LG Velvet hits Australian stores this month for $899

LG's latest handset, the Velvet, will be available locally before the end of the month for a surprisingly reasonable $899. The Velvet marks a shift in strategy for the Korean manufacturer. While LG has typically tried going toe-to-toe with the likes of Apple and Samsung with top-tier devices, LG's latest flagship phone is more of a mid-range or "semi-premium" affair.

Instead of directly competing with devices like the iPhone 11 and Galaxy S20, the Velvet tries to undercut them. You still have the requisite high-end features such as water-resistance and wireless charging, but these are balanced out by a mid-tier processor and lower resolution screen than you'd find on some competitors. And hey, it still has a headphone jack, although it doesn't feature the same Quad DAC technology we've seen in more recent LG flagships.

Key specifications include a 6.8-inch 1080p+ display, a 5G-ready Snapdragon 765G processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a 4,300mAh battery. On the back you'll find three cameras: a 48MP primary lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP depth lens.

While exact availability has yet to be confirmed, LG hopes to have the Velvet in stores before the end of the month. Some retailers may not have stock until August, however. JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys will both have it outright, and while LG has yet to name telco partners, we understand that Vodafone will be ranging the Velvet on a plan. (In addition, the My Vodafone app is preloaded on our review unit, which is a pretty good sign.) The manufacturer is also in discussion with other providers.

You'll be able to get the Velvet in a choice of "Aurora White" or "Aurora Grey".

While the LG Velvet might not be going toe-to-toe with the likes of Apple and Samsung, it will still have its competition cut out for it. One immediate rival is the OPPO Find X2 Neo, priced at $999. The Find X2 Neo hits the under $1000 mark, and has a few advantages over the Velvet, including a faster refresh rate display, twice the storage, and better cameras. It does however miss out on wireless charging and IP68 water-resistance.

We're also expecting to see a few new devices around the same price-point hit local stores in the not too distant future.

Alex Choros

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Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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