It has been exactly two weeks since the LG V20 was announced and we are all wondering the same thing: when will it be released? Well fortunately for us, we have Evan Blass AKA @evleaks. The day that the LG V20 is expected to go on sale in the United States is October 21. Before the LG V20 has been officially released, it has already missed its chance to capitalize on the market.
There are a few issues I have with LG’s plan to release its second-half flagship nearly a month and a half after its announcement. First of all, LG couldn’t have had it any easier. Its main Android competitor, Samsung, had a massive issue with their Galaxy Note 7, causing a worldwide recall. It was the perfect time for LG to debut the V20 amid the worldwide recall and offer up their phone as an alternative, after-all the device won’t go back on sale until October 21st.
Not only did LG have Samsung on the hook, LG was able to debut their new flagship the day before Apple debuted the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The difference between the two is that Apple announced an official release date while LG kept quiet. Even though the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus were official available on September 16th to purchase, many units are on back-order, especially from carriers. If LG were to have their phone readily available even a week after their announcement, they could have snagged Samsung defectors and consumers who didn’t want to wait for a back-ordered iPhone.
Lastly, what frustrates me most of the LG announcement, was how they kept touting the LG V20 as the first phone to come with Android 7.0 Nougat. At first I was very excited to hear this. I thought “wow, maybe LG is getting their act together!” While I get this claim, it isn’t very justifiable anymore. On October 4th, Google is having an event to debut what is expected to be the Pixel and Pixel XL. They will come with what is expected to be Android 7.1 Nougat.
If this year’s Pixel event is anything like last year’s Nexus event, the devices will go on sale the same day as the announcement. Meaning you very well could be able to buy a Pixel or Pixel XL before the LG V20 even goes on sale. Not only that, but by the time the LG V20 does get released, it will already be on an outdated version of Android.
I hate to say this, but it is very obvious why some Android OEMs continue on a downward trend. They don’t learn from their past mistakes. When LG announced the V20 I was very excited and I was actually planning on returning my defective Note 7 to buy it… that was until Evan Blass announced that it would go on sale on October 21st, well after the Pixel and Pixel XL announcement. Sorry LG, I hope you understand, but I will be buying a Pixel XL instead of the V20. You missed your chance.
