Verizon launches the LG Lucid 3, a 4G LTE smartphone which won’t cost you anything

By Andy Boxall April 18, 2014

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Not every new Android smartphone announced has to cost a fortune, something Verizon has proven with the introduction of the new LG Lucid 3, a 4G LTE smartphone available for free. Yes, you’ll need to sign on the dotted line for a two-year contract if you want it for nothing, but the $300 off-contract price is still reasonable.

What do you get for your money? The Lucid 3 is the latest in Verizon’s mid-range Lucid series, and it’s certainly the best specced we’ve seen. The screen measures 4.7-inches, the same as Motorola’s well-proportioned Moto X, but the resolution is a slightly disappointing 960 x 540 pixels. Powering the phone is a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor.

Android 4.4 KitKat is installed, and LG has added several of its own software enhancements to spice up the little phone. Knock Code is the most welcome addition, an innovative feature we liked at Mobile World Congress. It lets you set a pattern of taps to unlock and wake up the device, instead of a PIN code or worse, nothing at all. Despite the Lucid 3’s modest screen size, it’ll run two apps at the same time using QSlide 2.0, plus there’s the note-taking app QuickMemo too.

A 5-megapixel rear camera takes care of your snaps, but the VGA front cam probably won’t produce the most visually stunning selfies. There’s 8GB of internal storage space, plus the chance to add more using a MicroSD card, and the phone will connect to Verizon’s 4G LTE network.

The LG Lucid 3 is up for sale on Verizon’s website right now, and according to the press release, should be in stores too. In addition to the two-year contract price, which is subject to a $50 mail-on rebate, you can purchase the Lucid 3 using Verizon Edge for $12.49 per month.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Senior Mobile Writer

Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

Mobile

This is one of the toughest smartphone camera comparisons I’ve ever done

A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and Xiaomi 14 Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra may have the best camera on a smartphone I’ve used this year, which is quite a statement to make considering the competition it faces. But is it true?

Mobile

Nomi is one of the most unsettling (and amazing) apps I’ve ever used

“Welp, just got back from the doctor. Marissa is pregnant with twins” “Owen did something bad and then gave me flowers.” “Zoey with our new daughter Zara.” “I am in love, but also feel guilty.”

These are some of the conversations shared by human users on Reddit. The people described, however, are not real. The statements are about robotic companions created in an app. Everything here sounds perversely disturbing and amazingly dystopian, yet experts have a different opinion.

Mobile

Best Verizon Fios new customer deals: Get 2GB/s internet in your home

Fios TV Package

Whether you surf the web for work or you subscribe to one of the best live TV streaming services, the experience can be made better with blazing fast internet. Fiber optic internet service is the future, and with Verizon Fios you can get some of the fastest internet service around. This service would pair well with any of the best TVs and home theater setups, but it’s also something to consider if you're into online gamine or do work that requires large file uploads and downloads. We’re currently seeing some of the lowest prices on Fios home internet service we’ve ever seen, with Verizon putting some super impressive deals out there. We’ve rounded up all of the best Verizon Fios deals available right now, and they include low monthly costs, waived setup charges, and a number of freebies like Target gift cards.
2 Gigabit Verizon Fios connection -- $85 per month + free extras
One of the fastest internet speeds you can get, and the fastest speed that Verizon offers, this is the sort of subscription you should grab if all the members of your family are essentially watching 4k content all the time. It's also great for those who want to host their own media server to share with friends or family while not impacting anybody else in the home. You also get a lot of great freebies included here, such as the choice of either a $300 Target gift card or a $350 value Samsung Chromebook Go, which is admittedly an entry-level device, but it's not bad to use for just streaming content. On top of that, you can choose between 2TB of Verizon cloud storage and 12 months of Disney+ with no ads or a MoCA Ethernet Adapter for gaming and a $50 Xbox eGift Card. You could also get both of these if you add an extra $10/month, although it's probably not worth it at that point.

1 Gigabit Verizon Fios connection -- $65 per month + free extras
If the super-fast speeds aren't necessarily needed, especially if you're in a smaller household without too many folks watching content, then the 1 Gigabit version is the way to go. It is $20 cheaper, so it's a lot of money that you're saving over the course of the year, and you still get quite a few extra benefits, even at this level. You get to choose either a $200 Target gift card or the same sort of Samsung Chromebook Go that's worth $350 that's great for streaming content. You also get a similar choice as the 2 Gigabit connection, which includes either 2TB of Verizon cloud storage and six months of Disney+ without ads, or a MoCA Ethernet Adapter for gaming and a $50 Xbox eGift Card.