When curved smartphones debuted at electronics trade shows a few months ago, they were met with general skepticism. But the LG G Flex has just hit the market, and the curved face of the phone has got people talking. At first glance it kind of looks like just a regular phone, but once you do a double take you realize the fact that it looks curved. Then, when you pick it up, you know it is curved.
The curved face of the phone is designed to fit the user’s face a little better when talking on the phone. However, since people sometimes use their phone more for texting or surfing the web than for talking, the curved face of the LG G Flex is supposed to reduce glare and make two-handed texting more comfortable. That added comfort is a necessity, since the phone seems much larger than your average smartphone and essentially requires two-handed texting.
Due to its larger size — it’s one of LG’s largest phones to date — this curved smartphone might seem difficult to handle, but the curve in the chassis makes it a little easier to use. A phone of this size that has the traditional flat chassis would be extremely uncomfortable until you get adjusted to it, but the curve helps. It also distracts from the relative weakness of the plastic casing, and it does reduce glare, which can be annoying, especially in the sunlight.
Another interesting feature is the volume controls. Generally located on the side or within the interface of the smartphone, the LG G Flex has moved the buttons to the back, near the rear-facing camera. This will be met with some complaints, but after a few weeks of adjustment, people may find the easier-to-hold curved smartphone makes it easier to access the buttons with one finger without dropping the phone.
According to some, the pixel density in the large, 6-inch display is disappointing, leading to less clear images than the LG G Flex’s predecessors. It’s possible that future iterations of this curved smartphone will feature higher pixel density and a crystal-clear image on its face. As for right now, it appears the jury is still out on the curved face of this phone. Adventurous early adopters may want to take their chances, but those who want to see if the curved smartphone takes off should probably wait for a future version of this phone.
