Hands on with LG's new mid-range smartphones (updated)

While LG may not be bringing its flagship G4 to MWC, the company is focusing on other areas of the Android market, with the LG Watch Urbane, and a slew of mid-range smartphones that the company introduced last week. We go hands-on with the LG Spirit and the LG Magna! Update: We’ve now added Josh’s videos for the Joy and Leon,.

First up is the LG Spirit, which features the rear-mounted button layout that has become a signature element of LG’s latest smartphones, and also comes with a bit of a curve similar to the G Flex 2, even if the similarity is from a purely aesthetic point of view. On the specifications front, things are decidedly mid-range, with the device featuring a 4.7-inch HD display, a quad-core processor, 8 GB of internal storage, 1 GB of RAM, an 8 MP rear camera, along with a 5 MP front-facing unit. The device runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with the latest iteration of the LG G UI on top.

Second is the LG Magna, the best of the lot in LG’s latest mid-range lineup. Like the Spirit, the LG Magna also features signature design elements such as the rear placement of the volume rocker and power button, and also has a bit of a curve to it, limited to the body of the device, as it doesn’t feature a curved display. The 4G LTE iteration comes with a brushed metal design back cover similar to the LG G3, while the 3G version will feature a regular polycarbonate back cover. Things remain the same in terms of specifications, save for the display, which is a 5-inch HD display, and also runs Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. It’s always great to see a mid-range smartphone offer features and the build quality of its flagship counterpart, and that is exactly what the LG Magna does.

Related: Best LG Magna cases

LG Leon

Next on the list is the LG Leon, the third smallest of the bunch. The Leon looks very similar to the other three, carrying over LG’s classic design language with its rear-mounted volume buttons and power/standby key. The device features curves around the back, making it a really nice device to hold. The device has a 4.5-inch FWVGA screen with a pixel density of 220ppi. This device comes in either 4G or 3G-capable variants as well. The 4G model is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, and the 3G version comes with a 1.2GHz processor. Both variants are backed by 1GB of RAM and both have a 1900mAh removable battery as well as 8GB of internal storage. The rear-facing cameras come in either 8MP or 5MP flavors (depending on region) and both variants have a front-facing VGA camera. Additionally, the 4G LTE model comes with a brushed metal design back cover similar to the LG G3, while the 3G iteration will feature a regular polycarbonate back cover.

The processors in these devices may not be best-in-class, but LG’s G UI skin running atop Android 5.0 Lollipop is minimalistic, and is simple enough for the processor to power with ease. We don’t have any pricing or availability information yet, but we do know that all four devices will be priced similarly to LG’s previous Optimus L and F series devices.

LG Joy

Lat but not least, we have the LG Joy. This is the most competitively-priced device out of the bunch, offering up a 4-inch WVGA display with a pixel density of 233ppi. In terms of design, the Joy takes queues from LG devices in the past, bringing back the side-mounted volume buttons and power/standby key. As for the internals, the device has either a 1.2GHz quad-core or dual-core processor, 8GB or 4GB of internal storage, and 1GB or 512MB of RAM, all depending on which version you go for. The device also comes with a 1900mAh removable battery, a 5MP rear-facing camera and a VGA front-facing camera. Depending on the market, the Joy will run either Android 5.0 Lollipop or 4.4 KitKat, powering LG’s G UI interface.

The LG Joy is thicker than the others, and has a smooth plastic finish on the back of the device. Again, we don’t have any pricing or availability information quite yet, but we will update you when we hear anything about these devices.

So there you have a quick look at the four new mid-range smartphones available from LG. Be sure to stay tuned to Android Authority as we bring you more MWC 2015 coverage!