When Being First Isn't Enough...The Death Of LG Smartphones

LG was once one of the biggest phone makers on Earth. At its peak, the company sold over 120 million phones a year and helped shape the modern smartphone industry. The strange part is that despite pioneering features we now take for granted, LG's mobile division still collapsed. From the world's first dual-core smartphone and ultra-wide camera to modular phones, dual-screen devices, and even a rollable display, LG was often years ahead of its competitors. Many of the features that eventually became industry standards appeared on an LG phone first. So how did one of the most innovative companies in tech lose $4.5 billion and record 23 straight quarters without a profit? The answer comes down to three major mistakes. A relentless focus on hardware innovation, weak marketing that failed to connect with consumers, and the absence of a profitable flagship product to fund its bigger experiments. While competitors like Apple and Samsung balanced innovation with strong branding and clear product strategies, LG struggled to turn great ideas into successful businesses. This is the story of how a company that helped define the smartphone era slowly lost relevance, exited the market entirely, and left behind a legacy that still lives inside nearly every phone we use today.

Timestamps:
0:00 - LG Gives Up
1:13 - The Innovators
5:45 - Mint Mobile
7:31 - “Woo Customers”
13:47 - Cutting Losses