LG Teases Upcoming 5G Velvet Phone With Unusual 'Raindrop' Camera Layout

LG has released a short teaser trailer for its new Velvet smartphone that shows off the company's new design language, which includes a vertically cascading rear triple-camera array.


The layout moves away from the large camera bumps that have become common on smartphones, including Apple's iPhones. The so-called "raindrop" camera positions smaller lenses below the larger main camera, reminiscent of dripping water.

LG has described the design as "a nod to the natural world with a visual form factor that differs from the industry trend." Presumably the unusual arrangement doesn't impact on the function of the camera.

The square bump on the iPhone 11 series divided observers when it was launched last year. The aesthetic still displeases some users, while others dislike the way it prevents the ‌iPhone‌ from lying flat on a table.

Apple's 2020 ‌iPhone‌ lineup, expected this fall, is likely to keep the bump, but it will house an additional fourth lens in the form of a 3D camera, similar to the LiDAR scanner in the 2020 iPad Pro.

LG hasn't announced a launch date for its Velvet smartphone, but its recent steady stream of teasers would suggest a launch can't be far off. What do you think of LG's new design? Let us know in the comments.

Tag: LG

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...

Top Rated Comments

T'hain Esh Kelch Avatar
74 months ago
That looks miles better than the hideous hump Apple has on their phones.

LG does make some good looking things now and then.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
n-evo Avatar
74 months ago
Looks nice, then again I don't spend my time endlessly looking at the back of my phone.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macfan90 Avatar
74 months ago
That’s upside down. A raindrop is almost always drawn with the pointed small side up and larger at the bottom where the water masses together. How simple of a concept to understand yet they mess it up.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H2SO4 Avatar
74 months ago

Looks nice, then again I don't spend my time endlessly looking at the back of my phone.
I think so too. That teardrop effect is nice design.
Not sure how long you've been an Apple fan but one thing they were famous for is design that looks good from any angle you choose. After the release of the iPhone 4 that has slipped a little.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
miniyou64 Avatar
74 months ago
But they don’t look evenly spaced...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DinkThifferent Avatar
74 months ago

That’s upside down. A raindrop is almost always drawn with the pointed small side up and larger at the bottom where the water masses together. How simple of a concept to understand yet they mess it up.

You beat me to pointing that out!

:apple:
You're holding it wrong
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)