LG has been teasing its new Velvet smartphone series for several weeks and has now announced plans to unveil new products on May 7. Like many recent launches, the LG Velvet event will be live-streamed online-only but viewers can still expect to get a detailed look at what the brand is referring to as a “mass premium” device.
Live-streams will be available at Youtube.com/LGElectronicsKorea or Facebook.com/theLGstory starting a 10 am KST on May 7 (or May 6 at 6 a.m/ PST, 10 a.m. EST).
The LG Velvet is set to be a mid-range smartphone that includes 5G connectivity, which will likely overtake the G series as a signature product. Many are considering this device the successor to the LG G8 that released in early 2019, and that the recently launched LG V60 now stands as the brand’s closest device to flagship status.
The LG Velvet is set to feature a 5G enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip. Other rumored specs suggest 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage with microSD expansion, and a 4,300 mAh battery with wired and wireless charging support. The device is also set to have an IP68 rating, a MIL-STD rating, and built-in stereo speakers.
Teasers showcase the “raindrop” triple-camera setup on the LG Velvet, which reveals the lenses becoming consecutively smaller, from a prospective 48-megapixel main lens with OIS, to an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, to a 5-megapixel depth sensor. Its front camera is set to be a 16-megapixel lens in a waterdrop notch.
LG noted the new design language represents “lustrous smoothness” and “premium softness.” Color options include Aurora Gray, Aurora Green, Aurora White, and Illusion Sunset.
The exact display size for the LG Velvet has not been specified, but reports suggest it may be between 6.7-inch and 6.9-inches and may include an in-display fingerprint scanner. Leaks have also revealed that the device may have a dual-screen accessory, much like the V series. Overall, dimensions are 167.1 x 74 x 7.85 mm and weight 180g. Other features include USB-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Once launched the LG Velvet may be marketed primarily in the brand’s home market of South Korea, selling for KRW 899,800 (or approximately $730 or €675). Some suggest the device may be a price tag of about $699 for the U.S. and between €700 and €800 for various European countries.
