What's good
- Great battery life
- XLTE support
- Snappy performance
- Cheap price
What's bad
- Weak camera
- Average display
- So-so call quality
- Low internal storage
LG has always been great at catering to the budget-friendly crowd. The Lucid series has been quite popular. With today’s emphasis on the entry-level market, does LG still have what it takes to compete with the Verizon-exclusive Lucid 3? We’ve checked out what the reviews have to say and it’s looking pretty good.
Virtually every review for the LG Lucid 3 notes the quality of the design. PC Magazine states that the device “feels better built and faster than its price tag might suggest.” Android Central praised it, calling it “gorgeous and sturdy while never revealing its budget-friendly background.” If you are a fan of the design of the G2, the Lucid 3 is very similar, just with traditional button placement.
The phone features a 4.7-inch display running at 960-by-540 resolution. While this is high enough resolution to keep images clear and crisp, PC Magazine notes, “Colors look oversaturated, while blacks look a bit washed out.” Unlike many budget phones, however, the display on Lucid 3 offers plenty of brightness. CNet pointed out that the display is easy to view in direct sunlight.
Most reviews also praised the phone’s performance. The combination of mid-range display, quad-core processing and 1GB of RAM results in a phone with plenty of power for everyday tasks and even a little extra pep for gaming or multitasking. Android Authority called the phone “remarkably speedy.”
The lower screen resolution also seems to help with battery life. CNet states, “the 2,440mAh battery has been observed to be great.” Android Authority backs up the claim, saying, “Real time usage was impressive.” Most reviews noted that with light to moderate usage, the device should have no problem lasting a full day on a single charge.
Unfortunately, there we a few weaker aspects of the device pointed out in reviews as well. Many reviews noted that call quality was less than ideal. Some experienced muffled audio while others noticed distortion and low volume from the earpiece.
The other weak point is its camera. While most reviews weren’t exactly positive, Android Authority summed them up well, stating that the camera on the Lucid 3 “struggles to produce passable photos in anything less than beautiful lighting conditions.” If you’re looking for a phone with a camera to take indoor or low-light shots, you might want to look elsewhere.
Overall, the phone appears to be an excellent budget-friendly offering. While the competition within the entry-level market is strong, reviews seem to show that LG has found a sweet spot between price and performance with CNet calling the phone “definitely worth considering” and Android Central hailing it as “an excellent device.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Eugene Kim, PC MagazineThe LG Lucid 3 continues the company's tradition of solid entry-level Android smartphones on Verizon, but it's not as great a deal as the original.
- Ian Kersey, IntoMobileThe Lucid 3 isn’t a bad Android device, and it’s not a great one either. It falls dead in the center, providing a smooth experience, 4G LTE and a design clearly reminiscent of the LG G2 in an affordable package.
- Michael Andronico, Laptop MagAs far as budget phones go, the LG Lucid 3 is certainly one of the better options on Verizon. The handset offers zippy 4G LTE performance, a bigger display than other cheaper devices and a battery that will get you through most of the day on a single charge. However, the camera suffers indoors, and...
- Taylor Martin, PocketnowAfter one week with the Lucid 3, we’re still scratching our heads wondering why this phone exists.Okay, we know why it exists: LG wanted a more affordable offering on Verizon, and what better way to do that than through its existing Lucid brand?The thing is, the Lucid 3 is straight out of 2012...
- John V., PhoneArenaIn this day and age, tough competition is found in even the entry-level segment – popularized by devices like the Google Nexus 5 and the Motorola Moto G. The specs in the LG Lucid 3 might not be as prized as those in the aforementioned smartphones, but for the basic user looking for a free pho...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the LG Lucid 3 user manual here.
LG backs up the Lucid 3 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Lucid 3 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact LG support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find LG's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- LG Lucid 3 Manual (PDF)
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