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LG's bendy G Flex 2 hits Korea this month
We liked the LG G Flex 2 enough to both bring it onstage at CES this year and put it in the running for our Best of Show awards. The curved flagship phone didn't go all the way in the end, but hey, if you happen to be in Korea this month a mere 800,000 won (around $737 domestically) will put one in your pocket. But, let's say you aren't in Korea and you'd rather hold out for the red model you see above to hit the States -- totally justified! In that case, the videos after the break will make the wait just a bit shorter.
Meet the G Flex 2, LG's next attempt at making the perfect curved smartphone
Let's face it: With its curvaceous body, low-res screen, self-healing tendencies and lousy camera, the original LG G Flex was a mixed bag if there ever was one. When it came time to craft the inevitable sequel, though, the Korean tech giant agonized over customer feedback for months to figure out what went awry and what was really important to people. The end result of all that brainstorming is the LG G Flex 2, and it shows -- it's dramatically better than the original in just about every way that matters.
LG G Flex receives KitKat update, but only in South Korea for now
When it rains, it pours. Shortly after the news that AT&T's Galaxy Note 3 is finally getting a taste of Android 4.4, LG is doing the same with its G Flex back at home, in South Korea. Most notably, this update will bring the company's Knock Code feature, which debuted on the G Pro 2, to the flexible smartphone -- yes, it really does flex. But that's not it: LG's KitKat update also brings improved Bluetooth Car-Kit controls and a boost in overall performance, thanks to things like Google's ART experiment. And don't worry if you down own a South Korean model of the G Flex, you should take this as being a step closer to arriving on your device.
LG's Knock Code unlock method bumps into G2 and G Flex next month
LG's staying true to its word and updating the basic KnockON feature found on the G2 and the G Flex with its newer, more sophisticated Knock Code technology. The South Korean company launched the feature on the G Pro 2 in February, with a promise that it'll eventually be available on older models. While the older knock technology only switches a screen on or off when you tap it, Knock Code lets you bypass the lock screen altogether. You merely need to configure a phone's security setting to recognize a combination of up to eight taps made on four sections of the screen beforehand. The security feature's slated to arrive on the handsets sometime in April through a firmware update -- the bad news is, there's no clear word on which countries will get it. Obviously, users in LG's home turf will be some of the first to enjoy the feature, but everyone else will just have to cross their fingers.
LG's curvy G Flex smartphone is coming to Canada through Rogers
Canadians have been left out of the curved smartphone frenzy so far, but they'll soon learn what all the fuss is about: LG has announced that the G Flex is coming to Canada as a Rogers exclusive this spring. While the local edition won't include any radical changes, it should have very fast data with dual-band, 150Mbps LTE support. Pricing isn't available yet. However, the American launches suggest that Rogers' model won't be cheap. You'd better really, really like that banana-shaped display.
LG G Flex to launch in over 20 European countries this February
The G Flex's world tour continues: following news of launches in the US, LG has announced that its bendy smartphone will reach more than 20 European countries this February. The continent-wide release involves larger countries like Austria, France, Germany, Italy and the UK. LG hasn't named carriers just yet, although we already know that both EE in the UK and Orange in France will carry the 6-inch Android flagship. Given the pricing we've seen so far, it's safe to say that European G Flex variants won't be cheap.
LG G Flex will be $300 on AT&T, pre-orders begin January 24th
Sprint was the first out of the gate to announce LG G Flex pricing and availability for the US, but AT&T isn't too far behind. The network just made it be known that the curved smartphone will be available for pre-order online and at retail stores starting January 24th. We haven't been given specifics on when the device will get shipped out to early adopters, nor do we have a date on when it'll be stocked on shelves for everyone else -- but we do know, however, that it'll be all yours for $300 with a two-year contract. If you'd rather get it on a Next plan, you can do so by paying $27 per month (on an 18-month plan) or $35 per month (on a 12-month plan). We're still awaiting word on when T-Mobile's option will come out, but we'd guess that we'll be hearing pretty soon.
LG G Flex coming to Sprint January 31st for $300, preorders begin today
The LG G Flex was finally announced for three carriers in the US at CES, but we didn't know any pricing or availability. It looks like Sprint is the first to strike with the news: the G Flex will be coming to the Now Network on its online store January 31st (with it hitting retail stores on February 7th), and unsurprisingly at $300 it's going to cost you a bit more than most standard flagship devices on a two-year contract. You can use the Easy Pay program, however, which will get you the G Flex for a down payment of $150 and 24 monthly payments of roughly $20 and some change. You'll be able to preorder the G Flex today. Alright T-Mobile and AT&T, your turn.
LG G Flex for AT&T, T-Mobile shows up in pictures
Just in case you haven't seen enough of LG's limber 6-inch G Flex smartphone, the bowed wonder has appeared in press shots posted by @evleaks. The pictures aren't shocking for a phone we've already had our hands all over and even reviewed as an international model, but after passing through the FCC's database, we suppose this just another step on the way to release. There's no word on a release date or US pricing (the Sprint edition that's surfaced is also missing, but the renders above do show different dates on the phones -- March 17th for AT&T and February 12th for T-Mobile), but we're sure those details will be revealed in due time.
LG G Flex review: a promising phone, but not one you should buy right now
It's not too often we get to review a product with a completely new form factor, but we relish the opportunity when we do. This time, we're taking a closer look at the LG G Flex, one of two curved smartphones that have come out of Korea over the last two months. The idea of a curved device is enough to pique anyone's interest, but there's one thing holding it back from mainstream acceptance: the price. Retailing for the US equivalent of $940, this unique handset isn't for the budget-conscious, and it isn't going to make your every dream come true either. To most potential buyers, the return on investment is pretty low; it's high-end, sure, but is it worth paying a $200 or $300 premium just for the shape? We believe you already know the answer to that, but keep on reading to find out if we agree with you.
Hands-on with the G Flex, LG's first curved smartphone
In the case you have around a thousand bucks to burn and you're looking for the coolest gadget to buy to impress your family during Thanksgiving dinner, look no further than the LG G Flex. This is the second device to come out with a curved display (the first being the Samsung Galaxy Round), which arcs from top to bottom and even offers a little bit of flex when you push down on it. Officially it's only available in Korea for 999,940 won (about $940), and while rumors are pointing to an eventual launch in other parts of the world, the earliest -- and richest -- of early adopters in the US can grab one from importers for around $1,100. One of those companies is Negri Electronics, which was gracious enough to send us a G Flex for a few days. Between the G Flex and the Galaxy Round, you're looking at two of the most expensive smartphones this side of a Vertu or Porsche Design BlackBerry. So what's the point? The benefits of curved or flexible displays are three-fold (so far): they promise more durable gadgets, a better viewing experience over regular phones and could potentially lead to wholly flexible devices or even brand new form factors (Samsung, for instance, is already working on a phone with a foldable screen, as well as a prototype with a bent display). It's pretty exciting stuff, so we've opened up the G Flex box, fired up the phone, and we're ready to share our initial impressions with you. Take a closer look at the G Flex with our gallery and thoughts below.
LG G Flex for Sprint reaches the FCC
Americans pining after LG's G Flex may not have to pick up the curvy smartphone from AT&T if and when it arrives stateside. A new FCC filing has revealed the LS995, a variant of the G Flex that's likely destined for Sprint. In addition to sporting the same giant dimensions as the AT&T-friendly D959 model, the LS995 includes both CDMA as well as Sprint's three native LTE bands (800MHz, 1,900MHz and 2,500MHz). It's still not clear just when LG might release the G Flex in the US, but the rapid succession of FCC approvals suggests that the company is gearing up for a launch in the near future.
LG G Flex appears on the FCC with AT&T-friendly LTE
Those on our side of the pond who've been lusting after LG's intriguingly flexible handset might've seethed with jealousy after finding out it's heading to Asia and Europe later this year. Thankfully, the US will get its very own version of the LG G Flex as well, if this FCC filing is any indication. The document reveals an LG D959 -- the G Flex's model number -- with LTE band 17, a sure sign that the phone is headed to the Ma Bell network. Other tidbits gleaned from the listing suggest that the G Flex also has quad-band GSM support, 802.11a/ac/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and GPS, most of which we already knew. At last, it seems that we'll be that much closer to seeing how LG's bendy smartphone compares to its curvy competitor. Update: It appears the FCC document also listed LTE Band 4 (AWS), which means it might head to T-Mobile as well.
LG G Flex launches in Korea next week for $940, headed to Europe in December
Processor, storage space, RAM and a curved screen -- the G Flex's announcement came with just about everything except a price. Now, LG has given us the last piece of the puzzle. Starting on November 12th, the South Korean company will sell its curved smartphone for 999,900 Korean Won, or about $940. That buys a six-inch curved OLED display (that's actually flexible), 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel shooter and some sort of self-healing backside. The company's announcement also says that phone will be launching on Orange France in about a month, although local pricing hasn't been announced. As for the rest of the world? We'll just have to use the time to decide if we want LG's kit or that other curved smartphone.
LG's G Flex actually flexes (video)
We've known for a while that LG's upcoming G Flex smartphone features a pretty noticeable arc from top to bottom, but thanks to a source who's spent some time with the device, we now know that the phone is more aptly named than we first suspected. The 14-second video you see below shows that the curved device actually offers some give to it; according to our informant, you have to apply a reasonable amount of force to duplicate the desired effect, so it's not going to simply happen when it's hanging out in your pocket or purse. We can't imagine that you should do this on a regular basis, but it's probably good for the occasional party trick. This particular feature has been left out of the public eye until now, but here's what else we know so far: the G Flex comes with a 6-inch 720p OLED display, a Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB RAM, along with the G2-inspired rear volume and power buttons. You'll also get to enjoy LG's new "self-healing" coating which is capable of repairing hairline scratches that you may incur on the back of the phone. All told, this is shaping up to be a very intriguing device that we can't wait to play around with.
LG G Flex announced with vertically curved 6-inch 720p screen, 'self-repairing' back cover
LG's unveiled all the details for its often-leaked, curved screen smartphone. Weighing in at 177g with a 6-inch (but 720p) curved OLED display, it's powered by a Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM, with a 13-megapixel camera housed above the two rear control buttons, which is now LG's thing. In comparison to Samsung's Galaxy Round, the screen on the G Flex arcs from top to bottom, not side-to-side, which at least makes a little more sense to us, hopefully fitting in better to the curvature of the users' face. We're yet to handle either curved phone IRL just yet, however, when we'll be able to offer up a better perspective on how both devices actually feel. Like LG's recent G2, there's high-fidelity audio playback, dual-window app functionality and tap-to-wake on that substantial touchscreen. There's also special animations, depending on where and how you unlock the phone. The Korean press release is also reporting that there's a self-healing coating that can repair hairline scratches on the rear of the phone. LG says they are repaired "within minutes." Korean smartphones with the power to control the elements are, however, still TBC. The G Flex will arrive on Korea's three major carriers next month -- but (again) there's no word on global roll-out, hinting that the smartphone could well be a test model for the company. We've added the confusingly Google-translated release after the break. Update: We've now included the full English press release, below, and corrected that the phone offers hi-fi audio playback, not recording.
LG's G Flex curved phone makes a surprise debut in Argentina
We got our first clear look at LG's curved G Flex smartphone in press shots just a few days ago, and now the device itself has popped up. The Verge points out tech journalist Frederico Ini of Telefe Noticias, a news program based in Argentina, has apparently obtained a prototype and brought it in to the studio for some hands-on pics and video. Curved from the bottom to the top (like the Galaxy Nexus) instead of side to side like Samsung's Galaxy Round, it also features rear mounted buttons just like LG's current flagship the G2. We've heard that the G Flex will feature a 6-inch OLED display when it's announced next month, although other details remain unknown. [Image credit: Frederico Ini]
Weekly Roundup: HTC One Max review, PS Vita review, Apple confirms iPad event and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Daily Roundup: LG G Flex revealed, HTC's One Max, FIFA 14 for Xbox 360 and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
LG G Flex curved smartphone revealed in press renders, will launch next month (update: 6-inch display)
LG has admitted that "bendable and unbreakable" smartphone displays are already in production, and we've heard plenty of rumors about a device known as the G Flex which features the new tech. Engadget has come across a trio of renders of the upcoming device, and we have learned from our sources that it will be coming out sometime next month -- pricing and availability (as well as hard specs) are as of yet unknown, however. As you can see in the images (above and below), the G Flex offers a curved display, but LG's version approaches it at a literally different angle from the Galaxy Round that was announced last week: instead of it curving from left to right, the G Flex goes orthogonally from top to bottom. We'll update you with more information and images as we get closer to the device's launch. Update: Our sources have confirmed to us that the G Flex will indeed have a 6-inch display, as rumored previously.
