The price details of LG's flagship smartphone, G3 have surfaced just a few days after its unveiling despite the handset makers not revealing it at the unpacking event. The US carriers - Sprint and T-Mobile have revealed the possible pricing of the device.
Sprint and T-Mobile have launched sweepstakes for legal residents of 50 United States and district of Columbia, giving them chance to win a free LG G3 handset. One doesn't necessarily have to purchase the device to enter or win but has to sign up for more information of the handset.
Interestingly, the carriers have given a strong hint on the price of the device through the official rules for the contests. For instance, T-Mobile has revealed that a total of 34 LG G3 handsets will be given away to the winners between 3-30 June, which would cost them $22,100. The information has given a strong hint that the Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of each handset would be $650 (approximately ₹38,384). The information given in Sprint indicates that the device would cost $599 (approximately ₹35,372).
However, the actual price of LG's flagship smartphone can be different when it hits the store, as the Approximate Retail Value can vary by $50 to $100. For instance, the ARV of Samsung Galaxy S5 was $700 compared to its off-contract retail price - $650.
The pricing hinted on Sprint and T-Mobile indicates that the price range of the device will be similar to that of its predecessor, the LG G2 which was sold for $650 off-contract when it was launched last year. However, it may be cheaper than Samsung's recently released flagship smartphone, Galaxy S5 which is priced at ₹51,000.
LG G3 could give Galaxy S5 a stiff competition in the smartphone market, especially in price-conscious emerging markets like India, considering the price difference. The former is not lagging behind other high-end smartphones when it comes to features and specifications. In fact, some features like display size, screen resolution and battery are superior to many smartphones, including Samsung's flagship device.
LG G3 sports a 5.5-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440p) with a staggering pixel density of 538 ppi (pixels per inch), which is two times the resolution seen in conventional full HD display of current smartphones. It packs a 2.5GHz Snapdragon processor, Adreno 330 graphics engine, Android v4.4.2 KitKat OS and 3,000 mAh (removable) battery under the hood. It will come in two storage variants – 16GB with 2GB RAM and 32GB with 3GB RAM – which can be expanded up to 128 GB.
One of the notable features of LG G3 is its 13.0-megapixel camera with Laser auto-focus feature and OIS+ (Optical Image Stabilization Plus). The Laser auto-focus feature, which is not seen in other smartphones, enables the users to take quality pictures even in low-light conditions with the help of laser beam. The device also has features like Knock Code screen unlocker, Smart Key board, Smart Notice and Smart Security.
