UnlockBase

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.

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

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.

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

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!

Want to Unlock Your Alcatel 7 from MetroPCS? Get it here for as low as $6.90! FASTEST TURNAROUND TIME! The lowest offer online! Get this steal deal only from UnlockBase! Click Here >> MetroPCS Permanent Mobile Device Unlock.

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.

You Might Be Interested: How To Unlock Your T-Mobile Phone Through Device Unlock App

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.

You Might Be Interested: Activate Permanent Unlock On T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S8 Active’s Device Unlock App With Unlockbase

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.

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

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?

Want to unlock your Samsung Galaxy S8 Active from T-Mobile? We offer PERMANENT UNLOCK using your phone’s Device Unlock App.

The LG Stylo 4 was recently released by MetroPCS, although it was first rumored to be a part of T-Mobile. LG had released a lot of phones lately, including the LG Stylus Series, and many users are confused whether they should upgrade to that or this specific model. The LG Stylo 4 is valued $239 in MetroPCS but they’ve cut it down to $179 as an in-store credit (discount). It is also being offered by Cricket Wireless and it retails at $229.99.

There are a lot of offers from MetroPCS now, including a FREE iPhone SE when you SWITCH, but new things always fascinate us. And besides, who wants an expensive iPhone that is clearly a downgrade of Apple’s earlier versions?

Hopefully, through this article, we will be able to help you answer a few of your questions. Is it worth to upgrade to LG Stylo 4? What makes it standout from the rest of its competition? Stay tuned…

LG Stylo 4 Versus Other Midrange

LG Stylo 4 is the total definition of an “up” game from LG. This year, the Seoul-based tech giant geared into increasing screen size to stand out from other major competitions that are already competing in the 6 inches arena.

The LG Stylo 4 stands gigantic at 6.2 inches and the iPhone SE will look like a midget standing only 4.87 inches tall. Other 2018 mid- range phones like the Samsung J7 Prime stands only 5.5 inches, while the previous version LG Stylo 3 Plus stands 5.7 inches.

This year, LG is trying to break through the mid range barrier by proving that size really matters, and the LG Stylo 4 does a very great job at standing out, and well, standing tall.

The Stylo 4’s huge screen full-vision display really needs a big battery, we are yet to hear the reviews of battery life on this one just because it’s pretty new, but it is disappointing that it only has a 3300mAh battery, only slightly larger than the previous version Stylo 3 Plus which has 3200mAh.

Still on this latest series, LG is trying to bring people the comfort of having a phone with a stylus, that is commonly known to be an arena for the Samsung Galaxy Note series. The LG counterpart is nowhere near half the price of any Samsung Galaxy Note phone but it sure is more than decent for its price.

It also has a built-in stylus and has an updated software for you to take notes and create GIFS conveniently.

Just like the usual mid-range phone, the Stylo 4 has enough machinery to compete- 2 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM, runs on Android 8.1, and an octa-core Snapdragon processor.

You’d love the fact that at such a low price point it already has a fingerprint processor- that is definitely one step ahead the competition. Well done, LG.

The fingerprint sensor also acts as a quick access button that is programmed to several features.

It has facial scan, but of course, that is not going to win against the iPhone X.

It also charges fast through a reverse USB type C charger, so that’s a big plus for the LG Stylo 4.

The cameras aren’t bad but they aren’t great either. The main camera is 13MP and the front camera is 5MP with wide-angle lens. There’s a Portrait mode that lets you blur your background like a DSLR trick, but since the images are gradient at night, that trick is not going to work.

There’s more to the camera than insta-perfect pictures, because with the QLens feature of this phone, you can use your captured images to search for something online. But then again, that isn’t something new.

As for the audio, it has a DTS:X Surround sound feature, not sure if you’re the audiophile type that notices the sound difference no matter how little, but boy are the speakers awesome.

Final Verdict: Unlocking LG Stylo 4

For a mid-range phone, the LG Stylo 4 really cuts it to the budget. For a budget phone, it already has enough features that is necessary for security and good performance. And yet, LG decided to go beyond that and they’ve improved so much since the LG Stylo 3 Plus.

We’re hoping LG makes more of these and keep improving them year after year, but we don’t think the consumers are ready for a drastic price increase, though.

Bottomline is, LG Stylo 4 is a great phone for those who are in a budget.

If you bought one from MetroPCS and want to use it with other providers, UnlockBase can help you Unlock LG Stylo 4. There is nothing more useful than a phone that can be used in multiple networks, wherever you are in the world.

That’s it for the LG Stylo 4.

Do you think we missed anything? Got any reviews for LG Stylo 4? Tell us about it and comment down below!

After Apple’s release of the iPhone X, tech geeks always thought Samsung would come up with something as explosive and grandiose as that of the iPhone X, and that everyone thought of phones that are “foldable” coming from Samsung.

The tech giant already admitted that they are far from making that possible on the Samsung S9, but we are still lowkey expecting something that spectacular is going to happen.

Nonetheless, Samsung S9 is still a commendable phone with commendable features. Looking at it at first glance would make you think it is just like its predecessors Samsung S7 or S8, but it is definitely a notch higher than these phones.

Who champs? S9 vis-a-vis S8

You are probably wondering whether you should upgrade to the S9 or if it’s better for you to just wait and save up for the much grander Android coming up later this year (who knows?). However, Samsung S9 is considerably one of the best phones available in the market today and it has the best specs we expect from a flagship so far.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 may look like only an upgraded version of the S8 but it has a more advanced and capable hardware, which can greatly help preserve the battery life, and it also has a more ergonomic design and user interface that adds convenience and character to the flagship phone.

However, if you don’t own an S8 or S8+ yet and you plan to own a Samsung flagship next, you are better advised to settle with the S8. With the S9 coming in the shelves to replace the S8, the prices are surely going to go down as service providers are sure to offer big discounts and deals on the previous flagship.

Also, an unlocked Samsung S8 is currently over a $100 less than the current price of the factory unlocked Samsung S9, and the price is surely going to go down a few more hundred bucks once the S9 takes off in the market and S8 is going to be replaced.

We will compare both of the phone models in the sections below to help you know just what you are letting go when you choose the S8 over the S9.

Design: S9

• Premium glass and metal build

• Minimalized curve bezels

• 5.8 inches for S9, 6.2 inches for S9+

• 3000mAh (same as S8)

For the design, we’d like to say S9 is the winner. Although they look just similar, the Samsung S9 is a combination of customer inputs from the previous S- series phones that the company had gathered over the years.

S9 still has a 5.8 inch Infinity Display, which is practically the same size with the S8, except that there’s a slight difference on how they designed it. The infinity display on the S8 goes edge-to-edge, that it is almost impossible not to accidentally press the screen and unknowingly open apps when you are merely just holding the phone. Although this design became a novelty with the S6 Edge, it was also quite annoying.

Samsung got the public’s message (3 years later) and that’s why they had changed how the Infinity Display on the S9 looks like. Technically, it is still edge-to-edge except that the curve on the sides is no longer part of the screen.

Samsung S9 looks like a typical 2017 phone; it’s bezel-less and gargantuan in size. We are not sure if the Samsung S9 design is going to be a trendsetter this year, since it’s the first flagship phone to come out this year.

Security

• Ergonomic Fingerprint Sensor

• Combined Iris Scanner and Face Unlock

Aside from the screen, the S9 also has a more ergonomic placement of the fingerprint sensor. You can easily reach for the fingerprint sensor and it works quite fast as well. We consider this a smart move from Samsung because Apple didn’t keep the Touch ID- which many iPhone fans didn’t like.

Samsung also tried to enhance their Face Unlock by combining the Iris Scanner, which they termed as the Intelligent Scanner . The intelligent scanner works in the same way as that of the iPhone Face Unlock, however, it uses two different biometric data simultaneously.

There were no issues about the Face Unlock with the Samsung S9 as it is smart enough to deny an unlock using a photo. The security seemed very perfectly tailored, the only caveat is that you can only unlock the phone at a certain angle as the phone needs to scan your irises clearly for it to unlock. Unlike the iPhone X which can unlock your phone from multiple angles, the Samsung S9’s Intelligent Scanner doesn’t have 360 degree view to detect your face from any angle.  

This results to a rather awkward and unnatural way of unlocking the phone, but we are hopeful that Samsung will be able to improve this feature on the upcoming models.

Display: S9- Slightly better

• 5.8-inch AMOLED (1440 x 2560)

• 5.8-inch OLED (1440 x 2560)

Samsung s9’s display is slightly better than that of the S8. It still has an AMOLED screen + HDR for better video quality- pretty much the same specs. The S9 also has a brighter screen and it performs better than its predecessor.

Audio: S9

• 3.5mm Headphone jack

• Front-facing speakers (not present on S8)

Samsung is keeping the headphone jack despite the ditch-the-headphone-jack trend that other phone manufacturers are doing.

Apple did it first and now phone manufacturers such as Sony are following the tracks and replacing the headphone jack with a USB type C of audio hub. That certainly doesn’t invite the audiophiles who loves immersive music they can only enjoy with a headphone. That’s one ball in the basket for the Samsung S9.

Also, Samsung S9 now has front-facing speakers which also improves the way sound gets out of the device.

Camera

• 12 MP sensor at the back

• Mechanical aperture shift f/2.4 and f/1.5 depending on the environment

• S9+ has two times optical zoom (similar to Note 8)

• Super slow motion 960fps (HDR)

The S9 also has an improved camera, with two different apertures that shifts mechanically depending on the light. That ensures you can have awesome images both in high and low light and especially useful such as when taking images at night.

Aside from mechanical aperture shift,  the Samsung S9 also has a super slow motion feature just like that of the Sony Xperia XZ Pro, and at 960 frames per second, you are sure to get awesome videos out of a mere second in your life.

It seemed like Samsung went all out with their camera this year, because the Samsung S9 also has two times optical zoom which is similar to last year’s flagship Galaxy Note 8. Combine these awesome features and you have an amazing camera phone that you can take with you day and night.

Hardware and Specs

• IP68 Water Resistant

• MicroSD Slot

• USB Type-C

• Snapdragon 845/ Exynos 8895 (Europe) way better than the S8

It’s no surprise that the Samsung S9 has an IP68 level of water resistance as what the previous models have. What’s surprisingly awesome this time is that Samsung S9 runs on the best chipset available to day, Snapdragon 845. The Samsung Galaxy S8 runs on a Snapdragon 835 headset, which as the numbers suggests, is a second-rate chipset compared to the new one.

The super fast chipset is expected to help the Samsung S9 save and manage its battery life for longer use. With an efficient chipset onboard, multitasking on this phone will not only be seamless, it will also be power efficient.

Software: S9

• Novelty: AR Emoji

• Enhanced Bixby

• 4GB RAM (S9); 6GB RAM (S9+)

• 64GB or 256GB ROM

• Android Oreo

Samsung may have been short of time when they created the AR Emoji as it clearly seemed like a rush development. It’s easy to assume this is how Samsung claps back on the Animoji of the iPhone X, but it wasn’t a bad try.

On the other hand, Samsung runs on Android Oreo, which is the latest version so far, and for that we give Samsung a thumbs up. Samsung S9 is also available on two different memory capacity versions 64GB or 256 GB and that means you can store a whole lot of data on this one.

While that is not a new thing, it’s sad to note that the Samsung S9 only has 4GB RAM, and only the S9+ has a 6GB RAM capacity. That’s a pretty clever marketing tactic right there, but we’re not sure if the Samsung S9+ can rely on that alone  to sell.

Takeaway

Although there was clearly no novelty on the Samsung S9, it is surely a sophisticated and convenient upgrade to that of its predecessors. Samsung finally applied the rules of constructive criticism among its flagship products, and they made the Samsung S9 almost infallible in every angle.

They can do better with the AR Emoji and the Intelligent scanner, though.

Among the common phone unlock errors is the “Invalid MMI Code Error”. This error happens rarely on other phone brands except the Samsung Galaxy series that are dual sim, or phones that can cater two different sim cards from two different networks at the same time.

Before we hop onto the troubleshooting, let’s briefly go through the technical aspect of MMI codes. 

What Are MMI Codes?

MMI codes or Man-Machine Codes, are special codes you dial on your phone to communicate with your phone,  SIM, or with your service provider’s network operator computers. By dialing MMI codes on your phone you will be able to obtain valuable data or change phone/ sim settings you can’t access through the phone’s user interface.

MMI codes usually contain special characters such as the asterisk * and the # hash.

Among the most common MMI codes used to communicate with your phone is  *#06#, and it is the code to get your phone’s IMEI/Serial number.

Another set of MMI codes are USSD codes. They are also known as Quick Codes or Feature Codes, and they are used in GSM cellular telephones to communicate with their mobile network operators. You often use USSD codes to check your prepaid card balance.

How do MMI Codes work?

When you dial the MMI code in your phone, it is processed by your phone’s MMI reader, and if or when it does not recognize the code, it is then sent to the network verbatim.

Say for example, you have sent the code *09876*54321# your phone’s MMI parser will send the “command” to the phone, and if it doesn’t recognize the code as an internal command, it will then send it to your network operator verbatim.

Your network has a specific list of MMI codes they use on their own so if it returns with a “Connection Problem or invalid MMI code” message, it means that the MMI code you have used is not recognized or your phone failed to connect to your network.

How To Resolve MMI Code Error

Fixing an MMI code error is fairly easy and in order to resolve the issue, we need to isolate the probable causes. To do this, we need to examine the path that the MMI code goes to before it reaches your network.

First, the MMI code is processed by your phone. The phone then checks whether the MMI code is an internal command; if not, the phone then sends it to the network or your service provider. Your service provider’s network computers then reads the code and sends the message back to your phone.

If you are getting an invalid MMI code error, there are only three possibilities.

(1) You have poor signal or not getting network connection.

(2) You have dialed the wrong MMI code.

(3) Your MMI code was sent to the wrong network. (Dual-sim phones)

Note: Do not mistake the MMI Code to be the same code UnlockBase has sent you. UnlockBase only sends Sim Unlock Codes and do not personally have your MMI code information. You can get the correct MMI code from your current service provider (see sim card information).

Here are 5 quick and easy ways to solve Invalid MMI Code error

1. Check the code you are using. Add additional special characters.

You can try adding a comma ( , )at the end of the code before you send it. The comma, as an additional character will tell your phone to overlook other errors on the phone and send it to the network.

Here’s an example:

If your code is *3457*9# and it results to an error, you can dial it with an added comma in the end. Like this,

*3457*9#,

If the comma doesn’t work, you can insert + after the asterisk and before the first digit. However, this code only works when the first character when your code starts with an asterisk *. For example:

*+3457*9#

The plus ( + ) sign will tell your phone to force process the execution and overlook other phone errors that may be in the way.

2. Check your Network Connection Settings.

Another reason why your phone sends you an MMI error is the lack of network connection. If the MMI code you are sending is a code to check your prepaid balance, or anything that is specifically a function of your network operator, you need to make sure that your phone is connected to your network.

If you are otherwise not getting any signal bars, your phone is probably not yet connected to your network and you have to reconnect to it manually. Most of the time it connects automatically but there are also times when you have to manually select your service provider in order to connect to their network.

Here’s how you do it:

• Go to Settings
• Choose Wireless and Networks
• More Networks (If you are using two different sim cards, choose the sim card you wish to use)
• Select Mobile Network
• Choose Network
• Manual Selection (Phone will start searching for available networks)
• Choose the network you wish to connect to. You have to wait a few seconds for the phone to connect or you may have to repeat the process over until your phone is connected. Unless you get the signal bars going, you won’t be able solve the MMI code error (network-specific functions).

This is the usual process for most Android devices with stock Android ROM and user interface. You know your phone is already connected to your mobile network when you are getting signal bars that shows 4G, LTE, 3G, etc. You can try dialling the MMI code again.

3. Disable or use only one sim card.

If you are using two sim cards and your calls, text, or data automatically route to one specific network on your phone without asking you to manually choose network, there’s a possibility that your phone is sending the MMI code to the wrong network.

In order to isolate the issue you have three possible options; (1)  set your phone to prompt for manual selection of network, (2) disable one of the sim cards, and (3) remove the other sim card physically.

You have to set your phone to prompt for manual mobile network selection to “Always ask” before making a call. You can do this by going into Settings > Sim Settings /Dual Sim Settings >  Voice/Call > Always Ask.

On the other hand, if you wish to disable the other sim card, just slide off the network name of the sim card you want to disable using the same route as earlier. The third option no matter how inconvenient, can be the most effective way to isolate the problem. Removing the other sim card physically will automatically make your phone choose the network of the only sim card left.

4. Restart your phone.

Restarting your phone refreshes it from its most recent operations. Sometimes errors on the phone are just a product of simple system hiccups that can be solved only through a restart, so it’s advisable your restart your phone when all the other steps have been taken. Most of the time simply restarting your phone resolves the issue.

5.  Go To Safe Mode

There are also cases when the phone’s MMI code error is caused by an app or a specific software installed the phone. Many users have been able to resolve the MMI code error by removing certain apps on their phone that’s hindering the code to go through the network operator.

When you reboot into Safe Mode, your phone will not load any third-party apps and only the stock apps that came with the original OS will be available. Furthermore, this means that all the apps you have downloaded will not be available in Safe mode, and this will help you determine whether any of the apps you have manually downloaded and installed are causing the MMI code error.

Going to Safe Mode is the second to the last resort, if only all the before mentioned possible resolutions have been attempted many times. It is fairly easy to do and your phone will go back to its normal state once you reboot it again.

Here’s how to enter into Safe Mode:

• Tap and hold power button (off) for a few seconds until your phone flashes a prompt box that confirms you want to reboot into safe mode.
• Tap ok and phone will not restart to Safe Mode.

Once you are in Safe Mode, try entering the MMI code again and see if you are seeing the same error. If you are able to go through this time, then it means one of the apps you downloaded in your phone is causing the problem.

Conclusion

MMI code errors are easy to fix and if you think you are lost or are needing help with this problem, don’t hesitate to talk to us. We are a global enterprise with 24/7 support and we are ready to help you anytime!

Did we miss anything here? Did you experience this error in the past? How did you solve it? Drop it in the comments!

If you still haven’t gotten yourself a new phone or if you are looking for a cheap steal, then MetroPCS has got something for you. ZTE Avid 4 is out in MetroPCS and just like its brothers in the ZTE family, it is mid-ranged price and a perfect budget phone for anyone who wants value for money more than fancy brands or flagships.

The phone comes at a bargain price of $39USD (*after all discount and rebates) without contract and you can easily pick one from any MetroPCS stores near you. If this phone doesn’t convince you enough or if you are looking for more options you can take a look at these MetroPCS Phones of 2017 Under $100USD.

You’ll be amazed how far your one hundred bucks is going to get you, but for now, let’s take a look at what ZTE Avid 4 has got to offer by comparing it to other phones in the budget phone department.

Build

ZTE Avid 4 isn’t a show-stopper type because it doesn’t have a glossy glass front and back cover, but what it boasts instead is a big 5” screen with an FWVGA display. It does look like a mini ZTE Blade Z Max, standing at 6”, which you can get at a meager *$99 (after all discount and rebate offers).

It is 4G LTE enabled which runs perfectly on the fast MetroPCS network. The biggest caveat on this specific model is that it comes only in one color – BLACK. On the other hand, if you are fan of headsets, this phone will not disappoint you because it has a 3.5mm headphone jack sitting at the top.

Software Interface

Unlike most mid-range phones, this ZTE Avid 4 doesn’t have any fingerprint sensors for security so you’ll have to stick with the basic password or pin to lock your phone.

The ZTE Avid 4 also has a clean and spacious dock that gives you the basic apps and features like most Android devices. It’s running on Ice Cream Sandwich and it has 1.1GHz Quad Core Processor, so you can consider that it is fast, interactive, and smooth when using multiple apps at the same time.

The phone’s Settings is organized just like any stock Android. It has 32GB ROM and 2GB RAM which gives a pretty decent amount of storage for all your pictures and a seamless music and video streaming, and mobile gaming. The internal memory is unfortunately not expandable via MicroSD Card but only up to 32GB.

The phone is also pretty straightforward to use – that is if you are used to using Android.

Camera and Battery Life

The battery life in the ZTE Avid 4 is pretty disappointing because it only has an average of 9 hours talk time from its 2520mAh battery. And compared to the ZTE Blade Z Max it does come almost half the battery life because it has a whopping 4080mAh and can handle up to 31 hours of talk time.

You can use its USB port to charge it or in transferring data from your phone to your computer or vise versa.

This phone isn’t really the best in the mid-range camera department but it prides a few features that you might also like. It has a 5MP autofocus main camera. You can take videos in Panorama mode and you can also take photos while recording a video at the same time.

Other than this, the camera on this one is pretty average and wouldn’t stand out in the tight mid-range or budget phone competition. It is not even on par with other ZTE released mid-range phones. However, considering the price, it surely is a bang for the buck.

Takeaway

The ZTE Avid 4 wouldn’t really stand out compared to its other ZTE brothers nor to other mid-range phones out there. Nonetheless, considering its specs and features, we can safely assume that it does more for its price tag.

Want to Unlock Your ZTE Avid 4?

An unlocked ZTE Avid 4 phone is a good gift for yourself or for a friend. It could serve as your budget back up phone or you can give it to someone who is using a different network or maybe living in a different country.

UnlockBase can unlock your ZTE Avid 4 phone in a fast, easy, and convenient way. You wouldn’t have to break the bank or send your phone over to get it unlocked. If you’re ready to unlock your ZTE Avid 4 now, you can go here.

If you have questions or if you need help you can also contact our chat and email support team who are online 24/7 to cater your needs.