LG Electronics today unveiled its new G6 smartphone, which boasts a new display format complimented by a cinematic viewing experience, and wide angle camera. The device, which has been designed in response to consumer feedback and user opinions, is a back-to-basics approach to premium smartphones, with a focus on the features consumers want, most notably a big screen that fits in one hand.

More particularly, the LG G6 sports a 5.7 QHD+ (2880 x 1440 resolution) FullVision display, and for the first time in a smartphone, an 18:9 screen aspect ratio. Äccording to LG, when compared to conventional 16:9 aspect ratio displays, the 18:9 format offers more viewing space and a more immersive experience when streaming videos and playing games.

Despite its large screen, the smartphone is easy to hold. In fact, ergonomics research teams led by Dr. Andris Freivalds at Pennsylvania State University and Dr. Ji Yong-gu at Yonsei University tested the LG G6 for stability when holding the phone, comfort in various postures and actions, as well as muscle fatigue when using the smartphone for long periods. The LG G6 received the highest marks in all test categories.

Attractive and Mostly Screen

Sculpted from aluminum and glass, which comes in black, platinum and white, the LG G6 features a minimalist design that’s sleek all-round and perfectly smooth to the touch.

The metal frame that wraps around the perimeter of the phone imparts solidity in style with a soft matte finish and the back is completely flat, with no camera bump to avoid or protect. Complimented by narrow bezels, the upper bezel was minimised by rearranging the camera, sensor and speaker in a row on the front upper side. The rounded corners of both the body and display not only unify the design but also dispersing the impact if the phone is dropped.                                                                                                      

Picture quality X2

The LG G6 also is the first smartphone to feature Dolby Vision technology as well as HDR 10, both of which are standards for High Dynamic Range (HDR), the picture quality technology which allows for a wider range of color and luminosity, wherein both the darkest and the brightest areas are more vivid, revealing greater detail for an immersive viewing experience.

With smartphone screen sizes getting bigger and the speed of the Internet becoming faster, LG decided to support two HDR standards for viewers to have access to as much content as possible. With HDR content from Netflix and Amazon on the rise, users will be able to watch popular shows in stunning HDR quality on the LG G6. This is also aimed at catering for Amazon’s increasingly 18:9 content for a cinematic viewing experience.

Photography too

With the LG G6, photo enthusiasts don’t need to ask people in the picture to reposition, cram together or find another place to stand in order to get everything in, rather they can simply choose between standard and wide angle settings. And with dual 13MP rear cameras, including a 125-degree lens on the wide angle, the LG G6 captures panoramic shots that regular phones cameras can’t.

The G6 delivers a unique camera experience by creating seamless transitions when zooming in and out between the wide-angle and standard camera lenses even during 4K video capture. The G6 also comes with an expanded 100-degree field of view with its 5MP front camera, which means users can take selfies or wefies without the need for a selfie stick. Plus, the wide angle camera reduces edge distortion, which makes for more natural images.

Seamless shooting

Viewing selfies, wefies, wide angle pictures and even the ones in the new Square Camera Mode, as also been made more seamless, with recent LG G6 photos appearing in one window in film mode. This means that users don’t need to move to their gallery to review them. The G6 provides a Square Camera function which divides the 18:9 ratio display into two identical squares.

The LG G6 can also take perfectly square photos in 1:1 ratio, ideal for Instagram, Snapchat and other social media apps. Users can also choose other ratios, such as 4:3, 16:9 and 18:9. Users can also take pictures in 1:1 ratio in one window, while checking, editing and uploading pictures in another window immediately after shooting. What’s more, users can create GIFs by combining between 2 and 100 photos from the gallery.

Built for the unexpected

The LG G6 can go just about anywhere without worry thanks to its IP68 water and dust resistance that makes it safe to be immersed in up to 1.5 metres of water for as long as 30 minutes. And you can worry less about accidental drops and other rough environments during everyday use because the LG G6 has been designed and built to be dependable even when the going gets rough.

According to the company, the LG G6 not only meets international testing standards but also endures further tests for high temperatures and nail penetration and uses a proprietary technology that dissipates heat via an internal heat pipe, the first in an LG smartphone. And to further disperse heat inside the unit, LG engineers positioned the components most prone to overheating as far from each other as possible.

A helping hand

The LG G6 has Google Assistant built-in. LG worked closely with Google to make sure the Google Assistant experience is great right out of the box and that’s why the LG G6 has Google Assistant built-in. It works seamlessly and intuitively with LG apps, empowering users to get fast answers, manage everyday tasks, enjoy the best music and videos and search the G6 more quickly and efficiently than ever. And with the remote after-service utilising artificial intelligence, the more Google Assistant is used, the more personalised it becomes because it knows more about the user.

“The LG G6 offers users new visual and manual experiences, as it marries an expanded screen with the convenience of one-handed use,” said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “LG will continue to lead smartphone innovation with a focus on convenience and reliability in order to exceed consumer expectations,” he concluded.