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LG’s G8X ThinQ Dual Screen might just be a killer feature ahead of its time

17 Nov

The LG G8X ThinQ is the South Korean brand’s latest high-end smartphone and was launched at IFA in September. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 top-of-the-line chipset and features a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with FullHD+ resolution, 6GB RAM and an under-display fingerprint reader.

On the camera side of things the new model relies on similar hardware as previous LG devices but has to make do without the dedicated tele lens that could be found on the G8 ThinQ. The X-model’s dual-camera setup combines a primary camera using a 12MP 1/2.55″ sensor and F1.8 27mm equivalent lens with an ultra-wide camera that offers a 13MP resolution, F2.4 aperture and 16mm equivalent field of view. The primary camera also features OIS and PDAF.

The device’s standout feature is an attachable dual-screen case, though. It allows you to double the overall screen size and resolution, similar to other recent dual-screen devices, such as the Huawei Mate X or Samsung Galaxy Fold.

We’ve had the chance to use the LG G8X ThinQ with Dual-Screen accessory for a few weeks now. Read on to find out what the Dual Screen has to offer for mobile photographers.

The Dual Screen accessory

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The G8X ThinQ’s dual-screen solution is different from other dual-screen devices in that the secondary screen can be removed when not needed. This means you have a very visible border between the two displays, but you can also leave the secondary display at home when not needed – which is a good thing as it adds quite a bit of bulk and weight.

The secondary display is embedded into a case that the G8X can be inserted in, and connects to via its USB-C port. This means you need an accessory dongle for connecting a USB-cable when the Dual Screen is attached. This is not a major issue but, like any small accessory item, the dongle is quite easily lost if you’re not careful. The G8X is capable of wireless charging as well, though.

There’s no need to open the case to check the time or to see if you have any new notifications

The Dual Screen case does not have its own battery and instead draws power from the phone’s. LG claims the Dual Screen increases power consumption, depending on use, by between 20 and 30 percent, which is line with our experience.

The secondary display itself is the same P-OLED type, size and resolution as the primary one and we also found the color rendering to be identical. The hinges of the case allow for 360-degree movement, and at the front there’s a 2.1″ monochrome OLED cover display that shows app notifications as well as time and date. This means there’s no need to open the case to check the time or to see if you have any new notifications.

The rear portion of the case comes with a cutout, allowing you to use the phone’s camera while it’s in the case.

Dual-Screen controls

Once the Dual Screen is connected a control button appears on the right edge of the main display. A tap opens up the controls which let you swap the content of the two screens or turn the secondary display off.

The Dual Screen has its own app drawer and you can place app shortcuts and widgets on it in exactly the same way as the main display. In the Dual Screen settings you can adjust brightness of the secondary display (or set it to be the same as the main screen), turn off the cover display and Dual Screen control button, and set an app to open when the Dual Screen is turned on among other options.

Multi-tasking

Multi-tasking is the Dual Screen’s main purpose. For example, you can watch a video on one display while writing and sending a message on the other, or use Google Maps for navigation at a holiday destination while browsing a travel app.

In terms of use for imaging purposes, the options are (still) slightly limited. You could have the camera or an image editing app on one screen while browsing Instagram or another image sharing app on the other, but overall workflow efficiency gains are fairly small. At this point the Dual Screen is mostly about convenience: you can continue your Whatsapp-chat while preparing an Instagram-upload or editing an image.

Mirror Mode in the Camera app

App support for the Dual Screen is currently still quite limited but fortunately the LG Camera is one of the few apps that makes use of the secondary screen. With the Dual Screen attached you can turn on Mirror Mode. As the name suggests, it mirrors the camera’s preview image on the secondary display.

Combined with the ability to angle the latter any way you like, this feature can be really handy when shooting overhead or at low height, just like a tilting display on a regular camera. You can also use the secondary screen like a waist-level viewfinder which is particularly helpful for holding the device in a stable fashion when recording video.

It’s worth noting though that the mirrored display only comes with a shutter/video button. For all other controls you’ll still have to go back to the main screen. You can however swap the display content using the Dual Screen controls.

Wide Mode

Wide-view expands an app across both screens, offering an overall display size of 12.8 inches. This can be great for reading websites, viewing images and watching video but in many cases, especially when consuming multi-media content, the 15mm combined bezel between the two screens somewhat limits the experience.

The fact that the feature currently only works with websites viewed in the Chrome browser is another downside. Still, Wide Mode can be useful for viewing websites in desktop mode or on those occasions when additional real estate increases usability, for example when viewing and navigating a map.

Extended View

In Extended View mode an app is divided into two screens. Unfortunately this feature is currently only supported by two apps – the LG Gallery and the Naver Whale browser – but LG says it is expecting support to be expanded to additional apps in the future.

In the Gallery app you can tap on the Dual Screen button to expand the view. This allows you to browse thumbnails on one screen and open the full image on the other. You can zoom into the full image as well as share or delete it in this viewing mode. However, if you want to add a memo or edit, you’ll have to go back to the main screen, so the Dual Screen’s added value is somewhat limited in this instance.

LG’s Naver Whale is a web browser and allows you to view websites in Wide Mode, just like Chrome. However, it also lets you open links on the secondary screen by double-tapping them. This can be useful when browsing shopping websites for example, when you don’t have to jump back and forth between your list of search results and product pages. You simply keep the list open on one screen and open product pages on the other.

In a similar manner, when browsing Instagram or equivalent sites you can keep a user’s profile page open on the main screen and open individual posts on the secondary display. All this has to happen in the browser, though.

Virtual Game Pad and Keyboard

This Dual Screen use case is arguably the one that LG has implemented best so far. The Dual Screen can be used to display a virtual gaming pad. Android recognizes the app as connected bluetooth hardware which makes it compatible with any game that supports this kind of hardware. The pad is also customizable.

We’re no gamers but after a few trial runs on Asphalt 9 it’s fair to say the pad works quite well. A hardware pad is arguably a better option, but this virtual implementation isn’t far off.

The LG keyboard offers a very similar function. You can display a soft-keyboard on the main screen while having the app you are writing in, for example Gmail or Instagram, open on the secondary screen. The keys are larger than they’d be on a usual split-screen style keyboard and allow for more comfortable typing. We would not recommend it for writing your next novel but shorter pieces of text are absolutely manageable in this setup.

Conclusion

LG is a smartphone manufacturer who does not shy away from risky development decisions. Some years ago the company introduced a modular system with its G5 model which was very innovative but ultimately proved commercially unsuccessful. It was also among the first to introduce ultra-wide angle cameras to smartphone photography which today are pretty much ubiquitous.

The Dual Screen follows in this tradition but at the current stage it’s still too soon to say if it will go the way of the G5 modules or become a success like the ultra-wide camera. It’s fair to say that for the latter to happen more apps will probably need to support the secondary screen.

The most useful feature for photographers is Mirror Mode in the camera app which helps when shooting at awkward angles

Right now it provides the most obvious benefits to those users who like to multi-task, letting you work in two apps at the same time. The ability to consume content across two screens or separate app controls from the main screen are great but unfortunately only work with a very limited number of apps. Currently, the most useful feature for photographers is Mirror Mode in the camera app which helps when shooting at awkward angles.

For everybody else, and especially those who write a lot on their smartphones, the virtual keyboard on its own might be an argument to purchase a G8X ThinQ with Dual Screen. If that doesn’t quite convince you yet it’s probably a good idea to wait and see if the Dual Screen will get more support from app developers.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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LG’s 34-inch 5K UltraWide Nano IPS HDR600 monitor is a 4K video editor’s dream

08 Jan

LG has just released a couple of impressive new monitors, both of which take advantage of LG’s so-called Nano IPS technology and boast VESA’s DisplayHDR-600 badge, meaning they support the HDR10 standard and max out at at least 600 nits brightness for small patches or bright flashes (but only 350 nits full screen, long duration). That is a seriously impressive feat for a liquid crystal panel.

Unfortunately, LG has stayed pretty tight-lipped about these monitors, which will be debuted officially at CES in January, but here’s what we do know about them.

34-inch 5K UltraWide Nano IPS HDR600 Monitor (34WK95U)

The 34-inch 5K UltraWide is the real eye catcher, a monitor that takes aim at video editors who want to edit 4K footage at native resolution and still have room for editing panels on either side of the screen. Boasting a 21:9 aspect ratio and resolution of 5120 x 2160, the monitor could ostensibly replace a 2-screen setup with a single panel.

Combine that resolution with the fact that VESA have given this monitor its DisplayHDR-600 designation, and you’ve got a truly HDR-capable IPS monitor, something LG only managed to achieve thanks to its Nano IPS technology and possibly some other trickery (more on that later…).

As for color reproduction, Nano IPS technology manages to squeeze 98% of the cinema-grade DCI-P3 color space into the 4K monitor below. It stands to reason, then, that this same technology would bring similar results to the 5K UltraWide, but we’ll have to wait for LG to confirm this. The HDR-600 badge means the monitor has to at least hit 90% DCI-P3, but it’s likely the 5K UltraWide hits a higher percentage than that.

Finally, the monitor also features a Thunderbolt 3 port that, according to LG, “enables the transmission of 5K resolution images at 60Hz with a single cable.”

The LG 5K UltraWide 34WK95U will be on display at CES in Las Vegas in a couple weeks’ time, where we hope to find out more technical details. LG hasn’t released official pricing and release date details, but the monitor has been spotted online with a price tag of $ 1,500 and expected release date of May 2018.

32-inch 4K UHD Nano IPS HDR600 Monitor (32UK950)

Speaking of “the other monitor”… slightly overshadowed by the 5K UltraWide release, the 32-inch 4K UHD 32UK950 monitor might actually be the better fit for photographers.

It, too, feature Nano IPS technology and the HDR-600 badge from VESA, but in a 4K UHD panel (3840 × 2160). It’s a bit more boastful on the color front. No, you’re not getting that crazy-wide aspect ratio, but you do get confirmed 98% coverage of the cinema-grade DCI-P3 color space. And then there’s the connectivity:

This monitor’s single Thunderbolt™ 3 cable transmits 4K content and sound while providing enough charge to power a 60W notebook, simplifying any work space.

This monitor, too, will be on display at CES in January. And like its UltraWide sibling, LG hasn’t officially announced pricing and release date; however, it too has been spotted online with a price tag of $ 1,300 and expected ship date of May 2018.

Technical Dive: Nano IPS

Nano IPS could be a huge leap forward for monitor technology. IPS panels are typically limited to a static contrast ratio of around 1000:1, leaving a lot to be desired in the HDR space. Ideally, you’d want at least 4000:1, especially if you’re editing HDR footage.

Nano IPS seeks to get around this liquid crystal limitation by “applying nanometer-sized particles to the screen’s LED to absorb excess light wavelengths.” This, according to LG, greatly enhances the intensity and purity of on-screen colors for a more accurate and life-like viewing experience. It’s likely this is actually quantum dot technology at work, and it might also improve the monitor’s static contrast ratio, but we’re waiting for confirmation on both these fronts. We doubt these monitors will achieve anywhere near the static contrast ratios the ‘light modulating cells’ Panasonic recently developed allow its newest displays to achieve.

Our Technical Editor Rishi Sanyal is very excited by the general evolution of computer monitors with technology trickled down from TVs. Wider color gamuts are very welcome not just for video but photography as well, as current printing technology can generate colors well outside of the old sRGB standard. The real trick is to also get brightness and contrast up (and, yes, glossy displays with tightly sandwiched layers and AR coatings, since matte surfaces tend to kill contrast). But we have no idea if NanoIPS or local dimming is what LG is using to get the contrast to HDR-600 levels here. Ideally, computer monitors and reference displays wouldn’t use local dimming (unless it’s ‘full array’)… but…

As AnandTech pointed out last week, that HDR-600 badge requires a black level of no more than 0.1 nits, a feat which VESA believes is impossible without using local dimming. And yet, LG doesn’t even mention contrast a single time in its press release, to say nothing of static contrast, local dimming, or pixel-level backlight control (unlikely).

For now, we’re left excited and intrigued, but not entirely satisfied. One thing’s for sure though, the computer monitor field is getting very interesting, and we intend to keep a very close eye on it moving forward.

Press Release

New LG Monitors Boast Premium Picture quality and Performance, Improved Versatility

Unparalleled Viewing Experience with Vibrant Nano IPS Technology and Thunderbolt™ 3 Connectivity

SEOUL, Dec. 21, 2017 — At CES 2018 in Las Vegas, LG will introduce upgraded models of its popular monitor lineup with Nano IPS technology that take color reproduction capabilities to a new level. In response to customer feedback, LG added support for HDR600 with even higher dynamic range of peak brightness and new connectivity options with full Thunderbolt™ 3 compatibility.

LG’s new 32-inch UHD 4K monitor (model 32UK950) is the first to offer LG’s advanced Nano IPS technology. Nano IPS technology involves the application of nanometer-sized particles to the screen’s LED to absorb excess light wavelengths. This greatly enhances the intensity and purity of on-screen colors for a more accurate and life-like viewing experience. This LG monitor can display 98 percent of the DCI-P3 color spectrum, comparable to monitors used to master Hollywood blockbusters. Ideal for media prosumers seeking superb color reproduction with its support for HDR 600 LG 32UK950 users will experience high dynamic range of peak brightness of 600 candela (cd/?).

LG model 32UK950 features the first Thunderbolt™ 3 docking display to support 4K daisy chaining, allowing a set-up of dual 4K monitors. This LG monitor can connect to Thunderbolt™ 3 notebooks like Macbook Pro via a single active Thunderbolt™ 3 cable – no charging adapter or unsightly USB cables required. This monitor’s single Thunderbolt™ 3 cable transmits 4K content and sound while providing enough charge to power a 60W notebook, simplifying any work space. With its beautiful signature Edge-ArcLine Stand and stunning 4-Side Edge Borderless Design where the picture literally drops off the edge, there is no mistaking this LG monitor for anything else.

Expected to be another hot item at this year’s CES, LG’s 34-inch UltraWide monitor (model 34WK95U) delivers a broad range of accurate colors and viewing angles at a surreal 5K resolution (5120 x 2160 pixels). LG’s very first 21:9 5K UltraWide monitor is loaded to the maximum with a hefty amount of screen real estate and eye-popping colors. This ultimate 5K viewing experience is geared towards users who multitask extensively, such as video editors, photographers and software and app developers.

Model 34WK95U supports Nano IPS technology, fantastic color reproduction capabilities and HDR600. In addition, model 34WK95U features a Thunderbolt™ 3 port, which enables the transmission of 5K resolution images at 60Hz with a single cable. The Thunderbolt™ 3 interface is ideal for power laptop users who desire fast video, audio and data transfers without the need for a separate AC adapter. With its elegant, stunning profile, this LG monitor turns heads even when powered off, with its 4-Side Edge Borderless Design and gorgeous slim Edge-ArcLine Stand addition to its refined image.

“Most of us spend hundreds of hours in front of monitors every month and yet it’s one of the least likely products to get upgraded when higher productivity is desired,” said Chang Ik-hwan, head of LG’s IT business division. “With these latest premium monitors from LG, we wanted to communicate that LG is absolutely committed to delivering the best possible screen resolution and the best user experience on a desk or workspace.”

Another attention grabber from LG will be LG’s latest QHD gaming monitor (model 34GK950G), which offers premium picture quality with Nano IPS technology and high-speed G-Sync technology.

All this and more can be experienced personally at LG’s booth (#11100) in Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES 2018.