LG G6, G5, V20 to get Oreo soon: Is LG stepping up its update game?

LG announced earlier today that the LG G6 will begin to receive Oreo 8.0 from April 30.

LG has, perhaps fairly, received a lot of criticism taking so long to update the G6 to the latest version of Android. To put things in perspective, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus and the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus were all released around the same time as the G6, yet those started to receive Oreo in March.

However, LG’s latest statement [translated] suggests things could be about to improve. As well as announcing the G6 update, LG also said that 2016’s LG G5 and V20 would be next in line to receive Oreo. Additionally, it announced that the LG G6 will get the same AI features that were first introduced on the LG V30S ThinQ and then the LG V30.

This year, LG has been putting its efforts into a new strategy for mobile. So far, much of what we have seen has been in changes to the way it releases G and V series devices. The LG G7 release date was pushed back and the LG V30S ThinQ was released as a slightly upgraded version of the V30.

The results of this we don’t yet know, though yesterday the LG mobile division announced losses of $125 million.

Besides the new release schedule, LG is also making attempts to increase device lifespan. LG has said it will do this by adding features available on new devices to existing products in future.

In order to facilitate this, LG has opened a new Software Upgrade Center in South Korea. The facility aims to “provide customers worldwide with faster, timelier, smartphone operating system software updates,” said LG.

In the most recent announcement, Lee Seok-soo, the Manager of the Software Upgrade Center, said: “We will continue to provide stable and continuous after-sales services such as upgrading the OS and adding new functions to existing products.” He added that he wanted customers to trust that when they buy an LG smartphone, they will be able to use it for a long time.

While LG’s 2017 flagship device is still awaiting the latest version of Android, these words have to be taken with a pinch of salt. LG’s recent actions nonetheless indicate that, at the very least, the company has identified an area where it can deliver better results for consumers.

People are holding onto their old devices for longer than ever before as new devices fail to deliver significant improvements — but the majority of Android phones are still only supported for two major Android updates. Should LG really make a concerted effort to keep older phones relevant, it would stand out in the market, and give us a strong reason to pick up their devices.

Next up: LG’s new product strategy: unnecessary or inevitable?