LG could be planning to follow up the G2 smartphone and the G Pad 8.3 tablet by entering another segment of the mobile market, the smartphone/tablet hybrid. Popularized by Samsung with the Galaxy Note, one could say the G2 is a prime example of the genre, but like the Galaxy S4, it’s not, as the 5.2-inch screen is too small, no matter how ridiculous it sounds to say it.
No, to qualify as a hybrid these days, the screen has go to be even larger, and according to a new rumor, LG could be looking towards Sony’s massive Xperia Z Ultra for inspiration. Sony’s device has a 6.4-inch touchscreen with a 1080p resolution, which is apparently what LG has planned for its device.
The rumor also links the LG phablet with Android 4.4 KitKat, the recently announced next version of Google’s operating system. Like the Galaxy Note 3, a Snapdragon 800 processor and 3GB of RAM could provide the power. The only other spec leaked is for an 8-megapixel camera, which sounds quite low for modern standards, and we’d have expected a repeat of the G2’s 13-megapixel camera.
Top-end specs will be important if LG’s smartphone/tablet hybrid is to take on the Galaxy Note 3, Xperia Z Ultra, and the unofficial HTC One Max and the Lumia 1520.
A name for the mysterious LG phone hasn’t been leaked alongside the vague specification, but it’s doubtful LG will use the Optimus brand name, having retired it on upper range devices. We’re willing to bet the letter G will be in there somewhere though. No date for the device’s release is mentioned either, but if Android 4.4 really is going to be onboard, 2014 – perhaps at CES or Mobile World Congress – sounds plausible.
