LG unveils 4G-ready Optimus F5 and Optimus F7

We already knew LG will be introducing new handsets at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week. And now the company has announced two phones in the new Optimus F Series ahead of the event.

The two Optimus F Series handsets – Optimus F5 and Optimus F7 – are both LTE-ready and will make their global debut at MWC. Both phones run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean at launch.

LG’s new Optimus F Series – The F5 in the middle, flanked by the F7

The Optimus F5 is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and has 1GB of RAM. According to LG, it features a largest-in-class 2150mAh battery.

Other Optimus F5 Key Specifications:

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

• 4.3-inch IPS display with a 960 x 540 qHD resolution
• 4G compatible
• Wi-Fi, with DLNA and Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth with A2DP
• 8 GB internal storage with microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
• 5-megapixel Autofocus primary camera with 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera

The Optimus F7 is the bigger brother and has a more powerful 1.5GHz dual-Core processor and 2GB of RAM. Consequently, there is a larger capacity 2540mAh battery to cope with all that power.

Other key specs of the Optimus F7:

• 4.7-inch True HD IPS display with 720p resolution and pixel density of 312 ppi
• 4G compatible
• Wi-Fi, with DLNA and Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth with A2DP
• 8-megapixel autofocus primary camera with 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
• 8 GB internal storage with microSD card slot (up to 32GB)

Both phones will have LG’s advanced UX features such as the upgraded QSlide and Live Zooming. The upgraded QSlide allows users to open two apps at the same time, both in full screen mode. Users can change the size, position and transparency of QSlide apps according to their preferences. Functions now compatible with QSlide include video, browser, memo, calendar and calculator. Live Zooming, previously only seen in the Optimus G, is now standard in the Optimus F5 and Optimus F7. Live Zooming allows the user to zoom into a specific area while watching a video.

“LG continues to lead the industry with 4G LTE innovation and the Optimus F Series, a well-balanced an well-equipped 4G LTE smartphone for the mass market, embodies the best of our broad LTE patent portfolio and innovative UX features,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “We are sending a clear message to consumers with the Optimus F Series that LTE isn’t just for heavy content users and techies anymore. It’s for everyone.”

The worldwide rollout of the Optimus F5 will begin in the second quarter in Europe, followed soon by the Optimus F7 in selected markets. Exact timing and pricing will be announced at a later date.