Tracfone LG Rebel 3 (L 158VL/157BL) Review - Specs, Features and More!
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| Tracfone LG Rebel 3 Review |
The LG Rebel 3 is now available from Tracfone featuring several significant updates over the older Rebel models that Tracfone still offers. Learn all about what this phone has to offer, how it compares to other Tracfone devices, and where to find it for a great price.
UPDATE - Tracfne now offers a GSM version of the LG Rebel 3 (model L157BL) on the Tracfone website. You will need to enter your ZIP code to confirm it will work in your area. Thanks Anonymous for the heads up!
The Rebel 3 comes with a 5" touchscreen, Android 7.0 Nougat, Quad-core processor, 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory. The biggest changes over the older Rebel phones is the extra RAM and internal memory.
This phone is one of the first new devices from Tracfone in 2018 and while it doesn't offer any groundbreaking specs at first glance, it is very reasonably priced and will make a great budget smartphone. We expect Tracfone to release several more phones in the near future, and you can find any new phones on our list of Latest Tracfone Smartphones (2018).
Now let's look at the quick facts for the LG Rebel 3:
LG Rebel 3 Quick Facts
What we Like:Android 7.0 Nougat
2 GB RAM
16 GB Memory
Reasonable Price
What we Don't Like
No Triple Minutes
As with many of the newer phones from Tracfone, the Rebel 3 does not include Triple Minutes for Life which is disappointing. Learn more about these changes in our post, Tracfone Ends Triple Minutes for Life.
Let's see the full list of specs now.
Tracfone LG Rebel 3 (L158VL) Features and Specs
Features listed first, followed by the technical specs- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 4G LTE (Verizon CDMA) (and now GSM)
- WiFi
- GPS
- Bluetooth 4.1
- MP3 Player
- Alarm Clock
- Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
- Voicemail, Caller ID, SMS/MMS
- 5 MP Rear Camera/ 5 MP Front
- Size: 5.7" x 2.8" x 0.3"
- 5" TFT Touchscreen (480x854 resolution)
- 1.1 Ghz quad-core processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon)
- 2 GB RAM
- 16 GB Internal Memory (About 10 GB Usable)
- Battery: 2500 mAh with 12 hrs talk time, 11 days standby
LG Electronics is a multinational electronics company based in South Korea that manufactures ans sells a wide variety of devices such as TVs, Appliances, cell phones and more.
They are one of the largest smartphone manufacturers and their flagship phone is currently the LG V30, which features a 6" touchscreen, octa-core processor and Android 7.1.2. (And can be used with the Tracfone BYOP program).
While the LG Rebel 3 does not have the same performance capabilities as the V30, it is very capable none-the-less, and let's look at each of the main features on this phone.
LG Rebel 3 (L158VL) Review
TouchscreenThe LG Rebel 3 comes with a 5" TFT touchscreen at a resolution of 480x854. This results in about 195 PPI, which is not quite as good as many phones with this size screen, although many of Tracfone's other devices have similar specs. The Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro, however, has an HD screen with higher resolution at the same 5" size. Brightness and colors are both good on the Rebel 3.
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| LG Rebel 3 (L158VL) Front, Side and Back |
Internal Specs - Memory, RAM and Processor
One of the biggest improvements over the previous models is the expanded memory and RAM. the Rebel 3 has 16 GB internal memory which results in about 10 GB usable space for apps, music, pictures and more. Be aware that this space can fill quickly, so the external microSD card slot may come in handy which can hold up to 32GB.
The quad-core 1.1 Ghz processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon) and 2 GB RAM give enough power for multitasking and running most games. RAM allows the phone to run multiple apps at once, or run more resource intensive apps. We are happy to see Tracfone offering phones with enough RAM to make the phone effective for most activities. But remember that top of the line smartphones now come with closer to 4-6 GB RAM and octa-core processors.
Camera
The rear camera on the LG Rebel 3 is 5 MP and features HDR, HD video recording, flash, autofocus, 4x zoom and more. The front facing camera is also 5 MP and has a number of features for selfies including gesture shot, selfie light and cheese shot.
Overall the cameras are great for recording and sharing images or video on social media and to share with friends on family.
Battery
A 2500 mAh battery comes with the Rebel 3 which is on the small side, but fairly typical for phones of this size. Battery life is about 12 hrs with low to moderate use, 11 days on standby.
Reducing the screen brightness and putting the phone in airplane mode can go a long way to extending the battery if you are worried about running out. A car charger or external battery pack (like the Anker 10,000 mAh powercore battery) are also great options to always keep your phone powered.
Android OS
The Rebel 3 comes with the latest Android OS (7.0.1 Nougat) which is good because it is not possible to update the operating system on Tracfone devices. Android 7.0.1 features a number of improvements and appearance changes such as fast app changing (by double tapping the recent apps button), the ability to access notification settings more quickly, bundled notifications and more.
Triple Minutes
One drawback for the Rebel 3 is that it does not include Triple Minutes for Life. This means if you add a regular airtime card (60, 120, etc) it will only give you the amount listed on the card. You can learn more about these changes on our Tracfone Ends Triple Minutes post.
Network Connectivity
UPDATE: Tracfone now offers a GSM version of the Rebel 3. See 'Where to Buy' section for link.
As with many of the smartphones from Tracfone, the Rebel 3 uses the CDMA network which is Verizon cell towers and is 4G LTE capable. The Rebel 2 was a GSM version, and we hope that Tracfone will release a GSM variant of the Rebel 3 but that may not happen. Tracfone offers many more CDMA phones than GSM currently. If you are looking for more GSM options, consider the Tracfone BYOP program.
Conclusion and Quick Comparison for the Rebel 3
With a number of improvements over the previous versions, the Rebel 3 is a well rounded budget smartphone that, at the current price, is a great deal. It has good performance and enough space for most user's needs.Compared to the LG Fiesta 2, the Rebel 3 has a smaller screen, but the same storage, RAM and Android OS. The Fiesta 2 has a 13 MP camera and larger battery.
The closest comparison is with the Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro, which also has a 5" screen, 16 GB memory and quad-core processor. The Luna Pro uses the older Android 6.0 and only has 1.5 GB RAM but is a very popular device and performs well for most users.
Where to Buy the LG Rebel 3
The LG Rebel 3 is currently available with an airtime bundle. We will update as it becomes available from more placesLG Rebel 3 GSM on Tracfone Website
LG Rebel 3 CDMA on Amazon with 1000 Talk, 2000 Text and 2 GB Data for $45 (limited stock)
LG Rebel 3 CDMA on HSN with 1500 minutes for $59!
That is a very good deal, as the maritime alone is worth $100. This deal may not last for very long.
To learn more about the Rebel 3 take a look at the online tutorial for it.
Leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions, or join us on Facebook where we share the latest information and you can message us directly with specific questions.
Don't miss out on the best Tracfone Deals and Discounts which also includes great unlocked phone options to use with the BYOP program.
And see our list of the Best Tracfone Smartphones in 2018!
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