LG launches G5 modular phone with 'Hi-Fi Plus' DAC

LG wants the G5 to make smartphones exciting again, and hopes to do so with a 'full metal unibody' phone that comes with a 'modular type' design for upgrading components, from the slide-out battery to the DAC.

Launched alongside the LG G5 was the Hi-Fi Plus DAC, designed with Bang & Olufsen and supporting 32-bit 384kHz high resolution audio and DSD playback. It can be used as a module with the G5 phone or as a standalone DAC. The G5 also supports aptX HD and Dolby Digital Plus audio.

As well as the DAC, the G5 will be offered with a set of B&O H3 earphones and there's a new LG Tone Platinum (HBS-1100) Bluetooth headset, built in partnership with Harman-Kardon. The headset is the first to support aptX HD, compatible with 24-bit wireless audio.

MORE: LG Hi-Fi Plus DAC hands-on review

MORE: aptX HD brings 24-bit hi-res audio to wireless Bluetooth

LG Hi-Fi Plus DAC

LG Hi-Fi Plus DAC

As well as the Hi-Fi Plus DAC, LG announced a whole host of 'LG Friends' companion devices.

Those devices include the LG 360 VR, a set of virtual reality goggles that work with the G5 phone to simulate a 130-inch screen, the LG 360 CAM, a compact 360-degree angle camera module, and the LG Rolling Bot, a BB-8-style companion bot that works with the G5 phone.

MORE: LG G5 hands-on review

Elsewhere on the G5 phone itself there's a 135-degree wide-angle camera lens, an 'always-on' display, and that metal and glass body design.

The phone has a 5.3in display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution (554ppi), plus the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. As well as a replaceable 2,800 mAh battery, there's a microSD card slot, allowing you to boost the 32GB memory.

Running the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system, the G5 measures 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7mm, and weighs 159g.

Available in silver, gold, pink and 'titan', pricing and release date information is set to follow.

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Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is Content Director for T3 and What Hi-Fi?, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for more than 15 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).