Select a region
A modular smartphone that enables users to attach additional features, such as a better camera lens, has been unveiled by LG.
The new LG G5 comes with a removable battery slot, enabling additional features including a camera and a speaker to be slotted into this area, with the battery at the base of the phone.
The Korean firm’s president, Juno Cho, described the new device as “an adventurous theme park in your pocket”.
Google is also working on a modular smartphone where users can add and remove features, though it is thought to be far from completion. A small second battery inside the phone keeps it running while any swap is made.
LG made the announcement at a press conference ahead of the Mobile World Congress technology show in Barcelona.
The G5 will also have an “always-on screen”, though LG added this will only highlight part of the screen and use less than 1% of the battery every hour.
The phone’s rear camera also comes with a wide angle lens, which can be used to take photos in a 135 degree range – wider than the viewing range of the human eye.
LG also announced its own virtual reality headset, following in the footsteps of a host of companies to create such a device.
The LG 360 VR connects to the G5 smartphone, and has a dedicated screen for each eye, which LG says makes images shown 20% sharper than other headsets. It is being powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon processor, one of the most powerful available.
Facebook-owned Oculus, PlayStation and HTC are all due to release VR headsets in the coming months.
The technology giant also unveiled a 360-degree camera that can be used to take photos and video, as well as post to Google Street View.
A spherical robot called the Rolling Bot was also revealed. Controlled remotely over a Wi-Fi network, the firm said it could be used as a home security product and comes complete with a Pet Care mode so users can monitor and even talk to their pets when they’re not home – as well as beam a small laser onto the floor for them to play with.
