Tracfone BLU View 2 Specs, Features and Review
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| Tracfone BLU View 2 Review |
Featuring a 5.5" HD touchscreen, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB storage and Android 11, the BLU View 2 from Tracfone is all about basic features at the lowest possible cost.
And with a price of around $30, the BLU View 2 has generated a lot of interest and popularity. So should you consider this low-cost device or opt for something a little more expensive with improved features? We'll share all that and more in this review.
First, our list of pros and cons for the BLU View 2.
BLU View 2 Quick Facts
What we like:
-Super low-cost smartphone
-Android 11 OS
-Removeable battery
-Expandable external storage
What we don't like:
-Large bezels on front screen
-No fingerprint or face unlock options
-Small battery compared to similar devices
-mediocre camera and performance specs
There are not many big or exciting features on the BLU View 2 and the screen is actually a bit smaller than most new smartphones, even budget options. But the View 2 does feature one of the lowest prices for a new smartphone from Tracfone that we have found, and it is also one of the most popular smartphones on Amazon.
There are actually two versions of the BLU View 2 from Tracfone, with the B131DL the newer version with updated Android OS and several other improvements. The Older, B130DL version has less RAM, an older OS, and was launched in late 2020. Just ensure you are purchasing the newer model number.
Below are the full features and specs for the View 2.
Tracfone BLU View 2 (B131DL) Features and Specs
Below are the features followed by the technical specs
- Android 11
- 4G LTE (Verizon)
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Alarm Clock
- GPS
- MP3 Player
- Standard 3.5mm Headphone Jack
- Hearing Aid Compatible
- Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
- Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
- SMS/MMS
- USB Charger (USB Type-C 2.0)
BLU View 2 Technical SpecsSize: 6.05" x 2.81" x 0.37" (5,64 oz)
Camera: 13MP main camera and 8MP front camera
Screen: 5.5" HD+ LCD display (720x1440 resolution)
Processor: MediaTek 6761 Helio A22 2.0GHz Quad-Core
Memory: 3 GB
Storage: 32 GB internal storage, supports a MicroSD Card (up to 128GB)
Battery: 2920 mAh battery (removable) with talk time up to 13 hrs, standby 16 days
BLU Products is a private American company based out of Miami, FL that specializes in affordable mobile devices. They were founded in 2009, and have sold more than 60 million devices since then. The name BLU, stands for Bold Like Us, and they generally have bright, bold styles and colors.
BLU phones have been very popular in Latin America, and have been gaining more popularity in the US. Their business model focuses on keeping phones at the most affordable price points possible for the specs of the device.
The issues that plagued the company in earlier years seem to have been straightened out, as there haven't been any big issues in recent years.
Some of BLU's popular devices include the
Bold N2 and the
BLU F91 5G that offer some higher-end specs and features at only about $200.
Let's get into all the details of the BLU View 2 from Tracfone with our full review.
Tracfone BLU View 2 (B131DL) Review
Touchscreen
Featuring a 5.5" touchscreen with 720x1440 resolution, 18:9 screen ratio, and pixel density of about 291ppi, the View 2 offers an adequate screen experience. The brightness and resolution are not the best, but they do enough to make it a useable device.
The screen to body ratio is only about 71%, which means that there's significant space on the front of the phone that is just bezels and blank space. This doesn't affect the performance in any way, yet many devices offer a ratio closer to 80-85% which helps them look more modern while also maximizing the size of the screen.
The
Samsung Galaxy A03s, which is just a little more expensive, has a larger, 6.5" screen with similar resolution and pixel density. For those who like to watch videos or consume other media, consider a device with a larger, and higher quality display.
Performance - RAM, Storage and Processor
We generally consider 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage as the minimum amount that should be included with a phone to recommended the device and the BLU View 2 comes in right at those numbers. The storage and RAM are on the low side, but enough for most basic actions on the device. We are glad to see additional storage available via a MicroSD card slot with up to 128 GB storage. The slot is actually located next to the battery, under the back cover.
A quad-core MediaTek A22 processor powers the View 2 and is adequate. But the processors in the slightly more expensive
Moto G Pure or
Samsung Galaxy A03s, are a step up in performance, and one we might recommended to anyone who might consider using the phone for gaming or other resource demanding activities. A quad-core processor is just a little underpowered by today's standards.
Camera
The solo 13MP rear camera is fairly barebones on the View 2. There is an LED flash, but otherwise the features are limited. There is no portrait mode, which we find on many other budget phones, and the front selfie camera is just 8MP.
The performance of the cameras is okay, with acceptable images in good lighting conditions. For good images from a smartphone, expect to spend several hundred dollars as just about all budget options leave a lot to be desired.
For video, the main camera does capture full HD at 30fps. It is useable, but don't expect much from it in low light conditions.
Battery Life
The 2,920 mAh battery provides about 13 hours talk time, and about 17 days on standby.
We've become accustomed to many budget devices offering exceptional 2 or even 3 day battery performance thanks to large battery sizes. The View 2 doesn't offer that, and instead offers a removeable battery, something we don't see very often, but does allow the user to just replace the battery if the performance starts to go downhill. This is an interesting feature, and some my prefer it.
10W charging via a USB Type-C connection is on the slow side of speeds, but comparable to many budget phones.
Android OS
Android 11 is the operating system on the View 2 and offers a variety of improvements, features and security fixes over previous versions. It is interesting to note that the newer View 2 model number B131DL comes with Android 11, but the first View 2 with model number B130DL only had Android 10. It is always good to have the latest version possible, as they security and performance is generally much better.
Design
The somewhat chunky design of the View 2 is reminiscent of cheap smartphones from 5 years ago. The bezels on the front screen are rather substantial, but thanks to the smaller screen, the device is easy to hold in hand or fit in a pocket.
The power and volume buttons on the side of the device are a little flimsy. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the device, and it is also nice to see the power connection on the bottom is the newer USB Type-C connection.
It is a very barebones design for the BLU View 2 that doesn't even try to get away from looking like a cheap phone. By contrast, the cheapest devices from Samsung (like the A03s) still offer design elements from their more expensive devices such as a notch on the front screen for the selfie camera or the multi-rear camera setups. So for those who want a cheaper device that looks like a more expensive one, avoid the View 2.
Conclusion
Know what you're getting with the BLU View 2: You're getting a surprisingly capable device for the price, but you're also getting a device that is no where near the capability of more expensive smartphones. And even spending just $50-$80 more could land you a much more powerful and reliable smartphone like the Galaxy A03s we've mentioned.
Yet for those who just need a device to do the basics of calling, texting, and maybe some social media or surfing the web, the BLU View 2 will be able to accomplish those things.
The bottom line - The BLU View 2 is one of the cheapest Android smartphones available from Tracfone with a retail price of about $30 and one of the most popular on Amazon. As they say, you get what you pay for and while many of the components on the View 2 are cheap, they are adequate to complete all the basic functions of a smartphone.
For those who may want a little more performance, or reliability, consider devices from some of the more well known companies like Samsung and Motorola.
There are several options from Tracfone that have recently been on sale for under $100 that offer better performance, camera larger screen, and many more features. Some of the options include the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G and Moto G Power (2022).
Best Prices on the BLU View 2
These are the lowest prices from around the web, but price can change quickly.
Get the BLU View 2 on Amazon
Get the BLU View 2 at Target
Get the BLU View 2 from Tracfone.com
BLU View 2 (B131DL) User Manual and Device Detailed Information
View the BLU View 2 User Manual
View the BLU View 2 About Phone PDF
That concludes our review of the BLU View 2. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions.
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