LG G4 Release Date In June: Carrier Availability Rundown For Flagship Smartphone

Mobile carriers are finally beginning to break their silence on availability for the LG G4 smartphone. The device went on sale globally May 19, but it will still be at least two weeks until it's available in the U.S.

Sprint announced Friday that it will be offering the LG G4 starting June 5. The carrier will sell it for $199.99 with a two-year contract and for $599.99 off contract. Customers can also purchase the LG G4 through Sprint’s leasing program, paying $18 per month for 24 months or $28 per month for 12 months.

Sprint is offering the LG G4 in a bundle that includes a 32GB MicroSD card, an extra 3,000mAh battery and a battery-charging cradle.

There are also availability details for other LG G4 models, including those from T-Mobile and Verizon. The T-Mobile LG G4 will be available starting June 2, according to the G4 Preview Twitter account, while the Verizon LG G4 will be available starting June 4, according to tech website Phone Arena. Neither carrier has announced price details for the smartphone.

There is no word on when AT&T will release its LG G4 model, but reports suggest that U.S. Cellular will launch the device “in the coming months.”

The standout features on the LG G4 include its removable back panel and its 16-megapixel rear camera, features that will help the G4 compete with the Samsung Galaxy S6. The removable back allows users to remove and change the device’s battery and also lets them install extra internal storage with a MicroSD card. Removable backs and interchangeable parts were once a staple of Samsung’s smartphone design, but with the Galaxy S6, the manufacturer opted for a unibody design and increased built-in storage.

The 16-megapixel rear camera on the LG G4 includes an f/1.8 aperture lens, which takes in more light than a conventional f/2.2 aperture lens. This allows the camera to have a faster shutter speed and cuts down on blur in photos, especially in darker conditions. With these features, LG claims the camera on the G4 captures images at digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) quality. The Samsung Galaxy S6 also features a 16-megapixel rear camera, but its lens has an f/1.9 aperture.

Other hardware features on the LG G4 include a Quad HD (2560 x 1440 resolution) display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chip, 3GB of RAM memory and 32GB of internal storage, as well as a 3,000mAh battery.

The LG G4 will come in several design options and users will have the option of choosing a leather back panel in tan, maroon, teal, taupe or yellow. Non-leather color options include metallic gray, ceramic white and shiny gold.