2016 was not exactly a good year for LG’s Mobile Communication division, which reported operating losses in each quarter. That’s mainly because LG invested a lot in developing and marketing its G5 flagship, but sales were ultimately disappointing. Fortunately for LG, 2017 might be a better year.
According to market analysts in South Korea, 2017 should be a positive year for LG’s smartphone business. Korean website The Investor is quoting KB Securities analyst Kim Dong-won, who says that “LG’s Mobile Communications division will be able to post a significant turnaround” this year, thanks to the fact that the G6 is going to be “more than 20 percent” cheaper to manufacture than the G5. This could be the result of LG ditching the modular design that made the G5 special (while also making it less likeable in the eyes of regular users).
If these leaked LG G6 renders are accurate, it’s pretty clear that the new handset is, indeed, not a modular device. Highlight features of the G6 allegedly include a 5.3-inch Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels) display, a very powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, a glass back, and a USB Type-C port.
Previous analyst estimations had it that LG could sell over 5 million G6 units throughout 2017. The new smartphone will probably be announced at MWC 2017 (February 27 – March 2), which means it may hit the market before Samsung’s Galaxy S8 series (expected to be unveiled in April).
source: The Investor
