[LG Phone Withdrawal] Foreign Media Also Say to LG, Who Claimed to Be Eccentric, "We Will Miss Your Pioneering Spirit"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] "The pioneering spirit of LG phones will be missed. (PhoneArena)" "Although there were few big hits, LG Electronics introduced innovations that could have worsened the mobile phone ecosystem without them. (The Verge)"

On the 5th (local time), as LG Electronics, which proudly called itself the 'Geek' of the smartphone industry and showcased various product concepts, officially confirmed its withdrawal, overseas IT specialized media and major foreign media expressed their regrets. Considering LG phones' struggles in the smartphone market over the past few years, some evaluations said it was a foreseeable event. Concerns about employment instability were also mentioned in countries where overseas factories are located.

IT specialized media PhoneArena introduced LG Electronics' Prada phone, Viewty phone, released in the mid to late 2000s, as "symbolic LG phones that made the industry more creative and interesting," reporting that they will be "missed." It also mentioned key models from the Prada phone to last year's LG Wing, introducing LG Electronics' years of 'world firsts' such as the first mobile with an ultra-wide-angle camera, the first mobile with a 21:9 display, the first triple SIM mobile, and the first mobile equipped with a multi-core processor.

The Verge also said, "LG Electronics' withdrawal is not surprising," but evaluated that "LG Electronics achieved functions and innovations that, if not introduced, could have further worsened the mobile ecosystem." Representative examples include being the first to equip an ultra-wide-angle camera on mobile and introducing a buttonless design.

The media stated, "If LG Electronics disappears in the U.S., where Android competition is not fierce, the duopoly of Apple and Samsung Electronics in the high-end segment will become more solid," adding, "The U.S. smartphone market has become much more boring." It emphasized, "LG phones were not the best, but LG Electronics had a significant impact on the smartphone ecosystem."

Another IT specialized media, TechTimes, reported, "The gap left by LG Electronics in the smartphone market will be large." In another article, it introduced that LG Electronics will focus on next-generation technologies such as 6G, electric vehicle parts, and smart home solutions like smart TVs instead of the smartphone business, evaluating LG's announcement as "ambitious."

Bloomberg's research institute, Bloomberg Intelligence, predicted, "LG Electronics can establish itself as a supplier of electric vehicle parts solutions," and "It may attract the interest of giant IT companies like Apple and traditional automakers aiming to produce smart electric vehicles."

Japan's NHK broadcast analyzed the background of LG Electronics' smartphone withdrawal, stating, "In the flagship model market, the gap widened with U.S. Apple and Korean Samsung Electronics, and meanwhile, it was pushed out by Chinese companies emphasizing price competitiveness." LG Electronics' global smartphone market share is at the 2% level.

Some foreign media also pointed out concerns about software updates and after-sales service (AS) that consumers worry about. India Today noted, "Although it was announced that software updates will be provided as long as parts inventory remains, this is expected to vary by region," adding, "This means that even users of the same 'LG Velvet' may not receive software updates simultaneously in India as they do in Europe."

There are also voices worried about employment succession and factory closures. Brazil's IT specialized magazine TechTudo covered concerns about employment instability at the Taubate factory in S?o Paulo, Brazil, analyzing that "Korean companies are following in the footsteps of Japan's Sony." In Brazil, LG Electronics is the third-largest mobile phone manufacturer after Samsung Electronics and Motorola.

Currently, regarding overseas factories, LG Electronics is reportedly considering plans to convert factory uses or recycle factory materials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.