No more updates: LG officially concludes phone software and highlights 7 memorable models.

If you’re still using an LG phone, take note: June 30th is the deadline. As reported by Android Authority, LG will be permanently shutting down its update servers on this date.

Update of Phone Software

This signifies the ultimate conclusion of LG’s presence in the smartphone market, a journey that ended with their exit in 2021 after 25 years.

For loyal LG users, this means the next two months are the last chance to secure any final Android updates for their devices.

This news serves as a reminder of LG’s past influence in the mobile landscape, marked by memorable innovations such as the LG Chocolate and the LG Wing.

Indeed, LG was one of the first tech giants to step into the phone space in the 1990s, alongside Samsung and Sony, when it took on Nokia and Motorola and became a big player in the ‘feature phones’ space.

Source LG’s Mobile users—May 18th, 2020

So what exactly were LG’s biggest phone hits, and the ones we look back on most fondly? Here’s our list—let us know which ones you think are missing in the comments below.

1. LG G2 (2013)

The LG G2 (sometimes unnecessarily called the Optimus G2) represented a near-perfect alignment of specifications, build quality, and price point in its time.

Its 5.2-inch display was considered large, and the 13MP camera was a strong competitor, offering a range of features for capturing high-quality images.

The glossy, curved plastic design provided a substantial feel, while the software included considered improvements to the base Android experience.

The most notable design choice, however, was the relocation of the power and volume buttons to the rear of the device. This was intended to enhance ergonomics given the phone’s size, theoretically reducing the likelihood of drops.

While adoption varied, with some finding the rear controls counterintuitive initially, others found them to be a comfortable and logical solution.

The G2’s positive reception suggested a potential for LG to maintain a leading position in the smartphone market.

However, despite its innovative features and critical acclaim, this momentum did not translate into sustained long-term success for the company’s mobile division.

2. Google Nexus 5 (2013)

2013 was a pivotal year for LG in the smartphone arena, not only with the launch of their G2 flagship and a groundbreaking bendable phone but also through their prestigious invitation to build the next Google Nexus smartphone.

The Nexus program was Google’s initiative to collaborate with manufacturers on hardware that purely reflected Android’s potential. LG’s contribution, the Nexus 5, proved to be a highlight of the series, inheriting some of the G2’s strengths while embodying Google’s intended software experience.

Its sleeker design and accessible price further solidified its appeal. As one of this technology journalist’s early devices, the Nexus 5 illuminated both Google’s Android vision and LG’s smartphone prowess during a golden age for the company, creating a personal and enduring fondness for this particular model.

3. LG Wing (2020)

With the LG Wing, LG set out to redefine the smartphone landscape. As the debut device in their ‘Explorer’ series—a concept that envisioned daringly different designs like the unreleased LG Rollable—the Wing unapologetically embraced unconventionality.

Its bulky form, intricate moving parts, and premium pricing for mid-tier hardware defied typical smartphone conventions.

However, this willingness to break the mold resulted in a device that, while not the most practical purchase, was undeniably engaging.

The swiveling second display, revealed with a simple gesture, was a bold and polarizing design statement. Surprisingly, this first-of-its-kind device offered a reasonable level of functionality, with several apps optimized for its dual-screen capabilities.

The LG Wing ultimately stands as a testament to LG’s innovative spirit in the smartphone market, a brand unafraid to experiment and challenge norms, even as its story serves as a reminder of the industry’s competitive pressures.

LG enV2 (2008)

The LG enV2, while not my first phone, was certainly an early and memorable one that I likely still own. It wasn’t the original flip phone, but it offered a standard keypad with a small front screen, opening to a larger display (by pre-smartphone measures).

Its dual speakers and near full-size QWERTY keyboard made it a competitor to BlackBerry. The enV2 provided a taste of smartphone-like features without the actual smart capabilities, and it was enjoyable and dependable, even with its removable battery.

The camera was decent for its time, though not by today’s standards. I remember becoming a fast typist on its internal keyboard and enjoying messaging.

Years later, I’d review more advanced LG phones, even chatting with Mr. Mobile (Michael Fisher) at the LG G3 launch. However, the enV2, with its surprising array of features, including simple games, within a durable, non-smartphone form factor, remains a nostalgic favorite.

5. LG Cookie (2008)

For many youngsters in 2008, myself among them, the launch of the LG Cookie was a big deal—it was my first real phone.

Hindsight reveals that the Cookie wasn’t a powerhouse; LG aimed for the entry-level touchscreen market, keeping costs down. This meant a 3-inch, 240 x 400 pixel screen and a 175 MHz ARM9E CPU. Its 3.15MP camera managed only 12fps video and had no flash. Not exactly impressive specs.

However, its undeniably cool look (I loved my white one) and the neat little stylus hidden inside made the LG Cookie, for my younger self, the ultimate in style and innovation.

6. LG KU990 Viewty (2007)

My refusal to discard this phone, even nearly two decades after its release, underscores its impact on me. The LG Viewty was a significant device, featuring a 5MP camera, a powerful Xenon flash, video recording approaching DVD quality, a dedicated manual zoom, and most notably, a touchscreen.

This was a pivotal moment for mobile technology, transitioning from tactile keypads to direct screen interaction. The Viewty’s sliding mechanism, revealing a larger screen for video playback (limited as content was then), felt revolutionary.

It included a stylus tethered by a cord (a design flaw quickly realized), and its resistive touchscreen, requiring physical pressure, would likely feel archaic and imprecise by today’s capacitive standards. Interestingly, the LG Viewty was rumored to have briefly outsold the original iPhone, attributed to its advanced features, more accessible price point, and Apple’s initial reluctance to disclose sales figures. While its reign was short, this early success was, in my view, well-earned, highlighting a key moment in the evolution of smartphone technology.

7. LG G Flex (2013)

LG’s slogan for their uniquely designed LG G Flex was “The most human phone ever,” highlighting its unconventional features: a “flexible” display and a “self-healing” back.

Beyond these innovations, the phone itself was curved. LG explained that this natural curvature was intended to provide a more comfortable fit against the user’s face and improve microphone positioning—a concept that might remind some of the curved design of the Nokia 8110 “banana phone.”

Let’s be clear about the LG G Flex’s “flexibility,” as I said in my review: you couldn’t actually fold the thing. Placing it face down showed a slight curve, but the real show was pressing on the back to flatten it—a feat usually accompanied by deeply concerning creaks and crunches that made everyone around wince.

It flexed, sure, but it sounded like it was protesting the entire time. The “self-healing” back was also a bit of a misnomer; it handled minor bumps, but scratches were definitely still a threat.

The LG G Flex wasn’t the best phone, and it was ridiculously expensive, but it was peak LG: wonderfully weird, undeniably unique, and utterly wild. And that’s why I loved it.