Leaked LG Uni8 image reveals the company’s first Windows Phone 8 device

It looks like LG is preparing to launch its very first Windows Phone 8 device, after serial smartphone industry insider Evleaks revealed a render of what is purportedly called the LG Uni8.

The device is, as you’d expect, reminiscent of the Microsoft (née Nokia) Lumia series, but this is notable because it would be LG’s first device running the Windows Phone 8 platform.

There have been concerns that Microsoft’s $7.2 billion purchase of Nokia’s services and devices division (which includes Nokia smartphones and tablets) has put the company in a conflicted position. If LG does release this phone, it will be a validation that Microsoft can operate Windows Phone and own Nokia, its single biggest hardware maker, at the same time.

That said, the platform’s low market share compared to Android and iOS is likely to raise other concerns among OEMs. Canalys estimates that just 3 percent of devices shipped during the last quarter were powered by Windows Phone.

We don’t have details of the device’s price, or when it might launch, but we’ve contacted LG to see if the company will acknowledge the leak and furnish us with some details.

➤ LG Uni8 (no sushi), 2014 [Evleaks] | Via @Evleaks

Image via Scobleizer / Flickr