You remember 2017? It was the year of the fidget spinner and that one song everyone couldn't stop playing. It was also the year LG dropped the LG Stylo 3 Plus, a phone that basically promised to be the "poor man's Galaxy Note."
Honestly, it worked.
While everyone else was selling their kidneys to afford a flagship, T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers were walking out of stores with this massive 5.7-inch slab that actually felt... okay. It wasn't premium, but it wasn't junk. It occupied that weird middle ground where a stylus was more than a gimmick but less than a professional tool. Even now, in a world of 120Hz folding screens, people are still digging these out of junk drawers to use as e-readers or dedicated note-taking pads.
What Made the "Plus" Model Actually Different?
People often confuse the standard Stylo 3 with the LG Stylo 3 Plus, and that’s a mistake that’ll leave you with a much worse screen. The "Plus" wasn't just marketing fluff. It was a massive hardware jump.
Basically, the regular Stylo 3 was stuck with a 720p resolution. On a 5.7-inch screen, that looks kinda fuzzy. You can see the pixels. But the LG Stylo 3 Plus bumped that up to a 1080p Full HD IPS display. At 386 PPI, it actually looked sharp. Suddenly, you weren't looking at a budget phone; you were looking at a legitimate phablet.
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The internals saw a boost too. You got:
- Storage: 32GB on the Plus vs. 16GB on the base model.
- Processor: A Snapdragon 435 octa-core chip (1.4GHz).
- RAM: 2GB (Look, it was 2017. This was enough to run Facebook without it exploding).
If you’re shopping for one of these for some nostalgia or a cheap project phone, do not touch the base model. You want those extra pixels.
That Stylus: More Than Just a Plastic Stick
Let's talk about the pen. It’s thin. It’s light. It feels like you might snap it if you’re too aggressive with your shopping list. But LG actually nailed the software integration here.
When you pulled the stylus out, the phone would vibrate—just a tiny bit—and trigger "Pen Pop 2.0." This menu gave you quick access to things like Pop Memo and Capture+. It felt fluid.
One of the coolest features was "Screen-off Memo." You didn't even have to wake the phone up. You just pulled the pen out and started writing on the black screen. For a phone that cost a fraction of a Samsung Note 8, that felt like magic.
Expert Tip: If you're using one today, check for "Pen Keeper." It uses the accelerometer to detect when the phone is moving without the stylus in its slot. If you leave your pen at a coffee shop, the phone literally screams at you.
The Reality of 2GB RAM in 2026
If you try to run modern apps on an LG Stylo 3 Plus today, you’re going to have a bad time. Let's be real. Android 7.0 Nougat is a fossil. Most modern apps will "hang" or just refuse to install.
However, there is a very specific type of person still using this device. They aren't trying to play Genshin Impact. They’re using it as a:
- Dedicated e-Reader: The 16:9 aspect ratio is actually better for reading books than the super-skinny tall screens we have now.
- Digital Notebook: For quick grocery lists or sketches, it’s still faster than typing on a tiny keyboard.
- Kids' Toy: It’s plastic. It’s durable. If a toddler drops it, you aren't out $1,200.
The Snapdragon 435 was never a speed demon. It was built for efficiency. But even with that "weak" chip, the 3080mAh battery lasted forever because it wasn't trying to power 5G or a high-refresh-rate panel.
Common Headaches (And How to Fix Them)
It wasn't all sunshine and stylus pens. The LG Stylo 3 Plus had its quirks.
The "Phantom" SD Card Issue
A lot of users complained that apps moved to the SD card would suddenly "move themselves back" to internal storage. This usually happened after a restart. Honestly, the best way to handle this is to only use the SD card for photos and music. Don't try to run apps off it; the eMMC 5.1 storage is just too slow to handle the handshake with a microSDXC card.
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The "Glass" Problem
LG used NEG (Nippon Electric Glass) instead of Gorilla Glass. It’s... okay. But it’s brittle. If you’re getting one of these, find a case. Seriously. The screen is a magnet for hairline cracks.
Ghosting on the LCD
IPS displays from this era sometimes suffer from "image retention." If you leave a static app open for an hour, you might see its ghost when you switch to something else. It usually fades, but it’s a sign the panel is aging.
Can You Actually Use It Today?
If you're looking for a primary phone, the answer is a hard "No."
But if you want a distraction-free writing device? Maybe. By disabling the browser and most notifications, you can turn the Stylo 3 Plus into a pretty great pocket notepad.
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How to optimize a legacy LG Stylo 3 Plus:
- Enable Developer Options: Go to Settings > About Phone > Software Info and tap "Build Number" seven times.
- Speed Up Animations: Change "Window animation scale," "Transition animation scale," and "Animator duration scale" to .5x. It makes the 2GB of RAM feel like 4GB.
- Debloat: Remove every pre-installed carrier app you can. T-Mobile and Metro were notorious for packing these with junk.
- Battery Care: Since the battery is removable, you can still buy replacements for about $15 online. It’s one of the few phones where you don't need a heat gun and a prayer to fix the power situation.
The LG Stylo 3 Plus was a moment in time when budget phones stopped being embarrassing. It proved that you didn't need to spend a thousand dollars to get a big screen and a stylus. It’s a legacy of utility over luxury.
To get the most out of an old Stylo 3 Plus, start by performing a factory reset to cleared out years of cached junk. Once it's clean, install a "Lite" launcher like Nova Launcher or Niagara to keep the UI from stuttering. Stick to web-based versions of social media instead of heavy apps, and you'll find the device is surprisingly capable for basic organization and reading tasks.