LG Intros Optimus G: The First Snapdragon S4 Pro Device

LG Electronics hinted to the phone on Monday, talking about its new, in-house developed display and battery. But now the company has shifted into full gear, naming its next-generation phone as the Optimus G. Along with LG's three sister companies, the flagship phone was developed in collaboration with Qualcomm and will be the first LTE device featuring the chip maker's new Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) quad-core SoC.

"The Optimus G will be the first commercial and global smartphone to offer the Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) processor with a Quad-Core Krait CPU, LTE supported capabilities, and the newest generation Adreno 320 GPU," LG said on Tuesday. "The Snapdragon S4 Pro runs at 1.5 GHz and features Asynchronous Symmetric Multiprocessing (aSMP), which enables each core to power up and down independently, for maximum performance with better battery life. Furthermore, the Adreno 320 is over three times faster than the Adreno 225 found in previous Snapdragon processors for an enhanced gaming experience with faster frame rates, smoother play and support for higher HD resolution displays."

As reported on Monday, the phone will feature a 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS+ Display with 320ppi high pixel density (1280 x 768) and Stripe RGB IPS Panel with 15:9 aspect ratio. This screen will utilize LG's newly developed G2 Touch Hybrid Display tech for touchscreen panels (TSP) which is thinner than current solutions, eliminating diffused reflections for clearer and sharper visibility even outdoors. The phone will also sport a high-density 2,100mAh battery that has a lifespan of 800 cycles at 80-percent charging capabilities.

LG said its new phone will feature a high-resolution 13MP camera. Users will be able to take photos simply by speaking a command (Cheese Shutter) while a Time Catch Shot feature will allow users to select and save the best shot among the images taken just before the shutter button is depressed. Users will also be able to write, draw, or jot a memo directly on the captured screen with their finger for sharing instantly with others as an attachment or a URL. Additional camera features include zooming in and out while viewing a video, and Dual Screen Dual Play, meaning while in dual screen mode, the phone can push a movie on the TV screen while the phone's screen displays an eBook.

According to the list of specs, the phone will come packed with 32 GB of internal storage, 2 GB of RAM, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.0, a USB 2.0 host port, A-GPS, Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL), DNLA protected media sharing, NFC for mobile payments, and 802.11n connectivity. Google's Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" will be the OS of choice -- the 4.1 "Jelly Bean" upgrade will probably be ready by the time the phone hits the market.

"We are confident that users will have a superior experience with everything that we’re offering in the Optimus G," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "Optimus G isn’t just another high-performance phone with the latest bells and whistles. It’s a collaboration of some of the best component makers on the planet coming together for a singular cause, to develop a smartphone that stands out in a sea of me-too devices."

NTT DOCOMO will be the first to unveil a Japanese edition of the Optimus G. The global version of the device will be launched in Korea in September, followed by other markets worldwide.

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