New Tracfone LG Classic Flip L125DL Quick Review

[RavensRebel]

A little side-question: I see many posts claiming it works with PP and also AT&T. But if you buy it from Tracfone, is it unlocked? Or is there something you need to do to get it to work with other providers than Tracfone?

Works perfectly on PP. In fact, that is what I activated mine on. My flip phones are on PP and smart phone on Tracfone.

Uses the same sim that it comes with. Did it with chat and was activated 5 minutes later.

[mo832]

PP is Tracfone.
Edit: Just saw @RavensRebel activated on PP; I assume with the sim that came in it (?)

Is PP now owned by Tracfone? I was not aware of that.

[rpz1]

Is PP now owned by Tracfone? I was not aware of that.

Yes. For at least several years now.

"In addition to its namesake product, TracFone Wireless offers products under the brands Clearway, GoSmart Mobile, NET10 Wireless, Page Plus Cellular, Safelink Wireless, SIMPLE Mobile, Straight Talk, Telcel América, Total Wireless, and Walmart Family Mobile."

[RavensRebel]

Thanks for the thorough review, RavensRebel! It's really too bad the LG Classic Flip L125DL doesn't sync contacts like the MyFlip does. That seems like a big oversight to me. But otherwise it sounds good.

Yeah, I was disappointed about that. It's an android derivative phone, should be more integrated to work with Google. That means no syncing. So periodically, I will have to repeat the process of copying an updated vcf file over.

[RavensRebel]

Got the Classic Flip yesterday and set it up. Just activated it today. Here is my assessment of the stand out likes and dislikes:

Like:
Button layout: It has the camera and speaker buttons on the dial pad instead of on the side. My father is lost with no picture cues to remind him. He could never remember how to activate the camera or speaker on flip phones that have the buttons on the side. Not to mention removing buttons from the side means no more accidental activation of camera, which even I would do all the time.

SOS button on the back is a fantastic feature. Press it three times and it will call your predetermined emergency number and also send a text saying SOS with a link to your GPS location on google maps. I don't even have Location service activated on my phone but it must automatically activate it to sent out the SOS. It's like your own medical alert button. Or this would also be great for women who travel in Uber or Lyft at night.

Block calls. Love that I can block calls from annoying spam. Yippee!

Call Clarity. Handset is loud and clear. With full volume almost as loud as the speakerphone. Sound is a tad tinny. The speaker could be a little louder for my taste but it's fine.

Text Message. New message displays on the screen when you open the phone. No having to access it through a button press like on MyFlip.

Power Off. Long press the power button and the turns off. No having to press another button to confirm power off like on MyFlip

Contact Avatars. Displays avatars of your contacts on incoming/outgoing calls. I don't think MyFlip did that but I can't recall for sure.

What I don't like:
Construction. The phone itself has a cheap plastic feel to it. And it's very slick; no silicone for grip. I foresee a lot of phones crashing to the floor slipping out of elderly hands. It needs a silicone case like the one I had for the MyFlip. I'm going to be on the lookout for one on eBay.

Contacts. Doesn't automatically import contacts. I really like that feature on the myflip. You could connect to your Google Contacts and it would automatically import them. This one, I had to connect the phone to my computer so I could copy the contacts vcf file from another device. Once I had the vcf file on the LG, I imported it into my contacts no problem.

Wallpaper. Stock wallpapers suck. I copied a few over. Not a big deal.

Display is not quite as sharp as I would like it to be.

Speakerphone. Not that it is low but I think it should be a tad louder. The speaker on the MyFlip was a bit louder.

Close phone ends call. No option to turn this off. So you have to keep phone open even on speaker.

Apps. No apps available. This isn't a bad thing for me, as I only use my flip phone to talk. I have my smartphone for apps.


Verdict: Winner, winner chicken dinner! This LG is great. Forget the MyFlip and order the LG. I couldn't order one fast enough for my father after I tested it out. It is super Senior friendly. I am switching my father over to the LG from his Gusto 3 as soon as it comes in. I wasn't going to switch him to the MyFlip until the last minute but the LG is game time ready right now. Grrr... Shame the LG didn't come out sooner. I wish I hadn't wasted $60 on getting three MyFlips. But at the time, they were pretty much the only flip game in town. Whelp, LG has relegated MyFlips to drawer purgatory status.

By the by, I haven't had the phone long enough to test the battery life out. I'll report back how long it lasts on standby. I'm also keeping data on. I'll keep and eye on it to see how much it uses.

In rereading my review, I was too hard on the speaker volume. I shouldn't have put it in the dislikes section. It is fine.

Forgot to mention:
External screen. I like and dislike it. I didn't think I would like the slit but it displays all the info I need to see with one caveat. When a call comes in it just shows a call symbol. You have to press the volume button for it to display caller ID info. Why?!! Why must I press a button to see who is calling? Wholly unnecessary extra step. I want to glance at my phone and immediately see who is calling. Not fumble around pressing some button. This is very nonSenior friendly. Less buttons they have to press the better.

[RavensRebel]

As Boz said for ATT. Assuming enough usable bands are there. The Verizon LG Exalt that this seems to be a clone of didn't have many bands.
And for PP I see no reason you can't activate it right out of the box with the sim it comes with on PP like the MyFlip. (assume it comes with the TF/Vzw sim like the MyFlip.) Any TF/Vzw phone (or sister company/vzw) can activate with it's native sim on PP. PP is Tracfone.
Edit: Just saw @RavensRebel activated on PP; I assume with the sim that came in it (?)

Also, maybe someone that has one can also confirm if it's cdma-less like the MyFlip, and any idea of bands. Nothing I can find online. MyFlip has 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 66 I believe.

Seems like the Verizon LG Exalt LTE/Wine but more plastic and hopefully with more bands then the Exalt had.

Yes, with the sim that was in it. I just gave chat guy the serial number and sim number that is on the red booklet that comes with the phone.

[loboheeler]

Also, maybe someone that has one can also confirm if it's cdma-less like the MyFlip, and any idea of bands. Nothing I can find online. MyFlip has 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 66 I believe.

Missing from the MyFlip is B71 for T-Mobile service, even though it's sold on Simple Mobile. B71 can increase the coverage in weak areas over what T-Mobile had before. It's the backbone of their 5G network, but also used on 4G LTE. No, I don't see any information about the LG.

[Boz1]

Since the LG Classic Flip L125DL had "DL", it is "supposed" to work on all 3 TF networks, right?

[loboheeler]

Since the LG Classic Flip L125DL had "DL", it is "supposed" to work on all 3 TF networks, right?

Yes, any DL phone will work on the 3 major networks. The B71 thing is unique to T-Mobile. Most phones did not have it until recently, unless they were T-Mobile branded. B71 was formerly used by UHF TV stations which took a long time for the FCC to clear off. That just happened in a large part of NorCal, and they are bringing it up for mobile use.

[Boz1]

Although I might be missing it, as far as I can see from https://fccid.io/ZNFL125DL, the LG Classic Flip L125DL doesn't have band 71, either.

[loboheeler]

Although I might be missing it, as far as I can see from https://fccid.io/ZNFL125DL, the LG Classic Flip L125DL doesn't have band 71, either.

Yer right, B71 is 600MHz which is not on the FCC certification list. Interesting it has B41 which is used by Sprint. Not known if T-Mobile will use B41 for anything but 5G. Main reason they bought Sprint.

[rcthegamer]

Apparently, this is the TF version of the Wine 2 LTE which the Wine 1 LTE was also sold by Verizon as the Exalt LTE. There are 3 versions for region carriers, US Cellular and Tracfone (though is the regional carriers version the one for TF).

[RavensRebel]

Apparently, this is the TF version of the Wine 2 LTE which the Wine 1 LTE was also sold by Verizon as the Exalt LTE. There are 3 versions for region carriers, US Cellular and Tracfone (though is the regional carriers version the one for TF).

That is interesting. the Verizon Exalt was absurdly overpriced. I briefly looked at it but wasn't going to pay almost $200 for a flip phone. Wasn't it like $170 or some crap like that? No wonder it is not for sale anymore. No one was buying it. I see their version of the MyFlip is retailing for $100. Insane.

I have been absurdly impressed with the LG Classic Flip for $26. And I say absurdly because I cannot believe how giddy I have been over this dang flip phone. I am just realizing how deep my dislike for the MyFlip must have been.

[Landngroove]

Works perfectly on PP. In fact, that is what I activated mine on. My flip phones are on PP and smart phone on Tracfone.

Uses the same sim that it comes with. Did it with chat and was activated 5 minutes later.

What carrier did you activate it on? I need Verizon, for coverage in my area.

[Tracfancier]

What carrier did you activate it on? I need Verizon, for coverage in my area.

The Tracfone model comes with a Verizon SIM, but it will accept AT&T and T-Mobile SIM`s if you ever needed to switch.