Forget about folding phones, swiveling phones is the next big thing. As LG announces its Wing smartphone, which is part of its new Explorer Project.
The crazy and weird LG is back. After being more of a conservative smartphone company the last few years, LG is back making some interesting devices, with the Wing.
While other companies are doing folding phones, LG is going down a different path. Making that main display swivel into landscape mode and giving you a 1:1 aspect ratio display underneath.
LG Wing Specs
| Screen size | 6.8-inch OLED FullVision Display 3.9-inch OLED Display |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB, with micro SD card slot |
| Cameras | Rear: 64MP f/1.8, 13MP Ultra-wide f/1.9 117° FOV, 12MP Ultra-wide f/2.2 120° FOV Front: 32MP |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac; Bluetooth 5.1; NFC; USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Gen 1 Compatible) |
| Water Protection | N/A |
| Battery | 4000mAh |
| OS | Android 10 (upgradeable to Android 11) |
| Colors | Aurora Gray, Illusion Sky |
| Dimensions | 169.5 x 74.5 x 10.9 mm |
| Weight | 260g |
Breaking the mold
LG is looking to break the mold of what a smartphone can be, with the Wing. For years now, smartphones have mostly looked the same. Coming in a candy-bar shape, now they are starting to become taller, with much taller aspect ratios. But LG wants to change that look entirely. And that’s where Wing comes in.
Sure it is still a candy bar-shaped phone, but it can do a lot more. And it’s building on LG’s history with multi-screen experiences. Which actually started way back with the V10 back in 2015. That’s actually still a popular LG phone among many content creators, even five years later.
What’s really unique about the Wing, is that now you have a “grip” for holding onto your phone while you are watching a video in YouTube. Or even while you record video using the rear cameras. With the display swiveled, you are able to record in landscape mode, while holding your phone in portrait mode.
Other use cases for this are mostly with multi-window. And unlike a certain competitor, LG decided to use Android’s own multi-window experience on the Wing. So it works just like it should, with almost every single app supported. This means you can use it while driving, with the main screen on Google Maps or Waze, and the smaller display for music playback, or even to make a call.
A new way to create content on your smartphone
Most content creators are creating content on their smartphones, because mobile cameras are just that good now. And the LG Wing is really leaning into that. Giving you endless ways to capture content with the triple-camera system on the back.
There is a 64-megapixel main sensor with a f/1.8 aperture. Along with two ultra-wide angle cameras. There is the 13-megapixel ultra-wide, with a f/1.9 aperture and a 117-degree field-of-view. Finally, there is a 12-megapixel ultra-wide angle with the hexa motion sensors and a f/2.2 aperture. This has a 120-degree field-of-view, and is dedicated to being used in gimbal mode. The reason for a second ultra-wide sensor, is because it is rectangle and the orientation is turned. This is so you can record when the screen is in swivel mode, in landscape. Since the back doesn’t swivel, just the top.
Now, about that Gimbal Mode. LG thought that making the Wing have a built-in Gimbal would be epic, and we have to agree. So with the Wing, you can record super smooth videos, and have gimbal-like control. It’s like having the DJI OM4 in your pocket, and inside your phone. You’ll be able to pan, tilt and follow easily, while using the one-handed UI. It uses the hexa motion sensors and a triple-axis stabilization, to make it all super stable. The axes are also locked for smooth, straight shots of a single angle.
There is also dual video recording available, and you can choose how you record and save it. Whether that is in two separate files, side-by-side or even picture-in-picture. Giving you even more possibilities for recording on the Wing.
On the front, there is a 32-megapixel front-facing sensor. And LG finally, went with a pop-up camera there. Instead of using a notch. And it’s about time.
When can I buy it?
In typical LG fashion, the company did not share any pricing or availability, unfortunately. We do know that it is going to be available fairly soon, and available on carriers. Which is actually rather surprising. Considering the fact that carriers don’t typically get too excited about selling wild phones like this. Because they won’t be able to move them in the numbers they would like to.
Pricing is likely not going to be super low, but with the Snapdragon 765G inside, it might be cheaper than you’d think.
