Sprint LG G2 Pre-Orders Beginning October 11

Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile all announced last week that the LG G2 would heading to their respective networks, but Sprint lagged behind and just announced today that the new device will be available for pre-order starting on October 11. The official launch date wasn’t revealed, but Sprint says that the phone will be available “in time for the holidays.”

Sprint’s LG G2 will be releasing at least a month later than the rest of the major carriers in the US, with Verizon getting the device first on September 12, followed by AT&T on September 13, and then T-Mobile releasing the phone on September 18. We’re exactly sure why Sprint is waiting it out, but we reckon it’s a smart move, considering that all the other carriers will be fighting with the iPhone 5S release and will have a hard time marketing the LG G2.

Sprint will be selling the LG G2 for $199 after signing a new two-year contract, and all customers who take advantage of the online pre-order will receive a free Quick Window case, which usually costs $49. However, it’s not likely that the free case will make Sprint customers happier after the long wait for the new phone, especially after all the carriers will have the phone selling for at least a whole month.

Sprint didn’t specify what colors it would have available, but we’re guessing customers will have their choice of either black or white.

The G2 is the successor to LG’s Optimus G flagship, and it sports a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor that’s clocked at up to 2.3GHz, with 2GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel camera on board. The new smartphone also features a huge 5.2-inch IPS display with a full 1080p HD resolution, making it one of LG’s highest pixel dense displays on the market.

What’s perhaps one of the most unique features about the G2 is that its buttons are located on the back of the device, including the volume rocker. They sit just right below the camera module, and LG says this is more ergonomically correct, since our fingers rest on the rear shell anyway when we’re casually holding a smartphone in our hands, rather than on the sides. Therefore, the back casing is the best place for the buttons.

The LG G2 will launch during a busy time of the year. IFA just wrapped up (with tons of new devices being launched), and the Apple event is taking place tomorrow, where we’re expected to see a few new products from the company. The iPhone 5S and 5C are rumored to launch on September 20, so it’s possible that the G2 could be overshadowed by Apple’s announcements and releases, but Sprint may be in luck, as its launch of the LG G2 will come after some of the hype of the new iPhones has hopefully died down a bit.