Samsung Galaxy Round and LG G Flex : Are Smartphones with Curved Displays The Next Big Thing?
Smartphones are not your ordinary mobile phone. They do far more than what the latter can. But are they “life proof” like what most feature phones are? Can today's smartphones pull off a Nokia 5110 or 3310 and withstand accidental falls without being broken to pieces? Or can you simply put one in the back pocket of your pants without worrying that it would get scratches and even crack?
Indeed, smartphones have evolved from being just an ordinary communication device to something where everything you need fits in the size of your palm. But, does a Smartphone have to be curvaceous to be smart? Well, take it from LG and Samsung. The two Korean electronics giants have come up with rather interesting phones that feature curved displays.
LG, fresh from the success of its 2013 flagship G2, has unveiled the G Flex. Flaunting a massive 6 inches HD display, the foremost selling pitch of which is its curved plastic OLED display, the G Flex, as the name suggests is quite flexible but not like a rubber. You’ll have to exert a bit but gentle force to do so. Tests have shown that it can withstand up to 88 pounds of force. What’s more interesting is that, at its back is the non-removable cover made of polycarbonate materials that can heal minor scratches. Yes, you read it right! It’s like Wolverine with the self-healing capability but is limited only to scratches as small as the hairline.
The G Flex comes with a 32 GB internal memory and 2 GB RAM for multitasking power. However, it has notably low resolution for a flagship phone pegged at 245 pixels per inch. It runs on Snapdragon 800 chipset and quad-core CPU clocked at 2.26 GHz which translates to smooth phone operation that includes 3D gaming and the Q slide feature.
It has a 13-megapixel main camera and 2-megapixel front camera. The main camera uses a back sensor that turns green when your face is at the right angle hence taking selfies isn’t much of a hassle. It comes with Android 4.2 out of the box.
On the other hand, Samsung is in competing mode with its Korean rival as it releases its own curved Smartphone dubbed Samsung Galaxy Round. The Galaxy Round sports a slightly smaller display at 5.7 inches but has full HD display made of Super Flexible AMOLED screen. But more than it, the technical specifications are almost similar to that of Note 3 – 2.3 GHz CPU, comes with Android 4.3 and is powered by 2800 mAh battery. The Round features the roll function where you just tilt the phone slightly to show the time and phone status.
Between the two, Samsung Galaxy Round’s CPU runs a bit faster but the difference is very minimal that an ordinary user won’t notice. In terms of design, Samsung’s take on the curve display isn’t much noticeable and some observers say isn’t ergonomically-designed, or is it just because they are not yet used to it? The G Flex’s size maybe too big but it’s the reason why it’s called phablet – a phone and a tablet in one device.
Well, just wondering why these devices did not come out with the latest Android iteration out of the box. But being flagships, it would be next to none that these would get their taste of the KitKat OS. So, will curved displays be the next battleground of Smartphones’ battle for supremacy? Let’s see. 2014 may be the year of bendable phones!
As of the moment, SGRound has yet to land in the country while the G Flex is now available in the Philippines via TechPinas’ trusted online store, Kimstore, with price tag of Php 31,200.
So what do you think, TP Friends? Will these two amazing handsets herald a mobile era filled with curved displays or will these screens be deemed impractical or superfluous sooner or later? Let me know your thoughts.
Indeed, smartphones have evolved from being just an ordinary communication device to something where everything you need fits in the size of your palm. But, does a Smartphone have to be curvaceous to be smart? Well, take it from LG and Samsung. The two Korean electronics giants have come up with rather interesting phones that feature curved displays.
LG, fresh from the success of its 2013 flagship G2, has unveiled the G Flex. Flaunting a massive 6 inches HD display, the foremost selling pitch of which is its curved plastic OLED display, the G Flex, as the name suggests is quite flexible but not like a rubber. You’ll have to exert a bit but gentle force to do so. Tests have shown that it can withstand up to 88 pounds of force. What’s more interesting is that, at its back is the non-removable cover made of polycarbonate materials that can heal minor scratches. Yes, you read it right! It’s like Wolverine with the self-healing capability but is limited only to scratches as small as the hairline.
The G Flex comes with a 32 GB internal memory and 2 GB RAM for multitasking power. However, it has notably low resolution for a flagship phone pegged at 245 pixels per inch. It runs on Snapdragon 800 chipset and quad-core CPU clocked at 2.26 GHz which translates to smooth phone operation that includes 3D gaming and the Q slide feature.
It has a 13-megapixel main camera and 2-megapixel front camera. The main camera uses a back sensor that turns green when your face is at the right angle hence taking selfies isn’t much of a hassle. It comes with Android 4.2 out of the box.
On the other hand, Samsung is in competing mode with its Korean rival as it releases its own curved Smartphone dubbed Samsung Galaxy Round. The Galaxy Round sports a slightly smaller display at 5.7 inches but has full HD display made of Super Flexible AMOLED screen. But more than it, the technical specifications are almost similar to that of Note 3 – 2.3 GHz CPU, comes with Android 4.3 and is powered by 2800 mAh battery. The Round features the roll function where you just tilt the phone slightly to show the time and phone status.
Between the two, Samsung Galaxy Round’s CPU runs a bit faster but the difference is very minimal that an ordinary user won’t notice. In terms of design, Samsung’s take on the curve display isn’t much noticeable and some observers say isn’t ergonomically-designed, or is it just because they are not yet used to it? The G Flex’s size maybe too big but it’s the reason why it’s called phablet – a phone and a tablet in one device.
Well, just wondering why these devices did not come out with the latest Android iteration out of the box. But being flagships, it would be next to none that these would get their taste of the KitKat OS. So, will curved displays be the next battleground of Smartphones’ battle for supremacy? Let’s see. 2014 may be the year of bendable phones!
As of the moment, SGRound has yet to land in the country while the G Flex is now available in the Philippines via TechPinas’ trusted online store, Kimstore, with price tag of Php 31,200.
So what do you think, TP Friends? Will these two amazing handsets herald a mobile era filled with curved displays or will these screens be deemed impractical or superfluous sooner or later? Let me know your thoughts.
 | #TPWriterFellows Batch 1 Member and DOST Scholar from Bicol University, Dino Prestado, is a High School Chemistry and Physics teacher. He holds a Master's Degree in Physics Education and is a Full-time technology and gadget enthusiast. |
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