Hands-on with LG’s First Google Smart Display and Their 2018 Audio Line-Up

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At an event celebrating the company’s 2018 audio lineup in New York last week, LG was showing off a somewhat surprising newcomer – their first ever Google Smart Display, the LG ThinQ WK9 Google Smart Display.

The display itself is an 8-inch touchscreen surrounded by speakers on both of its sides. Of course, it comes with Chromecast and Google Assistant built in, and it brings all of the features you’d expect from a Google Smart Display. We had some brief hands-on time with it and got a demo of it doing things like pulling up Spotify tracks and recipes. You can watch the demo for yourself below.

The LG ThinQ WK9 Google Smart Display will retail for $299. Unfortunately, there’s no word on a release date for it. Keep in mind that back at CES last year, there were several companies showing off prototypes of their own Google Smart Displays, but none of them have arrived on the market yet. However, word on the street is that some Google Smart Displays will start going on sale next month.

LG WK7

LG WK7

That said, there are several smart speaker products that LG announced back at CES in January that are now available. That includes the LG WK7 (shown above) which retails for $179 – it’s a Sonos One competitor that uses Google Assistant and offers multi-room playback. LG has partnered with Meridian audio for this speaker so we have high hopes for its audio prowess.

LG PK7

On the portable speaker front, LG has also released the PK7 (shown above), a tough, water-resistant portable speaker that competes with the likes of Sony’s XRS-XB41 by offering a similar multi-color LED light show. The LG PK7 is available now for $219.

LG was showing off the PK7 at the event in a very creative way – they have worked with artist Twin Shadow to create a gigantic helmet filled with LG’s PK7 portable Bluetooth speakers. The company and AFROPUNK have also teamed up for a series of concerts in New York City and Chicago, and the helmet is going on tour too.

LG’s There’s More To Sound Than Sound event on Thursday, June 21, 2018 in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Stuart Ramson/AP Images for LG Electronics)

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About the Author

Helena Stone
Noticing that there was a void of female influence in the technology blogosphere, Helena started Chip Chick in 2004. The site grew to become the no 1. tech site for women, which she ran as Editor-in-Chief until 2017. A native New Yorker, Helena holds a Masters in Digital Imaging and Design from NYU. Helena has been featured on MSNBC, Wired, ABC News, People Style & Watch, Time Magazine, Woman’s Day magazine, and other major news outlets. And when she is not busy testing out new gear, she can be found trotting the globe, looking for the next hot gadget.