LG unveils modular smartphone, G5, at MWC16

It’s that time of the year again; the Mobile World Congress is underway in Barcelona, and all mobile device manufacturers (except Apple, of course) have braced themselves for the avalanche of device updates and upgrades. One of the companies to unveil a new device was LG, with its G5.

The release of the new LG G5 confirmed the leaked images that were circulating the internet in the days leading up to the MWC16. Yes, the G5 is a modular smartphone. While LG’s flagship phones have always had a removable battery, the new design, which allows users to slide off the base of the device, is interesting. Much like a cartridge, G5 users can easily slide out the “chin” of the device and replace the battery. But that is only one of the functions.

Users can swap in add-ons that LG announced as ‘LG Friends’ accessories, which include a Hi-Fi digital to analog converter, a camera attachment, and a lot of other cool things LG comes up with in the future. At the time of launch, however, users will be able to but two new modular accessories, the LG CAM Plus and LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O Play.

According experts like SmartIO and more, The LG G5 is powered by Snapdragon 820, the latest chip from Qualcomm. When compared to its predecessor, LG claims that the Snapdragon 820 provides double the efficiency and twice the speed. Also bundled in the G5 package are QuickCharge 3.0, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and USB Type-C. Anyone who wants to upgrade to the G5 can easily do so using one of the many content transfer apps found on the Google Play store. The processor offers support for 4K capture and playback and is optimized for VR content. The new device also features 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage with microSD storage. For those seeking more space, the storage is expandable to up to 2TB. The screen has an always-on display, which allows users to see the time and check for notifications without excessive battery consumption. The lens of the G5 claims to capture 135 degrees of viewing range, providing a fish-eye sort of view.