LG G6 release date, news: next flagship phone featuring MST technology?

LG's announcement for the Android Nougat 7.0 beta for the LG G5.LG Electronics

Rumors abound that the next flagship phone from LG, the G6, will include Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology. This feature is similar to the Samsung Pay that replicates a debit or credit card swipe.

Samsung has been ahead in the mobile payment solutions arena or the tap-and-pay experience. While others have used Near Field Communication (NFC), Android Pay and Apple Pay, LG was earlier reported to use the White Card method. Now, it is speculated that LG will abandon it and will switch to MST, well suited for the fast-growing market. It is also rumored that LG is discussing the terms with several credit card companies, Android Authority reports.

Technology experts are now wondering if LG will be inventing their own technology for the MST feature so as not to infringe any copyright patents. Samsung is holding several patents for their own MST payment system. Others suggest that LG may have already bought the rights from Samsung so that the feature can be implemented right away with their smartphones.

In related news, it remains unclear if the LG G6 will have a modular ecosystem, similar to its G5. CNET previously reported that the company will keep its modular technology alive and will continue to dwell on it more. This came after the release of the V20 that came out as a conventional smartphone rather than a modular device. However, another report from ETNews suggests the opposite, that LG has abandoned the modular smartphone structure, which follows Google with its Project Ara.

Specs-wise, the LG G6 is speculated to carry a 5.3-inch display screen and could be offered with a 4K resolution. The G5 has already used a 1440 QHD screen, so going down a notch will unlikely happen. The still unannounced Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 could power the device, and it is paired with a 4 GB RAM and at least 32 GB worth of internal storage. It could also carry a 16 MP main camera and an 8 MP shooter at the front.

The LG G6 is rumored to be unveiled in the early part of 2017.