LG's G Flex is a decent large-screened smartphone with a major selling point.
It's the first in Australia to feature a curved display - a gentle concave arc running from top to bottom along six diagonal inches.
It's a conversation piece for your pocket, and a glimpse of the future.
But for $999 it's an expensive one. Why do we need a curved screen anyway?
LG says it provides a more "immersive" experience when watching videos, especially on the large screen.
Perhaps. But the effect is far less pronounced than it is on LG's immense 105-inch TVs.
Supposedly the curve also better fits the contours of the human face.
Maybe. But large-screened phones will always be more than a little awkward for voice calls.
The real benefit - the one that makes the G Flex most exciting - is its flexibility. Place it face down on a table, and you'll be able to press it flat. Let go, and it will spring back into shape.
It's possible because the screen is made of flexible plastic rather than the standard glass.
That'll sound especially appealing if you're currently scrolling on a shattered glass screen.
The durability is enhanced by a special elastic-coated back cover, which will "self-heal" from minor wear and tear scratches.
But while the curve and durability of the screen is impressive, the display itself is a little disappointing. It can appear grainy at times, as if it's coated in a thin film of sand.
The 1280- by 720-pixel resolution, with 244 pixels per inch, isn't great compared to other phones in the category. Samsung's Galaxy Note 3, for instance, which can be found for below $900, sports 1920- by 1080-pixels at roughly 386 per inch.
Otherwise, the specs are as you'd expect, with 2GB of RAM, quad-core 2.26GHz processor, and a 13-megapixel camera.
Flexible screens have huge potential and are sure to feature heavily in the future of smartphones, but the G Flex smacks of a first draft.
If you like to have the coolest new gadget, they don't come much cooler.
If you're after value for money look elsewhere. The G Flex is a decent large-screened phone but at $999 it's a pricey one.
