Begin this year was the high-end LG G8 THINQ introduced as the successor to the G7 THINQ. In the year’s second half, a series of top models will be introduced again, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and the Apple iPhone 11 models. However, it is still unknown whether LG will also introduce a top model, finally, the V50 ThinQ was also announced simultaneously with the G8, which is also a flagship device.
LG G10 becomes the new flagship smartphone
Requesting a series of new trademarks gives rise to the suspicion that LG intends to use a new name for its future G-series models. Just like with the V-series, LG will work with dozens.
In preparation for this change, LG Electronics submitted four trademark applications to KIPRIS (Korean Intellectual Property Office) on 7 July 2019. These are the names LG G10, G20, G30, and G40.
The applications are categorized as Class 9. A remarkably comprehensive description has been added, which includes ‘smartphones’. In addition, mention is made of a smartwatch, Bluetooth headset, tablet PC and a cover for smartphones.
Through this extensive description, LG manages to protect the names G10, G20, G30, and G40 for all these categories. However, it seems most likely that this is the new generation of G-series smartphones.
The company has also applied the same strategy for its budget K series in the past. Dozens are used here nowadays, such as the LG K40 and K50, launched earlier this year.
Whether there will be another LG G9 ThinQ, or whether this device will immediately be named G10 ThinQ is still unknown. Incidentally, there is a good chance that LG will only release its new G-series smartphone around February 2020.
Although it should be mentioned here that the company has previously publicly stated that it no longer wants to introduce its flagship devices periodically. It is therefore also possible that the Korean manufacturer can surprise us this year with a new top model.
It is expected that after the introduction of the G10, LG will continue to opt for dozens. In other words, after the LG G10, the G20 follows, after which the G30 and eventually the G40 will be introduced. By that time we are probably about three to four years further in time.
Last week, LG Electronics also registered a trademark for the name LG ThinQ Wallet, a digital wallet for cryptocurrency. Possibly this new feature will be introduced for the first time with the LG G10 ThinQ.
History of the LG G-series smartphone models
The first LG G-series smartphone was introduced in 2012. At that time the name Optimus was added, which resulted in the model name LG Optimus G. The following year ‘Optimus’ was omitted in both the G and V series, after which the models were given simplified names such as the G2 and G3.
From the G7 the name ThinQ was added to emphasize the AI functionality. The G6 was later also renamed the G6 ThinQ, this happened after the device was provided with AI camera functions by means of a software update.
Whether LG will maintain the name ‘ThinQ’ in the future is unknown. This name has not been included in the recent trademark application, but LG can of course simply choose to call the device G10 ThinQ, finally, the company already has a trademark for the name ThinQ.
These days, however, AI functionality is no longer an exception. Now that more and more budget and middle-class smartphones are also equipped with an AI camera, LG could decide to no longer include this name in the model name in the future.
