LG to launch 5in Optimus Vu in September to compete with Galaxy Note

LG has confirmed plans to release its Optimus Vu smartphone in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America this September.

The Vu is the first phone to feature a 5in, 768x1024, IPS, 4:3 aspect ratio display. Although it falls into the same size bracket as Samsung's Galaxy Note smartphone,  Samsung has opted for a 16:10 aspect ratio for its smartphone/tablet hybrid.

"The different form factor makes Optimus Vu unique even in the 5in smartphone category which we expect will catch on once they become more widely available," said Dr Jong-seok Park, president and chief executive of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.

The smartphone was originally released in Korea in March, where LG claims it has sold more than 500,000 units. Following its reported success, LG released the Vu in Japan in August.

The Vu's plus-sized screen is powered by a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 mobile processor and runs using Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, not its newest Jelly Bean operating system.

There is currently no word on the Vu’s price, or which carriers it will be available on. At the time of publishing, LG had not responded to V3’s request for clarification.

Sales of the Vu could be hindered by the rumoured arrival of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2, which is expected to be officially unveiled at IFA next week.

Check back with V3 in September for a hands-on look at LG's Optimus Vu smartphone.