DESPITE the disappointing sales of the LG G6, we still think the Korean flagship is one of the better smartphone choices around — all the more now that it is at its lowest price yet.

(Update, August 18, 2017: The LG Q6 has been launched in the Philippines! It’s priced at P12,990 or roughly $253. The original headline states “Budget version of the LG G6 to launch in PH August 18.”)

READ ALSO: LG G6 quick review: So fly, so grounded

And soon, LG will launch the G6’s smaller and much more affordable stablemate in the Philippines, specifically on August 18. We’re talking the announcement of the LG Q6, which takes its design cues from the G6 and dresses up the exterior with components you’d find in the lower-midrange or bottom-end segment.

SEE ALSO: Complete specs of the LG Q6

Gone are the waterproofing, fingerprint reader, dual rear cameras, and fast Snapdragon 821 processor of the G6, among other things, to keep the price competitive and within the reach of LG’s intended demographic. The Q6 with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage is listed at 14,990 rupees in India, or around P12,000 or $233, before taxes.

And while that doesn’t sound too encouraging, consider that the LG Q6 inherits the 18:9 screen of the G6, albeit at a lower resolution of 2160 x 1080 on a smaller 5.5-inch LCD display. The edge-to-edge screen up front likewise has curved corners, similar to the G6’s. Further, the Q6 benefits from an ultra-strong aluminum frame that is said to be one of the most impact-resistant materials in smartphones today.

LG Q6 official product video

The rest of the information sheet won’t blow anyone away: Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 system-on-a-chip paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage depending on the configuration; 13- and 5-megapixel rear and front cameras; 3,000mAh battery; and Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

LG’s local office has yet to specify which configuration of the Q6 it will make available, though we hope to see either the 3GB RAM or the 4GB RAM version end up here. 

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