LG to launch its curved phone in the UAE next month

Thursday, Jan 30, 2014

Dubai

Curved handsets are the future and LG is gearing up to launch its G Flex handset in the middle of next month.

“Consumers have expected our handsets and LG has become a key player in the market. We have grown around 50 per cent last year,” a LG spokesperson told Gulf News.

The six-inch G Flex is powered by a Snapgradon 2.3GHz processor with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with a front-facing 2.1MP camera and 13MP rear camera.

LG has launched G Flex in the US and the handset is coming to the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, UAE and Austria in February.

The South Korean company expects its handset sales to grow by 50 per cent this year from the region. The spokesperson said the company’s G2 series have done really well in the region and “we are learning from users’ behaviour.”

20 models

“We launched 20 models last year and expect to launch more than that this year. With the launch of curved handsets, LG is at the forefront of technology,” he said.

LG becomes the first manufacturer to launch the curved phone much before Samsung’s Round in the region.

According to research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), LG has registered a year-on-year growth of 38 per cent in the fourth quarter and holds 4.1 per cent market share in the smartphone space in the Middle East and Africa (MEA).

“LG’s G2 model has done well in the region and occupies 2.5 per cent of the MEA mobile phone market.

They are gaining market share and likely to be in the top five this year. LG is focusing more on smartphones than feature (non-smart) phones,” Hamza Saleem, senior research analyst at IDC, told Gulf News.

Samsung Round was not officially launched in the region but is sold in the grey market for Dh3,600.

“I don’t understand the benefits of having a curved phone but it may become a trend and followed by other manufacturers,” he said.

Total handsets sold in the region were 486 million compared to 490 million units in 2012. Out of 486 million, smartphones were 236.4 million. “We are expected to see a strong growth from Samsung and Apple this year while Nokia is expected to become the third player,” Saleem said.

He said BlackBerry’s market share is dwindling and is now placed seventh.

The Canadian company’s year-on-year growth fell 48 percentage points.

“The Middle East market has become saturated and growth is expected to come from African markets,” Saleem said.

By Naushad K?Cherrayil Staff Reporter