LG unveils quad-core Optimus G Pro, launching in Korea this week, North America in Q2 2013

LG announced its new family of L Series II devices last week, and it’s following up by revealing the full specs behind the Optimus G Pro a few days before Mobile World Congress. The company says the device will debut in Korea this week, before coming to North America, Japan and other markets in the second quarter of 2013.

Looking much like its predecessor — the Optimus G — the 4G-LTE device sports a larger 5.5-inch full HD IPS display — 1920 x 1080 pixels at 400 ppi — with a 13-megapixel camera on the back and a 2.1-megapixel shooter on the front. The Jelly Bean-powered phone is the first in the industry to run on the 1.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor from Qualcomm, and it includes 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory.

Like the Optimus G, the Optimus G Pro is the result of co-creation between LG Electronics and LG Display. LG says its 3,140mAh battery is the largest in its class, and allows “for full HD viewing enjoyment for hours on end”.

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The handset boasts some pretty serious visual specs, thanks in no small doubt to the LG Display hook up, and a 1080 screen with 400 pixel per inch density is hugely impressive on paper. It’s hard to believe that such technology could be present on a phone, such is the development of devices today.

LG will be showing the device off at Mobile World Congress this week and, as well as being its first full HD device, the firm says it has developed a new range of dedicated UX features, including dual recording — that allows video to be recorded with the front and rear cameras simultaneously — and virtual reality panorama, which turns shots into 360 degree images.

Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications, said the device was “developed specifically to deliver vivid and superb picture quality in a large display smartphone form factor”.

The Optimus G Pro will be available through Korean carriers SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus on Wednesday for 968,000 won, which is just under $900.

Here are the device specs:

• Chipset: 1.7GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Processor
• RAM: 2GB DDR
• Memory: 32GB / microSD (up to 32GB)
• Display: 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels / 400ppi)
• Camera: Rear 13.0MP with LED Flash / Front 2.1MP
• OS: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
• Battery: 3,140mAh (removable / wireless charging capable)
• Size: 150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4mm

Related: LG’s Optimus L Series smartphones top 15 million sales, as their successors wait in the wings

Image via lge / Flickr