LG Optimus G Pro Release Date Set for April in Japan; US to Receive 4G Optimus G

By Staff Reporter

LG's Optimus G Pro smartphone will be released in April for users only in Japan.

Japanese provider NTT Docomo announced the news last week and a Google-translated version of the company's press release revealed early April as the launch date for the successor to LG's popular Optimus G.

The Optimus Pro G will be slightly thicker than the LG Optimus G, 0.4-inches compared to 0.33-inches, in order to accommodate a larger battery. It will also run Android 4.1, JellyBean, and will be equipped to connect with the Japanese carrier NTT Docomo's LTE network. Its Wi-Fi tethering feature will be able to accommodate up to eight devices.

The phone integrates its glass surface with the touch sensor to generate a thinner display and body.

Other specifications on the device include a 5-inch 1080p HD display, a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro Processor, 32GB of internal storage, 2GB RAM, 3,000mAh battery, and 4G LTE support. Adding a microSDXC card can add as much as 64GB of additional storage.

A 2.4 megapixel camera will grace the front, while a 13 megapixel camera will take the rear position. The 3,000 mAh battery supports fast charging but is not removable.

According to CNET, the current Optimus G is sold in Japan, South Korea, Canada, and the United States.

There is no official word yet for when the Optimus G Pro will be released outside of Japan, but a 4G version of the Optimus G was announced.

LG confirmed on Jan. 22 that the 4G Optimus G will be available in 50 more countries around the world in the coming months, starting with Singapore. The Jelly Bean version of the phone sports a 4.7-inch display and a Snapdragon S4 Pro Quad-Core processor.

The LG Optimus G is currently available in the U.S., Canada, Korea, and Japan.