LG G Flex 2 Review: A great curved screen on a smartphone that won't let you down
The LG G Flex 2 greatly improves on its slightly disappointing, and overpriced, ancestor, the LG G Flex.
March 2014 seems like light-years ago; that’s when we got our first brush with the G Flex at LG’s Tech Show in Delhi. It was a bold, almost outrageous, attempt to reimagine the smartphone. A curved device that aimed to break away from the pack, we really wanted to love the device but came back with mixed impressions. While the curved display was path breaking, the screen resolution and camera credentials didn’t justify the then steep price tag. Exactly a year later LG showcased the G Flex 2 at its 2015 India tech show. Has the second gen Flex device learned from the flaws of its predecessor and, more importantly is this form factor ready to go mainstream?Not long ago the iPhone 6 Plus ‘Bendgate’ videos and images went viral. The G Flex 2 bends slightly and it’s by design; don’t expect it to flex a zillion degrees though. At a time when quite a few flagship devices are playing it safe, LG deserves praise for ‘bending’ the rules. Build-wise, the G Flex 2 is a big improvement over the G Flex. The G Flex 2 doesn’t just shed a few grams but is thinner and easier to clasp. LG has reduced the screen size from 6-inches to 5.5-inches on this device. It’s doesn’t just slip into those tight jeans with lesser effort but is also easier to press against your ear for phone calls. The screen resolution has improved dramatically from the underwhelming 245 PPI to 403 PPI on this device. On paper, 403 pixels per inch may certainly not be the best in class, but the curved display makes watching videos an absolute joy. A better speaker could have taken the entertainment capabilities of this device to a different zone.
What we didn't like
Key Specs
- Processor : 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
- Memory: 2GB/3GB of RAM, 16GB/32GB of internal memory with Micro SD Card support up to 128GB
- Display: 5.5" (1080 x 1920 pixels) with 403 PPI
- 13MP primary shooter with LED flash / 2.1MP front Camera
The G Flex 2 is probably the first curved device LG would have liked to have unveiled. It does more than just address some of the G Flex’s inherent weaknesses; along with Samsung’s Edge devices (and their rolling screens) this is easily one of the most imaginative developments we have seen in the smartphone space in the last year or so. The display and the camera are top notch while the battery won’t let you down. If there are minor cribs, it’s the limited space available on the device memory and the front facing cam. LG’s other communication challenge is conveying the actual customer benefit in its bendable form factor given that its curved display makes a huge difference to gaming, browsing or watching videos. With a launch price tag of almost Rs 70,000, the G Flex was clearly overpriced. The G Flex 2 plays comparatively safe on the pricing front; that’s a good start to appeal to the adventurous user seeking a whole new smartphone experience. While the G Flex 2 makes a compelling case for the curved smartphone display we are not sure if it has enough to propel this form factor into the mainstream just yet.