LG presents a something a bit different from the typical Android flagship at MWC 2016-- the G5 smartphones features a modular design, a slide-out battery and a variety of "Friend" accessories.
Mind, at first glance the G5 fails to differ from any other high-end smartphone. It has a 5.3-inch 2560x1440 resolution display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU, an Adreno 530 GPU, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage (expandable via microSD slot), 16MP rear-/8MP front-faceing cameras, a power button/fingerprint reader combo, USB-C port and a 2800mAh battery inside an anodised body. However, users can also pop out the bottom edge with the press of a button, and that is when the G5 becomes a special.
The more obvious use of the removable bottom is easy battery replacements in a phone with a metal unibody. It also allows the connection of accessory modules. The company has two such modules on show at MWC-- the CAM Plus (adds physical camera buttons and 1200mAH battery power) and the Hi-Fi Plus with B&O Play (an audio module complete with Bang & Olufsen DAC).
In addition LG also offers a number of companion devices. Cutely described as "Friends" by the company, these include both typical (such as the 360 VR headset, the 360 CAM 36--degree camera) and non-typical (a camera-equipped Rolling Bot and the Smart Controller drone monitor) offerings. Management of such devices comes through a Friends Manager app complete with easy 3-step pairing with nearby companion devices.
The G5 smartphone, modules and Friends should hit the market on April 2016.
