Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the new LG G Flex 2 takes on the new Samsung Galaxy S6. No excuses this time around as both of these devices are ‘fresh off the press’ so to speak. No last year versus this year…this is the two South Korean giants, Samsung and LG battling it out for supremacy. The curved design of the LG G Flex 2 goes up against a completely redesigned Samsung Galaxy S6. We even have the Qualcomm 64-bit Snapdragon 810 processor of the G Flex 2 versus the Samsung 64-bit Exynos 7420 in the Galaxy S6.
Despite the fact that these devices seem so different, both devices have some similarities they share. They both have great cameras, 3GB of RAM and a model with 32GB of storage. They have the usual suspects – dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, NFC capabilities, IR Blasters, dedicated microphones for active noise cancellation, fast battery charging, and a microUSB port v2.0 for charging and data transfer. Both the G Flex 2 and the Galaxy S6 have a non-removable battery and both will be running the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop with their own UI running on top.
Please look over the detailed Specifications Comparison below – click on ‘View Full Comparison’ at the bottom to get the full details – and see exactly where the two devices differ from one another. We will then look at each individual device and determine some pros and cons to help see if we can pick which one of these smartphones deserves to win this competition.
Samsung Galaxy S6
The new Samsung Galaxy ‘S’ series is a total redesign from the ground up. Gone is the plastic and faux anything…no more dimples in this new model. In their place, Samsung used aircraft grade aluminum and Gorilla Glass 4 all around, top and bottom. When you pick up a Samsung Galaxy S6, it looks and feels like a premium device. The fast 14nm 64-bit processor, faster RAM and flash memory and optimized UI, make for the fastest and smoothest experience ever on a Samsung device.
The Galaxy S6 sports a 5.1-inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 577 pixels-per-inch (PPI) versus the FHD display of the G Flex 2 with 403 PPI. Samsung made another bold move on their part, dumping the usual Qualcomm processor and deciding to use their own 64-bit Exynos 7420 octa-core processor with four cores clocked at 1.5GHz and four cores clocked at 2.1GHz. The Exynos processor is the first to use 14nm technology versus the 20nm in the G Flex 2 – the 14nm is much faster, uses less energy and generates less heat. Both devices are packing 3GB of RAM; however, the RAM in the Galaxy S6 is the newer DDR4 RAM, which is much faster than the DDR3 RAM in the G Flex 2. Samsung also used their new and faster UFS 2.0 Flash memory with options of 32GB/64GB/128GB models with no room for expansion – another bold move and a first for Samsung’s Galaxy S series.
The camera area is definitely improved and is the best camera that Samsung has ever offered in a device. It has a 16MP Sony sensor, autofocus, LED Flash, a larger f/1.9 aperture, real-time HDR, and OIS. This combination of features will yield excellent low-light pictures. Samsung has dramatically increased the speed of the camera app – it takes only .7 seconds to open and ready to shoot a picture. The front-facing camera (FFC) increased to 5MP with a larger f/1.9 aperture, up from f/2.2, has wide-angle lens and real-time HDR for excellent low-light group selfies and video chatting. The 2550mAh battery is smaller than last year’s battery, but it will easily get you through the entire day. Samsung’s other bold move was to use a non-removable battery design and it is said that you get up to 4 hours of usage in only 10 minutes on the charger. Samsung added built-in wireless charging (Qi and PMA standards) for the first time.
The new Galaxy S6 includes a new fingerprint sensor – more of a ‘press and go’ variety like the one on the iPhone…no more swiping your finger several times. They also throw in a heart rate sensor and oxygen saturation sensor for those that work out. The new fingerprint sensor is PayPal certified and the Galaxy S6 is Samsung Pay ready. They improved the speaker and moved it from the back to the bottom of the device. It comes in the colors White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum and Blue Topaz (exclusive to the Galaxy S6). It will be running the latest Android Lollipop software, and is releasing worldwide on April 10, although many users have already received their devices. The price is a reasonable $199 on a two-year contract and $600 off-contract.
LG G Flex 2
There were two things we knew about original LG’s Flex series – the device was extremely coveted by a small cult of users and that LG really needed to improve the specs. LG was listening and upgraded the new LG G Flex 2 – they shrunk the massive 6-inch display to a more manageable 5.5-inches. They made improvements to their ‘self-healing’ back and increased all of the specs. The entire package is just more premium looking and the curved design makes holding the device and storing it in your back pocket very comfortable.
The original G Flex only had an HD display when everybody else had a FHD on their devices. On the G Flex 2, LG bumped it up to a FHD display now that everybody else, including LG, are using QHD displays. The FHD comes with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 403 pixels-per-inch (PPI)…but that is not even close to the QHD 577 PPI on the new Galaxy S6. LG did grab an advanced 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor that competes directly with the 64-bit Exynos octa-core processor in the Galaxy S6. It comes with 3GB of DDR3 RAM and 32GB of internal memory; however, you can increase that storage via a microSD card. On the Galaxy S6, there is no increasing the built-in storage beyond the available 32GB/64GB/128GB, although it is the new UFS 2.0 Flash memory.
The G Flex 2 sports a 13MP sensor (versus 16MP on the Galaxy S6), laser autofocus, dual-tone LED flash, and OIS+. The FFC on the LG G Flex 2 is a smaller 2.1MP versus 5.0MP on the Galaxy S6, which also has a f/1.9 lens and Live HDR, as does the main camera. The G Flex 2 has a larger battery – 3000mAh versus the 2550mAh in the Galaxy S6 – although both batteries should make it throughout an entire day. They both offer quick charge options as well, should you find yourself needing more power.
The G Flex 2 does have an FM Stereo Radio, Dolby Mobile enhanced sound and its infamous self-healing back. The G Flex 2 is running Android 5.0.1 Lollipop out-of-the box with LG’s UI running over top. It is available in Platinum Silver and Flamenco Red and is available on AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular at this point. It will cost you approximately $200 on a two-year contract and $600 or so off-contract and will be available sometime in April.
…And The Winner Is…
Summary
This was a fairly easy decision with both devices costing about the same amount – on contract or off-contract. The Samsung Galaxy S6 is technically superior in all areas except the processor and camera areas where they are pretty equal to one another. There will be LG fans that will argue how great the G Flex 2 is and nothing in this comparison will sway them one way or another…and that passion is great.
The new Galaxy S6 has a better display – yes, it is flat, but I am speaking of the QHD of the Galaxy S6 versus the FHD display on the G Flex 2 (577 PPI versus 403 PPI). The two processors are the leading edge in technology, but the Exynos 7420 uses the newest 14nm versus the 20nm on the Qualcomm – faster and more power efficient and that means less battery drain and less heat. Both devices have 3GB of RAM, but the Galaxy S6 uses the newest DDR4 variety…again much faster than the DDR3 RAM used in the G Flex 2. The same with the Flash Memory – the Galaxy S6 uses Samsung’s newest UFS 2.0, which is much faster than that found on the G Flex 2. The main camera on the Galaxy 6 uses a wider f/1.9 aperture and Live HDR for better low-light pictures and the FFC is a full 5MP with f/1.9, wide-angle lens and Live HDR for great group selfies and video chatting. It also has the speaker on the bottom versus the back, wireless charging built-in for both Qi and PMA standards. It also has a PayPal certified fingerprint sensor and Samsung Pay built-in, as well as heart rate monitor and oxygen saturation sensor.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 just overwhelms the LG G Flex 2 in the specification/technical department, but if you want the curved G Flex 2, then you are sacrificing specifications for that curve – which is fine if that is your thing. The LG G Flex 2 is a great device and interesting to look at and will provide its owner with a wonderful experience…just not as wonderful as the Galaxy S6 IMHO.