Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge vs LG G Flex 2 quick look

In the battle for unique form factors and design, Samsung and LG have been going head to head, albeit with different concepts in mind. How do these devices fare when pitted against each other? We find out, as we take a quick look at the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge vs LG G Flex 2!

If you’re looking for a high-end smartphone that pushes the boundaries in terms of design, your best bet is with these two smartphones. While Samsung is working with extending display real estate with curves, or edges, LG’s unique offering boasts a display that is curved from the top to bottom, making it more ergonomic in its use. That said, while they are distinctive, they do retain elements of their respective lines.

In the case of the of the LG G Flex 2, that comes in the form of the button layout placed at the back below the camera unit and ultra-thin bezels up front, both signature design language elements of current LG flagships. Borrowing from its curved sibling, the original G Flex, the G Flex 2 also comes with a self healing back, that is even better this time around. The significant curve from the top to bottom helps with the ergonomics, with the handling experience further helped by the overall reduction in size from its rather unwieldy predecessor.

On the other hand, there is no mistaking the Galaxy S6 Edge for anything but a Samsung device, with the physical home button up front, integrated with a fingerprint scanner, and flanked by capacitive back and recent apps keys, returning once again. Samsung has made big moves in the build material though, moving away from plastic, to a more premium look and feel with its metal and glass unibody design. Of course, the unique feature with regards to the S6 Edge is in its name, with the device featuring not one, like the Galaxy Note Edge, but two edges on either side of the display.

A 5.5-inch display on the G Flex 2 comes with a higher resolution than before at 1080p. There are no issues with this display when it comes to brightness, with the curve allowing for a slightly more immersive experience. Color saturation on this screen is adequate, and can be further adjusted in the Settings menu. The Galaxy S6 Edge on the other hand features a smaller 5.1-inch screen, but with a higher Quad HD resolution. Super AMOLED brings with it the deep blacks and vivid colors that we all love. Brightness and viewing angles are fantastic, and the two edges also make for a seamless swiping experience. Both are fantastic displays, but the preference has to be given to the Galaxy S6 Edge when it comes to the display.

The LG G Flex 2 is the first widely-available smartphone to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, backed by the Adreno 430 processor, along with 2 or 3 GB of RAM depending on which storage option, 16 GB or 32 GB, you choose. Many expected the performance to be off the charts, but that unfortunately this didn’t translate to real world use, even if the blame might lie more with the software optimization, as opposed to the prowess of this processing package. Samsung chose to pass on Qualcomm this time around for their flagship smartphones, instead favoring their in-house octa-core Exynos 7420 processor, backed by 3 GB of RAM. The performance is absolutely fantastic on this device, definitely helped by a more streamlined software experience.

As mentioned, the G Flex 2 comes with 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage, with the option for expandable storage via microSD also available. The Galaxy S6 Edge features 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB versions, but unfortunately, no expandable memory is to be found. In both cases, the battery is non-removable, with the G Flex 2 boasting the bigger 3,000 mAh unit, compared to the 2,600 mAh battery of the Samsung device.

The LG G Flex 2 packs a 13 MP rear shooter with a laser auto focus and OIS+, and while it proves to be quite capable, especially when it comes to outdoor photography, there were some issues when it came to shots in deteriorating lighting conditions, or even when just indoors, with an evident loss in detail and sharpness. OIS+ does make a difference though, especially in keeping the shot steady while recording video. On the other hand, the Galaxy S6 Edge features a 16 MP rear camera, with a setup similar to what is found on the Galaxy Note 4, which was one of the best smartphones cameras of 2014. As such, the expectations are quite high from the current Samsung flagships, and we can’t wait to put them through their paces.

The G Flex 2 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, but the interface is definitely more G UI than Lollipop, with major changes limited to just the Recent Apps screen and the notification dropdown. There are a lot of useful features like Knock Code, but as we saw with the Asian version of the device that was used for the review, the software is too cluttered, and resulted in a less than ideal experience.

Samsung did listen to its consumers, not only with regards to build quality and material, but also when it came to the software experience, with a lighter, more streamlined iteration of TouchWiz, on top of Android 5.0 Lollipop. That said, while some aspects of Lollipop are to be found, the user interface is still TouchWiz through and through, just not as cluttered and packed with unnecessary applications and features. If you do find yourself missing these applications though, they can be downloaded as and when you need them.

Specs Comparison

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So there you have it for a quick look at the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge vs LG G Flex 2! Both smartphones utilize curved display technology in completely different ways, but both pack a pretty mean punch when it comes to specifications and features, so it all comes down to which you think is the best choice for you.