These G8 ThinQ renders will look very, very familiar (Update: "not real" - LG)

Update, January 18, 2019 (05:58AM ET): LG’s head of global corporate communications, Ken Hong, has taken to Twitter to shoot down the recent batch of alleged LG G8 ThinQ renders. In a series of tweets addressing the renders — shared by smartphone leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (a.k.a. OnLeaks) — Hong described the images as “speculative rendering” and “not real.”

While we now know this isn’t the LG G8’s final form, Hong hinted that the renders may have been representative of an upcoming LG phone at some point in time, noting “ALL phone designs are “real” at some point in time, i.e. in a designer’s mind.”

Based on the initial reaction to the renders, this is likely to come as a relief to LG fans who weren’t too thrilled by the prospect of a new LG flagship that looked almost identical to the G7 ThinQ. We’ll know for sure when LG’s next big thing breaks cover, which is expected to coincide with MWC 2019.

Original post, January 17, 2019 (4:05PM ET): Trusted smartphone leaker @OnLeaks just shared a set of renders allegedly depicting the upcoming LG G8 ThinQ over at 91Mobiles.

If you just took a quick glance, you would be forgiven in thinking that these are just the renders for the LG G7 ThinQ, since they look remarkably the same. If you give a closer inspection, you can see there are definitely some differences. However, from an overall design point-of-view, the LG G8 ThinQ looks like it will be more of the same from LG.

READ: Potential LG G8 ThinQ price leak: Will you be paying $900 for upcoming flagship?

Check out the images for yourself in the gallery and YouTube video below:

Just for the sake of comparison, here are the leaked renders of the LG G7 ThinQ from last year:

Let’s start with the similarities. The front has a big ol’ notch at the top, the rear fingerprint scanner is in relatively the same place, there’s a dual camera setup, a glossy finish, and an enormous LG logo at the back.

Oh yeah, and the headphone jack is still there, which is certainly nice.

The only major differences we notice between last year’s G7 and these leaked renders is that the dual camera setup is now horizontally-aligned and the front-facing camera appears to have been upgraded to a dual-lens configuration. Those are both welcome changes, for sure, but is that really all it takes to move from G7 to G8?

Unfortunately, it appears any LG fans who were looking for a triple-lens camera (as was on the LG V40 ThinQ), an in-display fingerprint scanner, a waterdrop notch, gradient colors, or any of the other design features trending right now in the smartphone industry will be disappointed with these renders.

There’s still the possibility, though, that this G8 could feature an optional second screen attachment. If that’s the case, LG could be relying solely on that innovation to push sales.

What do you think? Is LG making a misfire here, or are you still excited for the LG G8 ThinQ? Let us know in the comments.

NEXT: LG in 2019 — No more excuses