The highly-anticipated smartphone from LG, the LG V20, has launched on Verizon while Sprint starts its pre-order program for the phablet. The secondary screen-touting device is set to conquer the plus-sized smartphone market vacated by Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and in direct competition of Apple's own iPhone 7 Plus.
Verizon Starts Selling The LG V20
The LG V20 is now available across Verizon outlets for only $672, cheaper than both AT&T and T-Mobile's offer of $830 and $769.99. Verizon is also throwing in a lot of LG V20-exclusive offers such as waived activation fee, trade-in programs and a new LG Stylo 2 V for a 24 monthly payment of only $1. The LG Stylo 2 is originally offered at Verizon for $10 a month or a retail value of $240, which means that if availed along with a new LG V20, users can save as much as $9 a month.
Sprint Starts Accepting Pre-Orders
Meanwhile, Sprint is now offering pre-orders for the LG V20 with a target shipment date of Oct. 28. Sprint has not released the pricing for the audio-centric phone yet but it has already been reported that the carrier is giving out free Bang and Olufsen headphones valued at $149 and a discount of as much as $200 if buyers would trade-in their old working smartphones.
The LG V20 Versus The Competition
LG's second iteration to the V line is set to face tough competition against the iPhone 7 Plus and the recently unveiled Google-branded Pixel XL in the phablet market. Because the iPhone 7 Plus runs on iOS and is a different environment altogether, the LG V20 would be competing against the Pixel XL, which also started its pre-orders this week.
In comparison, the Pixel XL prices start at $769, a little steeper than LG V20's. However, the Pixel XL asks just the right amount of price with its higher-specced internals compared to the LG flagship. Both handsets are the first smartphones to come with Android Nougat out of the box, though Pixel has a more updated version of 7.1 over LG V20's 7.0.
