LG offers first phone in the U.S. with flexible screen

Have you been hankering for a science fiction-y smartphone with a curved, flexible screen? If so, you’re in luck: The LG G Flex will be available in the U.S. starting next week.

The Android-based Flex is essentially a carbon copy of the G2, which has been available in Asia for some time. Its most notable feature, of course, is a 6-inch curved OLED screen; the entire phone has a noticeable curve, with the glass smoothly contoured. It’s powered by a Snapdragon 2.26GHz processor and features a 13 megapixel camera (as well as a 2 megapixel front-facing camera).

Not only is the screen curved, but the entire device is flexible; LG has demonstrated that, with the screen facing down on a tabletop, a heavy weight can flatten the phone completely, and it snaps back to its usual curve when the weight is lifted. That implies the phone can stand up to routine abuse – like accidentally sitting on it. Also curious: The Flex has a “self-healing” back which can recover from routine scratches.

The phone will be available from most carriers starting February 5, and you can pre-order it now from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. It’ll cost you $300 down for the hardware and a two-year contract at AT&T and Sprint, while T-Mobile’s “contract-free” approach will cost $28 a month for 24 months (or $672 outright).