When and where can I get the LG V30?
The LG V30 is one of the most interesting devices of the year so far. It's got a big, near-bezelless design that eschews many of the design characteristics of its predecessors, the V10 and V20, but maintains their focus on high-quality audio and unique camera features.
While the phone was announced in late August, it's only now close to being released, and we've got the latest information on where you can buy the V30.
Let's break it down individually by country and carrier.
Updated October 5, 2017: This article was updated with pricing and availability for Verizon.
U.S. carriers
T-Mobile
Pre-orders opened at T-Mobile for the V30 on October 5 at 5am PT / 8am ET, with sales beginning October 13 online and in-store. The price is $80 down and $30 per month for 24 months, or an outright cost of $800. Like Sprint, you also get a free Daydream View and content pack with purchase.
The V30 is T-Mobile's first phone to support its nascent 600Mhz spectrum, which will give the phone better performance in low-density rural areas.
AT&T
The V30 is now available at AT&T online, and in-store on October 6. It costs $27 per month for 30 months on AT&T Next, or $810 in total. AT&T has a deal for a "free" second V30, but there are a lot of conditions:
"For a limited time, buy an LG V30 and get one FREE when you add a line and buy both on AT&T Next with monthly eligible wireless and have eligible DIRECTV service."
It works on the company's so-called 5G Evolution network, which is equivalent to the fastest 4G LTE speeds today. That's because the V30 takes advantage of new technologies like 4x carrier aggregation, 256QAM modulation, and 4x4 MIMO antenna placements, as well as unlicensed spectrum standards like LTE-U and LAA.
Verizon
The LG V30 is now available at Verizon (as of October 5) for $35 per month for 24 months, or $840 outright. Verizon is giving away a $200 prepaid credit card and a free Google Daydream View with every purchase, which is nice.
Sprint
Sprint is the only U.S. carrier to sell the LG V30+, which is the 128GB version of the regular LG V30. It will go on sale starting October 13 for $0 down and $38 per month for 24 months, which works out to $912 outright. Like AT&T, users signing up for a second account and service will get a second LG V30+ for free.
Sprint is going deep on the V30+, too. It's offering a free Daydream View headset and "Top VR content bundle" with every unit, and is the only carrier bundling LG's QuadPlay earbuds in the box.
U.S unlocked
LG didn't promise a U.S. unlocked version, but all indicators point to its existence. For starters, the review unit I'm using has a model number of US998, which follows the naming trend of LG unlocked phones — the unlocked G6 is US997.
there will also be a carrier-free variant, US998 USA, which will most likely get official bootloader unlock from LG Developer page.
— autoprime (@utoprime) August 31, 2017
We've also seen tweets (h/t r/Android) indicating that LG would offer an unlocked model.
If that model starts selling in early October for $749 as some documents claim, it would be a very competitive price compared to the $900+ Samsung is asking for the Note 8.
Other countries
Right now, besides South Korea, all we know is that the V30 will be available "this fall in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East." That's good news given that the V20 didn't get a wide release outside the U.S., so it's nice to know that LG's best phone ever will get its widest possible release — and a chance for success.
Stay tuned for more purchase details for the V30 in the coming weeks!
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