Skip to main content

LG announces the big screen, Full HD Optimus G Pro, but so far only for Japan

LG Optimus G Pro Japan
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Check out our full review of the LG Optimus G Pro cell phone.

It has been a good week for mobile fans in Japan, having not only been told they’ll be getting the Sony Xperia Tablet Z very soon, but also today local network NTT Docomo revealed its spring 2013 line-up of a dozen new devices. At the top of the list is the LG Optimus G Pro, which was leaked recently, and is equipped with 2013’s most desirable feature – a 5-inch, 1080p screen.

LG was one of the first companies to announce it was working on a 5-inch screen with a Full HD resolution, but as this is the first device we’ve seen from the manufacturer to use one of the panels, it means the likes of HTC and Sony managed to beat the company into stores. The Optimus G has proven to be a popular flagship Android phone, so it’s unsurprising to see LG continue to trade on its good name; plus the remainder of the Optimus G Pro’s spec list reads like a checklist of must-have features for top-end smartphones this year.

Quad-core power, a Full HD screen and a big battery

You already know about the 5-inch, 1080p panel – which has a pixel density of 440ppi, considerably more than the already excellent 312ppi found on the 4.7-inch Optimus G. Then we have a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro with 2GB of RAM to help it keep the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system running smoothly. A 13-megapixel camera sits top-center on the shiny rear panel, there’s 32GB of internal storage memory and a microSD card slot to increase this by up to 64GB. Additionally, the phone has NFC, LTE connectivity and a forward facing video-call camera.

It’s a heavy old beast though, as it weighs in at 160 grams, plus it’s 10.1mm thick too. While the 3000mAh battery certainly contributes to this increased size and weight – the Optimus G is 145 grams and 8.5mm thick – it doesn’t compare favorably alongside the Sony Xperia Z, which weighs 146 grams and measures just 7.9mm thick, however its battery is rated at 2330mAh. Some may consider this a trade-off they’re willing to make.

The LG Optimus G Pro will go on sale in Japan this April, however prices haven’t been discussed. As for an international release, the Optimus G spent sometime as an exclusive in Korea before making its way out into the world, so there’s a good chance the Optimus G Pro will follow in its footsteps. With Mobile World Congress just a few weeks away, and LG already saying it has some big-screen surprises waiting for us, we’d expect to hear something more about LG’s international plans for the G Pro at that time.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
The Google Pixel 8a is official. Here’s everything that’s new
Someone taking a phone call on the aloe Google Pixel 8a.

A week ahead of its annual developers' conference, Google has dropped a new budget phone in its Pixel-A series. The Google Pixel 8a retains the line’s signature look with a horizontal camera island at the back, but serves it in a package that embraces rounded corners and also happens to be fractionally smaller and lighter

The most meaningful changes are reserved for the display, silicon, and battery. The OLED screen’s size remains the same at 6.1 inches with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. However, the refresh rate has been increased to 120Hz, up from the Google Pixel 7a's 90Hz display. This HDR-ready panel offers a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits and also features a fingerprint sensor underneath.

Read more
Apple has quietly killed its cheapest iPad
Three 2021 iPads are stacked on a table.

The iPad lineup has received a price bump after Apple quietly killed its cheapest iPad model. Apple’s 9th-generation iPad used to cost $329, but has been discontinued. At the same time, the company has reduced the 10th-gen iPad’s starting price by $100, which means it’s now priced at $349. As a result, getting the cheapest iPad means you'll now spend $20 more than before.

The 9th-gen Apple iPad was launched in 2021 with the A13 chipset and Apple's Center Stage featur,e but retained the same old design with the already-old Lightning port and home button. With Apple moving to a USB-C port on all devices to comply with EU laws, it was inevitable that Apple would discontinue the 9th-gen iPad this year. The iPhone SE remains the only Apple product with a home button and a Lightning port that's still available in the company's lineup.

Read more
Best iPhone 15 deals: How to get Apple’s latest iPhone for free
The display on a green iPhone 15.

The Apple iPhone lineup isn’t often a place to turn for a discount, as Apple deals can be somewhat difficult to come by. The best phone deals often turn up discounts on less premium brands, but there are some ways to save on the iPhone 15, which is Apple’s most recent iPhone release. You’ll find some of the best iPhone 15 deals scattered across retailers, which is why we’ve done some of the heavy lifting and organized them all below. Among the best iPhone deals you’ll find below are some impressive savings even if you don’t have an old device to trade-in.

You can also shop the best refurbished iPhone deals if you’re looking for ultimate savings, and there are plenty of iPhone 14 deals to shop if having the most recent iPhone release isn’t of importance to you.
Today's best iPhone 15 deals

Read more