If you were wondering how LG might keep up with Samsung’s experimentation with extra screen real estate on its Edge phones — and really, isn’t that the first thing we all think about after we wake up, pour a cup of coffee and question the insignificance of our existence — the V10 is your answer. It’s the beginning of a new series of phones for LG, ostensibly replacing the G Pro phablet line. Whereas the company’s “G” series remains its flagship, it seems like the “V” line will be where LG experiments a bit (even moreso than its curved Flex models). To that end, the V10 includes a few unique features: A second, tiny screen right above the main 5.7-inch display, and two front-facing cameras for the selfie-afflicted. It’s also the company’s first phone to include metal (it has steel around the sides), it sports a tough new silicon-based rear cover, and it packs in two Gorilla Glass 4 panels on its display. Clearly, there are a lot of ideas at play here, but how do they come together?
Gallery: LG V10 hands-on | 9 Photos



As for that extra display, it’s reminiscent of how Samsung took advantage of its curved Edge phones. It’s an always-on screen — by default, it stays on even when you turn off the main screen) — that lets you quickly access recent contacts, apps and it can display notifications for your next appointment. It can also show your signature, or a custom bit of text, if that’s what floats your boat. Given its tiny size though — it clocks in at just 1040 x 150 pixels — there’s only so much LG can fit in. While I don’t see the second screen as a big selling point for LG, it’s an intriguing idea for making smartphones more versatile.

While the V10 packs in the same 16 megapixel rear camera as the G4, LG also included some video recording upgrades. The phone has an additional bit of stabilization technology that makes shooting video feel almost like you’re using a dedicated steadicam gimbal. It’s a particularly useful addition for anyone who likes to take video, and it comes just as Apple added optical image stabilization to the iPhone 6 Plus.
LG says the V10 is hitting Korea “soon,” and it’ll hit AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in the US at some point afterwards. Pricing is also up in the air, but you can expect it to be more expensive than the G4.