LG has offered a wide variety of acceptable handsets but has unfortunately failed to get off the ground. They remain behind in the smartphone segment but a shift in terms of branding could be the key to improvement. And the LG Velvet will be tasked to jumpstart that initiative.
LG recently announced the LG Velvet, a device tagged as a mass premium model. From that alone, LG plans to continue with its mid-range offering with the said device where some features will be iterated. It may pale in comparison with the high-end specs of phones coming out of the market but that could change with other models likely following it.
The LG Velvet also puts an end to the G and V series of LG Electronics, phones that were efficient but hardly given much attention due to the cramped smartphone market. The LG Velvet may not have the high specifications but remains an option for the mid-range buyer looking for a cost-friendly device with decent features.
"Our new branding reflects current trends of addressing the unique personal tastes and emotions of the individual with a greater emphasis on design," said Chang Ma, senior vice president of product strategy of LG's mobile business said in a statement.
One of the key changes starting with the LG Velvet is the reported display iteration. From the traditional shiny and slippery glass finish, the LG Velvet will come with a textured display. This hints at frosted glass materials in use. That may factor in for some but others may want to know more.
For now, the only other features known for the LG Velvet is the "falling raindrop" design of its cameras. It will come with a trio of cameras plus an LED flash. The main camera will be located at the surface while the remaining two cameras will be under the cover glass to help avoid camera bumps.
Unfortunately, details of the cameras were not revealed as of this writing. The same goes for the internal specs that include the SoC, RAM, ROM and so on. Seeing how the LG Velvet is deemed a mid-range device, these internal features are unlikely to be all that powerful. The LG Velvet is scheduled to be launched next month, meaning clearer details on what the consumer market should expect may come out in the following weeks.
With the shift in branding, it will be interesting if LG Electronics finally comes up with the right plan to gain a better market share. One device cannot do it alone, more so a mid-range device. LG still needs to come up with a high-end device, assuming this is part of their plans.
