LG's Curved G Flex Smartphone Has 6-Inch Screen

LG's innovative new G Flex smartphone has garnered mixed reviews for its unique curved screen and other features.

The arched, 6-inch screen has been touted as easier to hold with improved video and audio quality.

According to LG, the phone's unique shape is intended to be more comfortable for users "because the distinctively curved, flexible design follows the contour of the face," the company said in a statement.

So does the G Flex live up to LG's claims?

Yes and no, according to The Boston Globe's Hiawatha Bray. The phone is curved and flexible as advertised, even bending into a flat shape before springing back, but the innovation doesn't really do much for the user.

"I think curved screens are the next 3-D TV--technically clever but practically useless," Bray wrote in a review, noting that most consumers don't use their phones for actual calls anyway.

The phone, which runs on the Android operating system and goes for a pricey $299, was also criticized for its poor display quality.

"It's a relatively low-resolution screen ... and video looked grainy and pixelated," Bray wrote. "I was equally disappointed in the G Flex camera. It boasts 13 megapixels, but images looked fuzzy, with poor color balance."

One of the phone's best features is multitasking between apps. Users can easily look at two things on the G Flex's 6-inch screen or scroll through up to three apps at the same time.

While the Globe didn't love the curved device's screen, Consumer Reports' Mike Gikas raved over the display, calling the screen "dazzling" and "impressively crisp."

The G Flex doesn't quite have the IMAX effect implied in the LG campaign, but Consumer Reports noted the device's sharp 1280x720 resolution and bright display.

Other excellent features are the phone's strong battery life and scratch-resistant case, Consumer Reports said.

The G Flex is available from Sprint for $300 with a two-year contract. T-Mobile users will be able to purchase it on Feb. 5 for $0 down with 24 equal monthly device payments of $28, while AT&T subscribers can get the new device on Feb.7 for $300 with a two-year contract, according to Consumer Reports.