LG debuts G Pro 2 smartphone with 5.9-inch wide screen

(iTers News) - To get its hard-won growth momentum up and running, LG Electronics unveiled LG G Pro 2 smartphone, a successor to its flagship LG G Pro smart phone that debuted in mid-2013. The predecessor G Pro smart phone was a smashing hit selling in 1 million units in 5 months since its release. Helped by the buoying sales of the G Pro, LG saw a 30% jump in its smartphone shipments in 2013.

Running on Android 4.4 Kit Kat OS, the G Pro 2 smartphone comes in a wide and expansive 5.9-inch IPS full-HD LCD screen, offering an industry-leading screen-to-frame ratio of 77.2%.

Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU, the G Pro 2 smartphone stands out in the camera, audio and video quality featuring 4K UHD recording and playback.

For example, the G Pro 2 is  the first LG smartphone to benefit from an enhanced 13MP camera with OIS+ (Optical Image Stabilizer Plus) and advanced functions ideal for creating sharing content. LG’s proprietary OIS+ technology adds software anti-shake functionality to the acclaimed hardware-based feature already built into the slim camera module for the best photos and videos possible when in motion or in low light situations. What’s more, the sensors and lens of the rear and front camera on the G Pro 2 have increased in both size and sensitivity, for images that rival many standalone point-and-shoot cameras

Enhanced security  

“Knock Code is an example of LG bringing simpler, more convenient solutions to consumers’ mobile lives,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Whereas in the early years of smartphones it was a contest to see how many features could be stuffed into the phones, our researchers took a long, hard look at how consumers were really using their devices in their daily lives and included just the most useful UX features. We think customers will agree.”

An evolution of the popular KnockON feature that was first unveiled last year in the LG G2, Knock Code allows owners to power on and unlock their G Pro 2 smartphones in one easy step by tapping their screens using one of 86,367 “knock” combinations. Thanks to LG’s intelligent algorithm and advanced hardware, the knock pattern can be entered on any area of the screen — whether the display is turned on or off — using anywhere from two to eight taps.

It can also record in 120fps HD and allows editing of video in three different speeds — one-half slow motion, one-fourth slow motion and original.  After the shot is taken, the user has also the option to select the preferred depth of focus before saving. Users could also press the ‘All in Focus’ icon to set focus on all spots of the picture. Its built-in natural flash functionality also offers a much more balanced color temperature and exposure compared to the normal flash, which results in a most natural image just as it is in real life.  Its UX features are outstanding, too. For example, it provides users more security with the ability to lock files, photos, videos and memos with a unique password. It also enables users to comfortably use the G Pro 2 with one hand by shrinking the display to a size ranging from 3.4 inches to 4.7 inches, depending on the user’s preference, In what's called as dual browser, it also can divide the expansive screen into two separate browser windows for more convenient surfing

The G Pro 2 will go to sale sometime in the latter part of February, but  global availability outside of Korea has not yet been decided.  

(Photos and Videos by JH Bae)