IFA, the annual consumer electronics trade show hosted in Berlin by Messe Berlin, is upon us. As usual, there’s going to be lots of announcements made at this year’s show and it’s easy to get lost in all the product announcements that usually go with such.
What no one will be forgetting soon is the LG G7 One (pictured above), LG’s first ever Android One smartphone and the first time we are seeing the Korean device maker releasing something high profile with stock Android since the Google Play Edition LG G Pad released half a decade ago.
What’s even more interesting about the LG G7 one is not that it is part of the Android One programme and, as such, is guaranteed at least an upgrade to Android 9 Pie, but the family it belongs to: the LG G7 family.
The LG G7 is LG’s 2018 flagship smartphone. Of course, like its predecessors, the G7 has stood no chance in a world dominated by Samsung (which, unsurprisingly, had equally bad sales of its won flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S9) and a host of China-based device makers like Huawei, Xiaomi and BBK Electronics brands OPPO and Vivo.
The LG G7 One is a kind of a budget rejig meant to stir fresh interest in the G7 by both way of press reports (like this one you are reading) as well as reaching out to consumers whom the G7 itself was far from thanks to its premium pricing.
In the press release announcing the G7 One, LG is quite open abut this stating, “Many consumers today are turning their attention to legacy flagship smartphones which are seen as offering better values compared to the newest mid-range models. These customers aren’t satisfied with mediocre components but also don’t want to pay for over-the-top features in some of today’s premium phones that they will never use. The challenge is finding the smartphone with just the right balance.”
In fact, if anything, looking at the G7 One’s spec sheet as provided by LG, it’s every bit the LG G7 ThinQ bar that silly “ThinQ” moniker and the processor used – a Snapdragon 835 instead of the Snapdragon 845 on the OG G7.
It’s still meant to produce the high quality sound that the G7 prides itself in thanks to the 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, “virtual 3D sound for all content, up to 7.1 channel audio with DTS:X” and the Boombox Speaker it packs. It also maintains a feature that LG first introduced in the LG V30S last year, the AI CAM though, according to LG, the feature will be available through an update later on.
Both the LG G7 One and the LG G7 Fit are designed to allow a broader range of consumers enjoy LG smartphones with proven and flagship-level features
The LG G7 One is not the only smartphone that LG Electronics’ mobile division will be showcasing at IFA. There’s also another device that’s been announced alongside it: the LG G7 Fit. The latter, according to LG, “…was designed to bridge the gap between mid-range and flagship models, delivering exceptional value and performance as well as key features and innovations introduced in the LG G7 ThinQ”.
Specifications of the two devices are as below:
| LG G7 One | LG G7 Fit | |
| Dimensions and weight | 153.2 x 71.9 x 7.9mm, 156g | 153.2 x 71.9 x 7.9mm, 160g |
| Display | 6.1-inch QHD+ 19.5:9 FullVision Super Bright Display (3120 x 1440 pixels) | Same |
| Camera | Rear: 16MP Standard Angle (F1.6 / 71°) Front: 8MP Wide Angle (F1.9 / 80°) | Rear: 16MP Standard Angle (F2.2 / 76°) Front: 8MP Wide Angle (F1.9 / 80°) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 845 | Snapdragon 821 |
| Memory | 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage (expandable upto 2TB) | 4GB RAM, 32/64GB internal storage (expandable upto 2TB) |
| Operating System | Android 8.1, Oreo (Android One) | Android 8.1, Oreo |
| Battery | 3,000mAh | Same |
| Network | 3G, 4G LTE | Same |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, USB Type-C, NFC | Same but with Bluetooth 4.2 LE |
| Others | AI CAM†, Bright Camera, Boombox Speaker, 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, DTS: X 3D Surround Sound, IP68 Water and Dust Resistance, HDR10, Google Assistant Key, Face Recognition, Fingerprint Sensor, Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Technology, MIL-STD 810G Compliant, FM Radio | Same |
| Colour options | New Aurora Black / New Moroccan Blue | New Aurora Black / New Platinum Gray |
As is often the case with anything LG mobile, don’t lose sleep wondering whether the LG G7 One, a prime candidate for this list, or its sibling the G7 Fit, will be making their way to Kenya. The flagship smartphone they are modelled around itself has never made it to this part of the world in any official capacity and there are no signs it is about to do so. This is just for the record, in case you are looking for a worthy alternative to the Nokia 8 Sirocco since, we suspect, the G7 One will mirror or exceed its pricing.
