MWC 2017: LG G6 launches with extra tall screen for dual app use

The handset has aspect ratio of 18:9 and is designed primarily for multi-tasking

The G6 is a far cry from its predecessor, the G5, which took an alternative modular approach (REUTERS/Albert Gea)

LG has kicked off MWC 2017 with the unveiling of its latest flagship, the G6.

The handset’s headline feature is its 5.7-inch ‘FullVision’ display, which has an aspect ratio of 18:9 and is designed primarily for multi-tasking.

It enables you to open two square app windows side by side, such as a web browser and the messaging app, providing on-screen access to more information at any one time.

The display, which fills almost the entirety of the phone’s front face, has a sharp 2,880 x 1,440 resolution, making it ideal for viewing virtual reality content too.

LG’s also included a feature it calls ‘Square Camera’, in which you can shoot images in the 1:1 format favoured by Instagram. There’s a tool to help you easily create GIFs too, by combining up to 100 of your pictures.

A metal frame runs around the perimeter of the phone, which is also water-resistant and features Google Assistant.

“The LG G6 with FullVision was inspired by the philosophy of experts in the movie industry who believe that an 18:9 ratio screen would be the best solution for viewing both old and new cinematic content in the digital age,” said Juno Cho, the president of LG Electronics.

“We’ve not only embraced that philosophy in our newest smartphone but taken it to a whole new level by incorporating the 18:9 format in many other ways. I think users will appreciate the many ways we’ve made the LG G6 more productive.”

It’s a far cry from its predecessor, the G5, which took an alternative modular approach. The risk didn’t pay off, with users instead preferring the more conventional and polished Samsung Galaxy S7.