LG to Sell Phone With Curved Battery and Screen

LG Electronics Inc. said it will offer a smartphone featuring a curved display and battery in South Korea from next month.

LG joins Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s largest maker of smartphones, in rethinking the flat rectangular surface design of smartphones. But the two companies are showing off different curves with their latest devices.

The G Flex smartphone will sport a display that curves inward from its top and bottom edges. The display on Samsung’s Galaxy Round curves inward from its right and left edges. Samsung Electronics Co. began selling its curved screen smartphone this month in South Korea.

LG said the G Flex device will be fitted with a curved battery that its affiliate LG Chem Ltd. began making this month.

The G Flex is among the largest smartphones. It has a screen measuring 6 inches diagonally, slightly bigger than the Round’s 5.7-inches.

Both companies kept mum on overseas availability for their curved screen smartphones.

LG did not disclose a price. Curved screen smartphones are expensive because the technology is at an early stage.