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LG may manufacture only about 30% of its 2021 phones by itself

The Stylo: not made by LG in 2021? (Source: LG)
The Stylo: not made by LG in 2021? (Source: LG)
LG is an OEM that designs and fabricates its smartphones through its own production lines. However, a new report indicates that it is poised to change tack somewhat for 2021, by farming more of their manufacture out to original design manufacturers (ODMs) than usual. These devices include some that the Korean giant normally makes in-house.

LG is an Android smartphone OEM, although new market research has shown that it has fallen far below top-5 brand levels in this market as of late. Then again, it is also a company that has already shown signs of making significant strategic changes in 2020, perhaps to help address this shortfall in the future. 

This may be evident through its switch in focus from the top-end space to that of the premium mid-ranger early in the year. Then again, it also does have a flagship-level phone with the attention-grabbing feature of a swiveling screen to boot. Now, according to TheElec, its tactics for 2021 include sending many more next-gen phones of various tiers off to be made by ODMs rather than making them itself.

The blog claims that their number includes certain specific devices that would have the "Made by LG" stamp in the normal course of things. Examples may include the upcoming Q-series flagship, as well as the successor to the Stylo 6. In fact, LG may outsource the fabrication of about 70% of its 2021 mobile devices in this way.

These possible changes to LG's business plans may save costs and also possibly free its R&D time up for new, more innovative phones. They compirse a putative device that may replace the V phablet series in the same way that the Velvet supplanted the G flagship phone line. It is currently thought to be code-named Rainbow, and may debut in the first 3 months of 2021.

LG is also now rumored to have a follow-up to its "Explorer Project", which reportedly resulted in the Wing smartphone. However, this next generation, thought to be called "B Project", may be a rollable device instead. This novel prospect may have a form-factor similar to one of a rival TCL's own prototype, in which a 6.75-inch screen can extend outwards to a total of 7.8 inches.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 10 > LG may manufacture only about 30% of its 2021 phones by itself
Deirdre O'Donnell, 2020-10-30 (Update: 2020-10-30)