LG really needs its big phone to be a big hit.
The history of LG’s V series of phones isn’t long, but the upcoming V30 is shaping up to by far be the most interesting of the bunch. After breaking away from the ultra-tough model for something new in the V20, the V30 is set to go even more mainstream with a design that closely follows its smaller sibling, the LG G6. That isn’t great for those who really enjoyed the unique quirks of the V10 and V20, but for the wide group of people who just want a large, powerful phone to compete with the likes of the Galaxy Note 8, this is a good move by LG.
The V30 hasn’t been officially announced yet, but leaks, rumors, and information straight from LG are starting to pull together a picture of what we can expect from its latest high-end phone. Here’s what we know so far.
LG V30 specs and features
For the spec sheet, we can expect the V30 to have all of the typical bells and whistles. Unlike the G6, the V30 will come out of the gate with the latest high-end processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, and be backed up by at least 4GB — but more likely 6GB — of RAM as well. LG is good about offering lots of storage, so we can expect 64GB standard, but the question is how it handles regional variants — historically it hasn’t done great with getting other models with more storage to all regions around the world.
Initial rumors suggest the V30 won’t have any larger battery than the G6, sticking around 3300mAh, which is interesting considering it’s also making a move from the V20 to go with a non-removable battery as well. With a larger screen than the G6 many were expecting a larger battery to boot, but in LG’s (potential) defense it gets great battery life out of the G6 with 3300mAh and a less-efficient Snapdragon 821 processor.
| Operating System | Android 7.1.1 |
| Display | 6-inch OLED, Gorilla Glass 5, curved edges2880x1440 resolution |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Storage | 64 or 128GBmicroSD card slot |
| Battery | 3300mAhNon-removableWireless chargingQuick Charge 3.0 |
| Rear cameras | 13MP f/1.6, OIS, standard lens13MP f/2.4, wide-angle lens |
| Audio | Hi-Fi DAC, Hi-Fi audio recording, 3D audio, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Other features | Wireless charging, water resistance |
| Dimensions | 151.4 x 75.2 x 7.4 mm |
| Colors | Black, blue, white |
Though the first two V series phones had many differences between them, one thing that remained constant is the idea that they’re all about audio, video and photo experiences. We expect the V30 to have the same initiatives, with a Hi-Fi DAC for audio output, special high-quality mics for audio recording, a manual video recording mode and perhaps a few new tricks that LG has up its sleeve. It has been said that the V30 will be a “video-centric” phone, and this isn’t surprising considering LG’s history.
Expect a whole ton of hardware features, focusing on audio, video and photos.
The cameras will of course be super important, as LG will be iterating on its proven dual-camera setup rather than debuting one for the first time as Samsung is in the Note 8. We’re not sure on any change in the sensors themselves, but LG says its camera will have an an even wider f/1.6 aperture on the main camera, which will let in 25% more light than an f/1.8 aperture. It will also use a “Glass Crystal Clear Lens” to get better clarity and colors than typical plastic lenses. The second camera will remain a wide-angle shooter rather than the more common telephoto lens, and LG says it has cut down on edge distortion by one third.
LG V30 design and size
Based on initial leaks of the V30, both in renders and photos, we’re looking at phone that has its design groundwork provided by the LG G6 from earlier this year. It’s a thin, metal-framed phone with a back that looks much like the G6’s glass-covered rear. LG has confirmed most details of the V30’s display, telling us that the frame is wrapped around a 6-inch OLED panel — without a secondary display — that will make it just slightly larger than the G6’s 5.7-inch display, though it’ll have the same 2:1 aspect ratio and 2880×1440 resolution.
The differentiator here is the V30’s even smaller bezels around the screen, accentuated by the screen edges actually being curved on the sides, just like Samsung’s last few years of phones. This should make the V30 narrower and easier to hold, and indeed it’s going to be smaller overall than the Galaxy Note 8 and even the Galaxy S8+.
Many of the things that are currently unknown about the V30 are the ones that won’t really fill up the spec sheet. We’re not sure how much of the rugged/tough/sturdy identity LG has carried on from the V20 (and to some extent the G6), but early indications are this isn’t going to be as tough of a phone as its predecessor. Expect LG to talk the same big game about how strong the V30’s frame is and how it can handle extra drops just like the G6 — and thankfully we should have proper IP68 water resistance as well.
LG V30 release date and pricing
One thing we know for certain is that the LG V30 will be unveiled on August 31, coinciding with the start of the IFA trade show in Berlin. It will be LG’s fist major product announcement at IFA, and it’s hoping to make a splash just one week after Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Note 8 in New York City. We can expect a full retail launch by the end of September, as LG will want to be fully established in stores worldwide for the holiday season.
Considering the relatively high launch price of both the LG V10 and V20, as well as the high-end components here, we can expect the V30 to command a high price — probably in the high $700 range. That being said, with how aggressively we’ve seen the LG G6 cut in price just in the few months following its launch, LG may be willing to go slightly more aggressive with its pricing out of the gate.
LG V30
- LG V30: Our wish list for LG’s latest big phone
- Latest render shows LG V30 alongside Galaxy Note 8
- LG V30 will have curved OLED display
- LG V30 will launch on August 31
- Join our LG V30 forums
