RIP, LG Mobile – electronics giant exits the camera phone business

RIP, LG Mobile – electronics giant shutters its camera phone business
(Image credit: LG)

Electronics giant LG has announced that it is closing its mobile phone division, with the expected wind down of the business expected to be completed by 31 July.

Once the third-largest smartphone supplier in the world, responsible for industry innovations such as introducing wide-angle cameras, the South Korean behemoth has seen its phone division bleed $4.5 billion (approximately £3.2 billion / AU$5.9 billion) in the past six years. 

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"LG Electronics Inc. (LG) announced that it is closing its mobile business unit," said the company in an official statement

"LG will provide service support and software updates for customers of existing mobile products for a period of time which will vary by region," adding that, "the wind down of the mobile phone business is expected to be completed by July 31 although inventory of some existing models may still be available after that."

Tragically, the LG Rollable will never make it to market now that LG has left the industry (Image credit: LG)

In a separate statement, LG confirmed that warranties for existing products would be honored and replacement parts would continue to be available. It also noted that the Android 12 OS update would be rolled out, though noted that LG applications Qlens and PC Tool for products released before 2019: PC Suite / LG Mirror Drive will no longer be supported after mobile business operations end.

Of course, this means that the much-anticipated LG Rollable revealed at CES 2021 will never see the light of day. 

"LG’s strategic decision to exit the incredibly competitive mobile phone sector will enable the company to focus resources in growth areas such as electric vehicle components, connected devices, smart homes, robotics, artificial intelligence and business-to-business solutions, as well as platforms and services," stated the company on its future. 

"Moving forward, LG will continue to leverage its mobile expertise and develop mobility-related technologies such as 6G to help further strengthen competitiveness in other business areas. Core technologies developed during the two decades of LG’s mobile business operations will also be retained and applied to existing and future products."

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James Artaius
Editor

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.