LG G Flex 2 Is Latest Effort to Win Users Over to Curved Displays

By Don Reisinger

One of the first things LG did after it unveiled the Flex 2 was show the difference in the device’s profile compared with handsets with flat profiles. According to LG, the Flex 2 has a 700mm radius across all the smartphone’s edges. The curve delivers a distinct profile that should set it apart in the mobile market.

Screen size is a major concern for companies. Some folks say that big, 5.5-inch screens like those on the iPhone 6 Plus are too big, while others say that a 4-inch display is just too small these days. LG decided to opt for size and offer a 5.5-inch screen in the Flex 2. Whether that will prove to be too big for some customers remains to be seen.

LG has improved its battery design in the new Flex 2. The company says that the smartphone has a 3,000mAh embedded battery that comes with Fast Charge technology, allowing it to go from no charge to 50 percent charge in just 40 minutes. Interestingly, more and more companies are talking up battery charging time rather than battery duration—a major departure from previous years. LG appears to be the first this year to fit that mold.

The G Flex 2 comes with the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The device’s chip, the Snapdragon 810, features a 2GHz clock speed and 64-bit architecture. One other important point: It has eight cores, making it an ideal choice for those who want top-level performance on very high-end apps.

No surprise here, but LG has joined the club in offering multiple colors. The G Flex 2 comes in two versions initially: Flamenco Red and Platinum Silver. LG indicated that more colors could be available at some point in the future, but for now, customers will be able to choose between the red and silver options.

The G Flex 2’s camera comes with several interesting features that shouldn’t be overlooked. The device’s rear-facing camera comes in at 13 megapixels and includes the company’s Laser Focus, which shoots an invisible laser at the subject to quickly focus the camera. In addition, users will be able to use hand gestures to snap a selfie. A gesture feature can also be used to view images and check out important information, like time and recent messages.

LG has built an important feature into the G Flex 2, called a self-healing back panel. The feature is essentially a slick protective coating that can “heal” scuffs and scratches. While the original G Flex had the same healing feature, it took about 3 minutes for minor dings and scratches to disappear from view. The new version takes 10 seconds.

According to LG, sound quality is dramatically improved with its curved display. The company says that the microphone can get closer to a person’s mouth, thanks to the curved screen, providing better voice quality. LG argues that the curved screen also means less sound distortion and better cover-up of background noises.

Wondering what to expect from the LG G Flex 2 software experience? According to LG, the device will launch with Android 5.0 Lollipop, the latest version of the Google operating system. However, LG will slap its own software features on top of the operating system, so don’t expect it to look identical to the standard Lollipop build.

The LG G Flex 2 will launch in Korea later this month, followed by a worldwide release over the next several weeks. LG hasn’t said exactly where the Flex 2 will launch and for how much it will cost, but expect both availability and pricing to vary. Given that the Flex 2 is a flagship, chances are it’ll be on par with similarly equipped devices.