🎙️ Tek With Josh — Episode 38
LG Was Weird, and I Miss Them

LG is gone from the smartphone market, but their impact is still everywhere. In this episode, I take a look back at one of the most experimental companies in mobile technology and why I think the industry lost something when they left.

From the LG Wing and modular G5 to the V series, Nexus devices, curved displays, dual-screen accessories, and features like double tap to wake, LG was constantly trying new ideas. Not every experiment worked, and some failures hurt the company in a major way, but they were willing to take risks in a way that few manufacturers are today.

I never used an LG phone as my primary device, but I spent plenty of time around them, setting them up for family members, following their releases, and watching them push boundaries while the rest of the industry played it safe. Looking back, I think many of the ideas we take for granted today owe something to companies like LG that were willing to be a little weird.

What We Talk About

Why LG’s departure from smartphones still matters

The LG Wing and one of the strangest phone designs ever released

The LG Rumor, Fusic, and other memorable feature phones

The rise of the LG G2, G3, and G4

LG’s Nexus partnership with Google

The infamous boot loop problems and class-action lawsuit

The modular LG G5 experiment

The creator-focused V series and manual video controls

Curved displays and the LG G Flex

Dual-screen phones, accessories, and other unusual ideas

Why modern smartphones feel less adventurous than they once did

Why This Stood Out

Technology often moves forward because companies are willing to take chances. LG did not always get it right, but they consistently challenged assumptions about what a phone could be. Many of their ideas failed commercially, yet several concepts they explored eventually found their way into mainstream devices.

The smartphone market today is more refined than ever, but it is also more predictable. Looking back at LG’s history is a reminder that innovation often starts with ideas that seem strange at first.

Final Thoughts

LG’s story is not just about a company that left the smartphone business. It is about a manufacturer that was willing to experiment, take risks, and occasionally fail in public. While their phones were not always the best-selling devices on the market, they helped make the industry more interesting.

Sometimes the companies that matter most are not the ones that win. They are the ones willing to try something different.

About the Show

Tek With Josh is a technology podcast that explores the devices, trends, and ideas that shaped the tech world. From modern innovations to forgotten gadgets and industry reflections, each episode takes a thoughtful look at the technology that influences our lives.

Listen, read, and explore more at:
👉 BooksByJosh.com