November 1, 2023

BLU View 4 (B135DL) Tracfone Smartphone Review

Tracfone BLU View 4 Specs, Features and Review

BLU View 4 features specs review

A 6.09" HD screen, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage and Android 12 are some of the main features for the ultra-budget BLU View 4 from Tracfone. This device was released in late 2023, along with the BLU View Speed 5G.

The BLU View line of phones have specialized in no-frills budget options available for under $50 and the View 4 continues that trend while offering a few small updates and changes, but mostly similar features to the past models, the View 3 and View 2.

Let's get right to the pros and cons for this budget phone.

BLU View 4 Pros and Cons

Pros:
-Very low retail price ($30)
-Small form factor
-Expandable storage option

Cons:
-Same sluggish processor as View 2
-No fingerprint sensor
-Poor camera performance

The View 4 offers a low price and Android 12, but little else as far as exciting features. And even Android 12 was first available in October 2021, making it somewhat outdated at this point for those who are vigilant on phone security.

It does have a small size, making it easier to hold in one hand, or slip in a small pocket compared to most phones available.

Now for the complete list of what the BLU View 4 offers. 

Tracfone BLU View 4 (B135DL) Features and Specs

Below are the features followed by the technical specs

  • Android 12
  • 4G LTE (Verizon)
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac
  • Bluetooth 5
  • 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)
  • Face ID
BLU View 2 Technical Specs
Size: 2.88'' x 6.159'' x 0.357'' (5,82 oz)
Camera: 13MP main camera and 8MP front camera
Screen: 6.09’’ HD+ IPS In-cell Display  (720x1600 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: 4000 mAh battery (non-removable) with 10W fast charging

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

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 4 from Tracfone with our full review.

Tracfone BLU View 4 (B135DL) Review

Touchscreen
With a 6.09" HD screen, resolution of 720x1600, and 20:9 screen ratio, the View 4 offers a slightly larger screen compared to the View 3, while still coming in a bit smaller than the common 6.5" screens most budget phones feature. That is a big plus for some users, who don't prefer larger devices.

This device has a pixel density of 288, which is about average for low cost phones. 

The screen is made from in-cell LCD technology, which has been available for some time, and even was used in older versions of the iPhone, and offers a good balance between performance and price. However, it does not have the same brightness or durability as some newer technologies, particularly OLED.

In general, the screen is nothing too exciting, but at this price point, it isn't bad either. Outdoors in the sunshine, it will be hard to see, but that is the case for almost all phones under $100.

Tracfone B135DL BLU View 4

Performance - Processor, Ram and Storage
To power this device there is a 2.0Ghz quad-core MediaTek Helio A22 processor, 3GB RAM, and 32GB internal storage. This will not be enough performance to handle games very well, and only basic tasks like calling and texting are suited for the View 4.

Rather surprisingly, the View 4 offers the same, cheap processor as the View 2, but the View 3 has an upgraded P22 Octa-core processor. The main reason the View 4 users the older, A22 processor is to cut costs.

As for the memory and storage, these are both the minimal amount we would recommend for the phone to function with basic apps and tasks. For those that don't need much out of a phone beyond basic tasks, the View 4 will work for that. But for only a little more, there are a number of much more powerful phones available. See our list of the best phones from Tracfone under $100.

Camera
The main camera on the View 4 is a 13MP lens with LED flash while the front camera is an 8MP selfie shooter. These are the same cameras as the View 2 and View 3, so no upgrade over those models.

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.

Get the most from the camera with our top 8 cell phone camera tips.

Battery Life
We do get a nice upgrade when it comes to the battery on the View 4 which is a 4,000 mAh non-removable pack offering about 30hrs talk time, and 34 days on standby.

Previous versions of the View had much smaller battery sizes, so this larger battery for the View 4 is a great feature. To recharge the battery there is a USB-C connection and 10W fast charging, which is pretty slow.

Android OS
BLU includes Android 12 with the View 4, and it offers a host of updates over previous versions including dynamic color capabilities, and a new material inspired design. This is an improvement compared to the View 2 and 3, which only offered Android 11.

Android 12 was released in 2022, and there is now Android 13 available on many devices, which is the newer version. It is generally better to get a phone with the latest software for security fixes. Many phone manufactures also offer security updates and OS upgrades, but we don't have any information from BLU about their plans to provide updates.

Several of Tracfone's other smartphones in this price range already offer Android 13.


Design
The View 4 is a fairly chunky, and nothing fancy, smartphone, but most users probably won't be too worried about the aesthetics for the price. This phone does have a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the USB Type-C charging port on the bottom. Power and volume rockers are located on the side. 

There is no fingerprint sensor for unlocking, but it does offer Face ID.

For those that like a smaller phone size, the View 4 is a noticeably smaller, and lighter, device compared to most other smartphones. And, it is only a little larger than the View 2, even with a larger screen, due to reduced bezels on the front screen. 

The odd pattern on the plastic back does not do anything to make the phone look modern, and we would have preferred the textured back on the View 3.

For a more sleek device, that also comes with a higher price tag, consider the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G.

Conclusion
BLU offers a phone with basic features that is best suited for use as a backup device or for those just looking for a cheap option. 

The View 4 is a slight upgrade over the View 2, and not really an upgrade over the View 3, which has a more powerful processor, but smaller battery. 

The BLU View Speed 5G which was also recently released, has a more powerful processor, more RAM, storage and other updated features, but comes with a $100 retail price  At that price, there are a number of other better options than the View Speed 5G.

While the price for this BLU View 4 is really low, most users would be better off spending a little more to get a more powerful processor, better camera, and more RAM and storage.

There are quite a few options from Samsung and Motorola that we would suggest over BLU devices. For about $100 the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G offers way more features. There is also the Moto G Power 2022, which is often around $60-70 and has enough performance to make it a nice upgrade over this phone.

Bottom Line: if you just want a cheap phone that can call and text, and does have Android OS, the BLU View 4 will accomplish that and is a modest upgrade over the View 2, while still the same price.

Best Prices on the BLU View 4

These are the lowest prices from around the web, but price can change quickly. The BLU View 4 is retailing for $30.

Get the BLU View 4 on Walmart
Get the BLU View 4 at Target
Get the BLU View 4 from Tracfone.com

BLU View 4 (B135DL) User Manual and Device Detailed Information

View the BLU View 4 User Manual

View the BLU View 4 About Phone PDF

That concludes our review of the BLU View 4. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions. 

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2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the review I've been looking for about 4 days and this is the first review I've been able to find so I really appreciate it thank you so much

Anonymous said...

A small form only thing going for this one! Should only cost $20.00