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Five obscure beginnings to some of our favorite smartphone features
They've been around longer than you'd think
Many features we now consider standard equipment for our smartphones weren't so common a few years ago. Looking into the origins of some of them can be surprising for several reasons: sometimes they're older than expected, more recent than you remember, or originated in a device you've never heard of before.
Out with the old, in with the new: LineageOS cut support for Android 9 Pie earlier this year, and to make up for the loss, the open-source project has just released version 18.1 based on Android 11. It comes with official support for about 60 phones and tablets.
Android 9 Pie has already arrived on a few phones, but many other devices are still waiting on promised Oreo updates. The LG G6 was updated to Android 8.0 earlier this year, and the company also promised upgrades for the V20 and G5. Oreo is now rolling out to the T-Mobile and Verizon variants of the LG G5, according to multiple user reports.
When it was announced, the LG G5 got a lot of hate for its - let's face it - ugly design and poor build quality. But those things, which are easily alleviated by a case, overshadowed a lot of the G5's good qualities. While its exterior downfalls made its $600-700 MSRP a little ambitious, the story changes when the phone is just a fraction of that price. And with this T-Mobile/unlocked model's $199.99 sale price, the G5 is definitely worth a look.In case you've forgotten, the LG G5 came with a 5.3" 1440p LCD, a Snapdragon 820, 4GB of RAM, a 16MP/8MP sensor combo on the rear, an 8MP selfie cam, and a 2800mAh battery. Even over a year later, those specs are nothing to scoff at. I used a G5 for a few months, and loved its performance, its cameras, and the quick fingerprint sensor. Plus, the G5 was the second-last major flagship to come with a removable battery, with the very last one being the V20. The Friends modularity thing was a massive failure, but those didn't really affect the use of the phone.If you're interested, an eBay seller with a feedback score of just over 140,000 is offering brand-new T-Mobile H830T models that have been unlocked for GSM use for just $199.99, which is a steal for the power you get. If you asked me to choose between a G5 and something like a BLU R1 Plus, I'd take the G5 any day of the week. The dreaded "limited quality available" sign is already there, so don't wait too long if you want one.
Caseology is a trusted and well-reviewed case maker, so a sale of its products on Amazon may well be of interest to some of you. Particularly those of you who've so far managed not to break that beautiful screen on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+, as there are cases for those devices starting at $4, as well as many others.
The LG G5 wasn't quite the success LG hoped it would be. The phone's modular functionality, the primary selling point, never really took off. It didn't help that the phone was fairly expensive when it launched, hovering around $600-700 in the United States. The T-Mobile G5 (H830T) is now just $224.99 on eBay, which is $30-80 off what other stores are charging for the unlocked US model.
The LG G5 was by no means a perfect phone. It was pretty expensive when it launched, and the modular add-ons never really caught on. Still, it received positive feedback for its wide-angle camera and removable battery (among other things). Now you can get an unlocked G5 for $259.99 on Newegg, at least $50 less than what any other US retailer is currently charging.
Back in 2015, LG officially started allowing customers to unlock bootloaders of select LG phones. You would still void your warranty, but you had the option. Now the bootloader for the 'H840' variant of the LG G5 can be officially unlocked.
Since our last LineageOS post, the project has continued to add new features and support new devices. In addition to new Quick Settings tiles and changes to included apps, the ROM now supports 16 additional devices.
Okay look, the LG G5 was not a successful phone. There's little reason at this point to run out and buy one, but that doesn't mean there's no reason. LG just added the US unlocked model (RS988) to its bootloader unlocking tool. If you need a fast phone with an unlockable bootloader, there are worse choices.
Do you like free stuff? Of course you do, and AT&T knows it. The company has announced its first 'BOGO' (Buy One, Get One) program of the year, allowing customers to buy one of three smartphones and get another one on a new line for free.
Even with its successor right around the corner, the LG G5 is not all that bad of a phone. It might be a little bit weird, but at least it has good specs and Nougat. So if you're looking for a decent phone on the cheap, then you may want to check out what Best Buy is offering. The carrier versions of the G5 are on sale for the 24-month installment plans. Sprint has the best deal at $9.99 per month, making the phone effectively $239.76 after two years.
On this quiet holiday Monday (in America), there's something notable happening on AT&T's network. The long-awaited Nougat update for Ma Bell's LG G5 has started rolling out. Check for the update on your device and you may well find success.
Shockingly, LG has come to the conclusion that the mass consumer market is just not interested in modular devices — most especially when those modules require dropping more money in addition to the MSRP of the phone. And some of the modules were not exactly inexpensive. So, who's surprised about this? Anyone?
2017 is right around the corner (thank goodness), and that means new flagship phones. Courtesy of OnLeaks and Gear India, renders derived from CAD data of the LG G6 have been released, showing a black, rectangular, slab-like object.
Normally we see Verizon post a service alert on its website well before any of its customers receive a new software update on their devices. Today the company seems to be breaking that long habit, but the affected users aren't complaining. According to posts on the dedicated sub-Reddit and XDA forum, the Verizon version of LG's modular G5 is being updated to Android 7.0 starting today. Huzzah, tally ho, three cheers, et cetera.
Mark it down, everyone: LG is the second OEM to start the Nougat rollout to its early 2016 phone, the G5. Seeing as the V20 launched with 7.0, LG already had a head start on the update wars this year. The catch here for most of us reading this is that the update is starting in South Korea. The claim is that the rest of the world will see it in the "coming weeks."
Okay, so the G5's modular design hasn't set the world on fire in quite the manner that LG probably hoped it would. But aside from some of the foibles of its unique form factor, it's still a high-end flagship device with some of the latest specs and a great camera. And if you chop the original retail price down, it turns into a pretty good deal. Such is the case with this eBay listing, which is selling the international model of the G5 for just 9.99.
Today, we're partnering with AT&T on an exciting giveaway: a chance to win an LG G5, UE Roll 2, and a Tile locator device. Want to win this rather tempting bundle (UE Roll 2 pictured below, by the way)? Just use the Gleam widget below to get started.