The LG G Flex's curved screen does improve the video watching experience, but it's not a big enough reason for to recommend getting one -- the LG G2, with its conventional flat design, is still the better handset.
| The good | Large 6-inch curved display makes for great video viewing; excellent battery life; self healing rear cover; useful software features. |
|---|---|
| The bad | 720p resolution screen has a graininess issue; it's a little too big to fit comfortably in the front pocket; no optical image stabilization; no microSD card slot; running Android 4.2.2. |
As one of the two current smartphones sporting a curved OLED display, the LG G Flex seems to lose out in terms of specifications war against the Samsung Galaxy Round, but the curved-screen LG handset does have its own unique features.
Design
Looking very much like the LG G2, the G Flex sports a vertically curved 6-inch screen that seems to fit the curvature of the face better compared with the Galaxy Round. Sadly, if there's one thing I don't like about the handset, it's that despite having a 720p resolution, the screen appears grainy thanks to what appears to be some distortion under the glass. I checked another G Flex unit and found the same issue. It's really a big deal, but those with a keen eye for details may find that some fonts aren't as sharp as they could be.
That said, if you're just watching videos on the handset, the graininess won't really matter. I love viewing videos such as those from YouTube on this smartphone as the curved screen gives a wraparound effect -- similar to curved OLED TVs -- and makes the video appear closer and clearer.
(Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)
I mentioned earlier that the G Flex looks similar to the LG G2. But looks aside, the G Flex also has the same button layout. The volume rocker and power button are found at the back, with the power button also having an LED light. If you're taking a selfie with the rear camera, the light will turn on when the camera app is in face-tracking mode.
Weighing 177g, the G Flex isn't the lightest of handsets, but you'll hardly notice it as the weight seems to be distributed evenly across the frame. Don't worry about breaking the smartphone if you push down on it, the G Flex can withstand up to 32kgs of force. Check the video below to see how "flexible" the handset is.
Features
Running on Android 4.2.2, the LG handset doesn't have the latest version of the Android operating system. It has many of the software features found in the LG G2, including KnockOn, which lets you double tap on the screen to turn it on and back off. Other tweaks include QSlide, QuickMemo and Guest Mode. You may want to check our LG G2 review for more information about the software features.
What's new to the G Flex is the QTheatre tweak on the Lock Screen (which has been updated with a moving background). QTheatre is activated by doing a gesture that's like a curtain opening on a stage. It gives you quick access to YouTube as well as your photo and video gallery.
For ladies who tend to keep their handsets in a handbag with keys and are worried about scratches on your smartphones, the G Flex comes with a self-repairing rear. It works for light scratches, but deep marks cannot be healed (as you can see in the picture below).
(Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)
The G Flex packs a 13-megapixel camera, but it lacks the optical stabilization feature found in the G2. This means that if you have shaky hands, your pictures are likely going to come out slightly blurred.
If you are taking pictures in mostly brightly-lit environments though, this won't be an issue, as the shutter will be fast enough. You'll only notice the motion blurs when shooting in low-light. That said, the image quality of the G Flex is very similar to the G2.
Performance
The G Flex runs off a 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 process, and comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space. That should be plenty, though we would have preferred a microSD card slot to load more videos, given that the Flex is designed as a multimedia device.
Call quality was good, and the curve of the handset makes it easy to position the earpiece to the ear. The speaker volume is a bit soft though, and with the speakers placed at the back, you'll need to cup your hands around it to redirect the sound if you aren't using a pair of headphones while watching video.
The non-removable 3,500mAh battery also follows the curved shape of the handset. LG told me that the battery is designed around the shape of the handset, and is the first time a curved battery has been used in a smartphone.
Conclusion
The LG G Flex is an interesting device. You'll enjoy the gentle curve of the display when watching videos -- I felt the characters onscreen were much closer to me. Priced at S$1,088, the G Flex seems a little expensive, but you won't be able to get your hands on another curved-screen smartphone as the Galaxy Round is only available in Korea. I like the form factor, but I felt that the G Flex, like the Nokia Lumia 1520, was a little too large for me. The curved screen experience was cool, but I'm not sure if it's a big enough reason for me to recommend getting one -- the G2, in the end, with its more conventional flat design and great camera, is still the better handset.
No comments:
Post a Comment
thank you for your precious time and feedback.