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Get an unlocked LG G Flex 2 for $199.99

From the Cheapskate: Originally $700 (!), this 5.5-inch phone features an arched design and scratch-resistant coating.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read

CNET's Cheapskate scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. And find more great buys on the CNET Deals page.


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LG

Last year's state-of-the-art smartphone is this year's bargain.

The LG G Flex 2 made its debut right around this time in 2015, arriving first in a CDMA flavor on Sprint and selling for about $500 if you went the no-contract route. When the GSM version came to AT&T a few months later, it sold for a little over $700.

What a difference a year makes. For a limited time, and while supplies last, Daily Steals has the unlocked AT&T LG G Flex2 H950 for $199.99 shipped. It's available in black only and comes with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a microSD slot for expansion.

Of course, what really sets the Flex 2 apart from the pack is its curved design. That's a marketing gimmick, pure and simple, just like curved TVs before it. But it does make the phone stand out from the pack, which is nice if you're tired of all the me-too flat slabs.

And if you're concerned about accidentally cracking the phone in two, don't be:

Whaaaaat?!

CNET

That's kind of amazing, no? Other noteworthy specs include a 1080p display, NFC, a 13-megapixel camera and Android 5.0. According to at least one source, a Marshmallow update will happen, though Daily Steals' product page notes that "the phone is...dependent on AT&T for software updates." In other words, if you take it to, say, Cricket, you might have a harder time getting Android 6.0.

Speaking of AT&T, although the phone is technically new, the box "has been opened in order to unlock the phone." I'm not sure if or how that impacts the warranty, and the product page makes no mention of it. If you're concerned, you should contact Daily Steals before ordering.

In the meantime, check out CNET's deep-dive review of the LG G Flex 2. The phone scored mostly high marks, the main complaints being occasionally pokey performance and a lower-capacity battery (than its predecessor -- overall battery life was solid).

Whenever you can score a premium phone -- especially one that's new and unlocked -- for under $200, it's a big win. I won't say this is the ideal handset for everyone, but if you want a big screen, an attention-getting design and expandable storage, this definitely fits the bill.

Bonus deal: Game time! The latest Humble Ubisoft Bundle is pretty extraordinary, with the top tier ($15) giving you eight excellent action games -- including Assassin's Creed Rogue, which currently sells for $29.99 all by itself. You also get The Crew (also normally $29.99), an open-world racing MMO. As always, charities get some of your cash (in this case Extra Life and the Children's Miracle Network hospitals), and you'll get at least one additional mystery game in a few days.