PSA: Affordable LG Class smartphone coming to more countries as LG Zero

Back in September, LG announced a brand new all-metal entry-level smartphone named the LG Class. The idea was to bring a more premium looking device to customers with limited budgets. With its quad-core processor, 5-inch HD display and Lollipop-based OS, the smartphone certainly promised to be decent. Today, the Korean manufacturer has announced that the phone will be coming to more markets, albeit with a different name.

The LG Class will be rebranded as the LG Zero when it launches in key Asian, European and Latin American markets this month. The only markets where it retains its original ‘Class’ moniker are Germany, Korean, Russia and Singapore. All other markets will know the phone as the LG Zero. It launches in Taiwan today, and will be made available in other markets soon.

As a reminder, the LG Zero (or LG Class) comes with the following specification list:

• Display: 5.0-inch HD In-cell Touch (1280 x 720, 294ppi)
• Chipset: 1.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
• Camera: Rear 13MP / Front 8MP
• Memory: 1.5GB LPDDR3 RAM / 16GB eMMC ROM / MicroSD
• Battery: 2,050mAh
• Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
• Size: 142 x 71.8 x 7.4mm
• Weight: 147g
• Network: LTE / HSPA+ / GSM
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.1 / USB 2.0
• Colors: Silver / Gold

Of course, the LG Zero is just one of many mid-range phones built from metal. It’s safe to say it’s the new norm. Recently we checked out the Honor 7, while Xiaomi released a metal version of its Redmi Note smartphone. Samsung is expected to release a new Alpha device soon, while Oppo has announced the metal R7s.

What’s yet to be seen is if LG will follow the trend with its next flagship. The LG G4 — despite being a great phone — failed to take the market by storm, perhaps forcing the company to follow fashion and build a device from metal like most of its competitors. If it does, it’ll be interesting see if the G5 adopts a non-expandable storage strategy like Samsung, or keep the flexibility offered by its current high end devices.