Flexing some muscle

LG Electronics’ curved and flexible smartphone, the G Flex, is introduced at company headquarters in Yeouido, southwestern Seoul, yesterday. Unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Round smartphone with a curved display, which made its global debut early last month, the latest smartphone from LG Electronics bends. Development of the world’s first flexible smartphone was possible thanks to its bendable battery developed by LG Chem. In addition, the 6-inch display is made of plastic OLED.

The company stressed the durability of the G Flex, saying it held its form after a 40-kilogram (80-pound) weight was placed on it 100 times. LG plans to start selling the flexible smartphone Tuesday. The company did not reveal the retail price, but industry experts put it at 1 million won ($942).

Meanwhile the world’s No.1 smartphone maker, Samsung Electronics, introduced a low-budget smartphone, the Galaxy Win, that will retail for 550,000 won. The Win is the company’s fourth low-cost smartphone this year. Apple recently started selling its lower-cost iPhone 5C, intensifying competition with its biggest rival.

[NEWSIS]