Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
LG G Flex 2 officially announced with Snapdragon 810 and improved design
Ahead of CES we had heard whispers of LG’s plans to announce a successor to the G Flex, and now it’s here! The LG G Flex 2 brings the flexing technology we know and love, adding improved durability and an impressive step forward when it comes to overall specs.
The latest G Flex iteration is powered by a Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core processor with an Adreno 430 GPU, making the G Flex 2 the first (soon-to-be) widely released device to offer Qualcomm’s latest processing package. In addition to the killer chipset, the phone will come with either 2 or 3GB RAM, depending on whether you choose the 16GB or 32GB storage configuration for the device. Regardless of what model you get, the G Flex 2 also brings a microSD card slot with recognition for cards up to 2TB. No, that’s not a typo.
Moving on to other specs and features, the LG G Flex 2 has a 5.5-inch 1080p P-OLED display, which should provide a noticeable improvement over the 6-inch 720p P-OLED display found in the first-gen G Flex. Beyond improving the display’s resolution and bringing down the size, LG also promises 20% more durability when compared to the last-gen G Flex thanks to LG’s chemically enhanced DuraGuard technology. As for the curving abilities of the handset, the G Flex 2 improved beyond its predecessor’s 700mm radius curved profile by offering a range from 400 to 700mm across the front, back, sides and top-to-bottom edges.
The camera experience here is rather similar to the LG G3, with LG providing a 2.1MP front cam, and 13MP rear shooter with OIS+ and laser focus. That said, it is important to note that LG promises slightly faster focusing and other minor improvements that should result in a great photographic experience.
For those hoping for a removable battery, while the back plate can be removed, the 3000 mAh battery can not. The battery might be slightly smaller than the 3500 mAh found in the original G Flex, but it’s too early to say if this makes a noticeable difference on the battery life. We can tell you that the G Flex 2 does offer fast charging technology allowing you to charge up to 50 percent in under 40 minutes.
Speaking of the device’s back, the G Flex 2 sees the return of LG’s self healing technology, this time improving the experience by offering faster healing that is said to work in ten seconds or less. Aesthetically, the phone very much packs LG’s now-typical design language, though it certainly looks much more polished, especially when compared to the original G Flex. Turning the phone on its back reveals handcrafted details like the Spin Hairline Pattern on the curved rear, and the stylish curves on this handset really help it stand out.
| Display | 5.5-inch Full HD Curved P-OLED (1080 x 1920 pixels / 403 ppi) |
|---|---|
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 64-bit Octa-Core CPU, Adreno 430 GPU |
RAM | 2 or 3GB (depending on which storage config) |
Storage | 16GB or 32GB, microSD with expansion |
Camera | 13MP rear cam with OIS+ and laser auto focus, 2.1MP front cam |
Battery | 3000 mAh non-removable |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth Smart Ready (Apt-X) 4.1, NFC, SlimPort, A-GPS / Glonass, USB 2.0 |
Networks | 4G / LTE / HSPA+ 21/42 Mbps |
Software | Android 5.0 Lollipop with LG UI |
Dimensions | 149.1 x 75.3 x 7.1-9.4mm, 152g |
Colors | Platinum Silver, Flamenco Red |
Turning our attention to the software side of things, the LG G Flex 2 offers up a software experience that brings everything from the LG G3 to the table. While it is Lollipop based this time around, the custom UI means this upgrade from the G3’s KitKat software really isn’t that noticeable.
Here’s just a few of the software tricks found in the G Flex 2:
- Gesture Shot makes it easy to capture the perfect selfie with a simple hand gesture
- recognizable from up to 1.5 meters away.
- Gesture View makes it easy to check your last shot immediately after taking a photo or
- selfie.
- Glance View displays key information such as time, recent messages or missed calls
- with a downward swipe of the curved screen even while the display is off.
The latter of these features is brand new to LG devices and serves as an evolution of the Knock On experience many of us know and love.
Expected availability
When it comes to price, LG has yet to reveal any real specifics. While the G Flex originally came at a pretty significant premium, we wouldn’t be too surprised if LG tries to upstage Samsung’s Note Edge in the pricing department, but that’s really speculation at this stage.
What we can tell you is that the LG G Flex 2 will be available starting at the end of the month in South Korea and will arrive to other markets like the United States sometime around mid-to-late February.
As soon as we learn more concrete details on pricing and release, we’ll be sure to update.
More coverage
For additional coverage related to the LG G Flex 2, be sure to check out some of our other coverage such as our hands-on first look and VS posts:
- LG G Flex 2 hands-on
- LG G Flex 2 vs G Flex
- LG G Flex 2 vs Note Edge