AT&T LG G Flex Review
Introduction
Note:
Before you proceed, please keep in mind that the LG G Flex is still
avaiable in select Asian regions only. The sheer fact that LG has come
to the US to showcase the smartphone for us, however, can be seen as an
indication that a wider availability may be right around the corner.
Flexible
displays seem to be the future, something that’s particularly evident
as we look at what’s going on with the next-generation of
high-definition televisions. Well, it’s also extends into the smartphone
kingdom as well, seeing that it’s a good starting point to showcase the
new up and coming technology. Some might be skeptical about the
advantages that flexible displays will offer, while others are adamant
that this is the sure proof way of gaining innovation in the space.
One
of the trailblazers right now is Korean based LG, a company that’s been
on the cusp of cutting-edge thanks to its flagship device in the
LG G2. Now, they’re hoping to get people buzzing about flexible displays, amongst other things, as the
LG G Flex
comes to the scene packing some new technology that we haven’t seen
before. Indeed, it’s a super spec’d “phablet” of sorts, but it’s packing
several other notable new features – like its unique concaved curved
design, stacked battery technology, and self-healing coating.
Is
it different? Absolutely! More importantly though, is whether having all
of these new features will translate to offering consumers with a
practical smartphone – one that gets the job done.
The package contains:
- Wall charge
- microUSB cable
- Stereo headphones w/additional tips
- SIM removal tool
- Get started guide
Design
If
you look at the phone directly from the front or back, you wouldn’t be
impressed much by its design, just because we’ve seen it before – the LG
G2 to be exact, though bigger in size obviously. Essentially, its size
alone places it into the “phablet” category, which makes it rather
cumbersome to hold or handle with a single hand. Tilting it to check out
its profile, that’s when it hits us – there’s a very distinct curve
with its design. Aside from giving it an aesthetic value over other
smartphones, the curve in itself proves to provide better ergonomics,
such as in the case of holding it against our face for phone calls.
Typical
of being an LG-made device, the G Flex is constructed from the same
plastics used by other phones in its lineup. It’s a fitting choice to go
with, mainly because it’s more pliable than something like metal –
allowing the phone to absorb pressure, to the point of making it flat,
without causing the case to crack or break. Unlike other plastic
constructed phones, though, there’s a self-healing coating on the back
cover. Yes, it gives the phone a glossy look, but it’s not as
susceptible to fingerprints or smudges. When it does accumulate them,
they’re easily wiped away thanks to that self-healing coating.
Frankly,
it’s the Wolverine phone. Yes, the beloved character from the X-Men
universe, whose mutant power consists of having accelerated healing
abilities. Just like the lovable mutant, the G Flex’s self-healing
property is very uncanny – uncommon in the smartphone universe. Instead
of employing a UV hard coating, the G Flex instead utilizes a soft resin
element that allows the phone to fill in scratches that occur through
every day wear and tear. However, the self-healing process takes some
time to happen, one that’s better achieved under warmer temperatures. In
our test, we gave it a surface level scratch with a sharp knife.
Plainly visible at first glance, but after a few minutes spent in our
pocket, where it absorbs our warm body temperature, the width of the
scratch is reduced greatly. However, it’s not entirely eliminated. At
certain angles, it looks like the scratch never happened, but at others,
it’s still noticeable.
Overall, the design is innovative on many
fronts, something that not only catches us for its size and curved
shape, but for all the tech that’s involved with its design. First, it’s
super durable to withstand being flattened as we sit on a chair – all
the while it’s in our back pocket. Secondly, the self-healing properties
seem tangible enough to keep it clean looking for those minor
incidents. However, we wouldn’t go as far to say that it’ll “heal” very
deep scratches. And finally, the curved nature of the handset is very
ergonomic – especially when using it for phone calls.
Keeping a
close knit tie to LG’s current flagship smartphone, the G2, the G Flex
also has its power button and volume controls placed on the back of the
phone. Again, most people will find it alien at first, but LG slightly
improved the set with this model, as the power button as a more
pronounced/raised feel – while these square dots in the volume controls
jut out just a tiny bit to also give it a pronounced feel. The power
button itself incorporates an LED notification light, which we can
customize to display various notifications.
Around its trim, we
have the usual assortment of ports – these include the microUSB 3.0 port
for charging/data connectivity, various microphones, 3.5mm headset
jack, antenna (for use with Korea’s TV service), and microSIM slot. In
the rear, LG blesses this phablet with a 13-megapixel auto-focus camera,
which is surrounded by its LED flash and IR blaster. With the latter,
it transforms the phone into a useful universal remote. Meanwhile, the
speakerphone grill is positioned towards the bottom right corner of the
rear casing.
Along with gamers, engineers
pose one of the toughest design challenges for laptop makers.
Engineering applications crave memory, graphics horsepower, and large
screens — all hurdles in designing stylish, lightweight laptops. The
result is a necessary tradeoff between performance and convenience.
While not every engineer will make the same compromises, there are a few
laptops that stand out for use by engineers, depending on their
specific needs.
