Mobile World Congress 2016: LG Unveils Modular G5 Smartphone

All-metal phone includes swappable parts.

ByABC News
February 21, 2016, 6:16 PM

— -- LG unveiled its G5 smartphone today ahead of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, finally revealing to the world the mobile device that has been one of the most anticipated and worst-kept secrets.

The South Korean company even went so far as to release a "touch-enabled quick cover for yet-to-be-announced LG G5" earlier this month, poking fun at the release by saying: "Known as a company ahead of the times, LG took this characterization to heart by revealing the existence of the accessory before the actual product."

Here's a look at some of the key features of the G5:

All Metal Body

The phone has a sleek, curvy metal body and comes with a 5.3-inch display.

Always-On Display

We check our smartphones a lot -- and LG noticed. A new always-on display will keep the time on the screen so users don't have to press a button to get the information.

Slide-Out Battery

LG is keeping its slide-out battery, a feature allowing users to easily swap out batteries when they don't have time to plug in the phone.

Companion Devices

A collection of add-on smart devices can turn the phone into a powerful digital camera, a high definition audio player and more.

Adding the LG CAM Plus gives the user physical buttons for power, shutter, record, zoom and a better grip, among other features, letting them take even better photos. The camera add-on also boosts the phone's battery capacity, allowing users to snap away without worrying about draining their battery.

Another module turns the phone into a high fidelity speaker, perfect for audiophiles. LG also unveiled a VR camera accessory, letting users shoot their own 360-degree videos and images.

Processing Power

The G5 packs a Snapdragon 820 processor, making it incredibly speedy. The G5 has a 16-megapixel camera and an additional 8-megapixel sensor, along with a 135-degree lens for wide-angled shots.

Colors and Availability

The G5 will come in gold, silver, pink and gray. Pricing and availability have yet to be announced, however it's likely the phones will keep with flagship device pricing, putting them around $550+.