The LG Velvet is already official in the company’s native South Korea, so we know exactly what to expect when the device finally hits the European market.
It marks a change in strategy for the tech giant, with a mid-range that focuses on design and comes with 5G built-in.
Related: Best LG Phones 2020
In many ways, the Velvet is a replacement for the seemingly-discontinued G-series phones, although its focus will pull away from the hardware-first approach we saw in those phones. This faux-flagship instead places a greater emphasis on aesthetics and design, while still impressing with premium features like 5G connectivity and support for LG’s established dual-screen accessories.
You can get a pretty clear look from this hands-on video that has appeared online ahead of launch, which clearly shows four colour options and support for the LG Active Pen stylus, and seems to verify many of the rumoured specs we have outlined below:
When is the LG Velvet release date?
LG has a tendency to eke out its smartphone launches and the Velvet has enjoyed much the same treatment, with numerous admissions in the lead-up to the reveal of its launch date; including design, specifications, accessories and more.
We had a full spec list ahead of its launch in South Korea on 7 May, with the phone on sale there from 15 May.
LG has now confirmed that the Velvet is rolling out in key European markets this month (June), saying it will arrive in “Germany, Italy, Spain, Hungary and Poland first, followed by various countries in North America, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America in the weeks ahead.”
How much will the LG Velvet cost?
The South Korean pricing of the LG Velvet gives the clearest indication yet of what pricing will be in the UK and around the world.
It will sell there for ₩899,800, which translates to around £600/US$735/AU$1120/€675. It remains to be seen how far the final prices will stray from these figures.
Nonetheless, this places it markedly below the latest flagships on the market, no doubt as a result of the processor LG has opted for and the phone’s emphasis on design over the use of top-tier hardware. For comparison, the company’s recently-launched LG V60 ThinQ 5G, which is currently only available in the US, costs US$799.
What specs does the LG Velvet feature?
The LG Velvet is reported to rely on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765 5G chipset, which is likely one of the greatest contributors to the phone’s more affordable nature, compared to the numerous Snapdragon 865-powered flagship phones that edge closer to the £1000/US$1000-mark.
Elsewhere, we get triple rear cameras, arranged in a ‘raindrop’ formation. These start with a large 48Mp sensor, before progressively smaller sizes (8Mp ultrawide, 5Mp depth) culminates in a tiny flash.
The giant 6.8in FullVision display curves over the edges, while it joins the V60 in offering an optical in-display fingerprint sensor.
Full specifications below:
6.8in 20.5:9 curved FullVision display
In-display fingerprint sensor
Notched 16Mp front-facing camera
“Raindrop” triple rear camera
48Mp main sensor, 8Mp ultrawide, 5Mp depth sensor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 5G/765G 5G processor (market dependent)
128GB storage
microSD expandability up to 2TB
8GB RAM
5G
ASMR recording system w/ 2x high-fidelity mics
4300mAh battery
10W wireless charging
LG Dual-screen support
Stylus support
MIL-STD certification
IP68 dust and water resistance
Colours: Aurora Green, Aurora Gray, Aurora White, Illusion Sunset
