Logic
dictates that all subsequent devices in a product line should be better than
the one that came before it. This is what everyone expects. It’s what consumers
demand. It’s also exactly what LG has delivered with the new LG G Flex 2
phablet. This impressive piece of mobile hardware comes just over a year after
the South Korean electronics giant dropped the original LG G Flex, its first curved
Android smartphone, which didn’t quite set our pulses racing as company execs and designers might have
hoped. Pleasingly, this follow-up to the G Flex runs smaller and lighter than
its predecessor. It also comes equipped with a number of other features that
clearly mark it out as an obvious upgrade over the device that came before it.
Here’s a closer look at what this more polished version has to offer.
Smaller
and Lighter Design
One
of the biggest knocks on the LG G Flex was its less than appealing size.
Fitting a 6-inch display into its slightly curved candy bar body produced a device
that was a tad cumbersome to handle for just about anyone who wasn’t blessed
with bucket-like hands. After a brief return to the drawing boards, the
masterminds behind the new G Flex 2 came back with a noticeably smaller
5.5-inch display that reduces the phone’s overall height markedly. This also
produced a corresponding gain, which is actually a loss, on the weight side.
The
durability of all phones has really been put under the microscope since a minor bending problem briefly threatened to suck the air out of the Apple iPhone 6 Plus’ rise. The
curved body of the LG G Flex isn’t impervious to such threats. However, its
build is sufficiently rugged to withstand the “routine abuse” it’s likely to be
subjected to throughout the course of your regular day. The innovative
self-healing coating that was featured on the G Flex 2’s predecessor also makes
an appearance on this model. Minor improvements in the technology since the
release of the first phone mean that it now does a marginally better job of covering
for our clumsiness.
 |
| Side profile of the banana-like LG G Flex 2. (Courtesy of stuff.tv) |
More
Powerful Performance
There
have been quite a few advances on the mobile processing front since the LG G
Flex was released. One of the most significant ones is featured on the new G
Flex 2, which comes equipped with a highly evolved Snapdragon 810 chip that
delivers octo-core processing capabilities. The device’s dual CPU configuration
sees both a quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and a quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57 appearing
under the hood. Whether working
individually or in tandem, these should allow you to make light work of just
about any task you throw in front of them. This is a noticeable upgrade from
the Snapdragon 800 chip and quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400 CPU with which the original
device came kitted. Replacing the older Adreno 330 GPU with a much more
advanced Adreno 430 version will also result in appreciably better graphics performance.
Significantly
Sharper Screen
Display
resolution was another of the areas in which the original LG G Flex didn’t
quite live up to the expectations of most people. This, of course, was not
particularly surprising. The G Flex’s 720p display res was just not up to
scratch for a phone that was being positioned as a flagship device. This inadequacy
has been addressed on the new LG G Flex 2, which steps into the ring with a
1080p full HD display. It sees the pixels per inch count on the device being
bumped up from 245 ppi up to 403 ppi. This upgrade should translate into a much
more visually immersive experience for users.
Souped-up
Software
The
LG G Flex came preloaded with Android OS v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean). Its descendant,
the G Flex 2, takes things up a couple notches, rolling off the production line
with the freshly minted AndroidOS v5.0.1 (Lollipop), which is wrapped in LG’s own UI. This upgrade
comes with a number of usability improvements that contribute to a more
intuitive user experience.
 |
| Home screen close-up of Lollipop-running LG G Flex 2. (Courtesy of cnet.com) |
Other
Key Features
The
LG G Flex 2 comes equipped with 2GB RAM for efficient multitasking performance,
a serviceable 13MP rear-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.1, and various other
connectivity features that’ll keep you fully in the loop while you’re on the
go.
The
Wrap Up
The new LG G Flex 2, which can currently be pre-ordered in the U.S., stuffs greater performance potential into a smaller package than the G Flex that came before it. This potential is primarily reflected in its octo-core processor configuration and upgraded 1080p full HD display. These beefed up specs and its innovative design duly earned it a spot on many peoples’ new phone watch lists for 2015. However, it remains to be seen if the device’s pricing will be low enough to make it a winner in the U.S.
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