LG V70 release date, price and specs news
Will we see the LG V70 or does a change in LG’s smartphone strategy signal the end of the line for the V line?
by Henry BurrellLG’s V series phones have gone through six iterations from the bold reinvention of 2015’s V10 right up to 2020’s V60, a phone that we thought was one of the most underrated of the year.
The ‘V’ unofficially stands for ‘video’, and the V series has always sat alongside the more mainstream G series to offer Android enthusiasts a fully featured camera app, great video editing options, flagship power, and on the V10 and V20 a ticker-tape style second display.
But LG has decided that the G8 will be the last ever G series phone as it pivots to save its flagging mobile division. The LG Velvet was the first phone of the new era, and the LG Wing is the second.
While the company has not said the V series is dead, it leaves the V70’s future existence in question. Here’s what we know so far.
LG V70 release date
Even if the LG V70 were definitely coming, recent V releases make when that might be hard to predict.
The V10, V20, V30, and V40 were all announced in either August, September, or October but then the V50 was announced in February 2019 just four months after the V40 debuted.
The V60 then showed up in February 2020, so perhaps the most likely release date for a potential LG V70 is February 2021, but with the change of dates historically and the V series’ uncertain future, this is by no means definite.
LG V70 price
Just like the release date, the LG V70’s price is hard to guess. The V60 was a US-only phone, with prices at around US$649 at the time of writing, but the V50 went for $999 when it first came out. The V40 was equally very pricey.
Our guess would be that a V70 would take the V60’s route by coming in around $700 to rivl the market price of the current-gen iPhone, but offer optional accessories like the Dual Screen case.
LG V70 specs
If the V70 comes to fruition then it’ll more than likely sport the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875, or whatever Qualcomm ends up naming its new high-end mobile processor. The one thing the V series doesn’t skimp on its processing power.
Less clear would be the rest of the specs. The V60 was good, but it didn’t take the kitchen sink approach of older V phones, opting for a 60Hz display when rival manufacturers have gone for 90Hz or 120Hz this year. Plus its design returned to the hulking bulk of the V10 and V20 after the sleek V30, V40, and V50.
We also hope the optional dual screen returns, but perhaps looking a bit slimmer like it did on the Velvet.
It’s anyone’s guess as to the V70’s approach, which makes us feel like LG might not make it. It hasn’t officially said it’s the end for the V series and we’d be sad to see it go. There is still room in the market for a refined, video-centric smartphone that doesn’t cost the earth. Then again, the V60 was that, and critics panned it for not being a full $1,000 flagship spec. Those critics also slam LG for selling $1,000 phones. It’s not really LG’s fault.
LG V70 wish list
In the spirit of hope, here’s a wish list for things we’d like to see if the LG V70 ever drops.
A return to a sleek form factor
If this is possible without sacrificing battery life, then we’d love to see it. The V60 had amazing battery life, but to keep it going and support juice-sapping 5G, the 5,000mAh cell is stuffed into a rather large device.
We think the pinnacle of V series design was the V40, the first major phone to have 5 cameras (2 front, 3 rear) and still pack in more features pound for pound than the equivalent Galaxy S or iPhone.
120Hz refresh rate display
We don’t hold it against the V60 for not having it, but the V70 really should bring the display tech up to speed with the competition. LG hasn’t shipped a phone with a high refresh rate screen yet, but the V series would be the best place to do it first.
Global availability
It might not work for LG’s fragmented sales strategy but the V70 ideally needs to be available globally and unlocked to attract buyers. The V60 is US-only and usually carrier-locked, massively putting off anyone who wants to import.
LG has never been great at offering unlocked phones, but when it’s so hard to even find its phones on sale in the UK and other countries then what chance does the V70 really have?