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The Samsung Galaxy J3 Star (SM-J337) is probably the least among the brand’s phone releases this year, but it is definitely worth the second look. Not only does this phone look chic on the outside, but it is also in every sense worth every penny.

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star Tech Specs vs Other Budget Phones

The Samsung Galaxy J3 Star doesn’t have any particular specs that make it stand out, and one of the major deal breakers we could easily detect is its lack of a fingerprint sensor.

Other phones in the same price range were able to have it, so why Samsung, why?

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star: Chic Design

If there’s one thing more noteworthy on the outside for the Samsung Galaxy J3 Star, it is its chic design. It has a pale pink color, giving us an impression that it appeals to a more feminine market. It also has curved edges, giving it a smooth feel in the hands, and it is also lightweight weighing only 5.36 ounces. (Perfect gift for mom!)

All the quick access buttons are on the side. The volume rockers are on the left side, while the power button is on the right. It still has the home button located at its usual location.

This phone supports T-Mobile’s Band 71, assuring you of a better connection even when indoors.

Having Trouble With The Device Unlock App? Here’s A Complete Troubleshooting Guide.

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star: So-so Versatility

One thing is for sure, the Samsung Galaxy J3 Star is not the phone for gamers. Sure, you can play games, but if you use it for heavy apps and gaming you may not totally enjoy using it.

It is because the phone only has 2GB of RAM, which we believe is still fair for the price. We also do not expect budget phones (within the same price range as this one) to have a bigger RAM capacity because budget phones aren’t usually made for gamers. In a real-world experience, the phone would do great if you are doing pretty much just the basic stuff, which includes, emails, Facebook, Google, and some games.

But if you are going to multi-task and use several heavy apps at once, say Facebook and web-based gaming apps, you might experience certain lags. This phone is just not cut out for heavy gaming.

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star: Camera, UI Experience

The cameras on the J3 Star are also just on the so-so scale. Nothing spectacular or special about it, aside from the fact that we know Samsung cameras are always better, crisper, and clearer than most phones out there.

You can also play with your photos and enhance it, but you can always install other photo editing apps. The phone comes with a 16GB internal memory that is expandable upto 400GB so you can store pretty much a lot of data and pictures on this phone.

The Samsung Galaxy J3 Star has a removable battery, so whenever you run out of battery, you can always insert a spare one while you have the other charged up for next use.

Good thing, this phone has a powerful 1.4GHz dual-core processor, which helps improve its power efficiency.

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star: Going Big with Bixby

Last but not least, the J3 Star has the Bixby assistant on board. Samsung’s infamous Bixby will help you with “social streaming.” It is not that helpful for you if you don’t like setting up or dealing with voice commands.

This is Samsung’s version of iPhone’s Siri. Bixby on the other hand just doesn’t have a specific personality like Siri or Amazon’s Alexa.

Among Bixby’s most common uses are social media sharing, like snapping a selfie and sharing it on Facebook using your own voice in the process. Simply tell Bixby to “take a selfie” and “post this on Facebook,” and voila, the errand is done.

Unlocking the Samsung Galaxy J3 Star

People hate bloat apps, but there is one pre-installed app from T-Mobile that you should be thankful for, and that is the Device Unlock App.

With the Device Unlock App on board, you are able to choose between a Temporary or a Permanent Unlock on your device; all can be done if you pass T-Mobile requirements for your phone.

If you want a quick, easy, and affordable way to get your phone unlocked, you can always turn to UnlockBase to do it for you. Check out our list of supported phones for the Device Unlock App- T-Mobile.

Choosing a good phone is not an easy thing to do. Price always matters and we always end up sacrificing one good feature or more.

Good phones come in the shape of a flagship and they are oftentimes too expensive. Budget phones exist unfortunately, they only offer a good camera and not enough battery life or the other way around. We can’t seem to have the best of both worlds, especially in the budget phone department.

Good thing, those days are now over. And luckily, Motorola has created the phone that meets all of our needs.

And yes, that beast is the new Motorola Moto e5 Plus. Whether you game or vlog, this phone should be number one on your list.

Moto E5 Plus is a winner

Want To Permanently Sim Unlock Your Phone From MetroPCS?

For starters, it has a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera, but that’s not the most amazing thing about the Moto E5 Plus.

It has a whopping 5000mAh battery! For a budget phone, this is definitely a road less taken, and Motorola Moto E5 Plus is a certified trailblazer.

This phone also comes with 6” HD display meant for less scrolling, more fun, and wider gaming screen.

Camera and battery life? 100! You got the beast and the beauty all in one phone.

You’ll never have to compromise about the specs and the price, because you can get this phone from MetroPCS for only $49 if you port over. The phone comes locked to them, but you can easily have a temporary or permanent unlock using the Device Unlock App.

Help Guide: How To Use The Device Unlock App- MetroPCS

You’ll never be sorry buying the phone outright because it’s only sold for $209.

Moto E5 Plus: A Certified Beast

This phone will always come handy for when you are travelling. Say goodbye to the not-so-nice sight of charging in the airport or losing battery when you are lost in a new city.  You will never have to look for an outlet and charge every hour just to make sure you have enough power until you arrive at your hotel.

For a gamer, a huge battery is great, but having a huge RAM is even better. Well, the Moto E5 will never disappoint you with a 3GB of RAM and 1.4GHz Octa-core processor.

This beastly phone will give you both the power and the speed even for an entire day of gaming.

And the phone is designed with an ergonomic weight; it looks and feels so compact you can’t even tell it has a huge battery in it.

Though it has a big battery, charging for 6-8 hours is not necessary because you only need 15 minutes to use it for another 6 hours non-stop.

All thanks to the TurboPower charger on board.

Moto E5 Plus: A Budget Beauty

You can also unleash your vlogger-wannabe side with this phone.

The 12MP Rear Camera with laser autofocus technology can help you capture sharp, bright, and livelier photos or videos in an instant.

Whether you are shooting inside your room or in any dark places, this phone will still encapsulate all the beautiful details of your selfie in the best light because of the 8MP front camera that has its own LED flash for the low-light environment.

Now, you don’t have to worry about blurry pictures, you can take them anywhere and anytime!

Though it is truly a big phone, it still comes handy and can be use with one hand because it has a slim design that can fit in your pocket or palm. The 6in edge-to-edge screen is packed with a Max Vision display that will help you enjoy the “crazy-wide” landscape view.

One of the things we so love about the Moto E5 Plus is the fingerprint scanner. You don’t always see a budget phone that offers all of these convenience!

If you think that’s all that this phone can offer, well, there’s more to that!

Both the Moto E5 Play and E5 Plus are water-repellent; you don’t have to worry about a little splash of water.

Don’t get it wrong for being waterproof, this phone can handle sprinkles, but not submersion to water.

Nonetheless, it makes it more amazing isn’t it?

Getting Unlock Errors? Here’s A Complete Guide On How To Troubleshoot It. 

Moto E5 Plus has more in store!

If you plan on taking a lot of photos, this phone can house all of them. It is packed with a 32GB internal memory and has an expandable external memory of up to 128GB via microSD.

Last but not the least, this phone runs on the Android 8.0 Oreo operating system. You get to enjoy all the beautiful features the new Android system has to offer, like a split screen when you have to do too many things like play and text people at the same time.

Now that’s what you call a phone! If you want this phone, grab one through MetroPCS and enjoy the life without worries.

Let me start off by saying that you can get this phone for FREE if you are planning to port over to MetroPCS. The same model is also available through T-Mobile (different version) with a $150 price tag, a little higher than MetroPCS, but with no significant difference on the tech specs. Do note that this phone may be cheap, but it doesn’t come unlocked. There’s only one way to permanently unlock your phone and that is through the Mobile Device Unlock app already pre-installed in the unit.

You Might Be Interested: How To Use The  Device Unlock App

Moto E5 Play: Nothing fancy but worth it

The Motorola E5 Play does not boast any fancy features, it doesn’t have a striking look that will make you “wow” in its appearance, but for the affordable price tag, it is no wonder one of the best value budget phones for the year 2018.

Although this phone came out together with its brother the Motorola E5 Plus, they are two worlds apart, and the latter is priced a little higher but for good reasons. It has a whopping 5000mAh battery and more advanced tech specs.

It runs on the Android Oreo 8.0 and has a 2GB of RAM packed together with a 1.4GHz Quad-core processor. It also has a huge 2800mAh battery that can last you a day on a single charge and comes with a 16GB built-in storage space which is expandable through a microSD card.

What makes this model a winner for us for its price is its 3.5mm headphone jack and fingerprint reader located at the back.

With these features on board, it tells us that Motorola had been all out on the technical specs and the quality of experience you would get for a budget phone.

You Might Be Interested: How To Troubleshoot Device Unlock App Errors- MetroPCS

Moto E5 Play Design

The Motorola E5 Play is has a straight up plastic back cover- it’s nothing shiny or glass-like on the outside, but it has a huge screen standing 5.2 in tall.

This is complemented by good front and rear cameras that both hhavea flash and autofocus features; giving you bright and crisp photos. The back camera is 8MP and the front camera is 5MP.

Despite having the tagline “Everyday. Extraordinary,” there is pretty much nothing extraordinary about the Motorola E5 Play on the outside that would make it stand out; only that it is fairly priced and has decent enough features for a smartphone in 2018.

But the unique selling point of this phone compared to the other budget smartphones is its water-repellent coating.

It is not waterproof; it is just water-repellent. This means that it cannot survive underwater submersion, but it cannot be easily penetrated by water.

It is indeed the bottom line Motorola phone but it doesn’t mean the E5 Play had compromised all the good stuff. It has a remarkably loud and clear speaker, ga ood camera with a flash, and a fingerprint sensor.

Moto E5 Play vs LG Aristo 2

It’s a bit unfair if we compare the Moto E5 Play to the Moto E5 Plus because they have a considerable price difference, so we will compare it to another phone within the same price range, which is the LG Aristo 2 when it comes to the features.

It’s clear to see that both phones have almost similar features. The better phone actually depends on personal preferences, whether you like a big phone like Motorola Moto E5 Play or a smaller phone like LG Aristo 2.

Learn More: MetroPCS Permanent Mobile Device Unlock

If you’re more concerned about the quality of the images and having a better camera, the LG Aristo 2 might be the best for you. But if you are more concerned about power and longer battery life, the Moto E5 Play is clearly the better option.

Moto E5 Play – Conclusion

The Motorola Moto E5 is a budget phone so if you plan to get this phone, always remember to manage your expectations.  Nothing about it has a wow factor, but it offers a remarkably clean Android experience and all the complete security necessities we would be looking for in a smartphone.

With the Moto E5 Play, Motorola has once again proven that they are truly a lord of budget phones always going beyond the price and giving a better experience every time.

The year 2017 has been a golden era for budget phones, and T-Mobile for sure did not let the opportunity go. And on the last quarter of the same year, the T-Mobile Revvl Plus was born; a huge 6-in phablet, and one of the first devices under T-Mobile’s own line of smartphones.

But, is this $175-phone even worth considering?

Well, you might want to give this phone a second look because we found out that it offers high-end features you would only often find in branded flagships.

Do you want to permanently unlock your T-Mobile Revvl Plus? Here’s how to do it. 

Technical Specs

Here’s an overview of what an almost $200-phone (after taxes) from T-Mobile gives you.

To make the decision-making process easier, we compared it with another branded phone under T-Mobile of the same price tag.

You’re welcome.

It’s clear that the T-Mobile Revvl Plus ticks check in almost every box, but there are a lot of things some people who had it don’t like about it. Let’s go through what the major deal breakers are when you get the T-Mobile Revvl Plus.

Can you use a T-Mobile Branded Phone like the Revvl Plus with another carrier?
Absolutely! This is how you do it.

Design Quality

Here comes the compromise. For the high-end features and fast processor, T-Mobile compromised how the Revvl Plus looked like on the outside. After all, aren’t we all concerned about the usability of the device at the end of the day?

However, a lot of people still value looks and being flashy as much as they do about speed and quality, and yet the majority of budget phones are designed this way.

And if you are planning to get a pretty phone like the Samsung Galaxy J3 Star instead of the Revvl Plus, you might be compromising a handful of better features along the way.

Having a budget phone doesn’t ultimately mean having an ugly-looking one, because if you are willing to spend a few bucks more you might just get a better-looking phone with similar specs just like the LG Stylo 4.

The phone’s design is not that bad after all. It has a touch of fuschia, the same as the brand’s color, and it comes with a fingerprint sensor, ergonomically located at the back.

For a $200-phone that’s a plus.

Gaming, Speed, And Overall Usability

If this is not the reason why the Revvl Plus only got 2.5 Stars from T-Mobile Customer reviews, we don’t know what is. A lot of people complain about the speed of the device, but since this is a budget phone, one should always manage their expectations.

The 2GB RAM on this phone makes it possible to run a heavy gaming app, but that doesn’t guarantee there will be no lags or hiccups. Since this is one of the very first phones from T-Mobile, it is expected that certain system glitches or bugs may still be unsolved.

Also, the phone comes with a lot of heavy bloat apps already, so not all of that 2GB RAM is ultimately usable; only a part of it is, and that could affect the phone’s overall performance.

Another deal breaker is the phone’s Operating System. It still runs on Android Nougat, and that means you are losing a handful of helpful features that is only present on the latest Android System Oreo.

With Oreo, you can have multiple displays, so you can split your screen and do two things at the same time, seamlessly. Oreo also has updated auto-fill features making it easier to login without typing in so much information.

Using this phone for social media and other related tasks should go very well, and multitasking on this phone should go smoothly as long as you are not running very heavy apps in the background.

Camera, Battery Life, Other Features

You hardly ever get cameras this nice under a $200 price, but T-Mobile even got us a dual-rear camera!

This phablet also comes with a huge battery that can last you all day! The phone comes with a huge screen, but it is neither too heavy nor too light, giving it a premium feel on your hands.

Want to permanently unlock your T-Mobile phone for another carrier? Let us help you! 

Conclusion

For the price, this budget phone is really worth considering. The phone is packed with a powerful processor, a huge battery, and a good supporting RAM for a much better performance.

It may have compromised the looks, but T-Mobile made sure to make the overall eperience on this device better than most budget phones you would find in the market.

Here at UnlockBase we like to show you a comparison between phones of the same brand, and this time, it’s LG’s turn. On the spotlight is LG K30 (X410TK), a new phone from the Seoul-based brand exclusively offered via T- Mobile.

We’ve had quite the feedback, so today, we are taking a look at how this specific LG phone compares to its brother phones which were also released this year.

You might be interested: Activate permanent Unlock on T-Mobile LG K30 using the “Device Unlock” App

LG K30 vs LG Stylo 4 vs LG Q7+

To differentiate, the LG Stylo 4’s unique selling point is the Stylus, the LG Q7+ its performance and protection, and the LG K30’s its price point and simplicity.

It is one of the most affordable LG phone this year, yet it still has premium features we would not usually see on a phone within its price range.

Do note that the above-mentioned phones come from different families of devices under LG. This means that they were created to be an improved version of their predecessors, and for the LG K30, it is the LG K20.

For the Stylo 4, it’s the Stylo 3, and so forth. That being said, each family of devices was created to have its own unique selling points, so our considerations for this article lies solely on the premise of practicality these phones serve and the selling point to which they are offered.

In case you are torn which among these T-Mobile budget phones you should be getting, we made a table to ease the decision-making process for you.

The table above shows the major features that you will actually be paying for the device you are going to get. It is clear that LG K30 is pretty much a decent device for the price it is being sold for, however, we don’t think it is worth the compromise.

If you are going to pay another $39 bucks, you can get a much bigger phone with a much bigger battery size, the LG Stylo 4. Also, the LG Stylo 4 has an additional feature, the Stylus pen, which is pretty much comparable to that of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

You might me interested: How to unlock LG K30 With T-Mobile “Device Unlock” App

On the other hand, both the LG Stylo 4 and LG K30 has the same amount of ROM/RAM power, which essentially means they are comparably as fast as the other, but the LG Stylo 4 has a much more powerful 1.8 GHz octa-core processor. It means that multitasking on this phone is fast and is more power efficient compared to the LG K30, but if you’re doing just the typical type of tasks, this difference in speed will probably go unnoticed.

There’s no question as to why the LG Q7+ seem to have more value because of its higher price. But for a mid range phone with that price tag, it is no doubt worth every penny. It is one of the few mid range phones that has IP68 water and dust resistance, packed with premium LG sound features comparable to the brand’s flagship.

LG K30 vs Other Budget Phones

Although LG K30 seems like an unwise choice for a budget phone compared to other LG budget phones, you might find it a better option compared to other budget phones from other brands in the same price range.

T-Mobile also offers Samsung Galaxy J7 Star, and it currently retails at $225 when paid in full, the phone has a slightly bigger screen and slightly better camera than that of the LG K30, but it doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor at the back.

The Un-Carrier also offer Moto E5 Plus, which retails at a higher price but comes with a fingerprint sensor and a much superior processor. It has a gigantic 5000mAh battery but it did have a few features compromised.

You might be interested: How to troubleshoot the “Device Unlock” App on your LG K30

The phone seemed to be very heavy and it has a low-resolution display, the cameras weren’t great, but they are not that bad either, but we are certain you’ll like the LG K30’s camera better.

Final Verdict

For the price, we think that the LG K30 is worth the penny, but if you are willing to spend a little more, you can actually get a better phone with a much faster processor and a better camera.

But if you’re a solid LG K-series fan, this phone surely is an up-game compared to the LG K20 in so many ways. We sure wished it had something more to offer especially that there are a lot of competing budget phones in the market, but it seems that LG K30 has given way for other LG phones to shine.

Do you own an LG K30 from T-Mobile? Care to share your experience with us?

The LG G7 ThinQ (LMG710TM), Thinks

That was a pun right there, but anyways, we’re not kidding when we say that this phone is really smart. The thoughtfulness of the creators and designers of this phone is even beyond genius. Here are a few reasons why.

You might me interested: How to unlock your LG G7 ThinQ trough T-Mobile “Device Unlock” App

Explore The World With A Powerful Camera

Using Google Lens this phone gives you the ability to search the web by simply focusing your camera on whatever thing or place you want to learn about. It gives you smart suggestions based on web search results and information.

The feature makes shopping and traveling easier and more efficient. For an avid online shopper, this is ultra-convenient. For a wanderlust, it makes getting lost a learning adventure.

You can access Google Lens through the Google Assistant button on the left side of the phone. Launch the Google Assistant by pressing once, and quickly double press to skip to the Google Lens.

There are many reasons why this flagship is called a ThinQ, and the AI Camera is one of them. With this intelligence on board, you will have an extra ‘creative eye’ that provides you with real-time and easy recommendations on how to better enhance your photo.

The camera automatically detects low light shots (in dark or poorly lit areas) so it adjusts the amount of brightness needed for you to get the best pictures.

The best thing about flagships are their camera, and LG surely didn’t let us down. It has two rear cameras, one is a wide angle lens, and the other is a standard angle lens with apertures of f/1.9 (LED Flash) and f/1.6 respectively.

You can have a portrait mode that lets you have a bokeh background effect or wide-angle shots that lets you capture beautiful scenery or a group of people.

There are several camera modes to choose from, such as the Manual photo mode that lets you change ISO, shutter speed, white balance and more.

Just like in previous models, you can also choose between 17 pre-set cinematic filters.

There is a whole lot more to discover with the LG G7 ThinQ’s camera that you couldn’t possibly ask for more.

You might be interested: Activate permanent Unlock  T-Mobile LG G7 ThinQ using the “Device Unlock” App

Superb Sound

LG has held on to the 3.5mm headphone jack that everyone seems to be ditching these days. If the sound is your #1 concern when buying a phone, this LG flagship is going to make it without a doubt. Here’s what you have on deck:

Hi-Fi Streaming. Reads MQA file. High-resolution audio streaming.

32- bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC. For crisp, out-of-the-world sound experience when you are listening to your wired headphones.

Hi- Fi Video and HD Audio Recorder. It has 2 high AOP microphones that record audio in higher quality. You have 3 different mode options depending on the sound you like when recording audio on a different track.

In line with that, you can also minimize Wind noise when recording a video.

Your mics are also combined to the phone’s receiver to record better sound quality even in loud and noisy environments.

Super Far-Field Voice Recognition. It recognizes and amplifies your voice even when you are not near it or when it is noisy around you when you are taking a call.

Boombox speaker, DTS:X 3D Surround Sound. These are two different features but they work as one. This is LG G7 ThinQ’s most unique selling point.

The Boombox speaker feature uses the phone’s internal space as a resonance chamber that results in an amplified bass and louder sound.

This is further improved by the DTS:X 3D Surround Sound which makes it more consistent and rich. It has a custom equalizer as well. The 7.1 Channel also brings cinematic effect to its sound.

The LG G7 ThinQ is going to win every audiophile’s heart.

Military-grade Durability

For a phone with all the above features, we would rarely expect more but LG just doesn’t stop there.

This flagship phone can withstand unbelievable conditions such as the Samsung S8 Active which retails for a $100 more. It is MIL-STG-810 Compliant which means it can withstand accidental drops.

It is IP68 water and dust resistant so it can withstand up to 1.5 meters of water submersion.

It also has a dedicated heat pipe that prevents the heat from being trapped and damaging the processor.

You might be interested: How to troubleshoot the “Device Unlock” App on your LG G7 ThinkQ

Battery Life, Processor, and Software

This phone just like most flagships has a huge 3000mAh battery that can last you all day even under heavy usage.

The large battery is complemented by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 2.8 GHz Processor + 1.7 GHz Octa-core, so you rest assured of fast and efficient use of power.

It is of course running in the latest Android System (Oreo). It is wireless charging capable, and has a USB Type-C charging port as well. It is Qualcomm Quick Charging 3.0 supported so you can rev up in just a few minutes.

ROM is 64GB expandable up to 2TB. RAM is 4GB ideal for heavy usage and can handle multi-tasking seamlessly.

Super Bright LCD Display.

With a peak brightness of over 1000 nits, this phone would let you still see your screen clearly even against direct sunlight.

The LCD screen also makes the screen really crisp, with images undistorted even in its peak brightness. Moreover, it is 30% more power efficient than the LG G6, the flagship predecessor.

The screen also has a Palm Rejection feature that prevents you from accidentally pressing any buttons with the highly sensitive touch screen.

Final Thoughts

We think that LG G7 ThinQ is deserving of its name, and buying one is definitely buying into an experience. For $750 it has offered way more thoughtfulness in design and feature than many flagship phones that retails for almost $1000. Surely, this one is one if the best Android flagship phones we’ve tried so far.

MetroPCS has graced us with 4 different new phones for the month of August, and among them is the LG Q7+ (Q610MA). It is a mid-range phone, with a $329 price tag but only $99 after store credits when you port over to MetroPCS. Unsurprisingly, this phone is also available on T-Mobile.

The price tag is surely very light (given that it’s being sold in MetroPCS) but the technical specifications and the features of this phone are on par even to that of the iPhone X. Let’s see why this phone maybe your next one (even if you are previously a diehard iOS user).

Let’s dig deeper, shall we?

You Might Be Interested: How to unlock the LG Q7+ with the Device Unlock App

Water-Resistant? Yes!

Have you ever heard of a budget phone with IP68 water and dust resistance? Probably not, because this is the first MetroPCS phone with IP68 level of water and dust protection released this year. And probably the only one from MetroPCS so far.

There is another mid-range phone with a similar water and dust resistance, HTC U11 Life which was released earlier this year, but it came with T-Mobile and not MetroPCS. It had IP67 water and dust resistance which means the LG Q7+ is far more superior than it was for that specific matter.

The LG Q7+ has curved edges which they say are 2.5D arc glass, which makes it easy and premium to hold at the same time looking like the iPhone X, although smaller in size.

For just a fraction of the price of the flagship high end phones, you can get the same feature and quality without spending as much. We are sure you’d want the LG Q7+ permanently sim unlocked so you can sport this on all your travels.

The Best Features? LG Q7+ Has Them

If you are thinking whether this phone has sacrificed the speed and accuracy for the price, you can consider yourself wrong.

This phone doesn’t have the biggest screen, standing only at 5.5 inches despite the competitions going for 6 inches recently.

But there is a reason for that.

Not only do phones with big screens eat up too much power for screen time, they are also very difficult to use single-handedly. The convenient size of the LG Q7+ make it easier to take selfies with just one hand, type, and socialize without getting busy on both. The size is chosen for ergonomic reasons more than its effect on battery life.

Other than that, it has a Full HD + Full Vision 18:9 Display which means your screen lets you enjoy full viewing experience.

You can take photos with portrait mode with its 16MP rear camera with f/2.2 aperture. The front-facing camera is 8MP and has f/1.9 aperture. It can record video in 1080p quality.

It is important to note that this phone also has  DTS:X surround sound just like LG G7 ThinQ, the brand’s flagship released May this year. The price is of course twice as much since the latter is a flagship, but the sound experience is the same.

With the DTS:X surround sound feature, you will enjoy a more immersive, richer, and louder sound experience than any phones you will find for the same price.

There is also a fingerprint sensor located at the back, and it is also a quick shortcut button to take photos, to scroll through notification bar controls, and to even take screenshots.

The phone’s Q Lens also lets you use your camera for search, and provide smart suggestions. This makes online shopping an easier task. Just point your camera at something and your phone will provide you information.

You Might Be Interested: How To Troubleshoot Device Unlock App Errors- MetroPCS

Performance

The LG Q7+ packs a huge 64GB of internal memory and 4GB of RAM which makes the fingerprint sensors work faster and the overall multi- tasking experience seamless.

It runs on the latest Android (Oreo) Operating System so you are assured that all the latest security and bug updates are all in. It also has a powerful 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor making the overall package complete.

With all of that in, you can play games, run data-heavy apps, and do much at the same time.

The only caveat on this phone is the battery size, which is only 2980mAh. So even with a fast processor and the latest Android system the phone may not last a day if you use a lot of heavy apps.

But with a fast charging feature it is as easy to recharge and get the power you need in just a few minutes to use your phone for the rest of the day.

Overall Impression

The LG Q7+ is a mid-range phone with premium features you can only find on a flagship. With a FullVision Display and DTS:X surround sound feature, you will enjoy watching movies, playing games and listening to music with a more immersive experience.

It also has one of the best processors and operating systems available, making the total experience with the phone seamless, and without lag. You will like the phone even if you play games and do a lot of things at the same time.

Design-wise the phone is one of the best looking LG phones we’ve seen so far. And with an IP68 water and dust resistance level you can bring this phone to any adventure or travels and get the most out of it.

Want to Permanently Unlock Your LG Q7+ from MetroPCS?  Click here: MetroPCS Permanent Mobile Device Unlock.

Were you looking for a phone with a huge battery, a dual-rear facing camera, a 6-inches full HD Display with the latest Android OS?

Well, look no more! Just when you thought a budget phone will always have the “budget” features, Alcatel has come up with something that will surely give your wallets and your hearts a delight! Because of all the things that you’ve been wanting and looking for are now on a phone that retails at only $179 on MetroPCS. And yes, that’s the Alcatel 7!

And did I tell you you can get it at $29 if you port over to MetroPCS?

So, What Makes It Different? 

The Alcatel 7 is the 8th phone released by the US-based company this year. It is their flagship phone for 2018.

What You’ll Get: A huge 6in FHD screen, a gigantic 4000mAh battery, a TCL custom-built screen, 12MP+ 2MP dual rear- camera, Fast Charging, IR Blaster, and the latest Android OS.

The Alcatel 7 is a sure bang for the buck.

Special Features

The Alcatel 7’s most underappreciated feature is the IR Blaster that lets you use it as an infrared remote control to your TV or your gaming consoles. The IR blaster is not a novelty as many other phone brands like Xiaomi and Samsung used to put this feature as well on many of their phone models.

But for the added convenience, it sure makes a budget phone stand out.

Aside from that, the Alcatel 7 also has a fingerprint sensor and a Face Key feature which obviously lets you add biometrics such as your fingerprint and face respectively to lock and unlock your phone.

Alcatel 7 also has an upgraded screen, custom-built by TCL, a US-based award-winning Television, and consumer electronics brand.

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Performance

If you are used to running heavy apps or softwares on your phone, the Alcatel 7 would come off as a ‘laggy’ phone to you.

But if your usage isn’t on the heavy side, then a 2GB RAM should be enough to keep your phone running smoothly.

The processor isn’t the best on its department but it is not that bad either. It is running on a Mediatek Helio octa core processor with speeds of up to 2.5 Ghz. It is also running on the latest Android operating system, Android 8.1.0 Oreo.

And by going with the trend, Alcatel was able to create this flagship with premium features that would otherwise be only available to high end flagships retailing 4 times its current market price.

Design

The phone screen is really big, standing 6 inches, as mentioned earlier. It’s clear that this phone is really meant for video entertainment. At the top of the screen is a front 8MP wide angle camera and the LED flash.

At the bottom there are speakers and a USB Type-C port for Fast Charging. On the right hand side are the volume and power control buttons. On the left hand side you have the sim and memory card slot. And at the top is the 3.5mm headphone jack with the IR Blaster.

The back cover of the Alcatel 7 is not removable, which means there’s no way to replace the battery in case it dies out.

The back also holds the fingerprint sensor and sitting on top of it is a dual camera for an image with more depth.

The phone packs a 32GB of ROM with only 25GB usable. Part of the phone’s memory is being taken by their featured apps such as the CloserTV and the Camera which loads a lot of Social Media features.

The CloserTV app is an Alcatel-exclusive app for online streaming. It is your all-in-one place for all things streaming and cable TV so you can watch your favorite series or movies easier. This is also the reason why they partnered with TCL.

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Overall Impression

The Alcatel 7 has enough features to stay connected and social. The phone compares to mid-range phones when it comes to features, although, we admit it doesn’t the best processors available on the market. But for the price, it really is worth it.

If you are undecided as to which phone you’re going to get, especially now that MetroPCS just released 4 phones recently, we’ve compared the specs of each phone for you to buy.

You’re absolutely welcome.

*We included the price because price determines what you’ll actually get.*

For the price, the Alcatel 7 is surely worth every penny.

Conclusion

Do you have an Alcatel 7? Want to share your experience? Let’s start a discussion and drop us a comment!

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It’s almost a year since it’s release and the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active still has people raving. The Galaxy Active Series started way back 2013 with the Samsung Galaxy S4, but since then it has continued to improve this flagship series into one of the best in its chosen niche.

And if you haven’t been introduced to the Galaxy Active Series yet, let us take this opportunity to indulge you with a few valued facts about this “rugged” flagship.

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The Galaxy Active Series

Let’s jump to the best part, the Samsung Galaxy Active Series is made for every butterfinger. And not just them: it is also for every adrenaline-junkie and outdoor adventurer you know.

For starters, it has a shatter-resistant screen. Dare to drop it if you must.If you are looking for a high-end full-screen phone that can withstand every punishment you can think of, this is it.

Yes. This is it.

It is Mil-std-810g compliant, which means it has gone through a series of “environmental and engineering tests” according to the United States Military Equipment Standards. And for consumer electronics in particular, this includes a series of Drop tests that are 4ft high (or higher) on plywood and concrete bottom floors.

Aside from the rigorous drop tests, this handset device has also gone through extreme hot or cold temperatures, immersion to water, and extreme humidity and dusts to see if there are any negative effects or impairments on the device’s condition.

Do note that having passed “military standards” doesn’t mean you can bring this phone to the actual warzones or frontlines. Again, these tests are within the consumer electronics context.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, in particular, has a military-grade body and metal framing that is packed with a gargantuan battery (4000mAh) that can last you more than a day on heavy usage. On top of that, it is wireless charging capable.

Lastly, the phone is built with better antennas (600MHz) for greater wireless coverage even in closed buildings and areas where signal usually becomes scarce for normal phones.

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It’s the S9 Season, so why the S8 Active?

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Active is rumored to be released between September to November 2018, about the same time its predecessor was introduced last year. However, a lot of reputable tech sites think it’s not likely to be released this year due to the fact that maybe Samsung may need more time to let the other flagships work its way into the market, especially with the “slow sales” the Samsung S9 is experiencing at the moment.

While we’re at it, let us tell you why the Samsung S8 Active is worth the penny over Samsung S9 Active (if it does go out).

**Note: Samsung Galaxy S9 Active specs may not be accurate.**

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Active and the rumored S9 Active will not have much difference on the interface, except for the latter having the latest Qualcomm 845 Processor, which helps deal with better power and system efficiency, and some most requested physical buttons that Samsung phased out ever since the S8 Active.

If you are not ready to pay a whopping price to have just a slight improvement in the internal processor and a few physical buttons, the Samsung S9 active may not be the best bang for your buck.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is currently retailing at $850 without a contract with T-Mobile, and once the Samsung Galaxy S9 Active is out, there’s a high chance that its price is going down to make way for the newer flagship.

We’ve always seen Samsung devices drop its price for the older flagships and top hefty prices on premium latest releases, so this brings no surprises to your wallets. However, since the S9 Active doesn’t have any release rumors yet at the moment, you can hold your horses until you remove any of your hesitations.

But as for us, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active stays the best unless the S9 Active gives something completely unthinkable and out-of-the-ordinary into the table. We can wait and see.

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Conclusion

So as for that burning question, is the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S8 Active really rugged? Well, that’s for you to decide. The “rugged” concept is, as always,  subject to personal opinion.

But with the facts and specs we presented here, we are hoping we were able to help you find that out.

Do you already own a Samsung Galaxy S8 Active? How was it? Care to share?

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In the name of having fun or just being “in the trend,” a lot of people unknowingly download apps that are actually harming their device, and even their privacy.

Recently, Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg has been under fire and was asked to testify in the Senate and in the Congress regarding multiple massive data breaches that may have affected the US election on 2016.

Collected as he was during the interview, the young Silicon Valley billionaire admitted that there was a failure on their end to track how investors and advertisers access and use the data gathered from Facebook’s pool of over 2 billion users.

While people innocently think that the information they share on Facebook don’t matter because they aren’t celebrities, one should still be vigilant and informed about the things that is going on in the whole world of Social Media and not just on Facebook.

If you’re an avid Facebook user, here are a few of our tips to improve your privacy in this particular social media platform.

1. Don’t just say ‘Yes’ to app permission pop-ups. Carefully examine what you are permitting access to the app.

We all seem to be too used with just clicking yes on every privacy policy we see nowadays. And since we don’t seem to have any other choice at all but say yes, we skip reading, skim while scrolling fast, and absentmindedly click on ‘I accept’ without essentially knowing what we are accepting in the first place.

Ooops. #guilty.

If you haven’t been reading the privacy policies all along, you are putting yourself at risk to so many harmful things. Yes, they can use the data you shared for their own goals, which could be something they don’t want you to know, or they are selling it to an entity you don’t want anything to do with.

To cite an example, many developers warned the people about the viral Chinese app Pitu that lets people insert their faces in a “Wuzetian” cosplay. The app is thought to be “harvesting” a lot of data that is not related at all to the use of the app. It can record audio, know your exact location, and get phone logs that might contain private information like your password.

Before this, there was also a viral flashlight app that records conversations and that sends the recordings to Beijing. Quite alarming.

2. Personality Quizzes are fun, but it comes at a price.

We love getting to know ourselves and so it seems perfectly harmless to know “Which friend secretly loves you?” or “If you were a food, what will you be?”

Crazy questions like this plus a dash of little creativity, and then bam! You are going to see this for the next 5 days on your timeline. Everyone seems to do it, so what’s the harm in trying, right?

If you remember, once you click on a specific personality quiz you are redirected to a page outside Facebook, and you will be asked to either “log in through Facebook” or create an account.

Of course the Login button is right there screaming at you, and who likes the hassle of creating an account, creating a new password, etc? Besides, we have enough passwords to remember and this is just a personality quiz, so what’s the big deal?

You talk yourself through it for about a second and then you just allowed the site to “have access of your public profile, friends, photos, etc etc.”

Wow. Is it making sense?

3. Don’t click random suspicious videos even if they are sent by friends.

This is pretty obvious but Messenger, the official messaging app by Facebook, is being used to spread videos that when clicked are actually going to download a spyware or malware that may harm your computer or mobile phone.

Aside from potentially harming your device, some of these Messenger viruses also harm other people in your friends list or contact list by sending the same message to their Messenger coming from you.

If you receive any of it, just delete the conversation to get rid of it once and for all, or if you can’t for some reasons, just get out of the page and inform your friend who sent the message to tell other people in her friends list.

4. Don’t put your birthday, phone number, and email address publicly on Facebook.

We like to announce and share publicly many of our important life events, including our birthdays. Also, searching using phone numbers was one of the most convenient ways to find someone on Facebook to get in touch with old friends, family, etc.

However, these things put your privacy at risk. Because of that, Facebook has been an easy tool for phishing. You could have your identity stolen and the next thing you know it has ruined your life miserably.

Yeah, it’s nice to receive greetings from many people during your birthday, but if they truly care, you never have to tell them nor let Facebook notify them about it.

Conclusion

All the drama that’s going on in the US Senate right now with Mark Zuckerberg in the spotlight is not just about his or Facebook’s privacy failures. It also puts into light, how lightly people nowadays take their privacy, and how they are risking themselves to so many threats even to their knowledge.

‘Free’ Apps or things come at a price. Be sure it’s not your privacy.