Rumor: LG V50 to be company’s first 5G smartphone, coming at MWC 2019

LG is gearing up to launch a 5G-enabled V-series smartphone at MWC 2019, according to a report from ETNews. The South Korean website also suggested the LG G8 ThinQ — an LTE device — would launch at the same Barcelona event on February 24.

This would be the first time LG’s V and G series launch simultaneously. According to ETNews, LG has leveraged the V-series brand name for its 5G mobile product to avoid the time and costs of launching a new smartphone brand.

This doesn’t necessarily explain why LG wouldn’t house it under the LG G series, though the website also hinted that the LG G8 ThinQ would be the final handset in that line. If LG has favored the V series rather than the G series for its 5G phone, it may be because the G series is reaching end-of-life.

Sprint will sell LG’s 5G smartphone in the U.S. and ETNews reaffirmed it would also reach Europe. It’s tipped to cost between 1.3-1.5 million won (~$1,165 to $1,345) and go on sale this March.

We reached out to LG regarding this story but a spokesperson declined to comment.

What about the specs?

LG itself recently confirmed details about its 5G phone, though it stopped short of announcing its name. The device would include a 6-inch (probably QHD resolution) display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, and a 4,000mAh battery. It’s also arriving with a vapor chamber cooling system to help dissipate heat.

Meanwhile, LG’s new mobile user interface is believed to make extensive use of gestures for navigation.

LG will face competition from other major Android OEMs in 5G, including South Korean rival Samsung. The global number one smartphone vendor is also expected to unveil its first 5G smartphone, the Galaxy X, next month. And if its rumored specs are anything to go on, LG might be more than a little worried.

Up next: These G8 ThinQ renders will look very, very familiar