LG Flex: A Comprehensive Review
The LG G Flex, released in 2013, was a standout piece of technology that made waves in the mobile phone market due to its innovative design and features. This comprehensive review will delve into the various aspects of the LG G Flex, from its unique curved design to its performance and user experience.
Introduction to LG G Flex
The South Korean electronics giant, LG, is known for its innovative approach towards its products. In the smartphone market, LG has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible, and the LG G Flex is a testament to that. The LG G Flex is the first smartphone that came with a curved display, a significant innovation in the world of flat screen phones.
But the LG G Flex was not just about the curved display, it also had a self-healing back cover that could repair minor scratches and marks, making it a pioneer in durability and design. With these features, the LG G Flex was undeniably a game-changer and set new standards for smartphones.
The Curved Display
One of the standout features of the LG G Flex was its 6-inch curved display. The curved design was not just for aesthetics, it had practical applications as well. The curve provided a more immersive viewing experience, especially for videos and games. It also made the phone more ergonomic, fitting more naturally into the palm of the hand and against the curve of the face when making calls.
Quality of the Display
Despite being a standout feature, the display quality of the LG G Flex was not its strongest point. The phone had a resolution of 1280×720 pixels, which was significantly lower than other flagship phones at the time. However, the lower resolution was a compromise that had to be made in order to achieve the curved display.
The display was also of the OLED type, which meant that it had excellent contrast and vibrant colors. The black levels were deep and the color reproduction was accurate, making the viewing experience enjoyable despite the lower resolution.
The Self-Healing Back
Another innovative feature of the LG G Flex was its self-healing back cover. This was made possible by a special resin coating that could recover from minor scratches and marks. The self-healing feature was not perfect and could not repair deep scratches, but it was effective against minor nicks and scuffs that occur from daily use.
Practical Benefits of the Self-Healing Back
The self-healing back cover of the LG G Flex had several practical benefits. Firstly, it helped keep the phone looking new and pristine, even after months of use. There was no need to worry about minor scratches ruining the look of the phone. Secondly, it added an extra layer of durability to the phone, protecting it from damage.
However, the self-healing back was not without its drawbacks. The resin coating made the back of the phone quite slippery, making it prone to accidental drops. Additionally, the self-healing process was not instantaneous and could take a few minutes to several hours depending on the severity of the scratch.
Performance and User Experience
The LG G Flex was powered by a Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM. While these specs may seem outdated now, they were quite powerful at the time of the phone’s release. The phone also came with 32GB of internal storage, which was expandable via a microSD card slot. The phone ran on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, with LG’s custom UI layered on top.
The performance of the LG G Flex was smooth and responsive, with no noticeable lag or stutter. The phone could handle multitasking and demanding apps without any trouble. The user experience was also enhanced by the curved design of the phone, which made it more comfortable to hold and use.
The LG G Flex also had a large 3500mAh battery, which provided excellent battery life. The phone could easily last a full day of moderate to heavy use, and the battery was also capable of fast charging.
Camera Performance
The LG G Flex came with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2.1-megapixel front camera. The rear camera was capable of taking high-quality photos with good detail and color reproduction. The camera app also had a variety of features and modes, including HDR, panorama, and burst mode.
However, the camera performance was not consistent and often struggled in low light conditions. The front camera was also quite basic and did not offer the best quality for selfies or video calls.
Despite its flaws, the LG G Flex was a significant step forward in the evolution of smartphones. Its innovative features and unique design set it apart from other phones and paved the way for future advancements in smartphone technology.
Stay tuned for the next part where we will delve deeper into the legacy and impact of the LG G Flex.
The Design and Display of LG Flex
The LG Flex is a phone that is designed to stand out from the crowd. It has a unique curved design that is aimed at providing a more immersive viewing experience. The curve of the phone follows the natural curvature of your face, making it more comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. The back of the phone is textured to provide a better grip and prevent it from sliding out of your hand.
The phone has a 6-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. This might not be the sharpest display on the market, but it is more than adequate for most tasks. The colors are vibrant and the contrast is good, making it a pleasure to use for browsing the web and watching videos. The curved display also helps to reduce reflections, making it easier to use in bright light.
Performance and Battery Life of LG Flex
Under the hood, the LG Flex is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. This is a quad-core processor that is designed to provide a smooth and responsive user experience. The phone also has 2GB of RAM, which allows it to handle multitasking with ease. Whether you’re browsing the web, playing games, or running multiple apps at the same time, the LG Flex should be able to handle it without any problems.
When it comes to battery life, the LG Flex is a standout performer. The phone has a large 3500mAh battery, which is more than enough to get you through a full day of use. In fact, with moderate use, you could potentially stretch the battery life to two days. This is a major selling point for the LG Flex, as few phones can match it in this department.
Software and Features
The LG Flex runs on Android Jelly Bean, which is an older version of the operating system. However, LG has added a number of its own features to the mix to enhance the user experience. For example, the phone comes with a feature called QSlide, which allows you to run multiple apps on the screen at the same time. There is also a feature called QuickMemo, which lets you take notes directly on the screen.
Another interesting feature of the LG Flex is its self-healing back. This is a special coating that is designed to automatically repair minor scratches and scuffs. While it won’t completely eliminate all damage, it can help to keep your phone looking its best for longer.
Camera
The LG Flex comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera is capable of capturing high-quality photos with good detail and color accuracy. It also has a number of features to help you get the best shot, including a burst mode and a panorama mode. The front-facing camera is adequate for video calls and selfies, but it doesn’t match the quality of the rear camera.
Final Thoughts
The LG Flex is a phone that offers a unique blend of features and performance. Its curved design, large battery, and self-healing back cover make it a standout choice in the crowded smartphone market. While it may not have the highest resolution display or the latest version of Android, it more than makes up for it with its other features. If you’re looking for a phone that is different from the rest, the LG Flex is definitely worth considering.
In conclusion, the LG Flex is a device that delivers on its promise of being unique and innovative. Its comfortable design, impressive performance, and long-lasting battery life make it a strong contender in the smartphone market. Even though it has its flaws, such as the older Android version and the less sharp display, the overall package offered by LG Flex is quite compelling. It is a phone that dares to be different and succeeds in many ways.
The Design and Display
One of the unique aspects of the LG Flex is its curved design. This design is not just for aesthetic purposes; it serves several practical purposes. For one, it improves the user’s grip on the device. The curve also helps to reduce glare on the screen, which can make the device easier to use in bright light. Furthermore, the curve can enhance the viewing experience when watching videos or playing games.
The LG Flex boasts a 6-inch POLED (Plastic OLED) display, which offers vibrant colours and deep blacks. However, it’s worth noting that the resolution is only 720p. While this is lower than many other flagship smartphones, it is still more than adequate for most uses. The lower resolution can also help to extend battery life, as fewer pixels require less power to illuminate.
Performance and Battery Life
The LG Flex is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, coupled with 2 GB of RAM. This combination provides smooth performance, whether you’re browsing the web, checking your emails, or playing the latest games. The device also has 32GB of internal storage, which should be more than enough for most users. However, there is no option to expand the storage with a microSD card.
One of the standout features of the LG Flex is its impressive battery life. The device is equipped with a 3500mAh battery, which can easily last a full day of heavy use. The battery is also curved to match the shape of the device, which is an impressive feat of engineering. Additionally, the LG Flex supports fast charging, so you can quickly top up the battery if it’s running low.
Camera and Video
The LG Flex features a 13-megapixel rear camera that can capture high-quality photos and videos. The camera app is packed with features, including a variety of shooting modes and settings that can help you get the perfect shot. The device also has a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera, which is perfect for video calls and selfies.
The video recording capabilities of the LG Flex are also impressive. The device can record 1080p video at 60 frames per second, which results in smooth and detailed footage. There is also a slow-motion mode that can capture video at 120 frames per second. This can be a fun feature to experiment with, and it can produce some stunning results.
Software and Features
The LG Flex runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which is an older version of the operating system. However, it still provides access to all the apps and features you would expect from an Android device. LG has also added its own customizations to the software, including features like QSlide (which allows you to run multiple apps on the screen at the same time) and KnockOn (which lets you wake up the device by double-tapping the screen).
One of the unique software features of the LG Flex is the “self-healing” back cover. This material can automatically repair minor scratches and scuffs, helping to keep the device looking new. While it’s not perfect, it’s a neat feature that can help to prolong the life of the device.
Conclusion
Overall, the LG Flex is a unique and innovative smartphone that offers a compelling mix of design, performance, and features. The curved design and POLED display set it apart from the competition, while the powerful processor and long-lasting battery ensure that it can handle everything you throw at it. The camera capabilities and unique software features also add to the appeal of this device.
While the LG Flex may not be a perfect smartphone, it’s certainly a compelling option for those who want something a bit different. Whether you’re attracted by the curved design, the self-healing back cover, or the powerful specs, the LG Flex is certainly worth considering.
LG Flex: Design and Build Quality
The LG Flex boasts a unique and innovative design that sets it apart from other smartphones in the market. The most prominent feature is its curved design, which makes it look like a banana phone from the 90s. This design is not purely aesthetic, but also functional. It helps to fit the contour of the user’s face, giving a more comfortable calling experience.
The phone is built with a durable plastic body that gives it a premium feel. Its back cover is self-healing, a feature that LG introduced to minimize scratches and scuffs. The power and volume buttons are located at the back, which is a departure from the usual placement on the sides of most smartphones. This design decision was made to make the phone easier to use with one hand.
Display and User Interface
The LG Flex features a 6-inch P-OLED display with a resolution of 720p. The display is vibrant, with deep blacks and punchy colors. However, it’s not as sharp as other flagship phones that have 1080p or even 4K resolution. That being said, the lower resolution is not a deal-breaker, as the display is still crisp and clear.
The user interface on the LG Flex is the LG Optimus UI, based on Android 4.2.2. It’s a heavily customized version of Android, with a lot of additional features and tweaks from LG. For example, there’s the KnockOn feature that lets you double tap the screen to wake the phone up, and the QSlide function that allows you to multitask by running multiple apps on the same screen.
Performance and Battery Life
Under the hood, the LG Flex is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, coupled with 2GB of RAM. This combination ensures smooth and lag-free performance, even when running demanding apps and games. The phone also has 32GB of internal storage, which is ample for your apps, photos, and videos.
The battery life on the LG Flex is impressive. It houses a non-removable 3500mAh battery, which is one of the largest in a smartphone. According to LG, this battery can provide up to 15 hours of talk time and over a day of standby time. This means you can use the phone all day without worrying about recharging it.
Camera and Multimedia
The LG Flex comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2.1-megapixel front camera. The rear camera takes decent photos in good lighting conditions, with accurate colors and good detail. However, it struggles in low light conditions, resulting in noisy and grainy images. The front camera is suitable for selfies and video calls, but don’t expect high-quality images.
In terms of multimedia, the LG Flex shines. The large 6-inch display makes it great for watching videos and playing games. The phone also supports Dolby Mobile sound enhancement, which provides a richer and more immersive audio experience.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The LG Flex supports all the essential connectivity options, including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC. It also has a microUSB port for charging and data transfer, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio.
One of the standout features of the LG Flex is its rear-mounted buttons. This feature was first introduced in the LG G2 and has been carried forward to the Flex. The buttons are placed in such a way that they fall naturally under your index finger when you hold the phone, making it easier to adjust the volume or unlock the phone.
In conclusion, the LG Flex is a unique and innovative smartphone that offers a lot of features. Its curved design, large display, powerful performance, and long battery life make it a compelling choice for those who are looking for something different in their smartphone. However, its camera performance and display resolution may not satisfy everyone. But overall, the LG Flex is a solid and reliable phone that stands out in a crowd.
