New LG Wing announced with unique swivel display

LG Electronics (LG) unveiled its first Explorer Project device, LG Wing, at an online launch event live-streamed around the world from its Seoul headquarters. Embodying the Explorer Project’s aim to discover yet unexplored usability concepts in an effort to expand the mobile industry, LG Wing boasts a unique form factor that presents consumers with new and compellingly different mobile experiences.

Hidden second screen offers next-level user experience

lg wing

LG Wing is completely different from any other smartphone on the market. Users can switch seamlessly between Basic Mode and Swivel Mode any time to enjoy an expanded and truly differentiated user experience. In Swivel Mode, the entire front of the phone rotates clockwise 90 degrees, orienting the Main Screen in landscape mode to reveal a 3.9 inch Second Screen that unlocks new usability and new possibilities to explore – a single application can be expanded to both screens or two applications can be displayed simultaneously, one on each display.

Viewing video-sharing and streaming platforms in Swivel Mode allows users to interact with the Second Screen while content plays uninterrupted on the Main Screen. To take advantage of LG Wing’s unique form factor, LG collaborated with industry-leading platform partners.

When viewing YouTube or Tubi on the preinstalled NAVER Whale browser, the video plays on the Main Screen while the Second Screen displays comments or the search bar. LG’s partnerships with other streaming platforms such as Rave and Ficto means that LG Wing owners can enjoy videos full-screen while simultaneously interacting with other viewers via the Second Screen.

LG Wing’s two displays and revolutionary form factor facilitate new ways to engage with certain apps and features, making it far easier to multitask. Users can watch their favorite movies in all their widescreen glory while searching for information about their favorite actors or discussing the movie via chat with friends.

For extra convenience, the Multi App feature allows users to create shortcuts for pairs of apps they typically use together. Swivel Mode can also prove handy when driving, allowing users to follow map directions on the Main Screen reserving the Second Screen for calls, which on other phones would cover the map. Changing the orientation of LG Wing creates all kinds of new possibilities for multitasking and enjoying content.

Immersive viewing experience without distractions

With more consumers watching content on their smartphones than ever before, LG is introducing various features in Wing to improve the mobile viewing experience. The Main Screen of LG Wing is a flawless 6.8-inch P-OLED FullVision display with 20.5:9 aspect ratio to deliver an exceptional viewing and gaming experience.

Not only does the Second Screen expand the viewable real estate of the device, it also doubles as a grip when the Main Screen is in landscape mode. With Grip Lock activated, the Second Screen displays useful information such as time and date and ignores accidental touches.

In video platform apps optimized for its unique form factor, LG Wing’s Second Screen acts as the Media Controller. When activated, a floating icon appears in the upper-right corner of the Second Screen, giving users the ability to change video and sound settings without having to pause the video or switch to another window.

And to eliminate any potential visual distractions that might get in the way of viewer immersion, LG has implemented a 32MP Pop Up Camera that emerges from the body of the device when needed to preserve the device’s screen real estate.

World’s first gimbal feature in a phone with superb video recording

For users who usually record and share their daily lives using smartphones, LG equipped its groundbreaking handset with advanced camera features and technologies exclusive to the new form factor.

LG Wing boasts three rear cameras – a 64MP Ultra High-Resolution OIS Wide, 12MP Ultra Wide Big Pixel and 13MP Wide. Enable Dual Recording in Swivel Mode by using the 32MP pop-up camera and one of the phone’s rear cameras simultaneously. The results can be saved together in a single file, or in two separate files with the aspect ratio set to either 1:1 or 16:9.

What’s more, the Second Screen can be used as a dedicated editing palette while the video or photo is displayed on the Main Screen. LG Wing also comes with LG Creator’s Kit, a collection of advanced imaging solutions including Timelapse Control, Voice Bokeh, and ASMR Recording.

The Gimbal Motion Camera, the world’s first in a smartphone, turns the LG Wing’s Second Screen into a convenient grip, providing the stability needed to capture clearer shots and smooth video footage in horizontal mode with one hand, normally difficult to accomplish with conventional bar-type smartphones.

LG Wing offers functions typically found only on a real gimbal, just as a joystick for controlling the camera angle, a lock to reduce shakes and blurring, a follow mode for smoother videos when moving, pan follow for horizontal movement with minimal up and down shake, and first-person view mode for capturing rhythmic and dynamic movements.

Lighter yet durable for reliable usability

Even with two screens, LG Wing maintains a relatively light, making it easy to hold and convenient to carry. Using slim but tough composite materials and a special perforation technique, LG engineers were able to keep the weight to just 260 grams, making LG Wing no heavier than many of today’s large-display smartphones. And the ergonomic design of the device ensures a comfortable stress-free grip whether in Swivel Mode or Basic Mode.

LG Wing engineers took into consideration the additional moving parts to employ features to enhance its durability and reliability. When taking a selfie, the accelerometer recognizes if the phone has been dropped and instantaneously retracts the pop-up camera lens to prevent any damage. Another example of quality engineering is the hinge module with Hydraulic Damper, which reduces stress on the mechanism when the Main Screen is rotated.

Thermoplastic polyoxymethylene is applied to the back of the Main Screen to facilitate smoother swiveling and to prevent scratches on the Second Screen. The hinge mechanism in LG Wing has proven to be perfectly reliable even after 200,000 swivels.

To meet customers’ expectations of 5G services, engineers equipped LG Wing with Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G Mobile Platform with the Snapdragon X52 5G Modem-RF System. As Qualcomm’s first mobile platform to integrate an application processor and 5G Modem-RF system, this chipset brings best-in-class AI performance, lightning-fast 5G connectivity, and intelligent multi-camera capabilities while also preserving battery life. Thanks in part to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, LG Wing delivers a truly unique entertainment experience with instantaneous response times, cinema-quality graphics, and incredible audio.

“LG Wing ushers in a new era of mobile discovery and is an exciting beginning to our Explorer Project initiative,” said Morris Lee, president of LG’s Mobile Communications Company. “Different than anything else on the market today, this innovative device challenges the industry status quo and provides consumers with a new mobile experience that will open up new ways to think about the smartphone.”

LG Wing will initially launch in South Korea starting next month to be followed by key markets in North America and Europe.

Consumers are encouraged to visit http://lgwing.me/Virtual_Unboxing to experience LG Wing for themselves. Interested developers can go to http://mobile.developer.lge.com to learn more about creating unique applications for LG Wing.

LG Wing specs:

Main screen: 6.8-inch 20.5:9 Full HD+ P-OLED display, 2460 x 1080 resolution
Second screen: 3.9-inch 1.15:1 G-OLED display, 1240 x 1080 resolution
64MP Ultra High Resolution main, 13MP ultra-wide, 12MP ultra-wide Big Pixel rear cameras
32MP front camera
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor with Snapdragon X52 Modem-RF system
8GB RAM
128GB/256GB storage, expandable up to 2TB
4000mAh battery
Android 10 OS
260g (weight)
Aurora Gray, Illusion Sky colors

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Finding comfort in a small smartphone

04/25/2023

Having lived for over 30 years, I’ve gone through a lot of technological evolutions. I experienced the tail end of the Walkman era before Discmans took over and then saw those get replaced by the ever-iconic iPod.

Digital cameras were introduced which led me to let go of my film cameras. Landlines evolved into cell phones and then, eventually, into smartphones.

But think about it and it’s funny, really, how things run in a cycle.

With phones for example, they were comically large to begin with because of limited technology and then, eventually, humans made them super super tiny just because we could. (remember the Nokia 8210?)

And then, along the way, we’re back to making them big (or modernizing old form factors like the flip phone)

The standard display of most smartphones these days is sized upwards of 6 inches which can be quite a handful for some (me included). And only a few, like Samsung or Apple, are still producing smaller-sized, full-featured devices.

Which was fine for me because, in all honesty, I was never a fan of the form factor.

So when I was handed the Samsung Galaxy S23 to try out, I wasn’t really looking forward to its tiny-ness since I do work on my phone and screen real estate is something I treasure.

But in having and holding this smartphone for a couple of weeks, I’ve come to realize its appeal.

There really is comfort in having a small phone and I’m glad to have found it.

It’s unassumingly worry-free

Okay maybe not totally unassumingly but it wasn’t one of the things I was expecting to appreciate.

In reviewing smartphones over the years, I’ve come to accept that, these days, most of them can’t or won’t fit in my pockets or smaller bags. I’ve long grown accustomed to seeing about a third of my phone peeking out of my pants pocket and it falling out when I try to sit or crouch.

And I’ve also come to accept that it was the modern flip phone that would appease my need for a phone that would fit.

Well, I was (a little bit) wrong.

While flip phones like the Samsung Z Flip4, Huawei P50 Pocket, or the more recent OPPO Find N2 Flip are probably the best when it comes to fitting basically anywhere, the Samsung Galaxy S23 offers a surprisingly comfortable size as well.

What convenience this brings (apart from better handling which I’ll talk about next) is the ability to be worry-free when it comes to bringing my phone.

Fancy dinner with a tiny bag? Phone fits in my pocket.
Out shooting on the field? Phone fits in my pocket (And doesn’t fall out despite movement).

And when I get a little careless, this device naturally fits in the palm of my hand making it less likely to slip away from me.

I honestly love the feeling of taking the Galaxy S23 anywhere without having to constantly worry about it getting damaged. And that ease of mind is rarely felt when handling a larger device.

Everything is within reach

While a fan of smartphones with large displays, I’m also clumsy and my hands aren’t that big — a formula for constantly dropped objects.

I’m also sure everybody is familiar with that graceless shuffle we do with one hand when we have to reach the upper half of the display and how it can cause a tiny heart attack if ever you lose grip.

I’ve had my fair share of dropping (sometimes cracking) bigger smartphones, so when I switched to the Samsung Galaxy S23, it was a like a breath of fresh air; like handling the smartphones of before.

With this base model, I could reach everything. Swiping down to check notifications didn’t require me to loosen my grip and outstretch out of my thumb. I could also freely navigate with little to no worry about the device slipping from my hands.

And when on the go, I find that having a small smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S23 is a game changer for multitasking.

With its compact size, I can easily use it even when only one hand is available. This means I can quickly check my emails, send a text message, or make a phone call without having to put anything down.

And because the Samsung Galaxy S23 fits comfortably in the palm of my hand, I didn’t have to worry about straining my wrist or dropping the phone while I’m on the move, either.

Whether I’m running around during a shoot or just trying to get things done around the house, the Samsung Galaxy S23 and its tiny frame let me do my work worry-free.

Same flagship Galaxy performance for less

As technology advances, smartphones are becoming increasingly powerful and versatile. For many people, having flagship performance is a must-have feature, but not everyone wants a large phone like the S23+ or the Ultra variant.

That’s where this base Samsung Galaxy S23 comes in. You’re basically getting all the capabilities of the S23+ in a tinier frame.

One of the biggest benefits of having flagship performance in a small phone is speed which the S23 can happily provide.

With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, there’s hardly anything this phone can’t handle. It was pretty much lightning-fast when it comes to loading apps, multitasking, gaming, and overall performance.

This helped me get things done quickly and efficiently without any lag or slowdown.

Whether I was working hard with news articles or editing photos on Lightroom, or just enjoying my screen time streaming or playing, there was basically no worrying about this phone’s capabilities.

Another benefit of the Samsung Galaxy S23 is its cameras. Though not as spec’d out as the top-of-the-line variant, the S23 is still equipped with a more than capable daily snapper.

Final thoughts

So have I changed my mind about smaller smartphones? To a certain extent, yes.

While I, again, might still get drawn to phones with larger displays and larger frames (except for flip phones, those are awesome), I now know the comforts of owning a small (and powerful) phone.

While not a popular size in the market, its appeal can’t be denied. And the Samsung Galaxy S23 is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for flagship performance in a compact package.

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