Images of LG’s first 5G-capable handset – the V50 ThinQ – have been leaked online. Here’s everything we know about the new phone (and why it’s time to get excited about 5G networks in Australia.)
By the end of 2019, most flagship smartphones will come with fifth-generation wireless chipsets. But for early adopters, one of the first options on the market will be LG’s V50 ThinQ.
We’ve known about the existence of this phone for a while now, but this is the first leaked photo we’ve seen. (Courtesy of professional Android sleuthster Evan Blass.) Check it out:
LG V50 ThinQ for Sprint 5G pic.twitter.com/TNLQsYPgPS
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 16, 2019
As you can see, the phone doesn’t look terribly dissimilar to last year’s LG V40 (pictured at the top of this article.) However, as Howard Moon once creepily crooned – it’s what’s inside that counts, my friends.
According to reports coming out of Korea, the LG V50 ThinQ will boast a Snapdragon 855 processor, a larger vapor-chamber cooling system and an improved triple-camera array on the rear. But the most intriguing addition is definitely that ‘5G’ logo emblazoned across the leaked image.
This is a big deal. Australia’s 5G networks are expected to have 10 times the bandwidth of 4G by tapping into the unused 24GHz to 90GHz spectrum range (4G networks cover 450MHz-5.9GHz.)
This should translate to blisteringly fast phone speeds, especially during the early stages when few people are using the network. You’ll be able to download large apps and upload multiple photos in a matter of seconds. It will also be a serious boon to online gamers with minimal latency in most situations.
[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-australias-5g-network/” thumb=”https://www.gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/05/upload1.jpg” title=”What Australians Need To Know About 5G Networks” excerpt=”Public Wi-Fi used to be a lifesaver, something that let you escape the misery of poor reception to quickly contact friends or stay organised throughout the day.
But it’s also a gigantic security risk. People still rely on public hotspots around the country though, because an exposed connection to the internet that works is preferable to poor reception or no reception at all. Something that might help change that, however, is 5G.”]
The LG V50 ThinQ is expected to be officially unveiled during Mobile World Congress which kicks off on February 25. It’s unlikely we’ll get an Australian release date at that event, but there’s reason to believe the phone could be exclusive to Telstra.
Of course, all this hinges on Australia’s telcos getting their 5G networks up and running in time for the phone’s launch. We’ll make sure to keep you posted on future developments.
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