LG announced yesterday that the Velvet was coming to the US for just $599. And now we’re learning that the LG Velvet won’t be available as an unlocked device in the US.
Instead, you’ll only be able to get it as an AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon variant. With the later two coming later this summer. As AT&T is the only one that is selling it for now. In what looks like a timed exclusive.
LG rarely does unlocked phones
Unlike other smartphone makers, LG hasn’t really embraced the unlocked smartphone market. It mostly only sells its phones through carriers, in the US at least.
Now there are some of their low-end and mid-range smartphones that are sold unlocked in the US, through Amazon or Best Buy. But when it comes to their more mainstream smartphones, they are typically only available in carrier variants.
For example, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G was only available as a carrier variant as well. For Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T here in the US.
Of course, this is a bit different in other countries, like Europe for example. Where most people are only buying unlocked phones, and aren’t going straight to their carrier for a new phone. Part of the reason for this is because the US is still a very carrier-centric market. Where most people do buy their phones directly from their carriers. And LG has great relationships with all of the US carriers, and don’t want to hinder that.
LG Velvet is a great value device
The LG Velvet is already a really great value smartphone from the company, at $599. However, if it were unlocked, it would be an even better value. Imagine being able to buy an unlocked LG Velvet and taking it to whatever carrier you want? Well, all you can do is imagine.
The Velvet sports a 6.8-inch FHD+ display, with the Snapdragon 765G chipset, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage inside. There is also a pretty decently sized 4300mAh capacity battery inside that should keep it running all day long. Especially since that display is a 60Hz panel and not a 90Hz or 120Hz.
On top of that, this is a 5G smartphone. It does support Sub-6 and not mmWave, yet. There is a Verizon version coming later this year that will support mmWave though. And for $599, this is one of the best 5G devices that you can pick up right now.