LG G Flex review: World’s first curved smartphone is in good shape

LG's new phone is a perfect fit in your back pocket, shockable, and after a week of carrying it around you understand why there is the need for a curved device.

An employee demonstrates an LG G Flex curved smartphone at the company's store in Seoul, South Korea. SeongJoon Cho / Bloomberg

When the regional manager of LG first demonstrated the G Flex phone, he did so with a bang, quite literally. Casually placing the phone screen side down, he punched it with great force, to show just how flexible and durable it was, while unintentionally showing that the world's first curved phone can also be used as a weapon.

Despite the spectacle, it still did not occur to me why anyone would need a curved phone, but after a week with the device it became clear.

If you like carrying your phone in the back pocket of your jeans, the G Flex slips in comfortably, without bulging out or poking into your posterior when you sit. It really is quite ergonomic when it comes to this aspect and given its ability to withstand a Korean punch, it should also withstand your weight.

As smartphones are becoming increasingly larger in size, those with smaller heads are struggling to be heard when making phone calls. A friend of mine who recently switched to the Nokia Lumia 1520 has resorted to using the phone like a walkie-talkie when making calls, since at 6 inches, the microphone reaches a point past her neck, closer to her collarbone and those on the other end of the call struggle to pick up what she is saying. The curved design of the G Flex, also with a 6-inch screen, which follows the "contour of the face" according to LG, is the solution for this problem.

Movies and pictures also look better on the curved screen. There are no shadows, the screen doesn’t catch the light at an odd angle, and it provides a slightly more immersive experience when used in landscape mode.

As for the vertical mode, it does take a little time to get used to the curvature of the screen, but it’s not entirely uncomfortable on the eyes or hands. This is mainly due to the lack of buttons. The G Flex, like the LG G2 has no side buttons, but instead has a “rear key” on the back that performs various functions.

The G Flex runs Google’s Android, which has access to hundreds of thousands of different apps and an intuitive user experience. It is available from all major UAE electronic stores for Dh2,999.

Q&A

Can you tell me a bit more about the specifications?

It has a 6-inch high definition curved screen, a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2mp front-facing camera, which really is a bit shoddy compared to the 5mp currently around. It weighs 177 grams, has a decent battery life and 2GB of internal memory.

Does the curved design really make a difference to phone calls?

The design is based on traditional telephones, the ones with rotating dials – remember them? According to LG, the curved form increases the sound level by 3dB compared to typical flat smartphones.

What about the rear key?

The rear key incorporates the power button and volume keys. You can scroll through the phone with the rear key while also using the volume keys to take pictures. It is placed where your fingers naturally sit when you hold the smartphone, making it all so convenient.

My derriere isn’t quite so curved. Will it still be comfortable to sit down with the phone in my back pocket?

Out of all the larger phones, the LG G Flex will provide the most comfortable back pocket experience no matter how bootylicious you may or may not be. In a place like the UAE where it is safe to waltz around with valuables in the back pocket, this is one of the advantages of this phone. Otherwise beware of pickpockets, this phone slips out as easily as it slips in.

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