It seems the wow factor in smartphones is not there anymore. Honestly, just how different and interesting can a new phone be? It’s all in the software, they say.
Sure, the software and what you can do with a cellphone is more important to most folks, but it’s nice to see a breakaway product that has as much cool engineering on the outside as inside.
Say hello to the new LG G Flex, the first curved 6-inch HD display smartphone with self-healing back cover, available at Rogers, $199.99 on a tw0-year plan.
The wow factor on the G flex is that its curved screen actually flexes flat if you press it down, about 20 kg should do it, and also flexes the other way. It takes a beating in your back pocket.
Speaking of taking a beating, back cover of the G Flex is self-healing, using a micro molecular technology that gives in to point pressure, like scratches and nicks. Gouges seem to heal back to the original surface, but not all the time. Still, I abused my sample G Flex and have to say that it survived the types of damage, like dropping on dirt or gravel. It takes a few minutes to “heal” but it would have worked better on a surface that had an inlaid pattern so minor wear and tear won’t show.
The G Flex has all the other goodies one expects in a 2014 phone, like the fastest LTE connection, all the antennas, including NFC, Direct Android Beam and SmartShare Beam. It also has Miracast for displaying the phone on a big screen TV.
This phone uses LG’s intuitive rear key, not liked by everyone but smart to get used to. The side buttons for volume, reset etc. are behind the phone, where your index finger is most of the time. This means changing volume or shooting photos without your holding the phone differently to get to the conventional side buttons.
These buttons ore multifunctional too, for quick access and the screen wakes up or goes to sleep by tapping it.
The battery is more than sufficient, for a phone screen this large with up to 19 hours talk, 29 days standby and more than 87 hours of music listening.
It runs on Android Kit Kat, the newest OS that has all phone front face functions on the screen itself.
The screen is, one notch from Full HD but you don’t notice it when viewing pictures and movies. In fact the curved screen gives a different in your face perspective when looking at photos or playing a movie. This screen resolution is to be expected on an affordable big screen phone.
Compared to competitor “mega” phones that are similarly priced with a fewer top features like their 5 plus inch screens, the Flex sits in between mega and the top tier phones. It has a better viewing experience. LG has managed to get the best out of its P-OLED screen so that it looks just as bright from the sides as the front, like a plasma TV. Nice for sharing a movie with a travel companion.
It has a 13 megapixel camera that takes sharp photos with high contrast and detail and its movie shooting includes an ULTA HD setting but you won’t be able to share it from its USB connection to an Ultra HD TV.
This is my Final Monday Morning show folks. But my new Sunday Morning Tech Talk segment continues with co-hosts Shane Jones and Kevin O’Connell. Tune in next Sunday for a draw on a gorgeous FujiFilm interchangeable lens camera!
I will miss the Monday Morning News team, long-time friend Mike “perfect” Sobel, after 14 years, along with Daintre “hot” Christensen, Shaye “big gulp” Ganam and Jennifer “Makris, you are making noise again in the studio” Crosby.
See you all on Sundays!
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