LG Rebel 3 (L158VL/157BL) Review for Tracfone

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
Only CDMA  GSM version now available - See 'Where to Buy' section below
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

LG Rebel 3 Specs

• 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

Several of the features on the LG Rebel 3 are similar to the Rebel 2 (such as the processor and screen size), but there are some improvements that go a long way in making the Rebel 3 much more usable for the majority of consumers. We will look more closely at some phone comparisons further on.

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

Touchscreen
The 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.

LG Rebel 3 (L158VL) Front, Side and Back

Many phones now have larger screens in the 5.5" to 6" range. A larger screen is nice for making it easier to see images and read text, but obviously creates a more bulky device. It may be worthwhile to visit an electronics store and try holding phones with various screen sizes to help choose what size is preferred. The LG Fiesta 2 and Samsung Galaxy Sky Pro both have 5.5" screens.

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 places

LG 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!

Thanks for visiting!

Tracfone Promo Codes for February 2018

Tracfone Promo Code List - February 2018

Gathered and shared by TracfoneReviewer

Tracfone Promo Codes - February 2018

A list of new Tracfone promo codes to warm you up. Each month we collect he latest promotional codes and share them here with our readers. There's nothing to do but use these codes when adding an airtime card from Tracfone.

Most codes work with a specific airtime card, or cards of greater value. The smartphone only cards work with only certain smartphone cards.

Some of these codes may be single use, and we have found the best way to get your bonus minutes is to add the airtime over the phone, so that if you run into problems you can talk to a customer support representative right away.

We've got more codes on our main promo code page, this list includes just the newest for February 2018.

See our list of the Best Tracfone Smartphones for 2018 if you're shopping for a new device, or just visit our cell phone reviews page.

Let's get to the list of codes!

Tracfone Promo Codes - February 2018

Promo Codes for regular airtime cards

60 Minuet Card use code 12745 or 22703 for 60 bonus minutes (note - these codes are working, but may be one time use)

120 Minute Card enter 74634 and get 30 extra airtime

200 Minute Card add code 54623 to receive 40 free minutes

450 Minute Card use 68961 to get 50 bonus airtime

1 Year/400 Minute Card enter 78117 for 300 extra minutes

$15 off 1 Year/400 Minute Card with code 33333 (online only)

Smartphone Promo Codes

Special promo codes for smartphone cards that add extra data

Expired - $25/$35 Smartphone Only Card use code 53629 for 1 GB Free Data

Those are the codes for February 2018. Share which codes you used int he comments below and we will update as needed.

Visit our Tracfone Deals and Discounts to see some great bargains on new phones including unlocked BYOP options.

Join our Facebook page where we share the latest posts and news, and have a helpful community of Tracfone users.

Thanks for visiting!

6 Major Differences between Tracfone Smartphones and 'Dumb' Phones

How Are Smartphones Different from Regular Tracfone Devices?

Updated 1/9/2018

Tracfone Smartphones vs Dumb Phones

Should you buy a smartphone from Tracfone? What will change if you switch from a regular Tracfone device to a smartphone?

We answer these questions and more with an explanation of how smartphones are different than 'dumb' phones and some things to consider before upgrading.

Let's start with a basic but important question:

What is a Smartphone?

The basic definition of a smartphone from the dictionary is, 'Any phone that performs many of the functions of a computer, such as accessing the internet, and capable of downloading and running applications.'

So a smartphone is just a small computer that also has calling and texting capability included.

There are two main operating systems for smartphones - Android and iOS. Only Apple smartphones use iOS (such as the iPhone 6, iPhone 7 etc.), and the rest of smartphones use the Android Operating System (such as Samsung, LG, Motorola, ZTE, etc.).

Android OS allows users to have access to over a million  different applications through the Google Play Store. These 'apps' provide added functionality, and many are free to download and use. There are apps for nearly anything you can think of, ranging from music and radio streaming, to games and entertainment.

Apple's iPhone devices also have a similar selection of apps that users can install on their phone.

For more about Android OS, here is a link to the Wikipedia page on Android.

And for our recommendations on some great apps for your phone, read our List of the Best Android Apps for Tracfone Users.

Now, we want to mention here that there are three categories of phones form Tracfone at this time:

Three Types of Phones for Tracfone:

• Tracfone Smartphones - cell phones that use either Android or iOS and are sold by Tracfone
• Non-Smartphones - All other phones from Tracfone (visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to see them) often called 'dumb' phones. 
• BYOP Phones - A program from Tracfone that allows you to 'Bring Your Own Phone'. (follow the link to learn more about this program) including iPhone and Android devices.

So there are a few different types of phones to choose from, but we won't get into that. We will focus just on Tracfone smartphones, and comparing the difference between them and all other phones offered by Tracfone.

So let's get to the main question, how are smartphones different from regular Tracfone devices?

6 Key Differences Comparing Android Smartphones vs 'Dumb' Phones from Tracfone

A list comparing the major differences between phones with Android operating system, and all the rest that are available from Tracfone. Use this list to help choose whether an Android phone may be right for you. Note, Apple iPhone's use a different operating system compared to Android phones, but have basically the same functionality as far as apps and smartphone capabilities.

Find Apps for Android

1. Access Over 1 Million Applications with Smartphones
Androids are called smartphones because of their increased functionality with access to standardized applications (apps). These apps can do many of the same things that computers programs do, including web browsing, photo editing, games and much much more.

Apps for Android phones are available from the Google Play Store and many are free or just a few dollars. There are over a million applications and they do quite a number of different things.

Access to applications gives Android phones almost unlimited functionality because you can always download and install a new app to do something you couldn't do before.

Non-Android devices from Tracfone are usually limited to the features that come with the phone, like an alarm clock, web browser, etc.

Visit the Google Play Store to see some of the apps available to use with Android.

2. Minutes are Split into Three 'buckets' for Android Phones

One of the major differences between Tracfone's smartphone devices and their non-Android phones is the way minutes work. 

Use the same prepaid card for Androids

On the non-Android phones (such as the LG 840G or LG 306G), when you add a 60 minute card, you get 60 minutes (or 180 if you have Triple Minutes for Life) for talking, texting and web browsing all in one 'bucket'. Also, texts cost only 0.3 minutes each.

For Android smartphones (like the LG Fiesta or Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro), a 60 minute card will be split into three 'buckets' and give you 60 minutes calling, 60 texts, and 60mb data (and these will all be tripled to 180 with Triple Minutes for Life). So you get the same number of calling minutes (180), plus texting and data (180 of each)!  

Note that Tracfone stopped including certain smartphones with Triple Minutes for Life (follow the link to learn more). Phones running Android 7.0 or newer, or some devices released after April 1, 2017, might not have triple minutes  so be sure to check on that if you are buying a new phone.

The lack of triple minutes does not affect smartphone only cards, which do not triple anyway.

It is also possible to buy only texts for your Tracfone, and buy extra data too.

And Tracfone offers Smartphone Only Airtime Cards which may be a better deal for some users.

So prepaid minutes work a little differently, but for most, this is very beneficial.

3. Touchscreens on All Tracfone Smartphones
Not everyone likes to use a touchscreen, but all of the smartphones from Tracfone have touchscreens at this time. This includes both Apple and Android devices.

Most smartphones these days only have a touchscreen, it has become the standard, and most touchscreens have a good response and sensitivity. But if you prefer the feel of buttons under your fingers, then you might want to stick with Tracfone's like the Samsung S390G or Motorola EX431G which both have full QWERTY keypads.

Additionally, you can visit our Tracfone BYOP page to learn about how you can bring a smartphone to use with Tracfone, including some phones with sliding keyboards. Visit the BYOP page for a phone list and all the details.

4. Android Phones are (generally) Newer
Most of the newest phones from Tracfone are all Android or Apple iPhone devices. Although Tracfone does often release phones that are already a few months to a few years old, they are much newer than any non-smartphone devices from Tracfone.

If you're looking for a newest phones from Tracfone, Android is where you should look. Keep up with the latest Tracfone cell phones in our recent post.

5. Android Phones are (generally) More Expensive
Because the Android phones from Tracfone are newer and have more features, they also tend to be more expensive. Typically the phones will be priced above $100. There are a variety of online stores that offer some great deals, including deals with minutes. So shop around when searching for a phone.

But not all of the Android smartphones are expensive, you can even get the LG Optimus Dynamic for $20 on Amazon right now. Just don't expect too much out of a cheaper smartphone.

6. Smartphone Only Promo Codes
When Tracfone released smartphones they initially did not accept promo codes.

But now there are promo codes for the new smartphone-only airtime cards, and some promo codes for regular airtime cards also work on smartphones.

View our current list of promotional codes for Tracfone that also include several for smartphones.


Bonus Point! You are Charged for Every Text You Receive on Android Phones
On smartphones with Tracfone you cannot choose which incoming texts you read (and are charged for). You are automatically charged for every incoming text, whether you read it or not.

On older 'dumb' phones from Tracfone you can choose not to read a text, and thus not be charged for it. So be aware of this, and if you receive a lot of spam texts, you may want to change your number when changing to an Android phone from Tracfone.

This concludes the list of key differences between Android smartphones and the regular cell phones offered by Tracfone.

We hope these points will help you choose if an Android phone is best for you. If you have any questions, or additional points to add, leave a comment below!

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.Join us on Facebook where we have a growing community of Tracfone users and are able to respond to messages directly if you have special questions.

Learn 4 Ways to Check Your Airtime with a Tracfone Smartphone if you're worried about keeping track of your minutes.

Also take a look at our 10 Tips for Boosting your Cell Signal.

Thanks for visiting, and we hope this information was useful!

Tracfone Promo Codes for January 2018

Tracfone Promo Code List for January 2018

Welcome to 2018 and with a new year, we've also got new promo codes to share!

Tracfone Promo Codes - January 2018

Each month we gather the latest promotional codes from Tracfone and share them here for our readers to use to get free bonus minutes when adding an airtime card with Tracfone.

Each code is usually for a specific airtime card, but in some cases they can also be used with cards of greater value. There are also some codes for smartphone only cards that provide extra data.

This list contains just the newest codes, for a more exhaustive list, visit our main Tracfone Promo Code page.

To use these codes simply add them int he promo code box on the Tracfone website or add airtime over the phone and include the code when prompted.

Get a glimpse of the future with our Predictions for Tracfone in 2018!

Now let's get to the codes!

Tracfone Promo Code List - January 2018

Some codes may be one time use.

60 Minute Card use code 12745 and receive 60 free minutes (note - only working for some)

120 Minute Card add 23078 for 40 bonus airtime

200 Minute Card enter code 66618 and get 50 extra minutes

450 Minute Card (no new codes at this time)

1 Year/400 Minute Card use 39250 for 300 additional minutes


Smartphone Only Card Promo Codes:
Get 1 GB Data with Promo Code 53629 on $25 and $35 smartphone cards

These are the latest codes for January 2018. Let us know in the comment section below which code you tried and how it worked!

Keep up with the latest news and information about Tracfone by following us on Facebook with a growing community of other helpful people!

Learn about the difference between GSM and CDMA cell service (and how to tell which one you have) in our recent updated post.

Also, learn all about WiFi calling for free with your Tracfone!

Happy New Year!

The Future of Tracfone in 2018

New Phones, Changes, and Predictions for Tracfone in 2018

Welcome to TracfoneReviewer. We share news, reviews and other information about Tracfone!

The Future of Tracfone in 2018

A New Year is upon us and whether last year was a good year, a bad year, or just another year, it is coming to a close with the opportunity for next year to be something new.

With 2018 here, we are sharing our expectations and predictions for what Tracfone will do in the near year, what we hope Tracfone will do, and also a look back at what went on in 2017 and the major changes and new phones.

Each year we share our predictions and expectations, and you can look back at our post from last year to see how we did.

Remember that this site (TracfoneReviewer) is not affiliated with Tracfone in any way. But we are passionate about learning and sharing information, and while our predictions are based on years of experience, they may not always be accurate and so we cannot guarantee any of our predictions.

Let's begin with some of the highlights of 2017.

Looking back at 2017 - Major News and Changes

Tracfone made some significant changes in 2017, and also released several popular phones. Here are the highlights.

• Tracfone Ends Triple Minutes for Life - This was probably the biggest news story from Tracfone from 2017.
• Expended iPhone options including the iPhone 5S, 6 ad 6S and iPhone SE
• Tracfone releases several smartphones with large screens and 16 GB memory/2 GB RAM at under $200 (LG Fiesta 2/Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro)
• Tracfone Expands Brick and Mortar Stores

Although Tracfone released some great phones, they did not help their customer satisfaction level by ending the popular Tripe Minutes for Life program.

Most Popular Phones in 2017
We looked at which of our Tracfone cell phone reviews had the most hits, and created our list from there. This is somewhat unofficial, but we still found it interesting and wanted to share it.

1. Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro
2. LG Fiesta 2 (and LG Fiesta)
3. Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro

The Samsung Galaxy Sky Pro was the most popular phone from last year which comes at no surprise, considering it offers some of the best features and specs of any budget Tracfone to date.

Now that we've looked back at last year, let's get into our predictions and expectations for Tracfone in 2018.

What to Expect From Tracfone in 2018

The Future Phones from Tracfone
We expect Tracfone to release several new phones in the next few months that will be modest upgrades to the current smartphones such as the LG Fiesta 2 and Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro.

In 2017 we saw Tracfone release several popular budget phones from major brands (LG and Samsung), and we predict they will offer updated versions of these phones, or similar offerings.

Tracfone will likely also continue to offer older high end phones at a discount, such as the iPhone SE that they offered in 2017. Could we see the iPhone 8 or other popular high end smartphones? Perhaps, but they will come at a high cost which is .

The Future of Tracfone BYOP
Tracfone's 'Bring Your Own Phone' program has grown in popularity as they ironed out issues and made most phones compatible. We will have noticed users running into issues activating certain phones, but with enough patience this can usually be overcome. In many cases it is even possible to simply swap the SIM card from one phone to another, effectively switching service to a new phone at any time with no other effort involved.

We expect Tracfone to maintain the BYOP program although they likely won't make any significant changes to it. Users can already bring almost any unlocked GSM or CDMA device to use with Tracfone.

The Future of Airtime
Tracfone will continue to encourage customers to use the smartphone cards instead of the regular airtime cards. For many users, the smartphone cards are a better deal because they offer more data and texts compared to regular cards. But for those who don't use their data or texts, it still doesn't make sense to use smartphone only cards.

A major change from 2017 was when Tracfone stopped including new phones with Triple Minutes for Life. The obvious aim with this is to encourage (force) users to buy the smartphone only cards instead of regular airtime cards (because without triple minutes, the regular airtime cards are not a very god deal).

We don't expect any major changes to Tracfone going forward into 2018 and see them working at streamlining their product offerings to make it more simple, and more attractive to potential customers.

What we Want from Tracfone in 2018

Here are some of the things we want Tracfone to do in 2018 (just in case someone from Tracfone reads this)

Add Triple Minutes for Life Back to New Phones.
While we understand why Tracfone ended triple minutes (to move users to the smartphone only cards) we think they should add triple minutes back to new phones because of the large number of unhappy customers. We noticed numerous comments stating dissatisfaction in Tracfone for changing this from loyal customers. While we hope Tracfone changes this, we don't expect they will.

Improve Customer Service and Fix Lingering Issues with BYOP Compatibility.
Small steps were taken by Tracfone in 2017 to improve customer service by opening several physical stores. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement and we hope they will make customer service more of a priority.

Tracfone also has some lingering issues with the BYOP program as a number of customers have run into issues trying to activate certain unlocked smartphones. Tracfone needs to fix this immediately.

Add More Budget Smartphones at Reasonable Prices
What we really want from Tracfone are more budget phones with good performance at under $200. Devices with 32 GB of memory and at least 2 GB RAM are generally necessary for an everyday device for most users. There are a number of unlocked devices in the sub $200 range that some consumers are already buying to use with the BYOP program (such as the Moto E4 Plus) but we want Tracfone to offer them directly for greater availability.

That concludes our Tracfone predictions, expectations and hopes for 2018!

Share your own thoughts in the comments below! What should Tracfone change in 2018?

Join us on Facebook with our growing community of Tracfone users where we share the latest news and information!

If you are new to Tracfone, start with our convenient Beginners Guide to Tracfone which will share the basics of how it all works.

And we also have a Tracfone Airtime comparison for those trying to find the best deal on Tracfone airtime.

Thanks for visiting and Happy New Year!