Event Coverage

Hands-on: LG G5 - the flagship modular smartphone

By Team HardwareZone - 22 Mar 2016

Hands-on: LG G5 - the flagship modular smartphone

Note: This article was first published on February 22, 2016.

LG G5.

LG has just unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the LG G5. As a flagship smartphone, the LG G5 features the latest hardware packed within a sleek metal aluminum uni-body design. The LG G5 feels light and comfortable in hand, measuring just 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7mm and 159g.

The phone is also the first flagship smartphone with a modular slot that accepts attachments so you can customize which features you want. Currently, we've seen two: the LG CAM Plus camera module and the LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O Play (a DAC and amplifier module attachment).

The smartphone's entire bottom bezel can be unlatched and replaced with different modules.

From our short time with the LG G5, we've learnt that the modular type design is easy to manage. Once you remove the bottom bezel, the removable battery will slide out. Simply replace the battery onto an alternative module attachment before sliding the whole section back in. Right now we've only seen two modules: the first is the LG CAM Plus, which resembles a camera grip and makes it easier for the user to handle the phone while shooting, and it also houses an extra 1,200 mAh battery. The sides of the module also have extra controls for the camera: there's a circular zoom jog for precise zooming, a 2-step shutter key, and a separate button for video recording. With this module's extra battery capacity, it brings the phone's total battery charge up from 2,800 to 4,000mAh - ideal for intensive shooting. 

The LG CAM Plus module.

The LG CAM Plus module attached to the LG G5 phone. You can see that it provides quite a comfortable grip to shoot.

The bottom of the CAM Plus module.

The second module is the LG Hi-Fi Plus, developed in partnership with Bang & Olufsen. It offers 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC upsampling and lets the phone support 32-bit 384KHz high-definition audio playback. The module also doubles as a standalone Hi-Fi DAC, which can be connected to PCs or other smartphones as well.

LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O Play.

The module's connector that interfaces with the LG G5 phone and its battery.

You can use the LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O Play as a standalone DAC.

Join HWZ's Telegram channel here and catch all the latest tech news!
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.