How LG’s Mobile Closure Could Affect You GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Analysis News > Phones
How LG’s Mobile Closure Could Affect You
Support will continue until it doesn’t
By Joshua Hawkins Joshua Hawkins Freelance Technology Reporter Full Sail University Josh Hawkins is a freelance writer for Lifewire who loves writing about the latest tech and gadgets that help make people’s lives easier. As an avid gamer and VR enthusiast, he also enjoys diving deep into the technology that helps bring those kinds of experiences to life. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 7, 2021 11:43AM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Phones Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Key Takeaways
LG is officially closing the doors on its mobile business.LG will continue to sell its current devices until stock is depleted and will offer support for a "period of time."Experts warn that users purchasing new LG phones could find themselves footing bills for repairs after the device’s limited warranty expires. LG Experts warn that users shouldn’t rely on LG for repairs after it shuts down its mobile business and should pick up a new phone from another manufacturer. With the announcement that LG is shutting down its mobile business, many users are left wondering what the future of device support for their LG phones looks like. Experts say some users could see themselves footing the bill for repairs once the warranty phase is up. "LG is bound by law to provide technical support as long as warranty coverages are active," Stacey Kane, business development lead of EasyMerchant, explained in an email to Lifewire. "However, in other countries where companies are only obliged to make good on their warranty services up to a given period after their liquidation, LG users may be faced [with covering] their own expenses for the repair of their units by employing the help of independent technicians." Buyer s Remorse
LG has been clear in its promises to provide support—including operating system updates—to its devices following the final closure of its smartphone division. The company expects to finish the process in July of 2021, and plans to continue selling its latest line of devices until stock is depleted. While stock will be available for some time, experts warn that purchasing an LG device right now is a bit of a gamble. LG, itself, even states that it only will provide support for an unknown period of time, which can be affected greatly by the region in which you purchased the device. Because of this, those in the United States could have longer or shorter support times than users picking up a device in another country, like India. Sasirin Pamai / EyeEm / Getty Images Furthermore, Kane says customers shouldn’t rely on LG for technical support and repairs, as the warranties on these devices often can be limiting. For most LG phones, that warranty period is roughly one year, and often won’t apply to repairs of key components like the antennas in your phone, unless those issues are caused by a manufacturer defect. You previously could extend the warranty another year by registering, but it's unclear if that option still will be available after the closure. Future Updates
Another point of contention to take into account when determining what to do about your current LG device—or if you’re still looking to pick one up—is the future of the operating system. New updates to your phone’s OS are important, often delivering new security patches and features that you need to stay safe in the digital world. LG’s history with updates never has been that great, with major Android updates coming to its devices well after they should have. In 2018, LG launched a Software Upgrade Division, designed specifically to bring more reliable updates to its devices. However, it has continued to lag behind other major Android phone manufacturers like Samsung. One of the most surprising bits of info to drop throughout the closure, though, is a report that LG plans to bring Android 12 to some of its devices. That seems unlikely, as, even now, some LG device owners still are worried they won’t receive Android 11. If LG does go through with Android 12 updates, they most likely only would come to the company’s latest devices, like the LG Wing and LG Velvet, and probably would take at least a couple of years to put together. LG is bound by law to provide technical support as long as warranty coverages are active. Despite the concerns, Kane says she hopes that LG will keep its promises and offer good support for users of its devices well after the closing is finalized. "Since they have already given a statement explicitly announcing their continued support for existing users, it could only be irresponsible of them to not make good on their own words," she said. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Google Adds 10 New Features to Messages, Including Reminders Support and More All About the iPhone Warranty and AppleCare How to Reset an LG Phone How Long Does an iPad Last? How to Fix a CPU Fan Error How to Fix a Computer That Turns On and Then Off Can Fix-a-Flat Damage Tire Pressure Monitor Sensors? The 6 Best Android ROMs of 2022 Should You Get AppleCare+ With Your iPad? The Best Options for iPhone Screen Repair How to Fix Msi.dll Is Missing or Not Found Errors How to Find Your Laptop Serial Number How to Replace a Dead iPad Battery A Short History of Napster The 6 Best Cell Phone Insurance Providers of 2022 How to Check if Your iPhone Is Under Warranty Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies