Just when everybody believed that flip phones are dead, buried and long forgotten, LG launched another one. Mind you, it’s not a feature phone, but a smart one that’s running Android 4.4 KitKat.
Bar phones with gigantic touchscreens now represent the main form factor when it comes to these mobile gadgets. Despite of that fact, some smartphone manufacturers still swim against the tide and launch either sliders or flip phones. If it wasn’t LG who committed this sin, we probably could’ve turned a blind eye, but it’s the maker of the G3, one of the best smartphones around, that we’re talking about. While this could seem an illogical strategy for the Korean company, there are a few things that might explain the launch of LG Wine Smart in this day and age.
LG Wine Smart is not a bad phone, considering its specs, but it definitely won’t appeal to anyone looking for a flagship. It packs a 1.2 Ghz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage that can be furthermore expanded via a microSD card, and a 1,700 mAh battery. Given the form factor, LG only included a 3.5″ display with a 480×320 resolution, something that in the age of QHD displays looks like ancient technology.
The form factor and the specs suggest that this phone was built with an older audience in mind. After all, seniors are not that picky when it comes to technology. The extra-loud speaker and the emergency alert option also hint at the fact that the device was made for the elderly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4lHFdCgQwA#t=12
To be frank, I cannot wrap my mind around the name of this flip phone. Why call it Wine Smart, LG? When did smartphones have anything to do with wine? It’s not even a reference to the device’s color, as neither red, nor purple are to be seen. If anything, the name sounds more like an advice, but even so, it has nothing to do with smartphones. On the other hand, wine makes people a lot more communicative, and phones represent a means of communication, so there may lie the key to this flip phone’s name.
Wine Smart will only be available in South Korea, and it’s probably for the best that it’s not getting a global launch. Maybe older people should get a taste of the latest technology, as well!
Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Blackberry Strong concept that showcases Passport as a slider, and the LG Lifeband Touch and webOS TV.
