LG out to rev smartphone sales with flagship V20

LG's new premium smartphone V20. (JUNG YEON-JE / AFP)

outh Korean consumer electronics titan LG unveiled a flagship V20 smartphone aimed at internet age "storytellers" on the eve of an Apple event expected to star a new iPhone.

LG introduced the V20 in San Francisco, highlighting camera and audio capabilities aimed at bringing professional-level production quality to even casual of moments captured on smartphones.

"The V20 was built with storytellers in mind; the visual generation," LG mobile communications director Frank Lee said while introducing the handset.

"It was designed to celebrate the idea of unmissable moments."

The V20 was touted as the first smartphone to ship with a new Google Nougat operating system that boasts features including improvements to graphics handling and battery performance.

Handsets also feature multiple microphones and technology to capture and playback sound at quality levels suited to even finicky audiophiles.

"This means you get post-worthy videos from live concerts and other events - no blown out audio," Lee said of the V2, which has a 5.7 inch high-definition screen.

V20 will be available later this month at a price yet to be disclosed, according to LG.

"I don't think this will set the world on fire," Current Analysis research director Avi Greengart said after the LG event.

"That said, if you are looking for a large phone right now, and a name brand, this could be an option."

Samsung is suffering from a recall of its Galaxy Note 7 large-screen "phablet" smartphones, and that could work to LG's advantage if it gets the V20 to market before its South Korean rival resolves the situation, according to the analyst.

Samsung on Friday announced it will halt sales of its latest flagship smartphone and recall millions of units, after faulty batteries caused some handsets to explode in a massive blow to the South Korean electronics giant's reputation.

LG has struggled for years to increase its smartphone sales after a late entry into the market.

Meanwhile, Apple on Wednesday is expected to introduce a new iPhone and perhaps a second-generation smartwatch as it polishes its lineup of devices to shine during the year-end shopping season.

The rumor mill has been grinding away with talk of iPhone 7 models that will boast faster chips, more sophisticated cameras, and improved software while doing away with jacks for plugging in wired headphones.

To assuage users accustomed to wired headphones, Apple could roll out accessories that include an adaptor that plugs into a remaining port.

The event would also be a chance to showcase wireless headphones, perhaps some from Beats, which Apple bought two years ago in a deal valued at $3 billion.