AT&T gets LG V35 ThinQ after skipping G7 [Updated]

The new LG V35 ThinQ will launch on AT&T in early June in the US, the carrier has confirmed, helping explain why it opted out of picking up the LG G7 ThinQ earlier this month. The new smartphone, latest in the company's V series, is closer to the G7 than the name would suggest, however.

In fact, the two devices share the majority of their specifications. Both run Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 with 6 GB of RAM, and have twin rear cameras: one 16-megapixel sensor with a regular lens, and the other 16-megapixel sensor with a wide-angle lens. Each get LG's AI camera technology, too, which promises to automatically identify the scene or subject and adjust the settings accordingly.

The main difference, indeed, comes down to the display. The V35 ThinQ has a 6-inch panel running at QHD+ 2880 x 1440 resolution. However, where the G7 uses an LCD panel, AT&T's new phone packs OLED instead. It also does away with a notch at the top of the display in the process, adopting a more traditional rectangular shape for those who really don't like the front sensor and camera cut-out.

It's the latest step of LG's gradual narrowing of the gap between the V and G series. At one point, with the G series experimenting with modularity and different accessories while the V series packed more sober designs and large displays, the division between the two was clear. Now, though, LG is progressively eroding the line.

Indeed, it's hard not to see this particular launch as being a compromise for AT&T's sake, with the carrier wanting an exclusive device rather than following its rivals and picking up the G7 ThinQ. That presumably works out in LG's favor, though only if AT&T can commit to pushing its exclusive. After all, we've seen plenty of good phones fall short because the networks they're locked to haven't done the legwork.

AT&T says the LG V35 ThinQ will go up for preorder this Friday, June 1. It'll go on sale online and in-store from June 8. As for pricing, it'll be offered on AT&T Next, the carrier's smartphone device plan, for $30 per month over 30 months, though you'll also need to sign up for a service plan too.

Update: Although AT&T suggests the LG V35 ThinQ will be exclusive to its network, Google's Project Fi has announced that it, too, will be offering the phone. We've updated the article to make that clear.