LG's new G8 phone uses OLED display as audio amplifier

By Lim Chang-won Posted : February 14, 2019, 10:51 Updated : February 18, 2019, 09:21

[Courtesy of LG Electronics]


SEOUL -- At this month's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, LG Electronics will showcase crystal sound technology for its new flagship smartphone G8 which used the OLED display as an audio amplifier.

G8 features crystal sound OLED (CSO), which repurposes the OLED display as a diaphragm, vibrating the entire surface to produce sound with impressive volume, LG said in a statement on Thursday.

A typical speaker includes an electric signal that contains sound information and flows through the coil, and a magnet generates sound with pressure to make the diaphragm move back and forth. CSO puts the diaphragm on the OLED panel to generate sound in front of the panel without a magnet.

With more consumers using smartphones as their primary devices for watching movies, playing games and consuming music, the demand for high-quality audio is high, LG said, adding CSO makes voices easier to discern and subtle musical notes more noticeable.

In speakerphone mode, LG said audio is delivered with impressive bass through the bottom speaker. Full-bodied stereo performance is possible with a two-channel audio setup utilizing this bottom speaker and the top part of the display. CSO also gives smartphones a clean, minimalist look.

"Our commitment to driving smartphone audio to new heights is on clear display in LG G8 ThinQ," Chang Ma, senior vice president of LG's mobile communications division, was quoted as saying.

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