At a time where the smartphone has become virtually a limb to most users, there has been stiff competition towards consumers that are either due for an upgrade or perhaps finally joining the present and giving up their “dumb-phone.” This review is intended to give the average consumer who may not be technically inclined, insight as to whether the LG G Flex is the phone for him/her.

Price Range & Availability
There are varying price levels, which are dependent on factors such as wireless carrier and whether a contract will be involved at the time of purchase. Note that Verizon Wireless currently doesn’t carry the device. The following are some of the current offerings from major mobile phone service providers:

AT&T Full Price: $694.99 2-Year Contract Price: $299.99
Sprint Full Price: $599.99 2-Year Contract Price: $249.99
T-Mobile Full Price: $672.00 2-Year Price: $28 per month for 24 months

Hands-On Review
I visited a local AT&T store in order to get the full experience of the LG G Flex. My first impression after picking up the device was that it felt like holding a Galaxy Note II in regards to weight, which is a lot heavier than what I would like from a smartphone with a plastic casing. Secondly, the name itself, G Flex is misleading. I attempted to bend the device and it seemed like it was going to break with the very light pressure that I applied.

I then wanted to see what the device was capable of in terms of performance, so I opened & ran every app that was installed on the device, then accessed the video camera, and recorded video for 5 minutes. From past experience with older devices, at this point one thing was certain, that the phone was going to start warming up from the demand being placed on it and surprisingly, it didn’t. I also replayed the video I took, which looked brilliant due to the fact that the LG G Flex records and plays back in full 1080p. I also took some panoramic camera shots with the 13 mp camera, which was clear even when fully zoomed into an object that was far in shooting distance. Overall the media capabilities on the G Flex were amazing.

In regards to gimmick features, the LG G Flex had one that may or may not be of importance to the consumer, which is a button placed below the camera that allows the device to be turned on or off. I think the idea is that it can be conveniently accessed with the index finger, which as I mentioned earlier, may serve no use to a consumer in terms of decision making factors.

Pros
– Quick, responsive navigation
– Large and clear screen
– 13 mp camera and 1080p video recording
– Great apps running on Android operating system

Cons
– Heavy & bulky
– Misleading name

Rating
4 out of 5