LG augments G4 line

LG announced two siblings for its G4 flagship smartphone, adding larger and smaller products to the portfolio.

G4 Stylus has a 5.7-inch screen, making it a little larger than the 5.5-inch G4, and comes with a stylus for note taking or drawing. The device, which will be known as G4 Stylo in North America and South Korea, will come in 3G and LTE versions.

G4c, in contrast, has a 5.0-inch screen, and is said to offer “many of the G4’s premium features and styling but in a more compact form factor” – if 5-inches can be described as compact nowadays. It will come in one, LTE-enabled version.

While the devices share their badges with the G4 flagship, the hardware specifications differ significantly (see below). They also dispense with the leather back, which was a major differentiator for G4 at launch.

“We are committed to offering consumers in fast-growing markets LG devices that not only deliver performance, but also look good while doing so. Both the G4 Stylus and G4c will surpass customers’ expectations of what an LG phone should be,” said Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG’s Mobile Communications unit.

LG G4 Stylus and G4c are scheduled to launch in “key strategic markets” in the weeks to come. Prices and supporting operators will be announced locally at the time of availability.

The new devices were revealed as the vendor begins the global rollout of G4, which following its earlier debut in South Korea will now be available in Hong Kong, and then Turkey, Russia and Singapore.

It will eventually be available in “most of Europe, North America, CIS, Southeast Asia, Middle East/Africa and South/Central America”. Around 180 operators and retailers are already partnering.