[Courtesy of LG Electronics]
SEOUL -- Instead of pursuing a dramatic change in its smartphone business to cope with the establishment of 5G mobile communication services in South Korea and other countries, LG Electronics vowed to maintain a conservative strategy this year by rolling out realistic phones featuring a dual display.
At next week's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, LG Electronics will showcase its 5G smartphone, V50, as well as G8, a 4G phone which uses its OLED display as an audio amplifier. A removable dual display will be used for V50. Without releasing foldable and other innovative models, LG will take a two-track approach by rolling out 5G and 4G phones simultaneously, according to Brian Kwon, who heads LG's mobile communications division.
"If 5G services start in the second quarter, the premium phone market will quickly move to 5G," Kwon told reporters. If the 5G market comes fast, he said LG plans to release premium and cheaper models in the second half.
5G phones will be available first in South Korea and the United States, Kwon said, adding that the price of 5G phones would stand at more than $1,000 in the American market. "We are trying our best to release the most stable and complete phone in terms of speed, heat dissipation and battery."
"LG Electronics pursues affordable prices in the market," Kwon said, describing dual displays as a new form factor that would speed up the distribution of 5G phones and allow users to enjoy a variety of 5G content. LG will seek a business strategy "tailored to reality" as the initial market demand for foldable phones is expected to be about one million units, he said, calling for a selective response to market trends.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
