LG G4 Release Date, Specs, Camera And Features: What To Expect From April 28 Launch Event

Given the plethora of leaks and teasers that LG Electronics has shared, the LG G4 is practically official. But the device won’t be announced until Tuesday.

The manufacturer has been teasing features on the LG G4 for weeks, including its unique design and high-powered camera. The smartphone is expected to help the South Korean electronics maker -- which is known more for its flat-screen TVs -- build a top smartphone brand.

LG hopes to continue the momentum from a successful 2014, which was aided by the launch of the LG G3 flagship. The LG G3 had sold approximately 7 million handsets as of March 2015, which pales in comparison to major players such as Samsung. However, the manufacturer has also released several devices under the G3 brand, including the LG G3 Beat and the LG G3 Stylus, which have helped LG rack up sales.

Overall, the company shipped 59.6 million smartphones in 2014, a 25 percent increase from the 47.6 million units shipped in 2013. LG’s shipments have been steadily increasing since it began selling smartphones in 2009. It’s currently the second-largest smartphone manufacturer in its home market of South Korea and the sixth-largest globally.

The LG G4 is expected to compete directly with the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in 2015. Before the LG G4 is official, take a look at the features expected for the device, many of which have been confirmed by LG.

Design

Several manufacturers are opting for a unique design to attract customers to their devices, and LG is no different. Leaks have indicated that the LG G4 will feature a back panel outfitted in real leather. Teaser images have shown the leather back panels in tan, maroon, teal, taupe and yellow.

Other color and texture options will include metallic gray, ceramic white and shiny gold, says text from an official LG G4 promotional page, which leaked last week.

“The chic colored versions sport a textural hammered-array pattern while the classic leather option is available in five distinct colors and features an exquisite threaded stitch,” the teaser page text described the LG G4.

The back panel on the LG G4 will likely be removable, making it an attractive option for many Android fans. Because of this feature the smartphone is expected to have a removable battery and a MicroSD slot to expand internal storage. Some of these features have been removed from devices by popular rivals like Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.

The LG G4 is 75.3 mm wide, 149.1 mm tall and 8.9 mm thick. Leaked images show that while the device’s screen is flat, its back panel is slightly curved, likely to ease handling.

Display

The LG G4 is expected to feature a 5.5-inch Quad HD (high-definition) display with a 2560×1440 pixel resolution. This display size puts the G4 in the phablet category. The screen uses LG’s Quantum IPS (in-plane switching) display technology, which is described as 120 percent more color accurate than conventional Quad HD LCD (liquid-crystal display) panels with a 50 percent higher contrast ratio and a 30 percent increase in brightness. In short, the LG G4’s display is more advanced than the display on the previous LG G3 in terms of color accuracy, contrast, brightness and power consumption.

“The 5.5" QHD screen utilizes an IPS Quantum Display to deliver brilliant, crisp images rich and authentic in color. Remarkably energy efficient, the screen is also easily visible even in bright light,” said text from the leaked promotional website.

Hardware

The LG G4 is expected to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chip; however, some reports suggest it could include the Snapdragon 810. Both chips are top of the line application processors from Qualcomm, except the 808 has six cores and the 810 chip has eight. Simply put, the Snapdragon 810 is stronger and more power efficient. Several manufacturers including HTC, Sony and Xiaomi have included the 810 chip in their 2015 flagship smartphones.

Devices like the HTC One M9 and Xiaomi Mi Note have shown strong battery lives with the Snapdragon 810 chip; however the HTC One M9 does run warm, possibly due to overheating issues with the processor.

The LG G4 may also include 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage with the option to expand storage to 128GB. The device’s 3,000 mAh battery will come with wireless charging support, compatible with the Qi charging standard, say details on the leaked promotional website. Leaked images show the LG G4 resting on Qi charging docks.

Connectivity and networks on the LG G4 should include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), an FM radio antenna, and an Infrared blaster.

Software

The LG G4 is expected to feature the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system by Google. The G4 will also include the LG UX 4.0 user interface, which LG confirmed prior to launch. Major updates on LG UX include Smart Notice 2.0, which gives users recommendations on how to use their handset most productively.

There are updates to the LG photo gallery, which include a new look, better organization by date, time and location and a search by date option. The interface also includes updates to the Smart Calendar feature, which lets users drag and drop event details into the calendar. The calendar also gives users suggestions for events and locations to visit based on information they have previously provided.

Camera

The LG G4 is expected to feature a 16-megapixel camera, for which the manufacturer has already confirmed details. The camera will feature 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 photo, especially in darker conditions. With these features, LG claims the camera on the G4 capture images at digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) quality.

Additionally, the LG G4 camera is expected to include advanced optical image stabilization and laser auto-focus. The LG G4 will likely also have an 8-megapixel front camera.

Price

The LG G4 is expected to sell for $199.99 with a two-year contract upon release. There likely won’t be any higher pricing tiers for the G4 because it may come in only a 32GB storage option.

Price may vary depending on the carrier and also on what payment options customers use. Most carriers now have several plan options, which have different price breakdowns. Customers should also be able to purchase the G4 off contract.

Release Date

The LG G4 will be announced Tuesday, LG has confirmed. The device may hit markets in South Korea on May 31, while other markets may begin selling the smartphone in June.