Remember LG? Yes, the company best known today for its TVs. But did you know that back in the early 2010s, they also had a thriving smartphone division? Well, it looks like they might be making a comeback… sort of.
A Little Bit of LG’s Phone History
Even before their smartphone boom in the early 2010s, the company had a strong presence in mobile technology. They were the company behind the world’s first CDMA digital mobile handsets, which they supplied to U.S. carriers.
Their first smartphone, the LG GW620 (not the catchiest name, we know), launched in 2009. From there, the company introduced the G and V flagship lines, both of which became fan favorites within the Android community during that era.
What Made LG Stand Out?
The company carved its niche with unique design choices. One of its most iconic features was the rear-mounted power and volume buttons, first seen on the LG G2. They also offered smartphones with genuine leather backs—something few competitors dared to try.
Beyond design quirks, the company built solid, high-quality devices that catered to power users and multimedia enthusiasts. They were among the first to embrace the “FullVision” narrow-bezel display trend that’s now standard across the industry.
The V Series, in particular, was a multimedia powerhouse, featuring a secondary “ticker” display, extensive manual video controls, and superior audio quality with a Quad DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter).
What Went Wrong?
The company’s last experimental phone was the Wing, with its swiveling main display that revealed a smaller secondary screen beneath. It showcased the company’s engineering chops, but it ultimately became the company’s swan song. In April 2021, the company officially announced the closure of its smartphone division.
Several factors led to their decline:
- Intense Competition: The company struggled to keep up with giants like Apple and Samsung, and newcomers like Xiaomi and HUAWEI made matters worse by offering powerful phones at much lower prices.
- Software Updates: The company was notoriously slow at rolling out Android updates—a dealbreaker for users who wanted long-lasting devices.
- Failed Innovations: While often praised for trying bold ideas, many of the company’s experiments were dismissed as gimmicks. They rarely gained mainstream traction and proved costly to the company.
Is LG Really Back?
Not exactly. On August 15, the company posted a teaser on their official Facebook page with the caption: “Something cool is coming your way… stay tuned!” The teaser image showed a phone outline with the text: “THE COOLEST PARTNERSHIP IS ON ITS WAY…”
At first, the tech community was ecstatic with the thought of the company dipping its toes in the smartphone game once again, but a few days after the teaser was uploaded, the company finally revealed the partnership that they were alluding to.
Alas! The partnership wasn’t with any existing smartphone maker, they were introducing a new app called “LG DUALCOOL Partners”. So… that’s that. The community was expectedly disappointed with the news but not surprised. After all, designing or even partnering with a smartphone maker is still risky considering the company’s subsequent downfall.
Would you have liked to see the LG in the smartphone game again?
Let us know what you think!
