Previously today, we’ve talked about LG’s plans to develop a “thinking smartphone”, a very interesting endeavor that aims to put the South Korean smartphone manufacturer above local rival Samsung (as well as other major manufacturers around the globe). But, as the thinking smartphone is probably at least a couple of years from entering production, it does make a lot of sense for LG to prepare for a much more imminent threat posed to its already modest sales, namely the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S3.
Unfortunately, all we have at this point are a bunch of rumored specs for the Galaxy S3. But I’m sure a lot of our regular readers have figured it out by now that none of the smartphones announced by LG at MWC in early March can stand as a real competitor to Samsung’s next flagship superphone.
Fortunately for all Android fans out there, LG seems to have figured that out as well, and, according to recent reports, is planning the release of a worthy contender to the rivals’ S3. Although the production name of this device is unknown, the upcoming LG smartphone in question is referred to as the LG D1L.
According to recent rumors, the LG D1L will feature a 4.7-inch LCD display running at a native 1280 x 720 pixel resolution (there will be none of that 3D screen madness that LG has tried – with limited success – to push over the last couple of years). The device will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 SoC, which makes use of a 1.5GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A15-based CPU – probably the best smartphone CPU currently available. Of course, on top of that impressive hardware, LG D1L will run the latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich.
The LG D1L, expected to be released in May 2012, is touted as LTE-compatible, meaning it will probably reach the US and LG’s native South Korea first, while common sense dictates that a 3G HSPA+ version of the D1L will be released in European markets as well, by the end of Q2 2012.
Overall, while the rumored specs for the LG D1L are fairly decent, I’m willing to bet that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will sell many times more units, just out of the inertia of the Galaxy series alone. The D1L will be more like an alternative the HTC One S than a serious threat to the S3.
As always, feel free to contradict me in the comment section below, gloves off!
