The LG G Flex2, with its unique curved design and powerful Snapdragon 810, offered a glimpse into the future. Now, let's pit it against the Samsung Galaxy M40, a mid-range contender known for its vibrant display and reliable performance. Which phone holds up best in 2024?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy M40 emerges as the overall winner. While the G Flex2 boasts a more powerful chipset on paper, the M40's efficient Snapdragon 675, improved battery life, and modern software experience make it a more compelling choice for most users today.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - H955 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/21.1 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 MbpsLTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps - US995 (U.S. Cellular) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 400/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | LTE - US995 (U.S. Cellular) | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, January. Released 2015, February | 2019, June. Released 2019, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 149.1 x 75.3 x 9.4 mm (5.87 x 2.96 x 0.37 in) | 155.3 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm (6.11 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 152 g (5.36 oz) | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| | Self-healing back panel coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 82.6 cm2 (~73.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Curved P-OLED | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) | Qualcomm SDM675 Snapdragon 675 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 612 |
| OS | Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, OIS | - |
| Triple | - | 32 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 2.1 MP | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (SlimPort), OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | DMB TV tuner (Korean model only) | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC2 | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 520 h (2G) / Up to 450 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 18 h (2G) / Up to 20 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Platinum Silver, Flamenco Red | Seawater Blue, Midnight Blue, Cocktail Orange |
| Models | F510, LS996, H950, H955, US995, LGLS996 | SM-M405F, SM-M405FN, SM-M405G |
| Price | About 270 EUR | About 200 EUR |
| SAR | 1.10 W/kg (head) 1.07 W/kg (body) | 0.20 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.44 W/kg (body) | 0.27 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 62h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 62h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
LG G Flex2
- Unique curved design
- Powerful (though thermally limited) Snapdragon 810
- QC2 fast charging
- Outdated software
- Poor battery life
- Thermal throttling issues
- Single rear camera
Samsung Galaxy M40
- Vibrant Super AMOLED display
- Efficient Snapdragon 675
- Excellent battery life
- Versatile triple-camera system
- Modern software
- 15W wired charging is slower
- Plastic build
Display Comparison
The Galaxy M40 features a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The G Flex2 has a 5.5-inch curved POLED display, also Full HD, but the smaller size and older technology make the M40's display noticeably superior in terms of visual quality and immersion.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy M40's triple-camera setup (13MP main, 5MP depth, 8MP ultra-wide) provides more versatility and generally better image quality than the G Flex2's single 13MP rear camera. The M40 also benefits from Samsung's image processing algorithms. Video recording is also better on the M40.
Performance
The G Flex2's Snapdragon 810 was a flagship chipset in its time, but its thermal throttling issues are well-documented. The Galaxy M40's Snapdragon 675, while less powerful on paper, offers smoother and more consistent performance in real-world usage due to its more efficient 11nm process. Gaming performance is generally better on the M40.
Battery Life
The Galaxy M40's 5000mAh battery significantly outperforms the G Flex2's 3200mAh battery. The M40 easily lasts a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the G Flex2 struggles to make it through a full day.
Buying Guide
The LG G Flex2 is for enthusiasts seeking a unique design and a taste of older flagship power, understanding its limitations. The Samsung Galaxy M40 is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize a good display, decent performance, and reliable battery life in a modern package.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the LG G Flex2 still worth buying?
Only for collectors or those specifically seeking a unique, curved design and don't mind the outdated software and battery limitations. It's generally not recommended for everyday use.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy M40 has better software support, receiving updates for a longer period. The LG G Flex2's software is outdated and no longer receives updates.
