LG’s New Bendable Smartphone Is One of the Coolest of CES 2015

Daniel Howley
·Technology Editor
LG G Flex 2
LG G Flex 2

LG just took the wraps off of one of the coolest smartphones at CES 2015, the LG G Flex 2.

So what makes this handset so interesting? Well, how does a unique curved design and self-healing back plate sound?

That’s right: Unlike basically every other smartphone on the planet, the G Flex 2 is curved along its horizontal axis, giving it a bit of a crescent moon shape (see below). The follow-up to LG’s similarly shaped G Flex, the G Flex 2 is an improvement over its predecessor in almost every way.

For starters, this handset uses a smaller 5.5-inch screen rather than the original G Flex’s ridiculously huge 6-inch display, making it easier to hold. (That’s the same screen size as Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus, for comparison.) On top of that, the Flex 2’s 1080p screen resolution is sharper than its older sibling’s. Images look far crisper.

LG G Flex 2
LG G Flex 2

What’s the point of making a curved phone? Well, according to LG, the Flex 2’s design makes the handset more durable, as it allows the phone to physically flex and bend when pressure is applied to it.

LG also claims that the phone’s shape makes using the Flex 2 to call someone easier, as the curve causes the receiver to bend closer to your mouth.

Like the original Flex, the Flex 2 comes with a self-healing back panel that uses a special polymer that allows the phone to “heal” small scratches. Don’t expect this phone to totally recover from deep gouges, though; think minor nicks and cuts, like from the keys in your pocket.

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Like Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4, the Flex 2 gets a 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization technology, which means photos will come out clear even if your hand shakes while taking them.

Overall, the G Flex 2’s performance should be seriously impressive, as the phone uses a ridiculous eight-core processor. So you’ll be able to multitask, play games, and stream movies with ease.

Curved smartphones are a rarity in today’s market. So far, only a handful of the devices have been made, including the original G Flex and Samsung’s Galaxy Round. Will the Flex 2 help make curved cool? We’ll have to wait until the handset makes it to the U.S. later this year to find out.

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley or on Google+ here.