[Update: LG Q7] LG’s first Android One device may be a T-Mobile USA exclusive

We may earn a commission for purchases made using our links.

Back in 2014, Google announced the Android One program as part of the company’s initiative to expand into emerging markets in South and Southeast Asia. Android One offers users a taste of stock Android even if they can’t afford the latest Google flagship. It’s a great way to help keep Android users up-to-date as well, as most Android One devices have received updates fairly quickly (though I’m sure Xiaomi Mi A1 owners would disagree). The Motorola Moto X4 on Project Fi and the latest Nokia-branded smartphones like the Nokia 6.1 are among the few Android One devices available in the United States. It seems that LG’s first Android One device is coming exclusively for T-Mobile USA, giving customers in the US another option if they want stock Android. Update: this device is likely a special Android One variant of the LG Q7 exclusively for T-Mobile.

Evidence for an unreleased Android One device from LG emerged from an unexpected location: kernel source code for another unreleased LG device. The LG Stylo 4 will reportedly be launching tomorrow on US MVNO MetroPCS. Almost everything about this device has already been leaked online—either by LG or MetroPCS themselves—so there’s not much worth to discuss. However, LG has taken the unusual step in releasing the kernel source code for the Stylo 4 in advance of the device’s announcement. Since the Stylo 4 will be LG’s first device launching with Android 8.1 Oreo, XDA Recognized Contributor deadman96385 decided to take a look through the kernel source code to see if there was anything interesting. Lo and behold, he found a model for a new LG Android One smartphone that is headed for T-Mobile. (Side-note: deadman96385 found the kernel source code by looking up the model number in hands-on videos published before the device’s launch.)

What we know about LG’s Android One device headed to T-Mobile

Update 6/18/18: According to Google’s list of Play Certified devices, cv5a is the model name for the LG Q7. Hence, this T-Mobile Android One device is likely a carrier variant of the Q7.

Digging through the device tree source code, deadman96385 first discovered evidence of the device by seeing a model called “cv5a” with the carrier “tmo”, country code “us”, and suffix “sprout.” The “tmo” and “us” tell us that the device is a T-Mobile USA device, while the “sprout” codename is used to signify an Android One device. Notably, the “sprout” codename isn’t present on the other regional models such as the one for NTT DoCoMo in Japan (dcm_jp), South Korea (lgu_kr, skt_kr, lgu_ldu), or the international variant (lao_com).

For good measure, here’s a list of every Android One device and their codename. I hope this list makes it easy to see why we believe this “sdm450-cv5a_tmo_us_sprout” device is an Android One device. I compiled this list based on Google’s public list of Certified Android devices.

List of Android One devices BQ Aquaris A4.5 – Aquaris_A45_sprout

BQ Aquaris X2 – zangya_sprout

Cherry Mobile H220 – ctih220_sprout

Cherry Mobile One – H940_sprout

Evercoss One X – A65_sprout

General Mobile 4G – gm4g_s_sprout/gm4gkc_s_sprout

General Mobile 4G Dual – gm4g_sprout

General Mobile 5 – gm5_s_sprout

General Mobile GM 6 d – GM6_d_sprout

General Mobile GM 6 s – GM6_s_sprout

General Mobile GM5 Plus – gm5plus_s_sprout

General Mobile GM5 Plus Turkcell – gm5plustkc_s_sprout

General Mobile GM5 Plus d – gm5plus_sprout

General Mobile GM8 – GM8_d_sprout

General Mobile 5 d – gm5_sprout

HTC U11 life/X2-HT – htc_ocla1_sprout

I-Mobile IQ II – imobileiq2_sprout

Infinix HOT 2 – Infinix_X510_sprout

Infinix Note 5 – Infinix_X604_sprout

Karbonn Sparkle V – Sparkle_V_sprout

Kyocera S2 – S2_sprout

Kyocera S4 – S4-KC_sprout

Kyocera X3 – X3-KC_sprout

Lava Pixel V1 – PixelV1G_sprout

Micromax Canvas A1 – AQ4501_sprout

Mito A10 – A10_sprout

Motorola Moto X4 – payton_sprout

Myphone UNO – UNO_sprout

Nexian journey one – Mi438S_sprout

Nokia 3.1 – ES2N_sprout

Nokia 5.1 – CO2_sprout

Nokia 6.1 – PL2_sprout

Nokia 7 Plus – B2N_sprout

Nokia 8 Sirocco – A1N_sprout

QMobile A1 – A1_sprout

Sharp 507SH – eve_sprout

Sharp S1 – kaleido_sprout

Sharp S3 – rome_sprout

Sharp X1 – nasa_sprout

Sharp X4 – vespa_sprout

Spice Dream Uno – Mi-498_sprout

Symphony Roar A50 – Roar_A50_sprout

Xiaomi Mi A1 – tissot_sprout

Xiaomi Mi A2 – jasmine_sprout (rumor)

Now, for the rumored specifications. We based this list of specifications off of files we discovered in the source code such as “sdm450-cv5a-panel.dtsi”, “sdm450-cv5a_tmo_us_sprout-pm.dtsi”, and others.

Rumored Specifications T-Mobile USA/LG Android One device (likely the LG Q7) CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 (running in 32bit mode) RAM Unknown. ZRAM is enabled, so it’s likely 2-3GBs. Camera Sensors unknown. Rear camera flash. Possibly a camera button exists as there’s support for a 2 stage button in the code. Storage Unknown flash storage Display 5.5-inch FHD+ (1080×2160) 18:9 LCD panel. (Specifically, this one.) Audio HiFi ES9218P audio DAC (used in the LG V30) Battery 3,000mAh with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 support Ports USB Type-C port (TI TUSB422) Connectivity NFC (PN553) Software Android 8.1 Oreo (Android One) Fingerprint No. Other regional variants seem to have the FPC1028 though. Miscellaneous Vibration motor. Notification/Battery LED. FM Radio. Some form of waterproofing. Price Unknown Availability Unknown. Stylo 4 kernel was packaged on 3/14/18, so this device has been in development before then.

If we learn more about this device, we’ll let you all know.