Review: LG Lucid 3 for Verizon Wireless
May 2, 2014, 2:15 PM by Eric M. Zeman
The LG Lucid 3 is an Android smartphone for Verizon Wireless that offers some of LG's high-end features in a low-cost package. Here is Phone Scoop's full report.
Is It Your Type?
The Lucid 3 from LG is a mid-range smartphone that offers some of the features found on flagship devices but skips some of the more fanciful extras. With downgraded specs, it also enjoys a lower price point. For those who want a simpler device that lacks thrills - but lets you keep up with your bill - the Lucid 3 is worth a gander.
Body
Like the Lucid 2 before it, the Lucid 3 doesn't aspire to be much. It's a low-cost Android smartphone that packs the basic toolset included with most such devices. LG tossed in a few of its proprietary apps for good measure.
The Lucid 3 isn't a bad looking phone. LG kept the design rather simple so it won't be confused with its high-end phones, such as the G2. The front is black, but the plastic covering the back has a midnight blue hue, and the outer edge is defined by a gray band. The camera lens is rimmed in chrome, and the Home button on the front stands out thanks to its design. I'd say the Lucid 3 is a second-hand suit compared to the G2's fresh tuxedo. It keeps things classy, but in a casual sort of way.
The Lucid 3 has about the same size and footprint as the Moto X, which means it's relatively compact. It's certainly smaller and easier to handle than today's flagship phones. It's a little on the chubby side for my tastes, but the weight is good. The plastics are decent in quality, though the glossy finish doesn't do the Lucid 3 any favors. Not only is it a very slippery phone, it excels at collecting fingerprint schmutz all over. It presents no trouble come time to stuff it into your pocket, and should fit most pockets with no trouble at all.
The front face is all black, save for the silvery Verizon and LG logos. Bezels are minimal, which is just fine by me. There's a fairly sharp edge where the glass panel on front meets the side edges. It has a slight lip to help protect the screen. The glass has been notched at the very top to make room for the earpiece speaker. LG cut an oval in the glass below the screen for the physical Home button. The button is easy to find and has good travel and feedback. A capacitive Back button is to the left and a capacitive Menu button is on the right. Both these buttons function just fine and include haptic feedback.
The side edges of the Lucid 3 curve toward the back, which helps the phone sit more comfortably in your hand. The volume toggle is on the left side, within the gray-colored band of plastic. It's a short button and doesn't offer good travel and feedback. Its size and the lack of any physical markings make it very easy to accidentally raise the volume when you intended to lower it, and vice versa. The screen lock button is on the right edge, exactly opposite the volume toggle. This button is also small, but has better travel and feedback. The stereo headphone jack is on top and the microUSB port is on the bottom. There is no camera button.
I had no trouble peeling off the Lucid 3's back cover, which is rather thin and flimsy. The battery is removable, and in fact it has to be taken out if you want to pull the SIM card. The SIM card and microSD card share a slot, with the memory card stacked on top of the SIM. It is possible to remove the memory card without pulling the battery, but it takes some finesse.
On the whole, I find the Lucid 3 to be rather boring - but that's not a surprise, and that doesn't make it a bad phone. Low-cost devices have to make sacrifices to meet their price point.
About the author, Eric M. Zeman:Eric has been covering the mobile telecommunications industry for 17 years at various print and online publications. He studied at Rutgers Newark and University of Kentucky, and has a degree in writing. He likes playing guitar, attending concerts, listening to music, and driving sports cars.
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LG Lucid 3
Comments
So it's worse than the Lucid 2...got it ;-)
It's annoying that they don't even have the Lucid 2 on the website or for sale anymore too.
(continues)
