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LG reveals smart ThinQ Speaker with Google Assistant ahead of CES 2018
- LG reveals Google Assistant-powered ThinQ Speaker ahead of CES 2018
- Touted as LG’s “first premium smart AI audio product”
- LG says it worked with Google to deliver the full Assistant experience
LG recently announced that it would be pooling together all of its AI-powered smart products under one sub-brand called ThinQ. Ahead of a broader reveal at CES 2018, LG has now revealed one of the first products that will carry the ThinQ name.
The appropriately named ThinQ Speaker is being touted as LG’s “first premium smart AI audio product” that doubles up as a nifty smart home hub. The LG ThinQ Speaker is powered by Google Assistant and LG says it teamed up with Google directly to deliver the full Assistant experience.
Google announced at IFA 2017 that more third-party smart speakers with Assistant would be hitting the market in the near future, but it sounds like LG’s will be one of the very few that supports Assistant’s complete AI repertoire, much like Google’s own Home devices.
With rival devices from Sony, Panasonic, and JBL already vying for attention, not to mention the flood of Assistant-powered speakers expected to debut at CES 2018, LG appears to be targeting the relatively uncompetitive upper-end of the market by focusing on audio quality as well as AI smarts.
In a press release (via 9to5Google), LG talked up its new partnership with British firm, Meridian Audio. LG says that Meridian’s “advanced high-performance audio technology” ensures that products such as the ThinQ Speaker are capable of delivering “more natural and warm sound.”
While Google is now offering a top-tier Home for audiophiles with the Home Max, LG’s ThinQ Speaker could fill a gap in the market between the regular Home and its $399 bigger brother. As such, the ThinQ Speaker’s price-tag will be very important.
Unfortunately, LG hasn’t released any pricing details at this stage (or a release date), but we’ll keep an eye out for any details at CES 2018 where the company is expected to debut a handful of ThinQ products in its so-called ThinQ Zone from January 9-12th.
What do you think of the LG ThinQ Speaker? Will it fare better than the SmartThinQ Hub? Let us know in the comments.