Previous rumors have already highlighted that LG is reportedly expanding the G5 lineup. The speculations could be accurate as the LG G5 SE surfaces online. However, instead of it being a top-tier flagship addition, the specs sheet reportedly lists the SE addition as a more modest version of the LG G5.
According to The Verge, the supposed LG G5 SE has already been officially listed on a Russian website. Listing its internals, it is not a "smaller" version of the G5. Rather, LG has featured downgraded specs on the G5 SE but maintained the design and profile of the G5. With these changes, the LG G5 SE seems to be a flagship alternative for LG, showcased for regions that will not get the top-tier LG G5 model.
As for its downgraded specs, the website listed the G5 SE as having a Snapdragon 652, which is a mid-range Qualcomm chipset. This is compared to the Snapdragon 820 SoC that is featured in the LG G5 and most of the current flagships on the market.
In addition, the on-board memory also got a downgrade, as the G5 SE packs only 3GB of RAM, unlike the 4GB one in the LG G5 base model. The SE version also lacks the LTE connectivity feature, which is a surprising detail. According to Tech Times, the Snapdragon 652 chipset has an embedded LTE X8 support. Why the G5 SE only maintains 3G connectivity is still unclear.
In the design department, though, LG decided to leave some of the features untouched. The LG G5 and the G5 SE have the same 5.3-inch IPS display, with Quad HD resolution. The G5 SE also enjoys the same top-notch camera. Meanwhile, since the G5 SE has the same modular design, LG seems to be thinking of making the G5 "Friends" accessories also compatible with the new G5 addition.
