaller screen, but it's still pretty big
Now that LG's marched out its latest flagship smartphone, its time to repeat the process for smaller hands. That's where the G3 Beat comes in, folding in laser-guided camera autofocus, that self-learning keyboard, LTE and a removable 2,540mAh battery. What it doesn't get, however, is that ridiculously sharp quad-HD display found on the G3. Given that LG's positioned as a mid-range phone, it's not going to apologize for that -- it was most likely the priciest part of LG's bigger flagship smartphone. We would like the company, however, to explain exactly why it's called the G3 Beat, because we have no idea. That's what the phone will be called at launch tomorrow in Korea, but when it launches globally later this year, it'll be called the G3 s. Tame? Sure, but that second name makes a lot more sense.
Engadget giveaway: win a G3 smartphone courtesy of LG!
As the classic refrain goes, three is a magic number -- and that certainly sums up LG's latest smartphone, the G3. It's fronted by an extra-sharp, 5.5-inch quad HD (2,560 x 1,440) display and wrapped in a smooth metal exterior. The G3's rear button controls offer a distinct twist on the smartphone interface, and you'll find both a very quick, laser-focused 13-megapixel camera as well as enough battery power to get you through the day. Want one? LG is more than willing to share the love, as it's giving away brand new G3s to three lucky Engadget readers this week. Oh, and you get to choose from one of the big four carriers (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile) -- you probably won't have to switch networks just to get LG's latest. This particular giveaway is only for those in the US, but since the G3 is available worldwide, you can always pick one up. So, what are you waiting for? Head on down to the Rafflecopter widget below for your chance to win a G3 of your very own. It might just be your lucky day.
You can get LG's flagship G3 on Verizon next week for $99 on contract
Historically, Verizon's not often the first carrier in the US to announce availability for a new phone. In the case of LG's latest flagship smartphone, the G3, it's actually the last. But good things come to those who wait -- and are willing to sign two-year contracts: Big Red's version of the G3 will go for $99 when you sign the dotted line. This is $100 less than AT&T's on-contract price. Pre-orders start today and will ship out on July 17th. There's no special discount for Edge customers or for those who want to buy the phone outright, however: it'll be $30 per month or $600, respectively.
LG's G3 and G Watch are coming to AT&T on July 11th
Sprint and T-Mobile may have been the first big US carriers to announce launch plans for LG's G3 smartphone, but they won't be the first to actually carry it. AT&T has revealed that both the G3 and the Android Wear-based G Watch will reach its stores on July 11th, with online orders beginning on the 8th. In both cases, pricing is par for the course. You'll pay $199 on contract for the G3, or $29 per month in one year's worth of Next installments; the G Watch will cost you $229 up front. The AT&T-native G3 doesn't particularly stand out (unless you really, really like Big Blue's logo), but it may be your best bet if you just have to get a quad HD-capable Android phone as quickly as possible.
T-Mobile brings the LG G3 to the US on July 16th for $599 up front (update: Sprint)
Americans, your wait for LG's G3 is (nearly) over. T-Mobile has become the first big US carrier to take pre-orders for the 2K-capable Android smartphone, and now expects the device to hit retail shops on July 16th. Be prepared to fork over a lot of cash if you want that pixel-packed display as soon as possible, though. The G3 will cost $599 if you buy it outright, and it doesn't currently qualify for an easier-to-swallow installment plan. Other stateside carriers haven't revealed their plans to carry LG's brawny handset, but we'd expect matching announcements from at least the larger networks before long. Update: Sprint will carry the G3 on July 18th for $25 per month on installments, or $600 outright; it's the only US network offering the gold model, so take that into account if you're looking for a flashy phone.
Where to buy the LG G3
The G3 is LG's latest flagship, and as far as we're concerned, the best handset the Korean company has ever made. It also officially launches for the UK market today. Despite the G3 having top-of-the-range hardware including a frankly insane 5.5-inch Quad HD display (2,560 x 1,440), LG hasn't yet managed to build a mobile brand that's as popular as some of the big players. As such, carriers and retailers aren't all as keen on the G3 as they are on, say, the perpetually advertised Galaxy S5. There are still plenty of ways to get your hands on one, however, whether you're looking for a new contract, pay-as-you-go device or an unlocked model.
