5 LG phones we want to make a comeback in 2026

For many years, LG has been one of the manufacturers most willing to experiment with new things in the smartphone market. So while other brands were following more traditional formats for their phones, the South Korean brand was always testing new ideas. It was not uncommon to see LG devices released with secondary displays, modular design, back buttons, or even swivel designs. Even if not all ideas worked, some LG smartphones still deserved a second chance.

The company’s mobile division was creative but faced stiff competition from established brands like Samsung and Apple, as well as other Chinese companies. So much so that LG decided to stop manufacturing smartphones in 2021 and focus its resources on other areas, closing a chapter of offering new experiences to users that other brands did not dare to risk.

Some of these phones have aged better than others, especially when we understand the ideas behind them rather than just their specs. Certain features, such as removable batteries for example, may still find room for users. For this reason, we have selected a few LG smartphones that deserve a new release in 2026.

Launched in 2020, the LG V60 ThinQ brought together features rarely found on the brand’s flagship phones. At the time, it had a Snapdragon 865 with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage expandable via microSD up to 2 TB. Additionally, the 5,000 mAh battery was enough to last a full day of intense use. Another point was that the camera recorded 8K video, while the 3.5mm jack with a 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC was ideal for anyone who enjoyed wired headphones.

To complete the package, the phone also had a dual screen, an optional accessory that could be attached to the V60. Thus, LG had one of the iconic Android phones that entered the history of smartphones even before the start of the era of foldable phones, without forcing buyers to abandon the traditional form factor. Today, the V60 would be a good counterpoint to other flagship phones, which are very similar in design and features.

LG Wing was another phone where the brand bet on creating unconventional design and features. So the main screen can rotate 90 degrees, revealing a 3.9-inch screen underneath for the user to use. This has led to some strange associations, like using one screen for GPS navigation and the other for messages or social media.

The company has even developed specific modes for the Wing, such as video and multitasking, which take advantage of its two screens. However, despite the idea, the phone ran into some issues at launch, such as a very high price for its specs and a lack of apps truly optimized for the second screen. These limitations during the launch of the LG Wing were decisive in its low popularity.

At the same time, since its launch in 2020, the market has evolved considerably, particularly with the evolution of foldable smartphones and multitasking interfaces. So, with more mature software and a better prepared app ecosystem, the concept LG had for the Wing might have more room today.

The G4 was released in 2015 and continues LG’s approach to solving a problem with screens that keep getting bigger, making it harder to access the buttons on the sides. So the manufacturer kept the back key design, which started with the LG G2, by placing the power and volume buttons on the back of the device. It came with a Snapdragon 808, 3GB of RAM, and a 5.5-inch QHD display, which was competitive hardware at the time.

But even with this solution, the G4 has never been unanimous among users. Reviews from the time were generally positive, describing a competent device packed with features but lacking solid focus. So even with ideas like KnockOn, which activated the screen with two clicks, and Dual Window, which allowed two apps to run simultaneously on the screen, it still seemed to lack its own identity.

However, the emphasis on ergonomics and software like KnockOn has aged well, since it anticipated functions that have now become standard on many phones. The features hidden in the power button of any Android phone show that the idea of ​​giving this button more functions still exists, as the LG G line did.

Anyone with an older phone may remember that it was possible to remove the battery from these devices, making replacement easier or allowing a forced shutdown if the device froze. Although this feature has disappeared over time, mainly because many devices need a seal for water protection, the LG V20 still represents this era well, since it came not only with a removable battery, but also with two rear cameras and the small second screen of the V line.

The device was also the first factory-launched smartphone with Android 7.0 Nougat and also came with the 32-bit Quad Hi-Fi DAC, a feature that later became a trademark of the V series. Today, the removable battery is one of the hardware features that users miss, but the V20 already answered, in 2016, a demand that still has no solution in most smartphones today.

Furthermore, it should be remembered that this V20 philosophy could return, at least in the European Union. Starting in February 2027, battery regulations will require smartphones sold in the bloc to be user removable, with exceptions for waterproof devices.

The LG G Flex 2 was another example of the company trying something new compared to other smartphone brands at the same time. For a 2015 device, this one had a 5.5-inch curved P-OLED display and a body that could bend a bit under pressure without breaking. LG has also applied a self-healing coating to the back to reduce minor scratches from daily use. Inside, the smartphone has a Snapdragon 810, 2 GB or 3 GB of RAM and a 3,000 mAh battery.

Even though phones with curved edges never really took off, the idea behind the G Flex 2 still makes sense today. It’s now common to find flexible OLED panels on foldable phones, and manufacturers are still experimenting with materials that can better resist drops and scratches. A new version of the G Flex could take advantage of these technologies without becoming another foldable, but instead focusing on durability.