LG keeps the curves coming with Magna and Spirit phones (hands-on)
At Barcelona this week, LG showed off its premium mid-tier series of smartphones with the LG Magna and Spirit.
BARCELONA -- It seems as if these days, LG smartphones are all about curve. Following the launch of its high-end G Flex 2 , LG announced its new Magna and Spirit devices. Sporting curved displays (that bend much more subtly than the G Flex 2), both handsets were showcased at MWC 2015 this week, along with two other LG phones .
The Magna and Spirit replace LG's F-series of premium midrange devices, and they have arched touchscreens that bend at 1/4 the curvature of the G Flex 2. Due to the subtlety of the curve, it's quite hard to notice the bowed shape at first glance. During my brief time with it, I was able to see the arcs only when I placed the handsets face-down on a flat surface.
Both phones run Android 5.0 Lollipop and have different features depending on your availability. They can either have a quad-core 1.2GHz or 1.3GHz processor, and either a 5- or 8-megapixel rear-facing camera.
Other features include 8GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM and the ability to record 1,080p full HD video (regardless of the camera's megapixel count). LG will release 4G and 3G versions of both the Magna and the Spirit, with the former featuring a faux-metallic sheen back plate, and the latter sporting a matte plastic look.
The LG Magna, however, does distinguish itself as the biggest of the four devices, and measures 5.5 inches tall, 2.75 inches wide, and 0.40 inch thick (139.7 x 69.9 x 10.2mm). It also has a 5-inch HD display with a 294ppi, a 2,540mAh battery and a 3-megapixel front-facing shooter. LG will also release a dual-SIM option of the Magna.
Meanwhile, the smaller LG Spirit measures 5.24 inches tall, 2.60 inches wide, and 0.39 inch thick (133.3 x 66.1 x 9.9mm). It has a 4.7-inch HD display with a higher 312ppi. The handset is powered by a 2,100mAh battery and has a 1-megapixel camera on the front.
Though pricing and availability information have not been released, LG says you can expect the phones to cost about the same as past F-series devices, which range from about $229-$299 unlocked (or £148-£194 and AU$293-AU$383, conversion).