LG G Flex Review

With the constant and continuous entries of similar devices in the market, all trying to take up the crown of leading device, and all ultimately coming up with pretty similar features, there has started to come up a limitation to the creativity of design amongst manufacturers. The most recent entrant in the race, though, the LG G Flex, disproves this notion, bringing in something fresh and different into the mix to attract attention of an ever-growing pool of smartphone users.

The stylish and curvy design, as well as the flexible screen and battery of the device, are a major difference to the consistent rectangular shaped, and similar devices in the market. The self-healing coating at the back is a unique addition too, and we know will surprise many a user with its resilience.

The device actually is flexible, though you would have to exert some force to curve the device. The device, containing the new Plastic OLED (P-OLED), which in itself is pretty neat, also comes up with a slightly curved battery, which packs a respectful 3,500 mAh. However, this weighs on the device width, taking it to 8.7mm in thickness. However, the resolution, at 720p only has a pixel per inch count of 245 ppi. Still, it is pretty amazing, since phones, smartphone or not, are not traditionally made of flexible material – the screen, the glass, the battery or the motherboard. Well, with this device, this has changed to 'were not', actually.

While unboxing the LG G Flex, available in a beautiful concave topped box, you will get everything inside the retail box that you need to get started with this phone.

• LG G Flex handset
• An A/C adapter (will use the USB cable for charging)
• MicroUSB cable connector for connectivity / attaching with A/C adapter for charging
• Earphones

The LG G Flex has a 6" diagonal, new brand of OLED screen, the Plastic OLED, made by LG itself. While the normal OLED’s have light diodes on a sheet of glass, by replacing the sheet with one of plastic, LG managed to provide the screen with flexibility, and while the display can flex much more than the overall device, after a lot of testing, LG came out with this design as the most comfortable and easy to use among the lot.

With a screen size this big, one would have thought the resolution would be at least 1080p, if not more, and with a ppi close to 300. However, LG disappointed us on both counts, by pitching out a 245ppi 720p display, which is mid-range at most, as per recent smartphone standards. The Gorilla glass in place on the screen is scratch resistant, but, contrary to the back, does not improve itself once scratched. We are hoping that soon the scratch proofing coating will be made transparent enough to cover the Gorilla glass as well, since almost all the smartphones out there will require this feature – the front scratches are intolerable, even though the back ones can be tolerated.

Another issue with the display is that the display seems to find it difficult in lighting pixels evenly, creating a noisy look. A reason may be that the pixel density is not too high to hide individual pixels either, causing the issue to be more recognizable than LG would have liked. This comes out to be a low point for a device in such a price range. The brightness isn’t also, up to the mark, coming out to a meager 411 nits at max, average even for OLED’s, and less than half the performance of LCD’s.

Being an OLED, the display inherits the classy contrast and rich, saturated color features, enhanced by the three options of Standard, Vivid and Natural, as modes for the display. The reduced brightness, combined with the reflective surface, make up for a device that is very difficult on visibility under sunlight. Although LG mentions that the curve reduces glare, we couldn’t identify a significant improvement.

The basic design displayed by the G Flex is very much similar to the G2, apart from the signature curve. The size is also larger than that of G2, but the curve the device manageability as a phone rather than a phablet. The pocketing part of the device is a slightly different story, though the curve make it easier for pocket presence as well.

Bezels on the front of the G Flex are also pretty thin, and the front looks pretty neat, with only the LG logo and earpiece under the display, with the typical Back, Home and Menu arrangement buttons present on-screen (these can be customized also). On the top of the screen resides the 1080p, 2.1MP front snapper, the notification light as well as the proximity and ambient light sensors.

The back of the device has two very interesting features, quite unlike the traditional smartphone devices – firstly, the volume rocker and power keys reside just under the camera lens, quite a unique placement actually – and secondly, the scratch proof coating on the back cover. This allows for the back cover to, well, heal itself, if it gets scratched. This means that the glossy back cover, styling a brushed look, stays unscathed, and hence, no back covers required. The power key at the back also has an LED, which illuminates it, and acts just like the notification light. LG allows users to toggle which apps can use the front notification light, and which can use the back. On one side of the camera resides the LED flash, while on the other, the Infra-Red blaster.

Finally someone figured out that the IR blaster needs to be used not like a remote but with the device in front of the eyes. The back also contains the loudspeaker.

The camera, is a 13MP shooter, capable of recording videos upto 1080p, at 60fps, and has a f/2.4 aperture. However, it lacks OIS, which is a bummer for most amateur shooters out there, which makes up for at least half the smartphone population. The bottom of the device has a microUSB 2.0 port, with the functionality of SlimPort, meaning that it can work as a USB Host or TV-Out if connected with proper adaptors. The bottom also contains the audio jack, and the mouthpiece, with the secondary microphone residing on the device’s top side. The left side contains the microSIM port, which can be opened using a pin, and the remaining controls, as already mentioned, have been moved to the back.

Under the back flap lies the uniquely flexible, Li-Po unit, 3,500mAh packing battery. Of course, this is non-removable, just like other recent introductions. The device label, Flex, does hold true to merit, though, it takes quite some strength to make the device get straight. However, the curve does really make a difference on the usage experience. Also, in case kept face-down on a surface, the device curve avoids most of the screen touching the surface, and if face-up, only the middle area of the back touches the surface – this, without any wobbles whatsoever, is pretty cool, specially since the back already has a scratch proof surface.

The G Flex has Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, enhanced with the Optimus UI in place, with multiple different customizations, including a large pool of themes, home-brewed apps and icon sets. The device comes with some commonly used features across the board, like the Dual Window multi-tasking, the Q-Theather multimedia hub, the smart volume for ringtone and answer on pick up, as well as the motion control for lock screen.

The lock keys at the back are new, and look cooler on the curved back double tapping the screen wakes up the device, and the touch is sensitive enough to identify the gentlest of taps too easily. Locking the device is easy, by double tapping any empty area on the home screen, or anywhere on the status bar. The new live wallpaper for the lock screen has separate themes for day and night, and these switch automatically. Even the unlock effects vary depending on the elements of the wallpaper double tapped for unlocking.

Again, the lock screen contains multiple panes, the left ones containing widgets, while right pane bringing up camera. Additionally, LG introduces multiple account support, which enables a Guest Mode in the device. The user of the Guest Mode can access up to 5 apps, though he can use more from the suggested list. Entry and exiting the mode requires the user unlocking the phone is specific sequence for Guest Mode, and normal sequence for regular mode. This mode is specifically handy if you want to hand over your device to a child, or friends, for some time, without wanting them to access your personal stuff.

The home screen, the basic widgets, the links at the bottom of the home screen are all pretty standard. The device, as is the generic nature of Android, can add up to seven panes of the home screen. The auto rotate feature is also present. The front touch buttons are also customizable – you can select the functions from a list of preset combinations to change the order and functionality of the buttons. Even the background and opacity of buttons can be managed, swipe the buttons to a side, and select apps where the buttons can be hidden – all in all, these controls are all new and very cool.

Some of the tweaks made by LG include the Q Slide option, which is the usage of apps in small screens similar to small widgets, something we saw in the Samsung Galaxy recent releases as well. However, the LG version allows only a maximum of two windows opened simultaneously. Another feature similar to the Galaxy series is the Quick Memo app which lets users take screenshot and note taking on top of the screenshot. Also, the toggle buttons can be rearranged in the notification area. Users can add any number of buttons here, and the scroll will automatically grow. The app drawer is also present, listing all present apps and widgets available on the device.

The generic notifications for messages, audio/video, different applications, updates / downloads are all present. Additionally, tap and holding the Home button will show the task switcher, and swiping any open app left or right will close that app. There is a shortcut to the task manager also present, which displays the memory usage by the running app also.

A new implementation is the Slide Aside feature, using a three finger swipe from the right to add apps to the Slide Aside list – a frozen state of the apps (only a maximum of 3 apps can be added at a time) and user can switch between these apps by the same three finger swipe from the left – users can only view these apps from the task manager or from the Slide Aside area. However, we found some glitches in the feature – we are hoping that LG will improve on this.

LG has also introduced its own versions of Smart Stay and Smart Play / Smart Pause, labeled Smart Screen and SmartVideo – these work the same as the Samsung features, using the front camera to detect if user is viewing the screen or not. The multi window split screen feature is the same as used by Samsung from TouchWiz and has the same resize ability as well as the same limitations of one instance only per app. Another feature answers the call once the phone is raised to the ear.

LG has also brought in the Quiet Mode – something similar to the Do Not Disturb option of the iOS 6 and the Blocking Mode in recent Samsung Galaxy devices – it provides the options to enable / disable this mode at preset times of the day, as well as contacts which would not be effected by these settings.

The Clip Try option, also added with this device, allows users to carry any item copied, to any other application or message so that it can be pasted there. Also, the One-Hand feature, recently reviewed in the Galaxy Note 3 as well, is also present, and can move the keyboard, buttons, dialpad etc. to the side of the hand that user is using – yes, you can select the hand you are using and the screen will adjust to that side.

The device like most recent releases, is powered by the SnapDragon 800, 4-core Krait, 2-27 GHz, and graphics from Adreno 330 chip, kicking in with 2GB RAM. However, while the core performance was great, as well as when all cores kick in, the CPU and memory performance was not so impressive. Also, the less than stellar display along with the 720p display brings the ratings down in terms of display. The smooth experience provided to the users though, makes many happy.

The Google Now is integrated into the device in the same detail as other recent devices, able to access schedules, traffic routes and congestion information, sports, weather and other news, as well as the ability to understand search context from recent searches, as well as the dictation feature, especially since it does not require an internet connection to work – though you need a pre-installed language pack for this. Another option is the Q Voice, the response from LG for Siri and S-Voice. It can be used for similar uses, like call making, text dictation, launching apps, music play, settings change, memos, reminders, scheduling events, setting alarms, weather check, internet search, checking for local listings among others.

The phonebook is the same classic Android one, as present in recent Android 4.2.2 released devices, sorted alphabetically, tabbed, consisting of images, with Groups and Favorites option also present, and tapping any contact brings up details. Also, in case any contact has any other app related method to contact, like Skype, that contact option can be displayed also. The messaging, calling, contacting through Skype or other apps can be done from here. Contacts can be edited, and sorted in different manners too, and additional fields can be added and removed. The phone dialer is also generic Android, and the Call log can club calls from one number together. Smart Dial is also present, though only one number can be displayed at a time with the option to tap the down arrow to view more similar matches.

The loudspeaker test saw the G Flex score a good rating, meaning that there is a much reduced chance of any missed calls or notifications.

The Gmail app is the regular one, seen on all 4.2.2 devices, as is the Google Hangouts. The messaging can take in information from QWERTY, Swype, voice (dictation), as well as handwriting.

LG has introduced a new section, the Q Theater, accessible when user pinch zooms out on the lock screen while on landscape mode, as well as via a shortcut. The interface is simple enough, with three options – Gallery, Videos and YouTube shortcut panes displayed as an arc. The gallery and video have arch-interface, and automatically starts scrolling images in the direction of the curve. All images, sorted album wise, can be seen here, and can be viewed as a slideshow. The same is in the video browser too, that once a video starts playing, all standard options like full screen, etc. appear. The YouTube shortcut launches the default Android app of YouTube.

The image gallery is the same as that on LG G2. By default images are sorted in albums, and can be resorted on the basis of geo-tagging or time stamps too. Same is the case with the Music Player, using the generic player already present on the G2. Equalizer presets are also present. The video player is also a simple and powerful one.

The audio output though, disappointed us a bit, due to its volume levels, and that dampened the rave comments we were about to post about the great audio quality by quite a lot. Apart from the volume levels, this is one the best audio qualities that we have seen in recent times.

The default Android browser is present in G Flex, and Chrome also comes pre-installed. The default browser has minimal interface, with the address bar at the top and control bar appearing at the bottom, with the top bar moving out of view when scrolled down. The control bar contains basic operational options like front and back navigation, return to home, and new window option as well as bookmarks. A new button next to the address bar puts the display page in a floating mini app mode. Though tab switching gets disabled in this mode, the control bar is still available. The default incognito mode is also present.

Pages can be saved for offline reviewing, to a section in bookmarks, and accessed whenever internet connectivity is absent and the same page is accessed. A screenshot option to take a snap of the complete web page is also available.

The G Flex has Polaris Office 5 inbuilt, which makes document view easy. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files can be opened. The device can work as an enviable presentation tool capitalizing on the SmartShare option, to stream content over HDMI or Wi-Fi.

A Q Translator app is also present, which uses the camera to scan text, and then translates the same from its current language to another language – this option is currently a bit slow, requiring a fast internet connection, but will be valuable when abroad. The translations are fairly ok, though the OCR sometimes picks up garbage.

The 13 MP camera on the LG G Flex can capture maximum resolution images of 4160 x 3120 pixels, and 1080p videos at 60fps, along with a front facer at 2.1 MP, which too can shoot 1080p videos. The UI is the same as that on G2 as well as virtually the same feature set layout. On the right is a toggle between camera / recorder, shutter as well as gallery link, while on the left are flash, front/back camera toggles as well as camera mode adjustment option (from a list of 12 available options) and a Setting shortcut.

Imaging quality of the device, though pretty nice, is not quite close to being the best in the market. The details are ok, but on the lower side of even the G2, which is somewhat surprising, though they have a great white balance and color display, apart from the greens, which sometimes seem oversaturated. The sharpening is also pretty decent, with almost non-existent halo effects. However, the HDR photos, expected to have a greater level of detail, were found to severely lack in contrast. We are hoping these minor issues can be repaired in software updates. The flash lights up the images pretty well though, with a lot of detail coming out in the pictures, and it can be great for up to 4 meters from the snapping target.

The main camera of G Flex can record videos at a maximum of 1080p @ 60fps as well as @ 30 fps. Both videos are stored as MP4 at 30Mbps, with stereo audio at 96Kbps at 48 kHz. The camcorder can record using the Normal, Live Effect, Tracking Zoom and Dual-recording modes. The both cameras on the device provide 720p video recording @30fps, which is labeled the Dual-mode. The Live Effect videos are captured in 480p and can alter faces in real-time, and has six face alteration types, using the big and thin options for eyes, mouth, as well as big nose and squeeze face. The Tracking Zoom provides a small resizable and moveable window displaying a zoomed area of the video being shot. Another feature present in the Audio Zoom, which tries to capture the audio of only the person who is being zoomed. However, the results were not up to par for this option.

Also, the fact that the images can be captured while video recording, the limit of only 2 MP shots, another common issue for us being faced in the likes of Samsung and other devices, is present here too. The actual video quality is pretty great, with a lot of detail, very vibrant colors and a great contrast level.

The LG G Flex provides the regular options in connectivity as per any Android phone in the mid to top tier category of course, this means all of the prominent connection options are present and accounted for, including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, tri-band 3G, with HSPA as well as dual-band 4G LTE, Wi-Fi as well as Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Hotspot, and DLNA, as well as Bluetooth 4.0.

DLNA connectivity is present for wireless media streaming to your smart TV or console, and the device can be hooked up to your computer via a microUSB slot on top of the phone. Wi-Fi Direct is also present, enabling connectivity via Wi-Fi without any hotspot requirement. The connectivity with computer provides the option to connect as a Media Device or USB storage, and the port doubles up as DisplayPort, providing option to send videos and sound to external display devices. Also, the File Manager app provides an easy way to access any files you get to your phone without having to search. NFC is also present, and supports Android Beam, providing ability to share contacts, memos, messages, URL’s, calendar events etc. to other devices which are NFC-enabled.

The device also works as an IR emitter, and the QRemote app allows the device to control the complete multimedia setup, including the television and stereos. Devices can be managed properly through the app. The device also enables users to make their devices a portable Wi-Fi hotspot via a utility. Also, on connectivity of the headphones, a shortcuts bar appears at the bottom, for usage in combination with the headphones.

The LG G Flex comes with a large 3.500mAh battery, which increases the thickness to a healthy 8.7mm. Large OLED displays take up quite some juice, but in the end, the battery seems to power the device just fine. The endurance is a whopping 97 hours. The device has a talk time of over 25 hours, which is quite some performance. Video playback is also almost 20 hours, another great performance.

However, just like we have been recently experiencing with different devices, web browsing seems to be the area where the battery performs at its lowest, though that still is north of 9 hours, another steady display by recent standards.

Below are some shortcomings that we came to know in the device:

• Battery is non-exchangeable (device is single piece)
• Low pixel per inch count leading to some display related issues
• Device size is larger than a cell phone, and in the range of phablet size
• Absence of optical image stabilization was surprising
• Hardware controls are also present at the back, and will take some getting used to
• Non-expandable memory

The G Flex is the latest addition to the wings of LG. However, with a device of this size, there can be two ways to look at it – a revolutionary, or a device that is still thought of as the phablet and only living in its own niche market. Both the LG made device, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Round (another curved device, though only available in Samsung’s home country), were made as a new introduction to attract and woo more customers, though eventually they are the only two curved devices around for the near future at least, and with LG going global while Samsung is stuck in local, LG has a better chance to pull this off. The curve direction of LG (top-to-bottom) also seems a better choice aesthetically than the Samsung Galaxy Round (left-to-right curve).

The LG G Flex is not short on lacking though, with inbuilt memory limitation, image stabilization absence, screen and image resolution topping the list. There are much cheaper devices around, which are much better in resolution, and have image stabilization as well.

It seems that LG, coming out with a curved device could have come up with a better way of capitalizing on the curve, maybe by introducing a couple of Q Theater-similar features to enhance the curve feel. Well, maybe this being a huge upgrade in terms of features and options, and us expecting everything but the moon from LG may be the factor here, we still feel that this device, being a revolutionary in the flexible device front, and a self-healing back, is a big leap in terms of technology.