The unannounced LG Aristo 2 Plus and LG K30 will be coming to T-Mobile later this year, known industry insider Evan Blass said Saturday, without providing a more specific launch timeframe for the two Android handsets. Both are still likely to be introduced this spring when T-Mobile traditionally refreshes its portfolio of entry-level and lower mid-range smartphones. Neither device has yet been confirmed by the South Korean tech giant, though their supposedly official monikers suggest the upcoming offerings will be meant to serve as direct upgrades on the LG Aristo 2 and LG K20 lineups. T-Mobile has a history of carrying low-end handsets from LG and has been selling the LG K20 Plus for almost a year now.
Both Android smartphones may also be sold by MetroPCS, T-Mobile’s mobile virtual network operator whose handset portfolio is largely geared toward budget-conscious consumers on pre-paid plans. LG itself recently started rethinking its smartphone strategy in its entirety, having decided to drop the practice of releasing new Android flagship models after an arbitrary 12-month mark which it previously followed only because its main rivals did. The company is still maintaining its old product plan in other segments of the market and should hence introduce over half a dozen new entry-level and mid-range smartphones over the course of this year.
While LG’s overall business is presently growing, its mobile division is still bleeding money and has lost over a billion dollars in the last three years alone, according to the firm’s consolidated financial reports. Its next Android flagship is expected to be announced in June and may be advertised as the G7 Neo, with previous leaks suggesting the handset will feature a 19:9 screen with a display notch. In the meantime, LG is looking to commercialize the V30S ThinQ, an AI-focused revision of its 2017 V30 family that’s set to be released in South Korea in the coming days before becoming available for purchase in other select markets this spring.