The LG G8 is an important product for LG. While all eyes at MWC 2019 will be on Samsung's 10th anniversary flagship in the form of the Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup, LG wants to ensure that its own product also gets enough attention. To build up excitement for its product, LG itself has been confirming various features of the LG G8 through official press releases (which in my opinion is better than controlled leaks).

Officially, LG has confirmed that the G8 will come with a front-facing ToF sensor from Infineon Tech. Now, the OEM has confirmed that the upcoming flagship will also feature an OLED display that works as an audio amplifier.

At MWC 2019, LG Electronics (LG) will remind audiences of its reputation and history as a leader in smartphone sound with the new LG G8 ThinQ  featuring Crystal Sound OLED (CSO), an innovative technology that utilizes the phone’s OLED display as an audio amplifier.

The Crystal Sound OLED (CSO) technology apparently repurposes the OLED display as a diaphragm. The entire surface of the display is vibrated to produce sound with a loud volume. LG also claims that its in-house technology improves clarity, making voices easier to discern and subtle musical notes more noticeable. LG is also claiming full-bodied stereo performance, made possible through a 2-channel audio setup that utilizes the bottom speaker and the top part of the display. And of course, not having to have front facing speakers also gives the LG G8 ThinQ a clean look.

Other audio features on the LG G8 ThinQ include:

  • DTS:X 3D Surround Sound that emulates a 7.1-channel system with or without earphones, a first for LG.
  • Hi-Fi Quad DAC that elevates the listening experience by reproducing sound with exceptional fidelity and the added ability to up-sample most audio files for increased clarity and depth.
  • Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) that supports high-quality audio streaming even without an unlimited data plan.
  • Boombox Speaker that takes advantage of the internal space of the phone as a resonance chamber to generate bass and more volume.
LG G8 ThinQ Render

LG G8 ThinQ XDA Forums

LG's official announcement deviates from the rumors that we had heard last year about sound-emitting OLED displays that were being employed in the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the LG G8. LG is claiming loud volumes and stereo performance, while early reports made out the technology to be more in consonance with the functionality of a conventional earpiece. So it will be interesting to see if LG truly does deliver on its claims. We'll find out on February 24th.

Source: LG Newsroom