LG confirms the G8 ThinQ to be unveiled at MWC with ToF 3D front-facing camera
Companies typically shy away from talking about unreleased devices, but LG has been making a habit of it recently. LG has just confirmed that the upcoming LG G8 ThinQ will officially be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month. The press released LG sent out also included details regarding the LG G8 ThinQ’s front-facing camera – namely that it will use a Time of Flight (which we’ll be referring to as ToF from here on out) 3D camera sensor from Infineon.
If you’re not familiar with ToF sensors, they capture infrared light and are able to accurately measure how distant objects are by calculating the time it takes for light to bounce off an object and travel to the sensor. This allows ToF sensors to be used for biometric face authentication and 3D mapping which can enable VR and AR uses as well as portrait mode images which blur our the background.
We have already tested a ToF 3D camera sensor in the new Honor View 20. Honor’s implementation put the camera on the back of the phone, allowing it to be used to measure the size of food (giving you a more accurate calorie count) and also real-time body slimming. It can also be used for an AR game which allows you to control a player in the game with the movement of your body.
“Keeping in mind LG’s goal to provide real value to its mobile customers, our newest flagship was designed with ToF technology from inception to give users a unique and secure verification system without sacrificing camera capabilities,” said Chang Ma, senior vice president and head of Product Strategy at LG Mobile Communications Company. “The LG G8 ThinQ featuring ToF will be the optimal choice for users in search of a premium smartphone that offers unmatched camera capabilities.”
Last year’s LG G7 was a good phone but ultimately failed to impress when compared to other flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S9. The only real advantage that LG’s phone had was its wide-angle lens on the back of the phone. Equipping its front-facing camera with a ToF 3D sensor may not sound like a huge win, but it could be indicative of other cool tech which may make its way into the LG G8 ThinQ.