LG announces new ‘modular’ smartphone with swappable parts

In hopes of separating itself from the competition (and reversing a trend of declining sales), LG has announced that it will be bringing to market the G5 smartphone, a new “modular” device that can serve enhanced purposes via add-on components.

Referred to as “friends”, these optional modules can be added to the device by removing its base. One is a 32-bit digital-to-analog converter that the company describes as a component capable of playing sounds at a higher resolution; that is, music is heard in greater detail when this add-on is combined with quality headphones / speakers.

The other “friend” / module is a camera controller that makes it easier for users to take pictures using one hand. The component has a dial for zooming and a button to capture the image (along with a few other controls); it also provides the phone with a 40% boost to its battery life. 

 
These two modules are the first to be completed — according to the company, LG engineers are actively working on additional components to bring to market. It’s also the hope that third-party manufacturers will add modules to the ecosystem in the coming months. 

While the modular functionality of the device is impressive, there are a few other curious features worth pointing out, including there being not one, but two camera lenses on its back. One is a normal lens, while the other is a 135-degree, wide-angled shot lens that the company describes as providing a larger field of view than the human eye or for that matter, any other smartphone on the market. It’s an interesting solution to providing greater functionality to the device, but it should be noted that images captured with the wide-angled lens only have a resolution of eight megapixels, which is half that of the photos taken with the other lens.

Also, the phone also has an “always-on display” to provide its owner with the time and any pertinent notifications without having to wake it up. For those who might find this to be a battery draining feature, take comfort in knowing that despite its name, the display will turn off when it detects it is in an enclosed environment like a pocket or backpack. 

LG’s new G5 smartphone will be available in silver, titan, gold, and pink color options. Its price has not been announced, nor has an exact release date, though it is expected to hit the shelves at some point in April 2016. 

Via LG, Images