Update: The LG G5 release date is being teased for February 21 at MWC and new rumors suggest it may have a removable battery as well as a unibody design.
The LG G4 got a lot right, but with a couple of significant missteps and a few other minor niggles it didn't quite reach the heights of greatness we'd hoped for. But 2016 is another year, and the LG G5 is another chance for LG to deliver the handset we all know it's capable of.
As we saw with the G4, LG won't be drawn into following the norm of metal and glass bodies, happily slapping plastic and leather on its latest flagship handset – but something is going to have to give in the design department, as LG is getting left behind somewhat by Apple, Samsung, HTC and Sony.
Our design allows LG to still stand out from the crowd, while bringing it into the premium tier of design. The South Korean firm isn't afraid to throw in some curve balls here and there, so while the concept is ambitious there's always a chance for LG to surprise.
News and rumors
We've starting to hear more LG G5 rumors, and they're all pretty promising. For one thing we might finally see LG deliver a truly premium flagship, as Naver.comreports that it will sport a full metal body, which would be a nice change from the plastic the company usually uses and the less said about the leather-backed LG G4 the better.
Another rumor suggests that LG will keep the removable battery as well as a metal unibody design with an innovative new design. According to CNET Korea and a source who has seen a prototype device, the LG G5 will have a battery tray much like your SIM does in some flagship phones.
In other news a source with a solid track record has claimed that it will have a Snapdragon 820 processor, which should be a big upgrade on the Snapdragon 808 chip found in the LG G4.
The same source also claims it will have a 20MP camera with a custom Sony 1/2-inch sensor, which should also be an upgrade on the 16MP snapper that the LG G4 has.
Though another rumor suggests it will have a 21MP snapper on the back and a 5MP one on the front, as well as a 5.6-inch 2K screen.
Even more excitingly the LG G5 could supposedly have an iris scanner, allowing it to recognise you by your eyes.
We're bound to start seeing iris scanners in smartphones sooner or later and LG hasn't been afraid to innovate or be the first to do things in the past, so it's possible that the LG G5 will pack this tech, but we're a little sceptical, though that same rumor has popped up again, so you never know.
LG G5 release date
You won't have to wait very long for the LG G5 release date. The company's flagship Android phone is expected to launch two months earlier than its typical annual refresh cycle.
An invite went out to us and other members of the press asking us to "Save the Date" for February 21. The vague email teased the phrased "Play Begins" and the location of Barcelona.
It's not a final confirmation that the LG G5 is coming to MWC 2016, but the move would make sense. Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 were announced there last year and got a two-month headstart on the LG G4.
It looks as if LG isn't allowing the Samsung Galaxy S7 and HTC One M10 to do the same all over again, so we may have our first look at the LG G5 one month from now.