LG’s G5 might have been the first modular phone that we saw in 2016, but it didn’t really set the market on fire for the company. But in an interaction with Indianexpress.com, Amit Gujral who is LG’s Mobile Division Marketing and Product Planning Head says the company is more than happy with how the phone was received in India.
“We’re satisfied with the G5’s performance and the kind of numbers we got. People are still flaunting the modular phone. We have crossed somewhere around 45-50K units by now in India”, Gujral told Indianexpress.com. He made the comments on the sidelines of the V20 launch in India earlier this week.
While numbers of the G5 in India are still not huge, Gujral says theirs was an innovative smartphone. In case of the G5, its battery can be removed and one can enhance the functionality and experience by attaching different mods or extensions. But LG was criticised for delay in bringing the add-on accessories or as LG called it ‘Friends of the G5’ into the market. However, Gujral denied this, and insisted that the company did bring all existing “G5 modules” in India.
While LG continues to explore the high-end segment, the company is equally involved in the mid-end segment. Asked if the company has plans to strengthen its mid range portfolio which is currently dominated by its K and X series, Gujral said: “ On April 14 this year, we announced our “Made in India’ program and we launched the K7 and K10. We are happy to say we have been doing phenomenally on those K series.”
“Our phones like X Screen, which is the first dual-screen smartphone in the country and X Cam, which has the very first dual-camera phone in the mid-segment are all innovative devices. We have continued our stylus phones approach. We have two stylus phones: Stylus 2 and Stylus 2 Plus. So we have been covering entire portfolio across different price points. In time to come, we will have more devices in the mid-end segment,” he said.
In India, LG launched the V20 smartphone at a price of Rs. 54,999. The high-end Android smartphone not only comes with a dual screen but runs the latest Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box. The phone will directly compete against the likes of the Galaxy S7 Edge, iPhone 7 Plus, Pixel XL and OnePlus 3T.
Story continues below this ad
On why the V10 didn’t come to India, Gujral said, “The V series started last year globally with the V10. And that time we were not really prepared whether the market can expect something like the V10. However, the market has really dramatically changed this year. What we saw with the G5 it was a modular smartphone, something new altogether. With the V20 we think we will gun more numbers in comparison to the G5.”
Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle.
Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include:
Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech.
Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture.
Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups.
Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape.
Find all stories by Anuj Bhatia here.
You can find Anuj on Linkedin. ... Read More
3 min read
The G5’s big selling point is its modular design
