The LG Doubleplay definitely tries to take a different approach to a Smartphone. Not only does it have a slide out keyboard, but a second touch screen in the middle of the keyboard. The functional idea behind this is to allow you to multitask and not have to stop what you’re doing on the main screen for little tasks like changing a song or writing a text message. The downside is the size that is added to the phone. The screen and keyboard cause it to be hefty and much thicker than most other Smartphones.
The keyboard on the Doubleplay took some getting used to. Since the additional touch screen splits the keyboard into two, your thumbs are restricted in what buttons they can reach. This is especially problematic if you’re used to reaching across the halfway point on a keyboard to type certain letters. I found myself only really using it when I needed to check my messages on the second touch screen because I was on the internet or playing a game on the main one.
Adding a second touch screen had the obvious negative effects on battery life that became noticeable if you used it frequently. At times however, the screen ended up being extremely convenient feature to take advantage of. Everyone has had the problem where they had to quit a program just to read a message. With the inclusion of a second screen, the phone allows you to multitask with messaging and apps. You can open a message or email on the secondary screen and avoid having to quit a program on the main screen. The major downside I had with the screen was that the shortcuts you could place on the secondary screen were very limited. I wasn’t able to add other messaging programs such as Google Chat or Facebook messenger so I would still have to quit out of programs if I was in a conversation in apps such as these. Depending on your messaging habits this could pose a serious problem with the phone.
The Doubleplay touches on a good idea, but it has some more work to go in its implementation. It was nice to have the second screen and know it was there when you needed it, but overall the bulk it added to the phone was a letdown. Also the limited ability to customize the shortcuts on it ended up being inconvenient. Still, it has the potential to streamline your messaging and multitasking experience on your Smartphone.
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