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- Review count4
- Helpfulness votes74
- First reviewOctober 17, 2013
- Last reviewDecember 10, 2016
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
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- Answer count5
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- First answerMay 30, 2010
- Last answerDecember 10, 2016
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mfrerkes's Reviews
Text friends and family with the LG Rebel LTE from Tracfone. An internal memory storage of 8GB paired with a microSD card slot lets you save many special moments. The LG Rebel LTE has a 1940 mAh lithium ion battery, which gives you up to nine hours of talk time on a single charge.
Posted by: mfrerkes
from Bettendorf, IA
I got mine while it was on sale at Best Buy for $20, and dollar for dollar, it has turned out to be a really good deal. The Rebel LTE has adequate memory and processor power despite being an entry-level Tracfone device. While the display is nothing fancy, it is still crisp enough for my weather widgets which are in high resolution. Battery life is fairly respectable as well. I can usually get two days out of a single charge, unless I'm having a particularly busy day on the phone. The camera is workable for a phone at this price point. I only have two minor complaints: 1) The sound output from the Rebel is on the soft side. I really have to crank up the volume when using the headphone jack. 2) The touch screen response, while not awful, is somewhat lacking compared to other devices I've used in the past. All things considered, the LG Rebel LTE is a commendable phone, especially at the $20 sale price.
My Best Buy number: 2109546922
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Grab your data and your minutes as you go with this Samsung Galaxy 3 Express smartphone. The 4.5-inch Super AMOLED screen offers a dazzling display for texting, gaming or scrolling the Internet. A microSD slot lets you add up to 128GB storage, and this Samsung Galaxy 3 Express smartphone has a 5-megapixel camera for taking and sharing pictures.
Posted by: mfrerkes
from Bettendorf, IA
I really needed a new smartphone for my Tracfone BYOP line, and this model was on sale for $59.99, so I decided to take a chance. After a week of using it, I'm definitely happy with the purchase. The Super AMOLED screen is very vibrant. Obviously, the pixel density is going to be lower on a phone at this price point, but I'm still very impressed with the display. It doesn't seem like a low-end Android device. There's enough processor power for all the basics, and the fact you can expand up to a 128 GB microSD card is really nice. Most phones in this range only allow 32 or 64 GB. I have a rather large music collection that requires lots of storage space. The camera is acceptable, though I don't really take many photos. Some cameras in sub-$200 phones aren't very good at all. This one passes the test. Battery life is reasonable, too. The small form factor is great for those who carry their cell phone in a pocket. It's not bulky at all. The Galaxy Express 3 is an all-around winner for someone who needs a basic smartphone that isn't woefully under-powered.
My Best Buy number: 2109546922
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+7points
9of 11voted this as helpful.
With a 3.5" touch screen that lets you navigate features with ease, this TRACFONE ZTE Valet Z665C no-contract cell phone helps you stay connected and productive on the go. A 3.0MP camera allows you to capture and share images with family and friends.
Customer Rating
4
The Tracfone plan makes this phone worth it
on December 3, 2013
Posted by: mfrerkes
from Bettendorf, IA
Age:35-44
Phone size:Just right
I was dying to get away from my contract plan (Galaxy Note 2 on US Cellular) and spotted this device in the store one day. Never before did I imagine a functional Android phone could be maintained for as little as $7/month on a cellular network that is very reliable. Yet, here it is...and I highly recommend this product to anyone looking to test the Android waters without spending a fortune.
Let's be clear what this is not: A high-end phone with a data plan that allows you to stream audio and YouTube like it's going out of a style. It is not a Samsung S4 with a snappy processor and hi-res camera. If you're looking for that type of Android experience, you'll have to spend hundreds more -- even on a prepaid device. What the Valet does do, however, is remarkable for its specific price point.
The 1 GHz processor can run basic apps just fine. Anything that is demanding (like games or HD video) will obviously challenge the Valet's hardware. Just out of curiosity, I played Temple Run Oz since that game has fast-paced 3D graphics and relies heavily on accurate touch response and tilting. To my surprise, the game was actually playable on the Valet. The frame rate was sluggish in brief instances, and the overall display wasn't visually stunning, but the swipes and tilts registered quite effectively. Considering this is a bare-bones mobile device, it was a bit surprising to see this game perform adequately.
The Valet's battery life is typical for Android. The call quality seemed passable, but the speaker volume is a little on the weak side. Most of the specs on this phone are running average to below-average compared to other Android devices. One pleasant surprise was the inclusion of a notification LED. Even some mid-range phones lack this important feature, but the Valet does have it. It also accepts MicroSD cards up to 32 GB, in case the 4 GB card (included) does not get the job done.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the amount of on-board storage. Most entry-level prepaid devices don't have nearly enough internal storage capabilities. The Valet boasts 4 GB internal, so you should have enough room for all your important apps and even a little extra space for non-essential ones. Once again, for a sub-$100 Android device, you certainly can't find too many faults here.
The biggest downside is the camera which is barely useful for anything but the simplest photos. There is a flash, but no auto-focus. The image quality might be okay for MMS messages. However, anything beyond that purpose is going to be a disappointment. This is not a huge deal-breaker for me personally since the phone does well in other areas.
It is Tracfone's tremendous value which has made the Valet impressive to me. Not everyone needs a high-end mobile device that costs over $100 per month to operate. In fact, most people could get by with far less and not suffer any ill consequences. This is the market segment that is all too often ignored by the big carriers. If you're someone who has sat on the fence about getting a smartphone because of cost, the Valet has taken away your very last reservation. Plans can run as little as $7 per month, depending on your usage patterns of course, and are extremely flexible for most basic-to-moderate cell phone users. As an added bonus, the Valet is powered by Verizon's well-respected CDMA network meaning you won't have to worry much about "dead zones" and dropped calls.
I couldn't give this phone a five-star rating due to some technical shortcomings, but it has earned a solid four-star review in my estimation. Simply put, in a dollar-to-dollar comparison, the Valet on Tracfone gives you more than most every other prepaid offering out there right now.
What's great about it: On Verizon network, affordable plans for basic users
What's not so great: Camera is below average, processor bogs down
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
2
Battery Life
3
Sound Quality
3
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+44points
46of 48voted this as helpful.
This Virgin Mobile LG LS720 Optimus F3 cell phone's WVGA touch-screen display makes operation easy, and up to 4G LTE speed offers quick mobile Web connection. The 5.0MP digital camera lets you shoot vivid photos with crisp detail.
Customer Rating
4
All the features you need for a decent price
on October 17, 2013
Posted by: mfrerkes
from Bettendorf, IA
Age:35-44
Phone size:Just right
With Virgin Mobile's ever-expanding roster of Android (and now iOS) phones, it's safe to say the Optimus F3 is somewhere between an entry-level and mid-range device in the world of prepaid mobile. The dual-core processor is powerful enough to handle most apps, with the exception of some demanding 3D titles. The 4" screen is certainly above average for a phone in this category, but it might disappoint those hoping for an S3/iPhone 5 experience. Certainly the most enticing aspect of the F3 is its battery life. This is one of the few Virgin Mobile Android phones I've had (and I've had many) that can easily go a full day on a complete charge. In fact, I've been able to get two days on a single charge with average use throughout the day. With the Moto Triumph, EVO 4G, and Kyocera Rise, you were lucky to make it to mid-afternoon before the low battery notifications began firing off.
Being a entry-level/mid-range device, you'll find most of the hardware to be entirely acceptable but not incredible. The camera does a serviceable job at 5MP and has a very quick response. It also shoots HD video fluidly enough to share with your social circle without having to apologize for the quality. The touch screen and buttons also respond in a way that most people would find sufficient. I particularly like the Qslide apps feature, which allows you to put a couple different windows (i.e. web browser, memo pad, calendar, videos,calculator) on the screen simultaneously. You can resize them, move them, and even adjust their transparency. This allows for the kind of multi-tasking ability iPhone users could only dream of having.
Now, for the not-so-great stuff. The two biggest complaints I've seen -- speaker quality and internal memory -- are certainly merited. However, this is a sub-$200 phone, so not everything is going to be the absolute best. The speaker will probably be annoyance for anyone who listens to music or uses speakerphone. It is pretty weak and distorts at higher volumes. Bluetooth and/or a good pair of headphones can solve that problem easily, however. The lack of memory (1 GB internal) isn't a huge problem for me personally, but if you're an app-aholic who simply can't let go of your more infrequently used titles, the F3's minimal storage could pose a logistical hurdle. It's unfortunate LG didn't put a few extra gigs of internal memory into this device.
For a phone under $200, the Optimus F3 is definitely a good value. It has some nice features, like NFC, 4G LTE capability, and Corning Gorilla Glass 2, you wouldn't normally expect in this price tier. If the speaker was a little better, and it had more internal memory, there's no doubt this phone would be the best value in all of prepaid mobile. As it is, the F3 certainly deserves the four-star rating I gave it in this review.
What's great about it: Great battery life, packed with features
What's not so great: Speaker could be better
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
4
Battery Life
5
Sound Quality
3
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17of 17voted this as helpful.
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mfrerkes's Answers
Text friends and family with the LG Rebel LTE from Tracfone. An internal memory storage of 8GB paired with a microSD card slot lets you save many special moments. The LG Rebel LTE has a 1940 mAh lithium ion battery, which gives you up to nine hours of talk time on a single charge.
DOES THIS PHONE WORK WITH OTHER CARRIERS?
No. This phone is branded and programmed specifically for Tracfone. It uses Verizon's network, but you can only use it as a Tracfone customer.
7 years, 4 months ago
by
mfrerkes
Text friends and family with the LG Rebel LTE from Tracfone. An internal memory storage of 8GB paired with a microSD card slot lets you save many special moments. The LG Rebel LTE has a 1940 mAh lithium ion battery, which gives you up to nine hours of talk time on a single charge.
Does this phone have mobile hot spot feature
No. Tracfone doesn't offer mobile hot spots for any of their devices.
7 years, 4 months ago
by
mfrerkes
Can a verizon phone be changed to a at&t phone?
No, because their technologies are totally incompatible. Verizon is a CDMA carrier. AT&T uses GSM. Phones are manufactured to the carrier's specific communications platform. Since Verizon and AT&T use completely different equipment at their tower sites, you cannot operate Verizon phones on an AT&T network, and vice versa.
10 years, 6 months ago
by
mfrerkes
Bettendorf, IA
which no contract phone has secure internet access?
Secure internet browsing is based on the website's security certificates. All of today's mobile phone web browsers can support encrypted (i.e. secured) browsing, as long as the website you are viewing utilizes that protocol.
13 years, 10 months ago
by
mfrerkes
Bettendorf, IA
can you keep phone number
i want to get a verizon prepaid phone and discontinue my T Mobile phone sevice. Can I import my telephone to the verizon phone
From what I understand, you can port a telephone number over...but you will likely face early termination fees from T Mobile if you're not finished with that contract. Make sure you port your number over to Verizon before cancelling with T Mobile. If you cancel your T Mobile account before getting the number set up with Verizon, your phone number goes back to the public domain.
13 years, 10 months ago
by
mfrerkes
Bettendorf, IA