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Sprint customers can now preorder LG’s latest innovative, curved G Flex 2 smartphone to get the new devices, starting March 13.
The arrival of the new phones for Sprint customers, at a retail price of $504 or on a 24-month Sprint Easy Pay payment plan for $21 a month, was announced Feb. 19 by the company. The previous first-generation LG G Flex models arrived a year ago in February 2014.
The LG G Flex 2 smartphone features a 5.5-inch full HD P-OLED display with 1,920 by 1,080 resolution, a curved body for a distinctive look and feel, a 2GHz 64-bit eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 2GB of RAM. Also included is 32GB of built-in storage, which can be expanded via a micro SD card up to 2TB, and Bluetooth capabilities.
Also included is a rear-facing 13-megapixel camera with OIS+ (Optical Image Stabilization +) and laser auto-focus, a 3,000mAh battery and a fast-charging feature that can supply a 50 percent charge in just under 40 minutes with the included 15W charger. The LG G Flex 2 runs on the Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system.
The phone will be available to Sprint customers in Platinum Silver or in a Sprint-only Volcano Red color. The device, which weighs 5.36 ounces, is 5.87 inches long, 2.96 inches wide and 0.37 inches thick.
Sprint is offering a special limited-time promotion for a free LG Quick Circle Folio with the purchase of an LG G Flex 2 smartphone through March 12. The case, which normally retails for $59.99, will be delivered in the same color as the phone, can be ordered when taking advantage of the preorder offer. The case, which is not available in retail stores under this offer, will ship separately from the phone and will arrive to customers by April 15, according to Sprint.
The new LG G Flex 2 model was unveiled by LG just before the opening of the Consumer Electronics Show in January.
It’s curved screen gives it distinction in the smartphone marketplace with a 700mm radius across all the smartphone’s edges, while its large, bright 5.5-inch screen gives users plenty of screen real estate for texting, reading, email and more.
The phone’s Laser Focus feature shoots an invisible laser at the subject to quickly focus the camera, according to a previous eWEEK report. Users can also employ hand gestures to snap a selfie with the G Flex 2. Similar gesture motions can also be used to view images and check out important information, like time and recent messages.
The latest edition of the phone also includes an improved version of LG’s so-called self-healing back panel, which is essentially a slick protective coating that can “heal” scuffs and scratches on its own. While the original G Flex had the same healing feature, it took about 3 minutes for minor dings and scratches to disappear from view. The new version takes about 10 seconds to repair itself, speeding the process considerably.
The new model also includes improvements in sound quality, compared with non-curved smartphones. By moving the built-in microphone closer to a user’s mouth through the device’s curvature, it provides better voice quality compared with traditional flat smartphones, according to LG.