What's the deal with the new phones with curved screens?

[RgrPark]

I just saw Samsung Galaxy Round with a curved screen and now LG is coming out with one.
Mind you, Even though they have the technology to create a flexible screen, because the battery and electrical components cannot be flexible, they can only come up with a rounded screen.

Now what's the benefit in that?
It's like going back to CRT screens from a flat screen. Would you replace your flat screen with a CRT if the CRT had just as good a resolution?
Mind you, it also takes up more space since it's not flat. Takes up more room when you carry it.

If you were never exposed to recent cell phones and were given the choice to pick between a flat phone and a curved phone, i'd think most people would pick a flat one.
I mean it just makes more sense. Even in the late 90s, when they started coming out with useable cell phones for the general public, no one said "let's make a curved phone just because it's looks cool even though it offers no benefit whatsoever" - and with good reasons.

 

[IronWing]

The concave curve protects the screen a bit.

 

[xanis]

Ergonomically, I think a curved phone makes more sense and would possibly be more comfortable to hold. It seems odd right now, sure, but it wouldn't take long for people to get used to it IMO.

 

[RgrPark]

The concave curve protects the screen a bit.

More prone to breaking/cracking if someone accidentally sits/steps on it.

I wonder if we'll start seeing curved computer monitors/TVs.

 

[Greenman]

It's a marketing gimmick. How well it works is irrlevent, being different is what counts.

 

[KMc]

They made it simply because they could. This is the typical "solution in search of a problem" scenario.

 

[rudeguy]

The concave curve protects the screen a bit.

just the opposite

When you drop a phone, if it lands flat on the screen you will probably be ok. If you drop it on an edge, its a lot more likely to break.

This is one trend I really don't get. Sure you can say you have a fancy screen and maybe it fits in your hand a little, tiny bit nicer, but the cost must be huge. Samsung screen are already 6-10 times the cost of an Apple screen, this is not going to help that at all.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I always thought that a curved body (with curved screen, PCB, etc.) would allow for a more comfortable back pocket presence. Like a hand cupping your ass cheek.

 

[MrX8503]

I would say curved screens would only make sense for watches.

 

[thedosbox]

I always thought that a curved body (with curved screen, PCB, etc.) would allow for a more comfortable back pocket presence. Like a hand cupping your ass cheek.

Don't know about your ass, but mine curves in more than one dimension. In other words, the chances of a phone conforming to your curves is close to zero.

 

[silverpig]

just the opposite

When you drop a phone, if it lands flat on the screen you will probably be ok. If you drop it on an edge, its a lot more likely to break.

This is one trend I really don't get. Sure you can say you have a fancy screen and maybe it fits in your hand a little, tiny bit nicer, but the cost must be huge. Samsung screen are already 6-10 times the cost of an Apple screen, this is not going to help that at all.

Your phone will almost never land flat on the screen. It'll always land on one edge first.

Besides, this is more of a "put the phone screen down and slide it around" type thing.

 

[notposting]

Several of the Nokia's have the opposite sort of thing going on, though the center is basically flat. They have it slope gently down at the edges.

Wasn't one of the Nexus phones like this years ago?

 

[GTRagnarok]

just the opposite

When you drop a phone, if it lands flat on the screen you will probably be ok. If you drop it on an edge, its a lot more likely to break.

It's quite the opposite from drop tests that I've seen. Here's a good example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhXBdEkZENQ

 

[Red Storm]

I could care less about a curved screen, they talked about flexible screens and I'm still waiting to see a phone with one.

 

[Imp]

"Fits in the palm of your hand better" is what I heard.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I'm not sure I see much practical benefit. The curve allows you to set the phone face down and protect some from surface scratches I suppose. There might be some ergonomic benefit from the more curved back when holding it. But these two things seem very minimal and probably most unnecessary improvements.

I think it's all about looking different. Samsung and LG are making curved phones because they will stand out more than the normal design language they normally can make with bezels and casings.

 

[PowerYoga]

It "supposedly" fits in your hand better, but I highly doubt it'll make surviving drops better. In fact I think it'll be worse...

Either way it seems gimmicky. I want a real flexible phone, not a solid curved one.

 

[bgstcola]

Don't know about your ass, but mine curves in more than one dimension. In other words, the chances of a phone conforming to your curves is close to zero.

But what about front pockets? I imagine that it would fit better than a flat phone. I hope this is the first step towards making phones that fit better in a front pocket.

 

[Crono]

The deal is they are using the screens because the technology exists and because they can. Hopefully it's a step leading up to truly flexible displays, but that's going to require a complete redesign of either smartphones or tablets. It will probably show up in tablets or scrolls first.

So far the arguments that it fits better in the hand, that it is less likely to break or scratch, or that it fits better in the pocket don't obviate the fact that they look weird and aren't necessary when flat screen technology took decades to get to since the birth of monitors and television.

 

[Crono]

But what about front pockets? I imagine that it would fit better than a flat phone. I hope this is the first step towards making phones that fit better in a front pocket.

Unless you have thighs the size of planets, I doubt the curvature of these phones is enough to exactly wrap around your leg. And if you have really skinny thighs the curve might be too much. These phones aren't bands.

In any case, I've never been the person thinking, "hmm, my phone doesn't fit the contour of my leg perfectly!" And I'm one of those people who's started carrying around a Nexus 7 in my pocket. No issues carrying it around.

The curvature doesn't make it any more comfortable to carry in a jacket pocket, if you happen to do that, it's probably worse.

 

[linthat22]

Just another step closer to the penis phone! buahahahahahaaaaaa!

on a lighter note, they seem cool. :idk:

 

[Zaap]

I'd have to useone before I could come to any conclusion about rounded screens.

Having never even seen one, to my current thinking I just can't get my head around the concept. I can't really envision why I'd ever prefer a curved screen to flat, or what benefit it'd offer.

But who knows, maybe once I try it I'll like it so much I won't be able to go back to a flat screen ever again. (Doubt it, but still...)

 

[jpeyton]

It's a stepping stone to foldable phones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmQ7SlvYMzk

When folding phones become a reality, the mobile market will ditch LCDs en-masse. That's probably why Samsung is investing so heavily in OLED.

 

[openwheel]

I loved the curved OLED TVs at 2013 CES, but it makes no sense time on a phone....

 

[zerocool84]

I had the Nexus S which had a very slight curve but the screen wasn't curved, just the glass but I didn't notice the curve at all. The Samsung is curved the wrong way, the LG is curved the right way.