BLU View 3 (B140DL) Review - Tracfone Smartphone

 Tracfone BLU View 3 Specs, Features and Review

Delivering a 6" touchscreen, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB Storage and octa-core processor, the BLU View 3 is an ultra-budget Android smartphone that aims to replace it's predecessor, the BLU View 2, with some modest improvements.

The View 3 was first released in October 2021, and came to Tracfone a little while later. The low price of this smartphone is a big draw for many people, even if the brand isn't very well known. So is the BLU View 3 worth the price? Or would buyers be better off considering other devices? We will cover all of that here, starting with our pros and cons list.

BLU View 3 Quick Facts

What we Like:
-Low Cost (around $50-$70)
-Expandable external storage
-Processor is a nice improvement over previous model

What we Don't Like:
-No Fingerprint or face unlock options
-Small battery and no fast charging
-Low internal storage and RAM
-Single rear camera, no wide angle, macro options

Two noticeable improvements on the View 3 are the octa-core processor and larger, 6" HD screen. These are both nice features, but they are somewhat tarnished by a low amount of internal storage and RAM, and a lack of a handful of other features we see on many budget phones.

We will be comparing the View 3 to the previous version, the View 2 often in this review. And one interesting thing to note is that there are actually two versions of the BLU View 2 from Tracfone, with the model B131DL the newer version with updated Android 11 and several other improvements. The Older, B130DL version has less RAM, an older OS, and was launched in late 2020. 

Now let's get to the full list of features and specs.

Tracfone BLU View 3 (B140DL) 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 3 Technical Specs
Size: 6.31 x 3.02 x 0.35 in (6,28 oz)
Camera: 13MP main camera and 8MP front camera
Screen: 6" HD IPS LCD display (720x1440 resolution)
Processor:  MediaTek Helio P22 Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53

Memory: 3 GB
Storage: 32 GB internal storage, supports a MicroSD Card (up to 128GB)
Battery: 3400 mAh battery (non-removable) with about 22hrs talk time, 22.5 days standby

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. 

BLU has faced a variety of privacy concerns over the years, culminating with a settlement with the FTC in 2018 over Deceptive Privacy and Data Security Claims. 

They are not the only budget phone company with concerns, we just shared our Security and Privacy Concerns about Alcatel, TCL and ZTE. Take a look if you want to learn more.

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 3 from Tracfone with our full review.

BLU View 3 (B140DL) Review

Touchscreen

The View 3 has a 6" IPS LCD touchscreen that has 720x1400 resolution and 18:9 ratio. This gives it a pixel density of 268 ppi, and a screen to body ratio of about 75%. Nothing is all that spectacular about the screen, but it does an adequate job, and IPS LCD panel is a small step up over some other cheaper options. There are some larger than average bezels, so you are not getting an edge-to-edge display like on higher end devices.

Coming in about half an inch larger (diagonally), compared to the previous model, the View 3 keeps the same resolution and screen ratio, for a slightly smaller than average overall size. In general, the screen works just fine, but don't expect too much from it.

Performance - RAM, Storage and Processor

With 3 GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage and an MediaTek P22 octa-core processor, the View 3 offers basic performance that is good for low to moderate use, and probably not much gaming or other resource intensive apps.

We've mentioned this in several of our other budget phone reviews, but 3 GB RAM/32 GB internal storage are the minimum for a phone these days. For many users, 32 GB internal storage is actually too low, as typically half of that is used by the system software, and the rest can quickly be used up by apps, photos and videos. There is an external MicroSD card slot for up to 128 GB extra storage, which is nice to have.

The P22 processor in the View 3 is a big improvement over the older model, which had just a quad-core processor. However, compared to most other budget phones, like the Samsung Galaxy A03s, the processor in the View 3 is a little underpowered. 

Camera

A single, 13MP rear camera handles photos on the View 3, along with an 8MP front selfie shooter. They do an adequate job of capturing usable photos and videos in most situations but don't expect to rely on them, and for those who like taking and sharing photos, we would really recommend stepping up from this.

Most budget phones come with a few more interesting features, like a macro camera, depth sensor and wide angle lens. So it is a little disappointing to see none of these options on the View 3. The Galaxy A03s, Moto G Power 2022 and other sub-$100 phones all offer some additional camera features at around the same price.

Get our 8 Tips for Better Cell Phone Pictures to help improve your images!

Battery Life

There is a 3,400 mAh battery on the View 3 which provides an advertised talk time of 22hrs and standby time of about 22 days. The battery is non-removeable, which is a change from the View 2. There is no fast charging features, so it will take a little while to recharge using the USB Type-C 2.0 port.

With almost all budget smartphones offering 4,000 to 5,000 mAh batteries that give 2 and even 3 days of use, the smaller battery on the View 3 is a disadvantage. And for those who are looking to use it as a backup device, the longer the standby life the better.

Android OS

The View 3 comes with Android 11 and isn't likely to get any OS updates. It is the same Android version as the previous model, the View 2, although that model did get an update to 11.

Android 11 offers a variety of improvements, features and security fixes over previous versions. We would have liked to see this phone include Android 12, which was released in 2021, but users will have to settle for the previous version. 

Design

It is fairly chunky, and nothing fancy, but most users probably won't be too worried about the aesthetics. The View 3 does offer a 3.5mm headphone jack, and has the USB Type-C charging port on the bottom. Power and volume rockers are located on the side. 

There are no biometric unlocking options like fingerprint scanner or face unlock, which is a little disappointing as most other budget phones offer something. 

While the plastic design is a small step up over the previous model, it still seems like a deice from 5 years ago. For example, to access the SIM card and MiscroSD card slot, the back panel has to be removed.

Conclusion

Like the View 2, the newer View 3 is very basic but still functional. The more powerful processor and larger, nicer touchscreen are both nice improvements. In many other areas, however, there doesn't seem to be any improvement.

The problem we have with the View 3 is that there are just so many other smartphone options for around the same price that offer so much more. The Samsung Galaxy A03S, Galaxy A13 5G, Moto G Power 2022 and others are all around or well under $100 and feature larger batteries, bigger screens, more powerful processors and better cameras. (See all our top picks for under $100 from Tracfone)

If someone is looking for a simple device to use as a backup phone, or for just a few texts and calls every now and then, the View 3 is capable of handling that. But those that want a few more features, better camera or the ability to play games, may want to go for something else.

The Bottom Line: The View 3 offers a few improvements, but also a higher price, compared to the last model. And at that price, there are other, much better options we would recommend. If the price on the View 3 drops to closer to the View 2 ($30), it might be more of a contender.

Best Prices on the BLU View 3

These are the lowest prices from around the web, but price can change quickly.

Get the BLU View 3 on Amazon $69
Get the BLU View 3 at Walmart $69
Get the BLU View 3 from Tracfone.com $49

BLU View 3 (B140DL) User Manual

View the BLU View 3 User Manual

That concludes our review of the BLU View 3. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions. 

If you are new to Tracfone, start with our Beginners Guide!

Join us over on Facebook for the latest news and posts or send us a message for more direct help questions.

If you're shopping around for other plans, take a look at the Best Alternatives to Tracfone. 

Take a look at some of our recent posts, including a Guide for Making your Airtime Last Longer and Everything you Need to Know about Data Cards.

And don't miss out on the best Tracfone Deals, Discounts and Sales!

Thanks for visiting!