LG’s new G Flex phone is the second curved phone released in the past month. The Korean company’s big-time rival Samsung released its Galaxy Round device to much fanfare in its home territory a few weeks ago.
It means flexible screens, so often touted as ‘the next big thing’ at tech trade shows, are finally getting something approaching mainstream recognition.
There are key differences between the two devices. LG’s phone curves from top to bottom, meaning it supposedly sits more comfortably on the face when taking calls.
Sammy’s effort curves from side to side, offering neat features which allow it to be pushed up to notifications without turning it on.
LG’s already giving it the big talk about the G Flex. It says it’s the first ‘real’ curved phone (it isn’t).
Its clever ‘self-healing’ rear cover is certainly a pointer to a time when minor scratches disappear after a few minutes.
But in all seriousness, no one truly expects either of these handsets to be mainstream successes.
If Samsung and LG had real faith in them, they’d launch them worldwide, instead of testing them on their Korean customers.
Both companies are already engaged in a battle to impress hardcore tech fanatics with their Curved TVs.
Both are seen as beautifully designed gimmicks, futuristic toys that will never have any mainstream application.
Just as in the world of TVs, the level of desperation among manufacturers to look different is getting out of control in the smartphone space. Rear-sided fingerprint sensors, curved screens, you name it.
The fact is that differentiating the basic form factor of a smartphone is needless.
You can shave off a millimetre here and there, but the simple concept of a 4 or 5-inch device with a nice screen and fast processor works.
It’s a form factor that leaves software at the fore. This is an area neither LG or Samsung have pedigree in, hence their attempts to show off something a bit more off the wall in the hardware department.
This isn’t to dismiss curved screens out of hand. The notion of a flexible display has obvious applications when it comes to smartwatches, even if Samsung hasn’t included one on its Galaxy Gear, presumably because of the expense.
Next year we’ll doubtless see curved displays on smart watches from all the major players, with Apple, LG and Samsung all likely to offer a device in this sector.
But the fact is, curved phones are a waste of time. They don’t improve the viewing experience, they look stupid and are solving a problem that just doesn’t exist.
For now, better resolutions and amped up operating systems are what smartphone fanatics should be getting excited about.
