Lg Rebel 4 (L212vl/211Bl) Tracfone Review

Tracfone LG Rebel 4 Review (L212VL/211BL)

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Tracfone LG Rebel 4 Review

Another generation from the LG Rebel lineup has been released from Tracfone - and just six months since the previous version.

The LG Rebel 4 features a 5" touchscreen, quad-core processor, and Android 8.1 Oreo. It brings some modest upgrades to the previous version, the Rebel 3. At this time the Rebel 4 CDMA version is available but we do expect a GSM version (L211BL) in the near future.

The Rebel line of phones has been a popular budget smartphone from Tracfone with a smaller screen size compared to most of Tracfone's offerings. We were a little surprised to see the Rebel 4 released in the same year that the Rebel 3 became available to Tracfone users but it appears that Tracfone is speeding up the release of new phones for the fall season.

There is not a lot that is different between the Rebel 3 and Rebel 4, but we will cover that in detail further on. For now, let's look at the pro's and con's for the Rebel 4.

LG Rebel 4 Quick Facts

What we Like:
Android 8.1 Oreo
Both GSM and CDMA Versions expected

What we Don't Like:
Only 16GB Storage
Only 2 GB RAM

One of the issues that may arise for some users is the low storage and RAM on the Rebel 4. We hope Tracfone will release more devices with increased storage and additional RAM at a reasonable price but that is not the case with the Rebel 4.

It is very good to see the Rebel 4 features the latest Android OS (at this time) with 8.1 Oreo. That's a nice improvement over the previous model, and only the third phone from Tracfone with this Android version.

Now for the full list of features and specs.

Tracfone LG Rebel 4 (L212VL/211BL) Features and Specs

Below are the features, followed by the technical specs.

• Android 8.1 Oreo
• 4G LTE CDMA Coverage on Version towers (L212VL model)
• 4G LTE GSM Coverage on AT&T towers (L211BL model)
• WiFi 802.11b/g/n
• S-GPS and A-GPS
• Accelerometer
• Bluetooth 4.2
• Alarm Clock
• FM Radio
• Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play Store
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
• SMS/MMS

LG Rebel 4 Technical Specs

• Size: 5.70'' x 2.83'' x 0.31'' and 4.9 OZ
• Camera: 8MP Rear Camera (Flash, Autofocus, Burst shot) and 5MP Front Camera
• Screen: 5" HD TFT 1280x720 display
• Processor: 1.4 Ghz quad-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 425)
• Memory: 2 GB
• Storage: 16 GB (Up to 32 GB additional storage via Micro SD card)
• Battery: 2500 mAh (removable) with 16hrs talk time, 12 days standby

While the Rebel 3 and 4 share a number of similarities, the Rebel 4 does have several upgrades that does make it a faster and more desirable phone. We will cover more about these differences further below.

LG is a global electronics company operating in many different segments of the market including the mobile phone market. They are based in South Korea and are well known for offering a variety of different smartphones from high-end to budget that generally have good features and quality.

The LG Rebel 4 is by far one of their most budget friendly options, with many more options available with more performance at a higher cost. The LG V30, for example, has 64 GB internal memory, a larger screen and dual rear cameras, but retails for $499.

LG Rebel 4 Review (L212VL/211BL)

Touchscreen
The screen on the LG Rebel 4 is a 5" TFT (IPS) panel with HD resolution (1280x720). Clarity and color are both good for a phone in this price range and the DPI is just under 300 which is also good.

There are not very many new smartphones with a screen this small, as most devices now feature 5.5-6" touchscreen displays. However, not everyone wants such a large device so the Rebel 4 fits the size requirements for some users very nicely. For a slightly larger screen, the LG Premier Pro is an option.

Internal Specs - Processor, RAM and Memory
The Quad-Core 1,4 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 in the Rebel 4 is a popular processor for budget friendly smartphones as it provides a good balance between power, performance and long battery life. It is not built to run the most demanding games, but it does a good job on everyday activities like social media apps and games.

Tracfone LG Rebel 4

Along with the processor the Rebel 4 has 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage. Most Tracfone devices released over the last year or two have featured this and these days it just really isn't enough, especially the internals storage, to keep up with the needs of most users. We really would like to see Tracfone release a phone along these lines but with closer to 32 GB storage.

For those looking for more internal storage, consider getting an unlocked device like the Moto G6 and bring it to the BYOP program.

Camera
While the camera specs on the Rebel 4 are similar to the Rebel 3, there are some improvements and additional features. The rear 8MP camera has flash, autofocus and burst shot while the front 5MP camera has selfie light, gesture shot and more.

Take a look at our recent Guide to Taking Better Photos on your Phone.

Battery
With a relatively small 2500 mAh battery the Rebel 4 can't keep up with phones like the Moto E5 as far as battery life, but it will generally last through a full day with low to moderate usage thanks to the smaller screen and efficient processor. The battery is removable, which is nice to see.

Android OS
Android 8.1 Oreo brings a number of graphical changes and performance improvements over previous versions. It is used by most Android phones at this time with the newer, Android 9 Pie, currently in the works.

Tracfone doesn't update the OS on their smartphones, so it is always a good idea to buy a phone with the latest Android version when possible to avoid possible security issues.

Triple Minutes
The Rebel 4 does not include Triple Minutes for Life because Tracfone stopped including this with newer phones in 2017. Learn more in our post, Tracfone Ends Triple Minutes for Life.

Conclusion
The Rebel 4 is a budget friendly smartphone with a smaller screen compared to most phones and good performance and specs to keep up with most daily activities. It doesn't really have and features that 'wow' but rather is a solid smartphone like the previous versions.

At $99, it is hard to recommend it over the recently released Moto E5 which shares a number of the same specs (like Processor, RAM, Memory) but has a larger, 5.7" screen, larger battery and is also $99. But for users who don't like such a large screen, this may be a good option.

LG Rebel 3 VS LG Rebel 4

How does the Rebel 4 compare to the Rebel 3 it replaces and is it worth upgrading? Let's take a look.

Both phones have a quad-core processor but the Rebel 4 has a newer and slightly faster version. They share the same amount of RAM, internal memory and screen size, but the Rebel 4 has more resolution for better clarity.

The Rebel 4 see's several other small improvements including newer Android OS, slightly higher Mega Pixel count on the rear camera, and newer Bluetooth connectivity.

We expect to see some deals available in the near future for the Rebel 4 but until then wouldn't really recommend upgrading to it if you already have the Rebel 3 as it would be a modest upgrade.

Where to Buy the LG Rebel 4

The LG Rebel 4 (CDMA) is available from several online retailers including the Tracfone website. We expect to see a GSM version available on the Tracfone website as well.

QVC has the LG Rebel 4 with airtime bundle (1500 minutes) for $99

We also found the Rebel 4 on Amazon.

 That concludes our review of the Rebel 4. We will update with additional retail locations as we find them.

For more information on the Rebel 4, view the Guide to Making your Airtime Last Longer with special tips included for using less data on your smartphone.

We also update the The Best Tracfone Deals, Discounts and Sales each month.

And for more on new phones check out our Latest List of Tracfone Smartphones.

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