Does The Flare Shine Or Fade In Virgin Mobile's Prepaid Lineup?
Written: Aug 18 '08 (Updated Aug 18 '08)
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Pros: Looks nice, good set of features, Bluetooth enabled, affordable.
Cons: Battery life is a bit low, glossy exterior attracts smudges.
The Bottom Line: At $30, the LG Flare is an ideal prepaid phone for those who thought Virgin Mobile's offerings were to cheesy, but want their service.
If you're familiar with Virgin Mobile, then you're probably aware that many of their past entries in their cellphone lineup are really cheap and somewhat cheesy in build and quality. Sure, Virgin Mobile is a pay-as-you go wireless provider that doesn't bolt consumers to contracts, but would it hurt to actually have a few quality (yet affordable) phones in their lineup? Well, the LG Flare may just be that phone.
As the second handset to be produced from LG, the Flare (LG LX165) is a good flip handset with a surprising set of features for it's $30 pricetag. While it isn't as stylish as LG's higher end offerings, the Flare doesn't scream "budget" phone. Strikingly similar to AT&T's Samsung A117 Go-Phone, Virgin Mobile's LG Flare actually tops At&T's offering's feature set and manages to come in $10-15 less, and you won't have to deal with AT&T's underwhelming and somewhat expensive prepaid service.
The Flare's size is that to a pack of gum, and fits easily into your pocket. The phone is mostly all black, with chrome trim, and it actually is less gaudy than it sounds. The glossy exterior is fairly durable and can take some abuse from coins or slightly sharp objects that may scratch the phone. That doesn't mean smudges won't be visible, though. At least the handset doesn't scuff nearly as easily as the Samsung A117 (which I last owned). Also, unlike the Samsung A117, the external screen on the LG Flare is actually in color, while the Samsung A117 only offered monochrome. The battery cover is also a lot more stable on the LG Flare, whereas the Samsung's frequently slipped off, even in the pocket.
Opening the phone reveals a similar layout that is similar to the Samsung A117 (even down to the blue backlit buttons), except the LG Flare includes a couple more buttons that make the handset more user-friendly. The keypad includes the standard buttons used to make a call and navigate through options, as well as buttons to access the speakerphone and the web. Having a dedicated speakerphone button within the keypad is much better than having to manually select an option to use the speakerphone during the call, which you had to do with the Samsung A117. The web button is sort of useless, as surfing the web on this phone is too slow and expensive. The navigation buttons double as hotkeys when not navigating through the handset's options, and have options such as checking your balance or mail. The keypads on both the LG and Samsung handsets have a similar smooth feel, but the layout on the LG Flare is a little better and the buttons are easier to press.
The screen on the LG Flare is similar in size to the A117, except the screen is more vibrant and brighter, whereas the Samsung handset came off as a bit dull. The feature within the phone is where the LG Flare trumps the Samsung A117. First of all, you can't download games on AT&T's A117 Go Phone. Either there was a lack of internal memory, or AT&T didn't see that option as a priority when they wanted release this phone for the pay-as-you go service. Virgin Mobile does offer game downloads through the VXL service (which costs 15 cents a day for access), and they consist of Java based content. In terms of ringtones, the A117 is limited to polyphonic tones. Seriously? Even Virgin's cheaper phones (such as the LG Aloha) offer real music ringtones. Yeah, it's pricey at $2.50 a ringtone, but it's there for those who want it. It's not just the media options where the LG Flare surpasses the A117. The Flare offers Bluetooth support, while the A117 doesn't. Now this could be due to the fact that the A117 was released nearly a year before the LG Flare, but seeing how the product is still currently on store shelves, you would think that this would have been included, at least by now.
Call quality is better in the LG Flare in comparison to the A117, with less interference and better clarity. But this could also be because the two phones are on two different networks. The Flare doesn't offer sound that rivals better handsets, but as far as a pay-as-you-go phone fares, it's decent. The volume on the ringer/speakerphone is louder on the LG Flare in comparison to the A117. Battery life is a little disappointing, as it just doesn't last as long as it should. For a phone this small, you would think life would be longer in standby mode. While it can go for five days without needing a charge (with limited usage), I've had much better life on my Motorola Razr when I was with Amp'd Mobile a year back. It even falls short of the Samsung A117 in terms of life, but not by much.
Final Thought
I'm actually impressed with this phone. While it's not like the multimedia capable phones that contract carriers offer, for $30, you're getting a lot of phone. It's one of the cheapest PAYG Bluetooth enabled handsets available, and when compared to AT&T's A117, you get more options and functions for $10 less. The LG Flare could spell the end for Virgin Mobile's cheap "toylike" phone offerings, by giving consumers a simple but attractive handset at a very reasonable price. It's perhaps Virgin's first prepaid phone that doesn't scream "cheap".
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 24.99 Recommended for: Stylish Trendsetters - Hip and Trendy
Pay-As-You-Go Cell Phone; with Calculator Flip Style Features: Wallpapers, Speaker Phone, Text Messaging, Voice-Activated Dialing Bluetooth for Hands-...More at Amazon Marketplace
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