Want an LG G4? Orange has it

Cape Town - Just days after the launch of the LG G4, the smartphone is already available to South Africans - but not from traditional outlets.

While the G4 will only hit the shelves on June 19, the Orange online store is offering SA the opportunity to order the gadget for R8 135.

Orange was keen to show that orders will only be received by June 12, about a week before the smartphone is officially available in SA.

The G4 is LG's attempt to take direct aim at fellow South Korean brand Samsung, which has had serious competition in the smartphone market.

The G4 has been hailed for its 16 megapixel camera which improves pictures with an F/1.8 aperture. The smartphone has 32GB of memory on board and has a micro-SD card slot, counter to current industry trends.

Device support

While it is too early to determine what the LG G4 will sell for when it launches officially, it is likely to target the premium market segment.

LG intends taking on mobile rivals with the G4. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)

"Our strategy has been to first establish ourselves within the post paid market. This is in line with our consumer brand which is really entrenched in terms of high end devices, latest technology in the market and premium devices," Deon Prinsloo, general manager of LG Mobile South Africa, told Fin24.

That strategy pits the G4 against the Samsung S6, HTC One (M9) and Sony Z3 (though the company is expected to launch the Z4 shortly).

Orange has grown in SA, as the company generally offers devices for prices below the retail cost in SA.

"The success of the Online Store has led to the growth of the Orange Horizons presence in South Africa, through a local warehouse which continues to stock more and more products as the demand from our customers increases, as well as the establishment of a physical store set to open in the coming months," said Blake Levitan, Orange Horizons South Africa
country manager.

It is unclear whether LG will offer the same support to devices bought on the Orange Store. LG was unavailable for comment on the issue.

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