Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
LG launches Wing, Velvet 4G in India: Did LG get pricing right?
- LG has launched the Velvet 4G and Wing in India.
- The Wing starts at ~$947 and goes on sale on November 9.
- The Velvet 4G retails for ~$500 and can be bought from October 30.
LG confirmed earlier this month that it would be holding an event for the Wing‘s Indian launch on October 28, and it’s now done just that. In addition to launching the quirky swiveling smartphone, the company has also confirmed availability of the Velvet 4G.
The two phones share a few features, such as an in-display fingerprint sensor, a 6.8-inch FHD+ OLED screen, 128GB of expandable storage, Quick Charge 4+ capabilities, Bluetooth 5.1, and NFC support. But otherwise, they differ dramatically in almost every other category.
What to expect from LG Wing
Starting with the Wing, we’re looking at the same proposition as before. So that means you can swivel the front of the phone 90 degrees to reveal a 3.9-inch secondary display underneath. This allows you to run two applications at once (one on each screen), or run one supported app across both screens. For example, having a video on the main 6.8-inch OLED panel, while the media playback controls are accessible on the smaller screen.
The LG Wing also packs a Snapdragon 765G 5G chipset, 8GB of RAM, and a 4,000mAh battery. Camera duties are handled by a 32MP pop-up selfie shooter up-front, while a triple rear camera can be found on the back (64MP main, 13MP ultra-wide, 12MP ultra-wide). Yep, it has two wide-angle shooters.
LG’s phone also has a “Gimbal Mode” which allows you to grip the Wing’s second screen like a gimbal and access a few neat features with the 12MP shooter. Some of the features include controlling the camera angle (presumably just cropping in), a lock to reduce judder, and pan follow functionality.
The phone packs wireless charging and IP54 splash resistance as well, being two features you might not expect for such a radical design.
What about the Velvet 4G?
The LG Velvet 4G swaps out the upper mid-range Snapdragon 765G processor seen in the 5G variant in favor of the Snapdragon 845 processor. This chipset was 2018’s flagship SoC of choice, but is it actually a downgrade over the 2020-era Snapdragon 765G?
Well, our own testing shows that the new mid-range silicon edges out the Snapdragon 845 when it comes to single-core performance, while also faring better in mixed/system-wide benchmarks. But the 2018 flagship processor beat the Snapdragon 765G when it came to GPU benchmarks and multi-core performance. So it’s more of a sideways move than anything, although system updates might be a concern down the line.
In any event, the Velvet 4G also serves up 6GB of RAM, a 4,300mAh battery, and an IP68 rating. The phone also features a less impressive rear camera setup compared to the Wing, offering a 48MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide shooter, and 5MP depth lens. A 16MP camera in a waterdrop notch takes care of selfies.
The 4G phone is still compatible with the Dual Screen Case though, giving you a rudimentary foldable experience by adding a second screen to the mix. This second screen allows you to run two apps at once (one on each display) or run the same app across both screens.
Pricing and availability
The LG Wing has a retail price of Rs 69,990 (~$947), with sales kicking off from November 9. More intrigued by the LG Velvet 4G? It starts at Rs 36,990 (~$500), while the package with the bundled Dual Screen Case is available for Rs 49,990 (~$676). Either way, Velvet sales start from October 30.
Do you think LG nailed pricing for the Wing and Velvet 4G? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.