A few hours ago, LG announced a mini version of its G3 flagship. The mini device will have two names depending on where you buy it from. For those in Asia, it will go with the name LG G3 Beat while in other markets it will be referred to as the LG G3 s. Launching a mini version barely 2 months into the G3 is a big move for LG and let’s hope it pays off.
Announcing the device the company’s president and CEO Dr. Jong-seok Park said, “Smartphone manufacturers cannot ignore this growing segment of consumers who want the best balance of looks, features, performance and, of course, price. The LG G3 Beat represents our commitment to the mid-tier Smartphone market that demands mature technology, proven branding, great innovation and attractive price, all in a single device.”
Just like all other mini Smartphones out there, the G3 Beat is smaller than the flagship G3 and has less advanced features.
Just because it runs on less powerful specs does not mean the G3 Beat should be ignored.
To start with, the screen of the G3 Beat will be a 5-inch IPS display with 720 x 1,280 pixels which may not be “so mini” but is still smaller compared to the G3 flagship that is 5.5 inches in size.
Under the hood, the G3 Beat will be powered by a quad core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor bundled with 1GB or RAM. 8GB of internal memory will come standard with the option of upgrading using a microSD card. Obviously, it will be running the latest version of Android, KitKat 4.4, and will have LG’s new UX.
In the camera department, the G3 Beat will have an 8MP shooter at the back with Laser Auto Focus and a 1.3MP front facing one. The phone has a removable battery with a capacity of 2,540 mAh.
Availability of the G3 Beat will be from July 18 in south Korea with other markets following soon. The price has not yet been announced and this is what will determine its success of failure. Price it too high and the G3 Beat will fail. Available colours will be black, white, and gold.
