eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
LG has unveiled its LG Stylus 2 Plus smartphone, which gets several key performance and feature improvements compared with its earlier Stylus 2 sibling. The new handset was launched in Taiwan on June 1 and is expected to roll out to other markets including Asia, South America, Europe and North America soon, according to the company.
The updated LG Stylus 2 Plus has a faster 1.4GHz octa-core processor; a Full HD 5.7-inch In-Plane Switching Quantum touch-screen display; a higher-resolution, 16-megapixel rear main camera with dual flash; and 2GB to 3GB of memory depending on the market.
The original LG Stylus 2, which was unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in February, is equipped with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB of LPDDR3 memory, a 5.7-inch HD touch-screen display and a 13-megapixel rear camera, according to an earlier eWEEK story.
The Stylus 2 Plus still includes a nano-coated stylus that gives users “the tactile feedback of a quality fountain pen when writing on the screen,” according to LG. The stylus can be used with a wide range of apps that are included on the handset, including Quick Memo, Off Memo and Pen Keeper, which helps users by displaying a warning when the stylus gets too far away from the phone and could be lost.
The handset, which runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system, has the same 3,000mAh removable battery as the previous model, as well as an 8MP front-facing camera. It also includes a fingerprint reader for security and 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage, depending on market, and is equipped with a microSD slot for additional storage. In addition to its LTE connectivity on GSM networks, the handset includes WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 and USB 2.0 connectivity capabilities.
Pricing has not yet been announced for the new phone, which will be available in Titan, Gold and Brown colors. The smartphone is 6.1 inches long, 3.13 inches wide and 0.29 inches thick and weighs 5.11 ounces.
“The LG Stylus 2 Plus offers users a spacious screen, powerful multimedia functionality and a writing experience at a competitive price,” Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics, said in a statement. “It’s just another example of the constant refinements we’re making to our mobile products to give LG customers a wide variety of features and designs to choose from.”
The previous LG Stylus 2 was LG’s sequel to its G4 Stylus phone. When the original Stylus 2 handset was unveiled in February, it was accompanied by the then all-new X cam and X screen smartphones, which were built for users who want a great camera or advanced display without other unneeded features. The X cam has dual rear cameras, while the X screen model has an always-on second display, similar to the one found on LG’s V10 premium smartphone. The second screen sits above the phone’s main 4.93-inch HD display and offers quick access to apps and other functions.
The LG X cam phone includes a 5.2-inch full HD curved glass display, a 1.14GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of memory, 16GB of onboard storage and a 2,520mAh battery. The phone also has dual 13MP and 5MP rear cameras and an 8MP front camera, and runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system.
The LG X screen handset features a 4.93-inch HD main touch-screen display as well as a 1.76-inch second always-on LCD display that can show users frequently used information. The X screen also includes a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of memory, 16GB of onboard storage, a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. Additionally, the handset has a 2,300mAh battery and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
The X series phones made their debuts in markets in Asia, Europe and Latin America in March.