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| LG Flare Prepaid Phone (Virgin Mobile) | 
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| Brand: LG
Category: Wireless
Buy New: $29.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 169
Color: Black
Media: Wireless Phone
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
Model: Flare
UPC: 836182002767
EAN: 0836182002767
ASIN: B0012DA8F6
Release Date: March 30, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
It's a sub-$30 phone, so what do you expect? June 22, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is my first foray into pre-paid telephone plans in the US. After using my mobile phone as my only phone for the past few years, I found that my new house has absolutely no signal coverage. So it was time to abandon the monthly plan for something less expensive and Virgin Mobile seemed to have the best deals available in my area. I grabbed a Flare and a $90 topup card and was ready to go.
On-line activation was a snap (and offers some bonuses that aren't available if you call the service center to activate) and my phone was on the network within 2 hours of activation. The $90 topup card provided a year's worth of service (meaning I'll never have to top up again in the next 12 months to keep my phone active) as well as approximately 1500 minutes when all bonuses were applied. All things considered, it wasn't a bad deal--I was paying more than $40 a month for 300 anytime minutes and free nights and weekends on my old phone. (Virgin does offer a similar plan with daily and monthly fees if you want to go that way--I didn't since my usage pattern is definitely going to change now.)
As for the phone itself, well, it makes phone calls. I don't download much stuff on my phone--the occasional ringtone and wallpaper--and I don't surf or text much either (even when I had unlimited surfing and texting) so my chief concern is how well a phone works as a phone and how easy it is to get my phone directory into it. I have to say I was very pleased on both counts. Calls sound fine and signal strength is good. The volume is easy to adjust and the phone is quite loud when turned all the way up (I hate phones that are too quiet).
My only quibble is with the keypad. The keys are rectangular, but the buttons under them are round, which creates deadspots on the keys, so as I type I have to feel for the little bump to make sure my button press will register. (I have large fingers and use the edge of the tip of my thumb ... the keypad might work well for smaller hands.) However, the bright screen and color contrast make it very easy to read what I'm typing, which in my book overcomes the weaknesses in the keypad.
This isn't the best mobile phone I've ever owned, but it's a sub-$30 phone and to compare it to a phone costing 10X as much would be unfair. On a per-dollar basis, I am very pleased with the LG Flare.
Pros--
Inexpensive to buy (and replace, if necessary)
External LCD screen
Screens are bright and easy-to-read
One-touch account balance, call log, messaging, set up, and vibrate/silent mode
Voice-activated dialing and volume control on outer edge
Bluetooth compatible
Virgin Mobile plans allow a meager $60 upfront topup to activate for an entire year (the $90 card I purchased is not necessary)
Customizable ringtones can be set for each person in directory
Multiple phone numbers per person in directory
Intuitive menu system
Cons--
Cheap feel to housing and keypad
Not much variety in pre-loaded ringtones
Mediocre stand-by battery life
 Already I miss my Kyocera! May 6, 2008
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
Well, I was so anxious for a bluetooth phone, I bought the Flare. I couldn't beat the price for something with that technology, and the only reason I want bluetooth is for to use wireless headsets at last! For this I deactivate my perfectly good MTV Edition V5 Slider, and after an afternoon of entering my address book on a new phone, I already miss having a Kyocera.
Right now, Life's not so Good. Before, with my V5, all I had to do was push the up button for my balance, and the right button to set the phone to vibrate, along with the usual on/off buttons. With the LG Flare, I have to push a menu button, find the "my account" button, wait for it to launch a browser, which is scary because I have no intention of paying for web content. Then, once the balance shows, without warning like my Kyocera did, you hit the red phone to get out of it, and the web browser icon remains on the phone. I hate that! You go through just about the same rigmarole to set the phone to vibrate. The owner's manual doesn't even mention vibrate in the index, so I'm better off downloading the PDF from Virgin Mobile's website so that I can keyword search the document! I've managed to turn down the funky ringtone volume (I miss my Kyocera ringtones, too - I don't want rap music on my phone!) Entering text is a headache no matter what phone you have, so re-entering my contact list is once again a chore. I learned my lesson from my first VM phone, though, and I only put the important people in! It's a lot to get used to, and a downside to phones with no SIM card. But I don't need complicated phones! I need 'em to make and take calls, and that's it.
So why did I buy it in the first place? As mentioned before, the opportunity for a wireless headset which my beloved Kyoceras don't have. Also, the phone is a handsome little thing! It's about the same size as my slider when closed, but it not as thick. When the clamshell is opened, it gives the impression of being a much bigger phone, which I like. I've set the backlighting to dim, but when an incoming call comes in, a window lights up on the outside of the clamshell where the time is.
One thing I did notice is the time it takes to get going when it's been turned on. It says "HELLO" in big letters, almost like my JVC XV-N40BK Progressive-Scan Slim DVD Player (Black) did, and when you turn it off, it says "BYE" in big letters that show up on both the inside and the outside screen. It's gimmicky stuff that I think is actually kind of neat.
After two days I don't yet know if I'll keep it - almost as soon as I bought this I heard of a new slider phone coming for Virgin Mobile made by Samsung! Maybe one day Kyocera will make a bluetooth slider for Virgin Mobile - BESIDES the Slider Sonic - that doesn't cost too much that I can love. I'll never pay $100 for a phone, whether it's landline or wireless. I loved my cheap little slider - and sliders in general. But, after three phones with Virgin Mobile, first the sturdy K9 Royale, then my trusty V5 slider, this is my first non-Kyocera phone I've had in the four years I've been with Virgin Mobile. Maybe I'll learn to like it more as I live with it. I'm willing to give it a chance in the meantime. I've heard good things about LG, so we'll see. One thing about Virgin Mobile phones - if I don't like it, it won't cost me a two-year contract or an arm and a leg to change it!
 Great economical phone April 29, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
I wanted a blue tooth phone but did not want to pay a lot since I am trying to be economical and this is a good deal for the price. I have no problem with the phone whatsoever. You get what you paid for and I have received a good deal for the price of the phone. If you are looking for an economical solution to blue tooth this is it.
its ok for the money April 28, 2008
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
its a pretty decent basic phone the blue tooth is cool but it doesnt work with the lg data cable i bought
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