LG's new flagship smartphone, the G2, launched to great fanfare at the start of the month, and now we have some more details on one of the stand-out features: hi-res audio support.
The LG G2 is billed as the first smartphone to support hi-res 24-bit/192kHz music files, with LG suggesting it had to get its hands dirty with the framework of the Android OS to make it happen.
MORE: LG G2 review
LG has now confirmed that the G2 has the Qualcomm WCD9320 audio chipsets and will deliver 24/192 audio from its stock audio player when anything is connected via the headphone output, with a "Hi-Fi" icon lighting up on the display.
A statement to whathifi.com from LG reads: "The G2 has Qualcomm WCD9320 audio chipsets which support up to 24-bit/192kHz.
"When earphones & headsets are inserted, true 24-bit audio is played with the Hi-Fi icon displayed.
"But when connecting to other devices (e.g. speakers) through Bluetooth & USB, the audio is down-sampled."
So you will get untouched hi-res audio to your headphones or system via the line out. It's clear LG is making a big play for smartphone sound quality with its latest phone – we look forward to finding out whether it has paid off with better performance.
It's worth noting that the same chip is also rumoured to be inside the forthcoming super-size "phablet" from Sony, the Xperia Z Ultra.
The LG G Pad tablet is rumoured to be set for release at IFA next month, so it remains to be seen whether that will be the first hi-res audio tablet.
The LG G2 is due out later this year and we're hopeful of getting a review sample in the next few weeks.
MORE: Best smartphones 2013
MORE: High-resolution audio: everything you need to know
by Joe Cox
