LG Electronics is testing a prototype for its next flagship smartphone G3, equipped with fingerprint recognition technology, according to industry sources.

“LG has recently made a decision to adopt the fingerprint scanner on the upcoming G3, the successor of the G2, and is conducting a series of tests for the product,” said an official close to the matter.

The fingerprint recognition technology would likely come as a swipe fingerprint sensor, different from the area-type system utilized on Apple’s iPhone 5S, according to the official.

The Korean tech giant is also developing wearable devices including its smart watch G-Arch and health and fitness wristband G-Health, both of which are expected to sync with the G3.

Other features expected to appear on LG’s latest handset include Google’s Android 4.4 Kitkat, Quad HD display and a 2.2 GHz octa-core processor.

It is said that LG’s flagship smartphone and the wearable gadgets will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress to be held in Barcelona in February next year.

The official forecast that more smartphone makers would roll out smartphone models with the fingerprint technology next year.

Apple will install fingerprint scanners on a broader range of its products including smartphones and tablet PCs, according to a source.

Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy 5S is one of the candidates to adopt biometric authentication technology, whether it be iris or fingerprint recognition.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)