LG’s latest flagship phone is perhaps one of the most intriguing smartphones to be commercialized over the past several years, and this is all due to the fact that the handset features an expansion slot which allows it to be paired with a variety of modules called “Friends”. The LG G5 has been available for purchase in most regions for one week already, and of course, prices for the Friends modules have also been previously confirmed by the Korean company. However, the modules are not equally priced in all regions, and as it turns out, prospective customers in Hong Kong might have to pay considerably more for their Friends.
Prices for the LG G5 Friends in Hong Kong have been recently confirmed by local online retailer Wilson Electronics. The e-tailer’s website contains a promotional poster for the LG G5 and Friends (below), revealing the price tag for each new LG accessory. The LG CAM Plus module which adds physical camera controls and includes an additional battery costs HK$698, which translates to about US$90. In contrast, the same module costs the equivalent of US$85 in South Korea, and roughly US$70 in the U.S. However, the LG CAM Plus is still slightly cheaper in Hong Kong than it is in the UK, where the module costs the equivalent of US$95. The DAC module by Bang & Olufsen costs HK$1,998 in Hong Kong, which converts to roughly US$259. In the U.K., the same module would set you back the equivalent of US$210, whereas in South Korea the B&O DAC module costs only 189,000 Won, or roughly US$162.
LG’s VR headset didn’t escape the price bump either. By itself, the LG 360 VR costs a whopping HK$2,598 (US$334), or HK$1,898 (US$244) when paired with the LG G5 smartphone. In contrast, the same VR headset sans the flagship costs the equivalent of US$257 in South Korea, US$280 in the UK, and US$200 in the U.S. As to why there is such a considerable price gap between the Friends modules in Hong Kong and most other markets, it might be due to taxes, shipping, and import fees, or it could be that LG expects higher demand in this region.