LG's flagship G8 ThinQ phone slashed to $500
Unlocked and compatible with most carriers, the big beauty normally sells for $850. Plus: Enjoy three months of Tidal's family plan for just $6.
The top spots in the global phone market are as keenly fought over as Olympic podium spots, and in recent years LG has seen itself slip down out of medal territory to make way for Chinese newcomers such as Huawei . But the South Korean tech giant is fighting back and hopes you'll sit up and take note of its LG G8X ThinQ.
© Provided by CBS Interactive Inc. LG's G8X Andrew Hoyle/CNET This updated version of the LG G8 ThinQ for the most part does away with the bells and whistles of its predecessor and focuses instead on user experience and the camera.
Gone are the G8's different biometric authentication options. Instead we have just one in-display fingerprint sensor (a first for an LG phone). Also gone is the OLED sound system that LG's been pushing for the past few years on its phone. This is replaced with two "perfectly balanced" 1.2-watt stereo speakers at the top and bottom of the phone.
Not ready to commit to foldables? LG's Dual Screen could be an ideal compromise
The updated Dual Screen attachment is a companion to LG's freshly unveiled G8X ThinQ.
© Provided by CBS Interactive Inc. LG G8X phone lets you pick two screens or one
The G8X features LG's new UX, which brings more space, higher contrast, bolder fonts and night mode to the interface. Other new additions are an updated camera that features a steady cam, AI action shot, an improved portrait mode and 4K time-lapse.
The one unusual standout feature of the G8X ThinQ could help it appeal to a specific but growing niche: people who make ASMR videos. "ASMR mode" is one of the specific video options available through the built-in camera app. Switch it on to boost the microphone capability by 10 decibels to pick up on and emphasize the minutiae of sounds you may be making.
© CNETLG's G8X in all its glory.
A brief test of this, in which I sat whispering creepily at the phone and then watching the recordings back in a bar at a high-end London hotel, did prove to me that the recording volume was definitely boosted in this mode. But not being a connoisseur of ASMR, I find it tricky to say whether the mic setting truly enhances the experience of watching ASMR videos.
G8X ThinQ is LG's dual screen bid to win over the high-end phone market
LG hopes to boost sales with a Dual Screen attachment and an in-display fingerprint scanner.
LG G8X with Dual Screen: A foldable phone alternative
Foldable phones are wild and intriguing because they double your screen size with a device that's easier to carry around than a tablet. But they're not widely available yet, and they're not for everyone. The LG G8X with Dual Screen case offers a different approach.
It'll give you access to two 6.4-inch screens in one place, and when you don't want to use it, you can pop out the phone to slim down your profile.
The system starts with the LG G8X itself, a high-end phone with a robust set of specs.
Then, you attach it to this plastic case, using a USB-C jack. LG's first version of this case brought a phone and case together using pogo pins.
The Dual Screen attachment comes with its own 6.4-inch screen, on the left. Since it doesn't have its own battery source, the right side (where the phone is) is heavier.
Close the case and you'll see the time and notifications at the top of its mirrored surface.
There's a large cutout at the back to make plenty of room for the dual-camera array.
There are several things you can do with the dual screen, including mirroring the two lobes in some cases, and multitasking with two different apps in other scenarios.
Here's another look at the G8X itself, which has a 12- and 13-megapixel duo to take photos. You'll find a 32-megapixel camera up front.
The phone runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 chipset and on Android 9.
LG is one of the last phone makers to keep the headphone jack.
Here's another look at the Dual Screen case.
It's got a shiny exterior on one side, but is otherwise made of plastic.
Read up on all the details about the LG G8X with Dual Screen case.
The other thing that sets the G8X apart is its compatibility with a Dual Screen attachment, which doubles the size of the display. This could make the G8X an alternative to a foldable phone if you're not quite ready to commit to a totally new form factor.
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Key LG G8X specs
- Display: 6.4-inch OLED FHD Plus.
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855.
- Memory: 6GB RAM/128GB storage with microSD card slot.
- Front camera: 32-megapixels.
- Rear camera: 12- and 13-megapixels, OIS.
- Battery: 4,000 mAh.
- Features: In-screen fingerprint scanner, IP68, Fast Charge 4.0 compatible.
Pricing and availability hasn't yet been announced -- check back for details.
All the new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets and more from IFA 2019
Undoubtedly the superstar of IFA 2019, Samsung announced the return of its ill-fated foldable, the Galaxy Fold, during this week's show. It will come back to market in Korea first this week, then the rest of the world soon afterwards.
The Lenovo Smart Display 7 will have a built-in video camera, Google Assistant, plus a touchscreen that shows extra info after you ask certain questions. For example, search for the weather and you'll see a forecast. Ask for a recipe and you'll see the directions broken down by step.
Dock your Yoga Smart Tab or your Smart Tab M8 and you'll see a tailored touchscreen display with shortcuts to control your smart home devices and personalized notifications.
This new Amazon Fire TV streaming box will be available in the US this October. It has a new processor that almost doubles its overall performance, and it supports HDR10 Plus for even greater image quality.
China's Anker partnered with Amazon to make the first Alexa-native sound bar. This one launches globally on Nov. 21.
Philips added vintage-style bulbs to its ever-expanding Hue smart LED family.
Two more additions to the Hue product line give owners more flexibility for controlling and programming their Hue setups.
Last year brought us our first glimpse of Acer's ludicrous gaming chair, the Predator Thronos. This year, Thronos gets a chair massager add-on. Enter the Predator Thronos Air.
Back down among the mortals, this new Predator gaming laptop is one of the first with a 300Hz display, which is a spec aimed at competitive gamers.
An updated line of laptops for designers, the Concept D Pro has an Nvidia Quadro RTX graphics chip.
The VivoWatch SP looks chic: How accurate will its ECG and blood pressure sensors be?
Garmin Venu looks like a VivoActive watch, but a bit smarter.
Sennheiser's third-gen Momentum headphones come with improved noise cancellation.
Samsung's new modular refrigerators come in customizable door and color configurations. Europe only. Sorry, America.
Samsung's got another 5G phone -- and this one might be affordable. Called the Galaxy A90 5G, it will bring 5G to users for a lower price. The 6.7-inch device sports three rear cameras, including a 48-megapixel lens and one 32-megapixel front camera. It's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 processor and an X50 5G modem.
Samsung has a few new home appliances it plans to market in Europe. The AirDresser is similar to previous products like the LG Styler and the now discontinued Whirlpool Swash home dry cleaning appliances. Samsung also announced a new air purifier and stick vac.
LG's new appliance feature, Proactive Customer Care, uses artificial intelligence to monitor compatible appliances for potential problems like temperature drops or poor air flow. When something's amiss, it'll fire off an app alert before the problem escalates.
Razer's refresh of its Blade Stealth 13 ultraportable laptop will run Intel's 10nm Ice Lake processors with a quad-core Core i7-1065G7 U-series processor, a Mercury white alternative to basic black (and pink) plus new Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 discrete graphics to replace its MX150 options.
Lenovo revealed its refreshes of its budget consumer products: the sub-$500 Chromebook S340 and C340 two-in-ones. The 11-inch Chromebook C340 two-in-one comes in pink or silver -- with an aluminum top for a slightly more premium feel. It's also getting a 15-inch big brother that will offer more storage (up to 128GB), a separate numeric keypad and an option for up to a Core i3 processor. The clamshell version, the Chromebook S340, adds a 14-inch model with a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen.
Acer, Asus, Lenovo, MSI and Razer plan to unveil new laptops using Intel's Comet Lake 10th-generation Core processors. Some of those devices will meet Intel's new Project Athena requirements, designing computers to be even more mobile.
Bosch showed off a variety of connected kitchen appliances. Among them are new refrigerator models that include a built-in camera. Pair these fridges with the Home Connect app for AI food identification and storage suggestions. You'll find AI in Bosch wall ovens, too. Its Series 8 oven will have a PerfectBake sensor and PerfectRoast meat predict when baked goods or roasts will be fully done.
Bosch's latest line of appliances promise a new level of stealth. Debuting here in Berlin, the Silence Edition Appliance line includes a washer, dryer, dishwasher, fridge and oven hood, each capable of running at very low volumes.
This only-in-Germany OLED is the first TV with Alexa and a pair of far-field microphones built-in. That means no looking for the Fire TV remote to talk to Alexa: The TV itself works like an always-listening Echo speaker.
The Asus Zephyrus S GX701 will be the first laptop available with a new 300Hz display in October. It will then find its way into more Asus ROG gaming laptops next year.
All the heat-generating components go behind the display on the laptop for creatives, so the Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 graphics chip doesn't burn a hole through your lap.
Asus has a new PC display for the creative set designed to take on the Apple Pro Display XDR.
August announced a European version of that Yale-to-August kit. The new Yale Access module works with Bluetooth the same way the US module does, with a slightly different "L" shape to fit inside European locks.
Electrolux introduced the SensePro Hob at IFA 2018. This year it added a wireless and battery-less probe that uses a simple antenna to communicate with the hob.
This steam oven has a camera in the handle so you can watch your food while it cooks.
This washer and dryer offer matching cleaning cycles that sync up automatically, saving you button presses.
Sony's Xperia 5 is a smaller phone than many flagships. It's still quite big.
Another set of headphones from Sennheiser, this pair aimed at travelers.
TCL, the company behind some excellent value TVs, would like to be the next big name in 5G and foldable phones. Meet the TCL Plex, the first phone of many that TCL hints could be released in 2019 and beyond, including 5G and foldable phones.
The Sonos Move is a battery-powered speaker you can connect to your home's Wi-Fi network or (in a first for Sonos) stream over Bluetooth when you're away from your home.
The JB Link Music and Link Portable further expand the company's already considerable portfolio of Wi-Fi-enabled smart speakers, and the Pulse 4 Bluetooth speaker will offer a dance club in a box when it ships later this fall.
Prefer a sound bar without a built-in smart TV system? Well, we have good news: JBL just announced three of them at IFA, the consumer tech trade show based in Berlin.
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LG’s G8X ThinQ is coming to AT&T on November 1st .
Sprint subscribers will be able to get it a week laterThis phone costs $699 unlocked if you don’t want to be tied down to a carrier, and for a limited time, it comes bundled with the second display-touting case. But if you want to pay far less upfront, and are planning on opening a new line on either AT&T or Sprint, getting the dual-screened LG G8X ThinQ is incredibly affordable compared to other high-end phones that it competes with: it costs as little as $270 following an 18-month loan through Sprint.
Unlocked and compatible with most carriers, the big beauty normally sells for $850. Plus: Enjoy three months of Tidal's family plan for just $6. 
The updated Dual Screen attachment is a companion to LG's freshly unveiled G8X ThinQ. 
LG hopes to boost sales with a Dual Screen attachment and an in-display fingerprint scanner. 
© Provided by CBS Interactive Inc. 
© CNET
This US Open men's final reminds us how special Rafael Nadal is - from the way he plays and comports himself, match after match, year after year. 
