LG X Screen, X Cam Start Their Global Trek

While the LG G5 was naturally the OEM's top star at MWC 2016, LG also announced two rather strange additions to its smartphone lineup. The first of its new X series, the X cam and the X screen are like the new LG K family that try to offer more affordable (read: cheaper) options for smartphone buyers. What sets the X line apart, however, is that they, or at least these two, borrow some of the unique features from LG's highend flagships, like the LG G5 and the LG V10.

Take the X cam for example. Like the G5, this smartphone flaunts two cameras on it rear side, one a 13 megapixel sensor with a standard lens and another 5 megapixel sensor with a wide angle lens. LG also introduces a few fun features that take advantage of that setup. A picture-in-frame effect, for example, merges two images taken by both rear cameras into one. An Animated Photo effect, on the other hand, creates a hybrid still photo and video shot, with one framed inside the other. It's a bit complex to explain in words. Good thing LG provides moving pictures to show it off:

• Display: 5.2-inch FHD In-cell Touch

• Chipset: 1.14GHz Octa-Core

• Camera: (Rear) 13MP Standard Lens / 5MP Wide Angle Lens; (Front) 8MP

• Memory: 2GB RAM / 16GB ROM

• Battery: 2,520mAh

• Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

• Size: 147.5 x 73.6 x 5.2mm~6.9mm

• Network: LTE

• Colors: Titan Silver / White / Gold / Pink Gold

The X screen, on the other hand, borrows the second screen found on the LG V10. That strip of always on LCD allows users to get a look at notifications and other important pieces of information without having to wake up the larger display, thereby saving battery and taps. LG boasts that the X screen is the first mid-range device to bear such a feature.

• Display: (Main) 4.93-inch HD In-cell Touch, (Secondary) 1.76-inch LCD (520 x 80)

• Chipset: 1.2GHz Quad-Core

• Camera: Rear 13MP / Front 8MP

• Memory: 2GB RAM / 16GB ROM

• Battery: 2,300mAh

• Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

• Size: 142.6 x 71.8 x 7.1mm

• Network: LTE

• Colors: Black / White / Pink Gold

The LG X cam and X screen will launch this week in South Korea, soon to be followed by Europe, Latin America, and Asia. No word on whether it plans to bring the two to the US as well. Pricing details remain unknown but considering these are marketed as mid-range smartphones, they definitely won't come close to the LG G5 or V10 price tags.