News

LG V40 ThinQ launches with most versatile quintuple-camera setup

The first of its kind

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The time has come for 5 cameras on a smartphone! / Photo by Michael Josh

LG let the cat out of the bag early, but that hasn’t stopped them from pushing through with their biggest smartphone release to date.

The V40 ThinQ looks a lot like its predecessors (and there have been many of them), but there’s one thing — or five — that makes it special.

If it isn’t obvious by now, this is the first truly quintuple-camera design on a smartphone, and each shooter isn’t just for show.

Let’s begin with the back: one 16-megapixel camera is for ultra-wide-angle shots, another 12-megapixel camera is for 2x zoomed-in photos, and the third 12-megapixel camera is simply for regular-angle shots at an f/1.5 aperture to let in more light. When put together, you have the most versatile cameras on any smartphone to date.

3 Rear cameras on the LG V40 ThinQ / Photo by Michael Josh

This is followed up by the front cameras, which consist of one wide-angle lens and another regular unit — 5 and 8 megapixels, respectively. No telephoto shooter here, because who wants close-ups of their nostrils?

Another highlight is the large 6.4-inch 1440p P-OLED display which has become a signature for LG’s V-series. Along with HDR compatibility, as well as the same Hi-Fi Quad DAC through its 3.5mm audio port and Boombox loudspeaker found on the G7, this is the multimedia smartphone to get today.

In addition, you get typical flagship specs: a fast Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB of memory, 64GB of expandable storage, and fairly sized 3300mAh battery. Oddly, it ships with the outdated Android 8.1 Oreo, but wireless charging and IP68-rated water and dust resistance are available.

It will be available for preorder on Verizon starting October 11 in Aurora Black and the Verizon-exclusive Moroccan Blue, starting at US$ 40.83 a month for 24 months. It will also be available for pickup from local Verizon stores, online, or through the My Verizon app starting on October 18.

Is the V40 ThinQ enough to save LG’s sinking sales? As it stands, it’s possibly the most complete handset currently available, but with both the higher-end models kicking it up a notch and value brands pushing cheaper products, LG needs to win back the market gradually.

LG also has to try harder at differentiating its V-series from the G-series, which are becoming increasingly alike. Still, it’s great to have a yearly refresh from both lineups, delivering consistently new features as they arrive.

Entertainment

SEGA, Netflix announce Crazy Taxi film adaptation

1st in planned slate of film adaptations, including Sonic and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN

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SEGA and Netflix have announced a new Crazy Taxi film adaptation. This will usher in a new collaboration era with the parties also developing adaptations for Sonic and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN.

Such a slate of future adaptations reflects the range of SEGA’s library as it draws on Netflix’s experience bringing beloved game worlds to new audiences.

The first project features Crazy Taxi, which will be written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. The beloved writing duo was behind the 2025 reboot of The Naked Gun.

Also on board to help helm the production are the same visionaries behind the Sonic franchise: Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara.

Crazy Taxi has been an arcade hit since 1999, putting players behind the wheel of a fearless cabbie racing the clock through chaotic city streets.

There’s flying off ramps, dodging traffic, and chasing tips with punk-rock energy that has become the series’ signature.

The latest title in the franchise, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, is set for a 2027 release. You can watch its trailer below:

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Finance

HONOR, Fidesmo partner for contactless payments across Europe, Middle East

Enabling contactless payments on the HONOR Watch 6

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HONOR and Fidesmo have partnered to launch contactless payments across Europe and the Middle East on the HONOR Watch 6.

Powered by Fidesmo Pay, the integration enables users to connect an existing Mastercard or Visa card to their watch and complete contactless transactions directly from the wearable device.

This brings Fidesmo’s network of over 900 banks and financial institutions to HONOR’s customers. Users can connect an existing card to the HONOR Watch 6 instantly through the HONOR Health App, which installs a unique token directly onto the watch.

Acting as a secure reference to the payment method, this token allows customers to pay without storing their actual payment details on the device. Once installed, users can tap the watch at any
contactless terminal to pay, just as they would with a card or phone.

HONOR joins a group of device partners that already includes Swatch, Polar, and Mondaine as Fidesmo continues to build momentum across categories.

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Entertainment

Max vs 100 will feature Max Verstappen race against 100 go-karters

The live event will stream at midnight on September 17.

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As a child, one of my favorite thought experiments is to imagine who would win in a fight between my favorite characters at the time and a number of other random beings. For example, will Superman prevail against 100 Magnetos? Those are the ways I kept my young mind occupied. Now, as a former child, I still do the same thing but with more realistic people, like imagining if Steph Curry can win against 100 high schoolers. This week, ESPN and Disney+ are making one of those imaginary fights real: Formula 1 legend Max Verstappen versus 100 go-karters.

In an upcoming live event streaming exclusively on Disney+, Max vs 100 will pit the four-time world champion against 100 go-karters from everywhere in pop culture. This gaggle of 100 will include popular content creators such as Twitch streamer ExtraEmily, car photographer Larry Chen, and NBA shooting coach Chris Matthews.

All 101 drivers will race around one of the most iconic tracks in Formula 1 history, Silverstone in England. The track will be reconfigured to match the special race.

Of course, this is more than just a parade of go-karts. Max Verstappen will start at the back of the grid, meaning he has to overtake all 100 racers to win. Now, the Dutch driver is no stranger to winning from the back. In 2024, he won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix despite starting from P17 (out of 20 racers). Max vs 100, though familiar for the driver, presents a different challenge. Can he overtake 100 times to win the race?

Max vs 100 will stream live through Disney+ on September 17, 12:00am PHT.

SEE ALSO: Disney+ is moving to a global app experience

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