LG officially confirmed its departure from the smartphone market on April 5, 2021, ending a legacy of experimental hardware designs and shifting the company's focus toward new business sectors.

Key Points

• LG’s board of directors formally approved the decision to exit the mobile phone industry on April 5, 2021.
• The company continued manufacturing smartphones until May 2021 to clear remaining inventory.
• LG fulfilled its commitment to provide software support, delivering Android 13 to the LG Wing in April 2023.
• The brand was known for pioneering mobile technologies, including dual-screen displays, capacitive touchscreens, and the unique rotating design of the LG Wing.
• Development of a highly anticipated rollable smartphone was canceled as part of the company's strategic pivot.

Why it Matters

The exit of LG removed a significant innovator from the mobile landscape that frequently challenged industry standards with unconventional hardware designs. This departure consolidated the smartphone market, leaving fewer competitors to challenge the dominance of major players like Samsung and Apple.