LG likes to keep a large, rolling selection of mid-range and low-end phones available for a variety of customers, and today it's revealing two more. The K8 LTE and K5 are both 5-inch phones with a focus on style over substance thanks to somewhat low specifications, but they should do well enough if they're launched at the right price. Unfortunately the press release doesn't say how much the phones will cost, but the K8 will sell in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Russia, while the K5 will be limited to Europe, Russia, and Latin America. Both should be available to purchase later this week in some markets.
The K8 offers a 5-inch LCD "HD" screen, which probably means 720p resolution. LG is quick to mention its curved "Arc glass" screen, which has been seen on a few other models. The cameras are decent with an 8MP shooter on the rear and a 5MP "selfie" cam on the front. Otherwise specs are middling at best, with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor of unknown origin, just 1GB of RAM on the Latin American version and 1.5GB elsewhere, a 2125mAh removable battery, and an unknown amount of storage with a MicroSD card expansion slot. The phone will run Android 6.0 underneath LG's skin, and it's set to sell in gold, indigo, and white colors.
The K5 has the same 5-inch screen size, but its resolution is bumped down to just 854x480 with no swanky curved glass. It does get a metallic body, but inside is the same 1.3GHz processor, a single gigabyte of RAM and 8GB of storage plus a MicroSD card slot, and a 5MP/2MP camera setup. The battery is even smaller at 1900mAh, though it is removable, and users will have to make do with Lollipop 5.1 for software. The K5 will sell in gold, silver, and "Titan" colors. LG doesn't say which wireless bands are supported on the K8 LTE and the K5, but the omission of "LTE" from the latter might mean it's a 3G-only device. Hopefully the price reflects its lack of capability.
Source: LG Newsroom
PRESS RELEASE
SEOUL, Mar. 15, 2016 — Following the rollout of the K10, K7 and K4 earlier this year, LG Electronics (LG) announced that two new members of its K Series lineup, K8 and K5, will be introduced in key markets this week. The K8 will be available to consumers in regions including Asia, Africa, the Middle East, CIS and Latin America. The K5 will target customers in Europe, CIS and Latin America (model name Q6 in Mexico).
Revealed publicly for the first time at CES 2016, the K Series delivers a feature-rich UX and an advanced camera without the premium price. Its brilliant finish was influenced by the glossy pebble design language of previous K Series devices which imparts a luxuriousness and modern look to the collection.
The K8 is most notable for its premium design highlighted by smooth, curved edges as a result of its 2.5D Arc Glass while its woven back cover offers a comfortable and secure grip. Users can enjoy clear, crisp images on the HD-quality display and take incredible selfies with the 5MP front camera and popular options such as Gesture Interval Shot and Flash for Selfie.
To offer a superb viewing experience, the K5 sports a best-in-class 5-inch display matched to a sleek, metallic body. The 2MP camera on the front with Gesture Shot makes taking selfies even more fun and with three different colors to choose from – Gold, Silver and Titan – the K5 is sure to stand out in its category of mostly black and grey competitors.
“We are aware of the diverse needs and wants of our customers around the world and our goal is to deliver the best products to meet their expectations,” said Juno Cho, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The K8 and K5 will be fantastic choices for anyone who is seeking a smartphone with great looks, great looks, at a great price.”
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Display: 5.0-inch HD In-cell Touch
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Chipset: 1.3GHz Quad-Core
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Camera: Rear 8MP / Front 5MP
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Memory: 1.5GB (EU, NA) / 1GB (LATAM) / microSD
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Battery: 2,125mAh (removable)
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Operating System: Android 0 Marshmallow
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Size: 146 x 71.5 x 8.7mm
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Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.2 / NFC / USB 2.0
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Colors: Gold / Indigo / White
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Display: 0-inch FWVGA
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Chipset: 1.3GHz Quad-Core
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Camera: Rear 5MP / Front 2MP
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Memory: 1GB RAM / 8GB ROM / microSD
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Battery: 1,900mAh (removable)
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Operating System: Android 1 Lollipop
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Size: 145 x 71.6 x 8.9mm
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Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.1 / USB 2.0