Tracfone LG Treasure L51AL Review

Review of the LG Treasure (L51AL) from Tracfone

Welcome to Smartphone info a blog with information, reviews and promo codes for Tracfone. Below is our review for the new LG Treasure. We hope you find the information helpful!

Tracfone LG Treasure Review

The LG Treasure is a mid-level (compared to other Tracfone smartphones) Android 5.1 powered phone newly available to Tracfone prepaid customers.

Tracfone is beginning to release phones at a faster pace, with several new devices becoming available over the last month (including the ZTE ZMAX 2, Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime, and Samsung Galaxy S6). We are excited to be bringing to you today our review for the LG Treasure for use with Tracfone Wireless.

The LG Treasure is basically the Tracfone version of the LG K7, which was just released earlier in 2016. We are expecting several more LG phones to be released from Tracfone, but the time frame is unknown. For more on these other phones, visit our post, New LG/Samsung Phones Coming to Tracfone.

The LG Treasure is a budget smartphone that still comes with a large screen and some great features. Many Tracfone customers are looking for smartphones that fit into the budget phone category and won't break the bank.

The question many users might be wondering is if this phone is worth upgrading to from some of Tracfone's older smartphone options. We'll try to answer that a little further on, but first let's look at the quick facts for the LG Treasure.

LG Treasure (L51AL) Quick Facts

The Good:
-Android 5.1.1
-5" Touchscreen
-5MP Front and Rear Camera
-Reasonable Price - currently $99 from HSN.com

Not So Good:
-only 4GB useable space
-somewhat smaller processor - 1.1 Ghz

At first glance, this phone appears to deliver some great features for the price, but it does neglect a few things, like internal memory and processing power. But you can't really expect to get a high performance phone for a low cost, unless you buy a used/refurbished phone and bring it to Tracfone's BYOP program.

LG is one of the largest companies in South Korea and produces a wide range of products sold across the globe. They are also one of the largest mobile phone manufacturers, and have a diverse lineup of phone options, including their new flagship phone the LG G5 which features the latest version of Android, v 6.0.1 marshmallow.

The LG phones released by Tracfone to use with their prepaid service won't have quite the same performance features as LG's flagship, but they also won't cost as much.

Let's take a look at the full list of features and specifications for the LG Treasure.

LG Treasure (L51AL) Features and Specs

Below are the phone's features, followed by the technical specifications

• Android 5.1.1 Lolipop
• 4G LTE service using AT&T's GSM Network
• 5MP Front and Rear Camera
• WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1
• Access to over 1 Million apps via Google Play store
• Alarm Clock
• MP3 Player
• GPS capability
• 2 Home screens
• Voicemail, Voice Dialing
• Handsfree speaker

LG Treasure Specs

• Size: 5.65" x 2.85" x 0.35" Weight: about 5 oz.
• 5.0" Touchscreen at 480x852 resolution (196 ppi Pixel Density)
• 1.1 Ghz Quad-core processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 8 GB Memory (about 4GB Useable) MicroSD card slot
• Battery: 2045 mAh with Talk time 9hrs, Standby 11 days

A quad-core processor combined with 5" touchscreen and Android 5.1 is a very nice collection of features that make the Treasure a desirable option for many people. But what about the 4 GB of usable internal memory, is that too little?

Let's get into our review of the LG Treasure from Tracfone with our pro's and con's for this device, followed by a quick comparison to some of the other similar devices available from Tracfone like the LG Sunset and LG Ultimate 2.

LG Treasure Review - Likes and Dislikes

What we Like about the Treasure
There's quite a bit to like about this phone. After all, it is a newer device built to be budget friendly while still maintaining some great features

Tracfone LG Treasure front, side and back

We really like the screen size, the dual 5 MP cameras, and that the Treasure runs Android 5.1.1. We also think this phone is a great value at the current price.

The LG Treasure comes with a 5" touchscreen, which is about the average size these days for a smartphone device. The resolution isn't the best, at 480x852 pixels, but LG did a really great job on making this screen bright and clear.

When taking pictures with the LG Treasure, you will notice that it has a 5 MP rear camera and 5 MP front camera. This gives you fairly good image quality for taking selfies or other photos. The rear camera also has an LED flash, while if you are taking photos with the front camera it has a neat feature that lights up part of the screen to act as a flash in low light situations. It is unusual for a budget smartphone to have such a high resolution front camera, and we hope this trend continues.

The volume and power buttons are located on the back of the phone, which may be more convenient for some users, and keeps the edges of the phone free from any buttons. This is great for those of us who tend to accidentally hit the buttons on the side of phones when trying to hold them.

Tracfone devices, unlike most unlocked phones, do not get Android OS updates (it has something to do with compatibility issues, and Tracfone would have to be involved in making sure the updates worked properly, but they don't currently want to do this) so it is nice to see that the LG Treasure comes with Android 5.1.1, which is a newer version that doesn't have some of the vulnerability issues previous Android versions had.

Finally, we are really happy with the overall value of the LG Treasure as it is currently offered by HSN bundled with an airtime card worth $100, and the whole bundle is going for $99, making the phone free. If you need airtime anyway, you might as well upgrade to this phone. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, lets look at a couple of concerns we do have.

What we Don't Like about the Treasure
There are two main concerns we have about the LG Treasure and we want to mention to help our readers before they buy this phone.

First, the LG Treasure only comes with 8 GB internal memory, of which, only about 4 GB is actually usable (the other 4 GB is used by the OS and pre-installed apps). For many users, this won't be a big deal because most of Tracfone's other smartphones, like the LG Sunset and LG Ultimate 2, have a similar amount of internal memory. Just keep in mind that you can't load this phone up with too many photos or large applications. Some apps can take up a full GB of space, so you would run out quickly.

The LG Treasure does come with a Micro SD card slot, which allows you to use up to 32 GB of external storage. This is great if you have a lot of music or other files you want to add.

The second concern we have is with the processor performance. The Treasure comes with a 1.1 Ghz quad core processor. This is more than enough power for everyday apps like Facebook, Instagram or calling/texting. But if you want to running larger, resource intense apps like certain games, you may run into performance trouble. The Treasure does have 1 GB RAM, which is average, yet overall we think the average user won't have any issues with performance.

That concludes our likes and dislikes, let us know in the comments if we missed anything, or if there are certain features you like/dislike!

Update - initially it appeared that the LG Treasure would have 1.5 GB RAM, but it urns out to only have 1 GB RAM.

LG Treasrue compared to LG Sunset and LG Ultimate 2

The LG Treasure is similar or an improvement over the LG Sunset and LG Ultimate 2 in almost every way, which makes sense since it is much newer. The improvements, however, are generally only small improvements.

Compared to the LG Ultimate 2, the Treasure comes with a larger screen (5" vs 4.5") a better processor (quad-core vs dual-core) better cameras (5 MP front and rear vs 5 MP rear camera and 1.3 MP front) and more internal memory (8 GB vs 5 GB). The LG Treasure also comes with Android 5.1.1 versus 4.4 which the Ultimate 2 come with. These improvements are noticeable, but not huge. If you are currently using an Ultimate 2 and considering upgrading, the Treasure would probably be a little faster and have a little better performance overall.

One important piece of information to note is that the Ultimate 2 is a  CDMA phone that uses Verizon towers while the Treasure is a GSM phone that uses AT&T service. So be sure to check your coverage before switching.

The differences between the LG Sunset and Treasure are a little less noticeable, but still exist. The LG Treasure has a newer processor but slower speed (1.1 Ghz vs 1.2 Ghz) a larger screen (5" vs 4.5") slightly newer Android OS (5.1.1 vs 5.0.1) and better front camera (5 MP vs 1.3 MP). They both have a quad core processor, 8 GB internal Memory and 4G LTE service using AT&T cell towers.

The LG Treasure is an upgrade over the LG Sunset, but we might only suggest you upgrade if you are also in need of the airtime that comes in the bundle. Otherwise, you might want to want and see what other phones Tracfone releases in the coming months.

Overview and Where to Buy the LG Treasure

The LG Treasure brings great features including a 5" touchscreen and Android 5.1.1 at a very reasonable price making it a great upgrade from older Tracfone smartphones.

It doesn't have the performance to match some of Tracfone's other recent releases, like the Samsung Galaxy S6, but it also is significantly cheaper.

You can find the LG Treasure bundled with a 1 Year/400 Minute airtime card (and other items) on HSN where it is currently on sale for $99.

You can also view Tracfone's Tutorial to learn more about how to use this device.

There is also a CDMA version of this phone which we expect to be released sometime in the near future.

We hope you found this review useful, and if you have any questions or thoughts you can share them in a comment below.

Here are some additional helpful resources we have created for Tracfone Android users:
How to Check your Airtime on Tracfone Android Phones
How Minutes Work on Tracfone Smartphones
How to Buy Only Texts for your Smartphone
Are Data Cards a Good Deal from Tracfone?
Analysis of the New Smartphone Only Airtime Cards from Tracfone

And if you want to keep up with the latest news and info, join us on Facebook!

Thanks for visiting!

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy S6 Review

Review of the Samsung Galaxy S6 for Tracfone

This post contains TracfoneReviewer's full review of the Samsung Galaxy S6 which is available to use with Tracfone. We cover lots of Tracfone related topics including news, reviews, deals and promo codes. So take a look around the blog and we hope you find the information useful!

Samsung Galaxy S6 Review

If you're a Tracfone customer and looking for a phone that can handle lots of apps at once, can take great pictures, has a beautiful touchscreen and runs fast and smooth, you might be really interested in the new Samsung Galaxy S6 Tracfone recently released to use with their prepaid service.

The S6 is a newer phone, only just released to the public in 2015, and now it is also available from Tracfone. When it was released it was one of the best phones money could buy, and it still has the power to outperform the majority of smartphone devices.

The Galaxy S6 comes with a stunning 5.1" touchscreen, a 16 MP camera, and Android 5.0 among other features.

For those who stay current on Tracfone news, you might be aware that Tracfone released the Samsung Galaxy S5 (the previous model of the S6) only a few months before releasing the S6, and they actually share a number of features like screen size and camera. We'll do a comparison of these two phones a little further down, but first let's look at the quick facts for the Samsung Galaxy S6

Samsung Galaxy S6 Quick Facts

The Good:
-Android 5.0
-Plenty of Internal Memory - 32 GB
-Plenty of RAM - 3 GB
-Powerful Camera - 16 MP

The Not So Good:
-Expensive - Currently $599 with minutes bundle

As you can see, one of the main drawbacks about the S6 is the price. You could buy an unlocked S6 and bring it to Tracfone's BYOP program to save some money, but the phone is still retailing for $400-500. For more on bringing your phone to Tracfone, visit our Tracfone BYOP page.

Let's get into the full list of features and phone specs for the Galaxy S6 to get a better idea of what it has to offer.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Features and Specifications

Below you can see the phone's features, followed by the technical specs

• Android 5.0 Lolipop
• 4G LTE capable using Verizon CDMA Service
• 16 MP Camera, 5 MP Front Camera
• WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC
• 4 Home Screens
• Corning Gorila Glass 4 
• Access to over 1 Million apps on Google Play store
• Triple Talk, Text and Data from Tracfone
• Alarm Clock
• MP3 Player
• Voice Dialing and Handsfree Speaker
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting

Samsung Galaxy S6 Specs

• Size: 5.65" x 2.78" x 0.27"
• 5.1" Touchscreen at 1440 x 2560 resolution (~576 ppi pixel density)
• 1.5 GHz Quad-core AND 2.1 GHz Quad-core Processor
• 3 GB RAM
• 32 GB Internal Memory (no external memory slot)
• Battery: 2550 mAh (non-removable) with 29hrs Talk Time, 27 days standby

A couple of the phone's specifications are really impressive, namely the fact that it has two quad-core processors and 3 GB RAM. That's a lot of power packed into this device. Obviously it will be able to keep up with almost any app, and will be able to run multiple apps at once without any issues.

But there are a couple of things about this phone that may make it not such a great choice for some people, and we are going to go over that next.

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy S6 Review

What we Like:
We like to start off with the positives about this phone, of which there are a lot, and then we go over a few things that we don't like.

Samsung Galaxy S6 front, side and back

First off, the S6 comes packed with high-performing hardware - which is what you would expect from the flagship device. It has 3 GB RAM (more than any other Tracfone device at this time) which allows for more multitasking and more apps running at once without any issues. Phones with 1 GB of RAM or less tend to have trouble running several different resource-intense apps at once, but the S6 should have no issue. Combine that with the two processors, each quad-core for a total of eight cores (octa-core), and you've got a very powerful device.

If you're looking for storage, the S6 also has you covered, coming with 32 GB of internal memory to hold apps, photos, videos, downloads and everything else.

The cameras on the Galaxy S6 are also impressive. The rear facing camera is 16 MP and has optical image stabilization (helps keep your images sharper) and LED flash. The front camera is 5 MP and both cameras have autofocus, touch to focus, auto-HDR, face detection and more. The built in camera app comes with a lot of extra features, including manual exposure controls which some photographers might enjoy using.

The rear camera on the S6 is quite good, and will allow you to capture vivid and detailed images of the world around you. Both the front and rear camera can record HD video, with the rear camera also capturing slow motion shots at 120 fps. You can view a gallery of beautiful images taken with the Galaxy S6 to get a better idea of what you can do with this phone.

Lastly, we want to share some additional details about the 5.1" touchscreen on the S6 because it is worth talking about. The size is certainly not the largest (the ZTE Quartz has a 5.5" screen), but it is the prettiest. The resolution is an amazing 1440 x 2560, which gives you a pixel density of over 575 ppi. To put that in real words, you get a screen that looks really good and is very clear. For some perspective, most Tracfone devices have a screen resolution of approximately 400x800, which leads to a pixel density of about 200 ppi. This isn't bad, but the screen on the S6 will blow it away.

There's more good things we could say about the S6, but we want to get to a few issues that may turn a few potential buyers away from it.

What we Don't Like about the S6
There are a few things about the Galaxy S6 that should be considered if you're planning to get this phone, For some, these issues may be enough reason not to get this phone, for others, it won't really matter.

The first thing we don't like is the price, but it's hard to really complain about it too much since this is a high-end device. But Tracfone users tend to be very money-conscious, and few will be as interested in this phone once they learn about the $599 price tag.

Another issue some consumers may not like is that the battery on the S6 is not removable. So if something happens, or you just want to take the battery out, you can't. Additionally, there's no external card slot for a micro SD card. The amount of onboard memory is very good, but if you want to load up a bunch of music you have on an SD card, you won't be able to.

And finally, the Tracfone version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 will probably not get any additional Android updates. So this phone will come with Android 5.0, but you won't be able to update it to Android 6.0 when that becomes available for other S6 devices. (However, if you buy an unlocked Galaxy S6 and bring it to Tracfone BYOP, you will be able to update to the latest Android version.)

As we said, these are small issues with the phone that we thought should be mentioned for those considering purchasing this device.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is a phone packed with modern features and it is hard to compare it to any other Tracfone device except one, the Samsung Galaxy S5. So that's exactly what we are going to do in case some of our readers are considering which of these two devices to purchase.

(The Samsung Galaxy E5 is also an option , but has a lot less to offer, and we compare it to the S5 in our review of the Galaxy E5).

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy S6 vs S5 Comparison

One might assume that the S6 would be the clear winner in a comparison of these two phones since it is the newer model, but it is not as simple as that. The Galaxy S5 (link to our full review) actually has a number of features that somehow were left off the Galaxy S6 and may make it a better choice for some.

Hardware-wise, the S6 has the upper hand with 3 GB RAM (vs. 2 GB in the S5) two quad-core processors (vs one quad-core processor in the S5) and 32 GB memory (vs 16 in the S5). The Galaxy S6 also runs Android 5.0 while the S5 will only use Android 4.4. The touchscreen size is the same between these phones, but the S6 has better resolution (more pixels packed into the screen) and has Gorilla glass 4 (vs Gorilla glass 3 in the S5).

Both the S6 and S5 have a 16 MP rear camera with similar features, but the S6 uses a 5 MP front camera while the S5's is only 2 MP.

However, the S5 has several great features that were not passed on to the new generation. The Galaxy S5 is IP67 certified, which means it is dust and water resistant. You can put the S5 up to 1 meter below the surface of the water for up to 30 minutes and there should't be any issues (obviously we don't recommend testing this too much yourself, but there are plenty of videos on YouTube where other people thoroughly test this).

The battery on the S5 is a little larger (2800 mAh vs 2550 mAh on the S6) and it is removable, which is important to some users.

The Galaxy S5 also has a Micro SD card slot, up to 128 GB, which allows you to store a lot more information.

Changes to the interface for the S6 leave users with less customization options (making the S6 a little more like an iPhone) which in some cases might be preferred.

At the end of the day, these phones share a lot of features, but each have certain strengths. One final consideration is that the Galaxy S5 is currently $100 less expensive than the S6.

Which phone is better? Hard to say, the S6 wins in performance and hardware, but the S5 has some important features that could be deal-breakers and we really like that it is dust and water resistant.

Conclusion and Where to Buy the Samsung Galaxy S6

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is the best phone available from Tracfone (at this time) and is a high-end phone that you can use with inexpensive prepaid service. But the cost may be a be roadblock for many users who are interested in this phone.

Keep in mind that Tracfone has a number of other devices coming soon, including several mid-level LG smartphones with Android 5.1.1.

You can purchase the Samsung Galaxy S6 from HSN.com where it is offered with a bundle of minutes worth $100, plus extra accessories. We will update if the phone is released elsewhere.

Remember to verify you have CDMA service in your area (check on the Tracfone website) before you buy.

You can view the Tracfone Tutorial for the S6 to learn more about it, and learn how to use it.

If you're new to Android phones on Tracfone, read our guide for How to Check your Airtime balance which shares several different methods for tracking your minutes.

Also take a look at our Android Tracfone List, which is where we list each of the smartphones from Tracfone in one convenient list so you can compare features.

Drop a comment below with your thoughts or questions, and be sure to follow us on Facebook where we have a growing community of Tracfone users.

Thanks for visiting!

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy E5 Review

Review of the Samsung Galaxy E5 - Tracfone Android Smartphone

Below is TracfoneReviewers full review of the Samsung Galaxy E5 which is available to use with Tracfone prepaid service. We have many more Cell Phone Reviews which you can browse through, or simple explore the rest of our blog, which is all about Tracfone related information. 

Samsung Galaxy E5 Tracfone Review

The Samsung Galaxy E5 is an Android powered smartphone that was recently released to use on Tracfone's prepaid network. It features a 5.0" touchscreen and 16 GB internal memory plus much more.

Let's make one thing clear before we get started, the Galaxy E5 has some significant differences to the Samsung Galaxy S5, which Tracfone also released at the same time. (and you can read our review by following the link)

In this review we will share the full features and specs for the Galaxy E5, and then compare it to the S5 and some of other smartphones also available from Tracfone. We will also include where you can buy the E5, and if you really should or not. But first, let's cover the brief pro's and con's for this phone.

Samsung Galaxy E5 Quick Points

The Good:
-Lots of Internal Storeage - 16 GB
-4G LTE on CDMA (Verison) network
-Large 5" touchscreen

The Not-So-Good:
-Expensive - $350

The E5 has some really great features, but it also a lot of features that are similar to many of Tracfone's other devices, which mostly retail for closer $100. So is the extra cost of the Galaxy E5 worth it? We will answer that, but first take a look at the full list of features and specifications for the Galaxy E5 to get a better idea of all it has to offer.

Samsung Galaxy E5 Features and Specs

Below are the features for the E5, followed by the technical Specifications

• Android 5.0.2
• 4G LTE through Verizon CDMA network
• 8 MP Rear Camera, 5 MP Front Camera
• WiFi and Bluetooth Capable
• NFC
• GPS
• 3 Home Screens
• Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
• Triple Talk, Text and Data
• Caller ID, Voicemail, Voice dialing
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Alarm Clock
• MP3 Player
• Handsfree Speaker

Samsung Galaxy E5 Technical Specs

• Size: 5.6" x 2.8" x 0.3"
• 5.0" Touchscreen (720x1280 pixels)
• 1.2 Ghz Quad Core Processor
• 1.5 GB RAM
• 16 GB Internal Memory
• Battery: 2400 mAh (non-removable) - 25hrs talk time, 15 days standby

As you can see, the Galaxy E5 maintains some features from the S5, but trims a lot of others. The phone's technical specifications are mostly reduced compared to what the S5 comes with, but they both have 16 GB storage and 4G LTE service capability. The E5 does have Android 5.0.2, and is a step up from phones like the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime or LG Sunset (which also have Android 5.0, but not as much internal memory, RAM or as large a screen).

Before we get too far into comparison the Galaxy E5, let's look at some of the features that we really like about the E5, and some areas where it falls short of our expectations.

Samsung Galaxy E5 Review

What we Like:
There are a number of different features on the E5 that make it a very capable smartphone. We like the processor and RAM, the amount of storage on this device, and the screen and camera are also very good compared to other Tracfone devices.

Samsung Galaxy E5 (click to view larger)

1.2 Ghz Quad core processor combined with 1.5 GB RAM is a good combination and should be plenty of power to handle your everyday activities. Most of Tracfone's other phones, like the LG Sunset and LG Ultimate 2, use only 1 GB RAM, which means less multitasking capability and less ability to handle resource heavy apps.

But, its no 2.5 Ghz quad core with 2 GB RAM which is what the S5 comes with. Do you need this kind of performance? Maybe not, but its still something to consider if you're comparing the two.

The Galaxy E5 comes with a 5" Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen at a resolution of 720x1280 (about 295ppi pixel density) which is very good. The LG Sunset only has a 4.5" Touchscreen with 480x854 resolution at 218ppi density. Samsung has a pretty good history of bright and beautiful screens (at least for their mid to high end devices) and the E5 is no exception.

An 8MP rear camera with flash and a 5 MP front camera are great features and more than adequate for recording life around you. You can even record videos in full 1080 HD at 30 fps from either camera.

Finally, one of the best (or maybe most desirable) feature on the E5 is the 16 GB internal storage (and up to 128 GB external with micro SD card). Tracfone smartphones have been plagued with small amounts of onboard storage for years, but we hope this trend is changing with the Galaxy E5 and S5 each coming with 16 GB.

What we Don't Like about the Galaxy E5
There are a couple of points we want to mention about the E5 that are drawbacks for those who might be considering this device. None of them are serious flaws, but issues non-the-less that should be covered.

First off, the E5 uses Android 5.0.2. We initially thought it would come with only 4.4, since that is what the S5 has, but we are very happy to confirm it comes standard with 5.0. This is good news, especially those who are concerned about some of the possible security risks that Android 4.4 is susceptible to. With devices on Tracfone like the E5, you can't update them (as far as we have found). So you will have to stick with 5.0.2, This is a drawback for those who like to keep up with the latest Android updates, which bring not only new features to the phone, but also patch potential security risks.

The best way to avoid security risks is to only visit webpages and apps you trust. Take a look at our list of Best Android Apps for some of our top picks.

The Galaxy S5 uses the older, Android 4.4 OS, but if you buy the S5 unlocked (and bring it to the BYOP program), you can update it to Android 5.0.

The second drawback for the E5 is the price. It is retailing on HSN.com for $350 bundled with minutes and other accessories. The airtime is worth about $100, making the phone cost about $250. Many of Tracfone's other smartphone devices, like the LG Sunset or Galaxy Core Prime, retail for under $100, and can be found bundled with minutes for around $100 (making the phone almost free).

Roaming, as many are aware, is not currently available for Tracfone smartphones. What this means is, if you go outside of your service area (which, in the case of the E5 is Verizon cell towers) you won't have service. The good news is that Verizon has pretty good coverage in most places, but be aware that if you live in an area, or travel to areas, that don't have Verizon coverage, you won't have reception in those areas with this Tracfone device.

That sums up the main points in our review of the Samsung Galaxy E5 from Tracfone and the pro's and con's for this device.

Overview and Where to Buy the Samsung Galaxy E5

Here's a our final thoughts on the E5, and where you can find it available for sale.

While it has a less powerful processor, lower resolution camera, smaller and lower resolution screen, and less RAM compared to the Galaxy S5, the E5 does still have 16 GB internal storage and uses the newer Android version 5.0.2, compared to the S5.

Truly, the E5 is the somewhat less capable little brother to the S5, but still quite capable, especially compared to any other smartphone available from Tracfone.

The real issue is the price - at $350, you can easily get an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S5 and bring it to Tracfone with the BYOP program. You could also get many other great smartphones for closer to $200 and bring them to the BYOP program.

So we find it hard to recommend this phone unless you are willing to spend the money for the convenience of avoiding the possible hassle of activating a BYOP device. If the cost isn't such a worry to you, then this phone is a great choice. But wouldn't you rather spend a little more and get an even better phone like the S5? Not everyone would need the extra performance, but it is always nice to have.

You can find the E5 on HSN for $350

We have not found the E5 available anywhere else, but will update if this changes.

Visit Samsung's official product detail page for the E5 if you want to see additional photos and read the user manual. Also you can view an Interactive Tutorial for the E5 if you're so inclined.

We have a lot of resources about Tracfone smartphones to help our readers learn more and get the most from their device. Here are some of the most popular:
How to Check your Airtime on Tracfone Android Phones
How Minutes Work on Tracfone Smartphones
How to Buy Only Texts for your Smartphone
Are Data Cards a Good Deal from Tracfone?
Analysis of the New Smartphone Only Airtime Cards from Tracfone

If you have any further thoughts or questions, leave a comment below. We do review each comment before posting.

Stay up to date with the latest Tracfone news and info by joining over 1700 others who follow us on Facebook!

And if you're new to Tracfone, start with our Beginners Guide to Tracfone which explains some of how using Tracfone service works.

Thanks for visiting!

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy S5 Review

Samsung Galaxy S5 Review - Tracfone Android Smartphone

Below we share our review of the Samsung Galaxy S5 that is for use with Tracfone prepaid service. TracfoneReviewer is a blog that shares information, reviews and much more about Tracfone Wireless to help consumers save money and find answers to their questions.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Review for Tracfone

If you're looking for a powerful smartphone to use with Tracfone and don't want to try out the BYOP program, the Samsung Galaxy S5 from Tracfone might be the phone for you.

Three new (to Tracfone) phones recently became available including the Samsung Galaxy S5, which was the most notable of the trio for us (the other two are the Samsung Galaxy E5 and Samsung Galaxy Core Prime).

The Samsung Galaxy S5 was first released to the public in April of 2015, making it one of the most recent phones Tracfone has added to their lineup. Many of the phones that Tracfone releases to use with their service are several years old, which is challenging for smartphone users where technology is progressing at a rapid pace. A phone that is a few years old will generally do the basic functions just fine, but will struggle and run slowly when trying to operate with multiple applications running at one time.

The Galaxy S5, however, is a phone that can keep up with multiple programs running at once, or even more resource intensive apps and games, due to its fast, quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM.

Before we get too far, let's look at some pro's and con's we've discovered.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Quick Facts

The Good Points:
-Great Camera - 16 MP
-Lots of Memory/Storage - 16 GB
-Large Touchscreen - 5.1"
-4G LTE

The Not so Good:
-Expensive - currently $500 with 1 Year/400 minute airtime card bundle
-Older OS - Android 4.4

The Samsung Galaxy S5 from Tracfone is basically a really great smartphone with a lot of impressive features that users have been desiring for a long time. But, its expensive. Let's dig into the full list of features and phone specifications for the Galaxy S5 to see how this phone is better than any other device offered by Tracfone at this time.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Features and Specs

Below are the features for the Galaxy S5, followed by the phone specifications.

• Android 4.4.2 KitKat
• 4G LTE service through Verizon CDMA cell towers
• 16 MP Rear Camera, 2 MP Front
• WiFi and Bluetooth
• GPS
• NFC
• 3 Home Screens
• Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
• Triple Talk, Text and Data
• Caller ID, Voice Dialing, Voicemail
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Alarm Clock
• MP3 Player
• Hadsfree Speaker
• Heart rate sensor
• Air Gestures, Smart Scroll and Smart Pause
• IP67 Certified - Dust and Water Resistant (1 Meter/30 Minutes underwater)

Samsung Galaxy S5 Technical Specs

• Size: 5.59" x 2.84" x 0.31"
• 5.1" Touchscreen (capacitive) at 1080x1920 resolution (432 ppi pixel density)
• 2.5 Ghz Quad core processor
• 2 GB RAM
• 16 GB Internal Memory
• Battery: 2800 mAh with 29 hrs talk time, 27 days standby (removable)

This phone brings a whole host of features and upgrades that most Tracfone users haven't experienced because no other Tracfone device at this time can compare to the Samsung Galaxy S5 (except, perhaps, the Galaxy E5). The LG Sunset, for example, has 1 GB RAM, 8 GB Internal Memory and  a 5 MP Camera, about half as good on each of those features compared to the Galaxy S5. But the Sunset does have 4G LTE just like the S5.

Let's get into what we like and don't like about this phone, where we will also review many of the great features the Galaxy S5 comes with.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Review - What we Like (and don't like) About the S5 for Tracfone

What we Like:
The Samsung Galaxy S5 was the flagship phone for Samsung when it was launched, which means it was loaded up with the best tech and newest features. We like a lot of things about this phone, because it comes with a lot. So let's break it down and get into reviewing some of the most exciting features.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Front and Back

The first thing you notice about this phone is the screen, which is an impressive 5.1" and has a resolution of 1080x1920, which is better than any other Tracfone smartphone at this time. It also has a pixel density of about 430, making for very crisp, clear viewing on this phone.

Internal memory and RAM are both great features on the S5, which comes with 16 GB for storing apps, photos and other things, and 2 GB for running multiple apps at once. The 2.5 Ghz processor is also very good, and should have no problem keeping up with the latest games and applications you may want to run on your phone.

For Tracfone users who want to do some phone photography, the Galaxy S5 has a very impressive 16 MP rear camera that comes with a host of features all to itself. You also get a 2.1 MP front camera for selfies and video chatting. The rear camera has auto-focus and flash, and will record video at UHD 4K quality. Take a look at some photo samples on flickr to see the quality for yourself.

One additional feature that we're quite impressed by is the Galaxy S5's IP67 rating, which means that it is dust resistant, and water resistant up to 1 meter deep, for 30 minutes. You can watch some of the waterproof tests on YouTube if you're interested. It is never a bad thing to have a phone that won't be ruined because of an accident or a moment of forgetfulness.

Finally the S5 does come with a handful of extra features that may or may not be useful to you, like a heartbeat sensor, gesture controls, smart scrolling and more.

For performance and features, the Galaxy S5 is unmatched by any other Tracfone device at this time, and delivers a full smartphone experience.

It's not all good news though, we do want to share a couple of concerns about the Galaxy S5.

Dislikes for the Samsung Galaxy S5
While there are so many great features with the Samsung Galaxy S5, there are two things we don't like, that might be deal-breakers for some Tracfone users. The first is the price, which is rather steep. The Galaxy S5 is only available through online retailers HSN.com and it is listed for $499 bundled with a 1 Year/ 400 Minute card, and some additional items. The airtime card is worth $100, making the phone cost closer to $399.

Our issue with the price is that you can find an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S5 on Amazon for $325 (and closer to $200 if you're willing to buy a refurbished model). You can then get a SIM card from Tracfone, and use the phone on the BYOP program.

The second negative about the Samsung Galaxy S5 is that it comes with Android 4.4.2, and cannot be updated. If you get the unlocked version, and bring it to Tracfone's BYOP program, you will be able to update it to version 5.0.1, but the Tracfone version is locked at Android Kitkat, which has some known security issues. If you are concerned about your phone's security, then look into the BYOP program.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Overview and Additional Resources

If the two negative aspects of the S5 don't worry you, then the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a great buy and a great smartphone to use on Tracfone's low cost prepaid network. You will be getting high performance at low monthly costs.

But if the price and possible security issues are a worry, we strongly recommend looking into the BYOP program from Tracfone which allows consumers to bring a wide variety of devices to use with Tracfone.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is available from HSN with a minutes bundle and is listed for $499.

We will update this when we find the phone available from other sources.

View the Galaxy S5's Interactive Tutorial to learn more about how the phone works, or visit Samusng's website for the S5 to read up on what they have for the phone, which includes a user manual.

If you're new to using smartphones with Tracfone, take a look at some of our popular articles we've posted including:
How to Check your Airtime on Tracfone Android Phones
How Minutes Work on Tracfone Smartphones
How to Buy Only Texts for your Smartphone
Are Data Cards a Good Deal from Tracfone?
Analysis of the New Smartphone Only Airtime Cards from Tracfone

If you have any further thoughts or questions, leave a comment below. Each comment is reviewed before posting.

Stay up to date with the latest Tracfone news and info by joining over 1700 others who follow us on Facebook!

And if you're new to Tracfone, start with our Beginners Guide to Tracfone which explains some of how using Tracfone service works.

Thanks for visiting!

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy Core Prime Review

Review of the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime from Tracfone

Below we share the features, specifications and full review for the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime (S820L). TracfoneReviewer strives to provide useful and helpful information to make it easier for consumers to choose what phone is best for them.

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy Core Prime Review

Tracfone released three new Android powered smartphones through the retailer HSN.com to start 2016 off with some excitement. What's so exciting about these three new phones? Well you can learn about it on our previous post about it.

Here we will be reviewing the Galaxy Core Prime, which is a smartphone that includes a number of great features, and comes at a very budget friendly price.

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a wireless prepaid cell phone company that offers both phones and service. Consumers can also bring their own devices through the Tracfone BYOP program. Follow the link to learn more about how you can bring a wide variety of devices to use with Tracfone.

A few years back Tracfone first started offering Android powered smartphones on their prepaid service, and they have continued to release more and more devices as demand and popularity has grown.

All Android smartphone devices on Tracfone come with Triple Talk, Text and Data, but you can't use promotional codes when adding airtime.

Now let's take a brief look at some of the pro's and can's for the Galaxy Core Prime.

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime Quick Facts:

The Good Points
-4G LTE through Verizon CDMA network
-Reasonable Price - $99
-8 GB Internal Memory
-Average specs for a Tracfone smartphone

The Not So Good:
-Low screen resolution - 480x800
-Average specs for a Tracfone smartphone

If you notice, we put 'average specs for a Tracfone smartphone' as both a good thing and a bad thing. The reason is that this phone is similar to several of the other Android devices from Tracfone, like the LG Sunset, however the specs and features it comes with aren't really that exciting to us, especially after looking at the Samsung Galaxy S5, which was also released for Tracfone with the Core Prime.

Let'ts take a look at the full list of phone specifications and features to get a better idea of what the Core Prime offers.

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime Features and Specifications

Below are the features that come with the Core Prime, followed by the technical specs.

• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 4G LTE through Verizon CDMA towers
• 5 MP Rear Camera, 2 MP Front
• WiFi and Bluetooth capable
• GPS
• 3 Home Screens
• Access to over 1 million apps on Google Play
• Triple Talk, Text and Data
• Caller ID, Voicemail, Voice Dialing
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Alarm Clock
• Hands free Speaker
• MP3 Player

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime Specs:

• Size: 5.16" x 2.68" x 0.35"
• 4.5" Touchscreen (480x800 resolution)
• 1.2 Ghz Quad Core Processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 8 GB Internal Memory (up to 32 GB External Memory with Micro SD Card)
• Battery: 2000 mAh with Talk Time 22 hours, Standby 33 Days

As you can see from the phone's specifications, it comes with a number of features that put it right up next some of the better smartphones available from Tracfone at this time.

The best way to summarize the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime is that it is similar to the LG Sunset, except the Sunset uses 4G LTE on GSM network, and the Core Prime uses 4G LTE on CDMA. So If you've been waiting for a 4G LTE device that works with Verizon towers, the Core Prime is your answer.

Now we will share some of the things we like and don't like about this smartphone device from Tracfone.

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime Review

What we Like About the Core Prime
The Galaxy Core Prime comes with a number of great features that help make it a phone that will be desirable for many Tracfone users. We like that it comes with 8 GB of Internal Memory, 4G LTE, and a very decent battery life.

With 8 GB of space on the Core Prime, about 3 GB will be used by the OS and other pre-installed applications. That leaves about 5 GB for you to load apps, music, videos, pictures and anything else you might want. 5 GB of space is a reasonable amount that will allow you to load all of your favorite apps, along with some pictures and music, But if you plan to put a whole library of music, or a number of videos, you will run out of space. Fortunately there is also a MicroSD Card slot so you can load some things, like music and pictures, onto the external card.

The Samsung Galaxy Core Prime is one of three new devices from Tracfone that use Verizon CDMA cell towers, and also have 4G LTE capability. The Core Prime is by far the cheapest of the three options, with the Samsung Galaxy S5 and E5 as the other two options, and currently going for $499 and $349 respectively. 4G is simply faster access to the internet using mobile data, allowing you sto stream videos or music at a faster rate to reduce buffering problems.

We were impressed with the battery talk time and standby which is very good for a smartphone. This phone should be able to last all day on one charge with moderate use, and even longer if you keep data and WiFi turned off.

Lastly, we are also really impressed with the current price for the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime, which is currently listed for $99 on HSN.com and comes with a 1 Year card, which is worth $99 by itself. Thus if you are already planning on purchasing a 1 Year/400 Minute card, you could by this phone package and get the Core Prime for free!

Dislikes for the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime
There are a few things that we want our readers to be aware of if they are considering the Core Prime.

First of all, the resolution for this smartphone isn't that great at 480x800. It gives you a dpi of about 207. This isn't too bad, but if you compare it to an iPhone 5, which is a few years old now, the iPhone has a dpi of 325, leading to clearer images because there are more pixels on the screen. We want to see Tracfone releasing more phones with improved screens for easier viewing. For most people, the screen on the Core Prime will be just fine and you won't notice any issues.

The Galaxy Core Prime comes with Android 4.4 KitKat, which is better than using older versions, however, it is a few years old at this point and you won't be able to update to 5.0. The LG Sunset, which is fairly similar to the Core Prime as we have mentioned, comes with Android 5.0.

Finally, the overall specs for the Core Prime are very good for a device from Tracfone, and especially at the current price, however, this isn't a phone that really 'wows' us but rather delivers very adequately and will be suited for low to moderate users. If you're someone who users their smartphone for lots of games, or other resource-intensive apps, you may want to look into the Samsung Galaxy S5, or the BYOP program.

Overview of the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime and Helpful Resources

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime is a good phone that is currently going for a great price. If you are a moderate smartphone user and looking for a 4G LTE capable device on Verizon's network, the Core Prime is a great deal.

You can view the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime on HSN where it comes bundled with minutes, and other accessories. We haven't found the Core Prime for sale anywhere else yet, but will update when we do.

Also take a look at the Interactive Tutorial from Tracfone if you want to learn more about how this device works.

We have lots of resources here on this blog to share information about Tracfone, so take a look around. We suggest you start with our Beginners Guide to Tracfone if you're new or check out our List of the Best Android Apps.

We have also created several resources relating to smartphones, including How to Check your Airtime on Tracfone Smartphones, How to Add Only Texts, How to Add Data Cards, and an Analysis of the Smartphone Only Airtime Cards from Tracfone.

We hope this review has been helpful, and leave a comment below with any thoughts or questions you might have.

Thanks for visiting!

Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz Review - Tracfone Android

Review of the Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz from Tracfone

Below are the specs, features and our review for the Alcatel Onetouch Pixi available from Tracfone. We have compiled the information here to provide our readers with the best resources for making decisions about buying phones from Tracfone.

Alcatel Pixi Glitz Review

The Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz is a budget smartphone that comes with some surprising features like Android 4.4, and a price that is almost unbeatable. But is this phone worth it? And what about a few specs that could be serious drawbacks? We will be covering all this and more in our review of the Alcatel Onetouch Pixi.

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a prepaid wireless phone company that offers both airtime, and cell phones throughout America. Tracfone doesn't actually own any cell phone towers though, but rather contracts with other carriers like Verizon and AT&T to use their networks. With Tracfone, you can have cell phone service for less than $10 a month if you don't need to use your phone very much, and they have more airtime options for those with more needs.

For more about Tracfone, start with our Beginners Guide which will cover the basics, and then you might want to visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to see the various phones they offer.

The Pixi Glitz is one of the newer phones from Tracfone, and it uses GSM towers from AT&T. It was released in the Fall of 2015 as Tracfone continues to roll out more smartphone options for their network.

Alcatel is a Chinese mobile phone manufacturer (as is ZTE) that was founded in 2004 and is a subsidiary to another Chinese company called TCL, according to Wikipedia sources.

On first glance one can immediately tell that the Pixi Glitz doesn't have the same performance as some of the other phones Tracfone has recently released like the LG Sunset and ZTE Quartz, however the price on the Pixi is what sets it apart, as many consumers have found the phone for $10 in stores, or sometimes even less.

Before we get into the full specs for this smartphone, we want to share our quick pro's and con's.

Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz Quick Facts

The Good:
-Android 4.4
-Inexpensive - $10-20

The Not so Good:
-Small Screen and Poor Pixel Density- 3.5" at 167 PPI
-Low RAM and Internal Memory
-No Front Camera

There are certainly some trade-offs for this phone, but let's take a look at the full list of features and specs before we get any further.

Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz Features and Specs

Below are the features, followed by the technical specifications.

• Android 4.4
• 4G Connectivity on AT&T GSM network
• GPS
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• FM Radio
• Voice Dailing and hearing aid compatible
• 3 Home Screens
• MP3 Player
• MMS
• Voicemail, call waiting, caller ID
• Access to over 1 million apps on Google Play
• Triple Talk, Text and Data for life

Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz Specs

• Size: 4.41" x 2.45" x 0.47"
• 3.5" Touchscreen - TFT LCD
• 1.3 Ghz Processor 
• 512 RAM
• 2 GB Memory (up to 32 GB external Micro SD card)
• Battery: Talk Time 5.7 hrs, Standby 12 days

Android 4.4, while not the newest, is a relatively recent version of the operating system and one that will allow a number of apps to be compatible with this device, we just wish the phone and more memory and RAM. It appears that some sources indicate this phone comes with 4 GB internal memory, but we only noticed 2 GB total space, of which a little over 1 GB is actually available to the users. The RAM is also on the low side, at only 512 mb.

So let's get straight to our review of the Pixi Glitz and discuss what we like and don't like about this Tracfone smartphone.

Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz Review

What we Like:

Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz 

As we mentioned, this phone uses Android 4.4 which is a relatively recent version and we would be disappointed if it used an older version. One of the more popular features is the ability to ask Google questions by simply saying 'OK Google'. This is a very handy feature when you want to look up something in a hurry.

The Pixi Glitz uses GSM networks and has 4G connectivity. Before you buy this phone check that you will have service in your area for the Tracfone GSM network, which would be AT&T.

Finally, the Alcatel Onetouch Pixi does come with all the basic calling and texting features like voice dailing, Caller ID, MMS, and more. You also get Triple Talk, Text and Data for life - which means anytime you add airtime it will get split into three buckets, and also be tripled. Note, triple minutes doesn't work on the new smartphone airtime cards.

What we really find great about this Tracfone Android phone is the price. But remember how much the phone costs we looking at the performance

Now we will share some of the drawbacks for this device.

What we Don't Like:
There are a number specifications that are just not up to par for this phone including the RAM and internal memory.

The minimum RAM most phones have these days is 1 GB and many phones even have 2 or 3 GB in order to handle the more resource intense apps that are available. RAM also helps with multitasking, so only 512 MB of RAM will mean the Pixi Glitz can't run as many apps at once. The internal memory is limited, but not as low as the old LG Optimus Dynamic.

Screen size on the Pixi is also small at only 3.5" and with a rather low pixel density of about 167. For some, this might be a positive because the phone will be easier to fit in a picket, but the small screen size does make the keyboard a little harder to use and type on. The larger the screen, the larger the keyboard which generally makes for easier typing.

The Pixi Glitz also lacks and front camera, and the rear camera is just 2 MP. It is hard to complain about this phone too much, since the price is so low, but we just want everyone to be aware that you will not be getting everything on this phone that a more expensive phone might have.

Lastly, the phone does feel a little cheap. This is as expected however, for a device at this price point.

Maps on the Pixi Glitz

This phone mainly comes down to the money (as you could probably tell), and for the money it is pretty good value. But those looking for a phone to run a variety of different apps and keep up with various daily needs, this device might not cut it.

At the price, one could just take a risk and buy the phone to see how it works, but if you're actually looking for a phone to use in the long run, you're better off with a higher quality and better performing device.

What the Alcatel Onetouch Pixi might be good for are people who only need a smartphone for one or two things like checking email. It might also be good for children as a first phone, because if they drop it or lose it, the investment is very small.

You can find the Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz on Amazon, and also on many other online retailers like BestBuy and Walmart. You can also phone the phone in many stores.

There is an interactive tutorial for the Alcatel Onetouch Pixi Glitz to help show how it works and where to find various features on the phone.

Resources for Tracfone Android Smartphones

We have created a number of helpful articles about using Android phones with Tracfone, and you can read them for yourself to help learn more about how these phones work, and how to get he most form your device.

First off, read more about How Airtime Works on Tracfone Smartphones which includes an explanation of the differences between smartphones and non-smartphones with Tracfone.

Learn how you can Check your Airtime Balance on Tracfone Smartphones which is not as simple compared to non-Android devices, but there are several different options.

Also read up on the new Smartphone only Airtime cards and see our analysis on whether they are a good deal. And lastly, visit our Android Tracfone List which you can use to browse the different smartphones offered by Tracfone, and quickly compare the options.

We hope this information has been help, and leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions!

Tracfone Alcatel Sonic Review - Android 4G LTE

Review of the Alcatel Onetouch Sonic - 4G LTE Android Tracfone Smartphone

Below is TracfoneReviewer's review of the Alcatel Sonic. We will share a variety of features and details for the phone, and provide information on where to buy this phone. We hope you find this review helpful!

Tracfone Alcatel Sonic Review

Tracfone is steadily releasing new smartphones and the latest release is only the second phone with 4G LTE coverage.

Tracfone Wireless is a prepaid service and cell phone provider with a variety of low cost devices and airtime options. They contract with other major cell phone carriers like Verizon and AT&T to provide coverage over their existing networks.

Tracfone is a smart choice for people who want a cell phone, but don't want to pay monthly contract prices.

Over the last few years Tracfone has released a number of Android powered smartphones to use with their service. This review will cover the Alcatel Onetouch Sonic, which is the latest phone available with Tracfone and comes with 4G LTE coverage.

If you're interested in the other Android phones from Tracfone, look no further than our Android Tracfone list which contains almost every smartphone available with Tracfone.

The Alcatel Onetouch Sonic is the second phone from Alcatel, following the Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop. The Icon Pop had a large 5" screen, but the Sonic has a slightly smaller 4.6" screen.

We want to share our quick points about this phone, and then get into the full list of features.

Alcatel Onetouch Sonic A851L Quick Points:

The Good:
-4G LTE
-4.6" Touchscreen

The Not so Good:
-Only about 1.7 GB internal memory
-Android 4.1
-Overall, no specs or features that really stand out besides 4G LTE

There are a couple of things about the Sonic that make it desirable, but there are also several features that are similar, or even worse than other phones available from Tracfone.

Let's take a look at the full list of features and specifications for the Sonic.

Alcatel Sonic Features and Specs

Below are the features, followed by the technical specs.

• Android 4.1
• 4G LTE Connectivity
• WiFi
• GPS
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 5 MP Rear Camera, VGA Front Camera
• Hearing Aid Compatible and Handsfree Speaker
• Access to over a Million Apps on Google Play
• Triple Minutes for Life
• MicroUSB Connection
• Voicemail, Caller ID, etc.

Alcatel Sonic Specifications List

• Size: 5.28" x 2.74" x 0.43"
• 4.6" Touchscreen (480x854 resolution with 212 DPI)
• 1.4 Ghz Dual Core Processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 4 GB Internal Memory (about 2 GB Usable, up to 32 GB External memory with MicroSD Card)
• Battery: Talk Time 14 hrs, Standby 20 days

Alcatel Onetouch Sonic front and back view

Several interesting features listed for the Sonic, particularly 4G LTE connectivity, but also the 4.6" touchscreen, and the 1.4 Ghz dual core processor.

The Alcatel Sonic has all the other features you would expect from an Android smartphone such as front and rear camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and speaker. It also has all the features you would expect from a Tracfone device like Triple Minutes for Life, Caller ID, Voicemail and more.

While there are some good features on the Sonic, there are also a few things we want to point out so that consumers are aware of them before purchasing this device. Let's get into our review of the Alcatel Onetouch Sonic with what we like, and don't like, about this device. If you want to see some phones we really don't like, take a look at our list of the Worst Tracfone Cell Phones.

Alcatel Onetouch Sonic Review - Likes and Dislikes

What We Like about the Sonic

The Alcatel Sonic is, overall, a pretty average Android phone except for one main feature - 4G LTE. This faster connectivity speed (4G really means 4th generation) allows you to download and surf the web much more quickly than 3G devices. And the nice thing is, you are paying the same for it with Tracfone.

We believe the Sonic will use GSM networks from AT&T, just like the LG Sunset. 

The 4.6" touchscreen is good, and similar to many of the other smartphones available with Tracfone.

Now let's take a look at some of the features that we weren't happy with.

What We Don't Like About the Sonic

Alcatel Sonic Internal Memory

There are several features this phone comes with that we don't like because they are similar or slightly worse than what we can get form other Tracfone devices.

The Sonic comes with Android 4.1, which is not the latest, or even almost the latest. There are several phones available from Tracfone that have Android 5.0, like the LG Sunset, or LG Power. While it isn't a big deal to use an older version of Android, it would be nice if it were updated.

Loading and storing apps, photos and other media on the Sonic may create a problem since the Sonic only comes with 4 GB of internal memory, with about half of that used up by the operating system. Again, several other Tracfone smartphones offer about double the internal memory as the Sonic. You will probably want more space if you're going to put more than a handful of apps on this device.

The camera on the Alcatel Sonic is also nothing impressive. It does the job, and has a front facing VGA camera for video chats, but doesn't stand apart from other devices.

We like that this phone has 4G LTE, but the rest of the features on this phone seem a little outdated. For those who don't plan to use their phone too much, this device will probably be just fine. But if you want to get more from your device, you probably want to go with something else, and maybe even consider the Tracfone BYOP program.

Overview and Where to Buy the Alcatel Sonic

As we said above, the Sonic is a pretty good phone, but there are other phones that are better for a similar price. The LG Ultimate 2, ZTE Quartz, LG Power and LG Sunset are each similar to the Sonic, but with improvements in various ways. This phone will probably perform just fine for the majority of users who purchase it, but if you want the most for your money, you may want to consider the LG Sunset, or the BYOP program.

Even the LG Ultimate 2, which was released over a year ago, has a number of features that are similar or better than the Sonic, most notably, more internal memory for storing apps, pictures and other things.

We're not saying the Sonic is a bad phone, but just that there are some other good phones out there as well. We'll let you make your own decision.

The Alcatel Sonic hasn't been found on the Tracfone website yet, but it is available through several other online retailers.

You can find the Sonic at the following websites:

Alcatel Onetouch Sonic for $99 on Amazon

Alcatel Onetouch Sonic for $99 on eBay

Alcatel Onetouch Sonic with 1 Year Service Card for $200 on eBay

Alcatel Onetouch Sonic with 1 Year Service Card for $130 on Evine

We expect that the Sonic will be available in stores and on the Tracfone website sometime in the near future. It is not uncommon for the phone to be available on eBay and Amazon before the Tracfone website.

Tracfone Android Resources - Helpful Information for Smartphone Users

Android phones work a little differently than non-smartphones with Tracfone. One of the biggest differences is that you get you minutes split up into talk, text and data pools that are each separate. You also get Triple Minutes for life on every Android phone.

For more information on using Android phones with Tracfone, take a look at the following resources we've published about Tracfone smartphones:

How Do Minutes Work on Tracfone Smartphones?

How to Check your Airtime on Android Devices

How to Buy Only Texts for your Smartphone

How Data Works on Android Tracfone Devices

and lastly, The Best Apps for Android

You can also take a look at the Alcatel Sonic Interactive Tutorial to help you learn how to use the phone.

That completes our review of the Alcatel Sonic. We hope you found it informative and useful. If you have questions or something to share, leave a comment below (we review every comment before posting, to keep out spam).

Visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to see all our reviews in one place, and you might find

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Worst Tracfone Cell Phones

List of the Worst Devices from Tracfone

This post is created by TracfoneReviewer and shares some of the phones we wouldn't recommend for most Tracfone users. 

Worst Tracfone Cell Phone - photo from PicJumbo.com

Tracfone is a prepaid wireless cell phone company that provides low cost phones and cell coverage. The phones they offer are usually a few years behind the latest technology, and sometimes have some serious drawbacks.

Here at TracfoneReviewer we provide lots of cell phone reviews, and are generally very excited about the new phones Tracfone releases, because we like the value (cost vs benefits) Tracfone provides and the new phones bring.

However, over the years there have been several phones released by Tracfone that have really been pretty poor, especially as we've had time to look at user reviews and compare them to other devices.

So which Tracfone cell phones are the worst? We're going to share our pick below!

Before we get to our pick, we want to clarify a few things first.

What Makes a Phone 'Bad'

We want to quickly clarify how we are defining a 'bad' phone. Basically any phone that either:

• Has issues that the majority of users experience - thus not a case of one defective phone, but all phones being defective.
• Or lacks proper features/specs to make the phone usable for the majority of people (and there are other phones available that do).

Both of these points are sometimes hard to recognize in a newly released phone because we either don't have enough input from user reviews, or we don't have other phones to compare the new device to.

Over time we are able to gain a better picture of whether a phone is 'good' or 'bad' based on how it is performing, and how it compares to other phones available.

This brings us to an important point:

'Bad' Phones can Still be 'Good' for Some People

Let's be clear, each person has different needs and expectations for a phone, and so some phones may not meet the needs/expectations of the majority of people, but for a few people it may perfectly meet their need.

Some Tracfone users prefer a smaller touchscreen and don't want the features that come with an Android powered smartphone.

So while we will be highlighting a few phones and designating them as 'bad' phones, they may still be a good choice for some people.

Drop a comment below if you want to add your thoughts on 'good' and 'bad' phones, or if we weren't clear in defining this.

Now, let's get to our picks for the worst Tracfone cell phones.

The Worst Tracfone Cell Phone

There are three phones that rise to the top of the list for worst cell phone from Tracfone. Number two and three are the ZTE Valet and the LG Optimus Dynamic. These two phones are basically tied for second worst phones from Tracfone.

The LG Optimus Dynamic, when it was released, had some of the best and most advanced features for a Tracfone device yet. It came with Android version 2.3 which allowed users access to thousands of apps on Google Play. Until the Optimus Dynamic, Tracfone users had not had access to a true smartphone.

When the LG Optimus Dynamic was only about $20, I picked one up and enjoyed using it for a while.

However, the Dynamic had a major flaw which brings it onto our list - very little internal memory for installing apps (the phone has 1 GB internal memory, but less than 200 MB that is actually usable)

One of the major strengths of a smartphone is the ability to install applications that can do many different things. So when the Optimus Dynamic could only hold a small handful of apps, it was defeating the purpose of being a smartphone. Some users were able to move apps to the external SD card, but not all users were interested in trying this, and were left with a phone that would often have 'memory full' messages pop up.

If you're looking for new apps, take a look at our List of the Best Apps for Android which may contain some new ideas for you!

The ZTE Valet came after the Optimus Dynamic, and improved on it in a few ways, such as a newer OS, Android 4.1. However the quality of the Valet was soon brought into question as many users noticed both poor sound quality when making phone calls, and poor WiFi reception in their home.

The Worst Tracfone is the Unimax MaxPatriot

These issues were prevalent for the majority of Valet users and caused many to look for a new phone soon after getting the Valet. The new and improved LG Optimus Dynamic II was a popular choice. Let's hope the issues with the ZTE Valet are cleared up for the more recently released ZTE Quartz.

And finally, the worst phone released by Tracfone is the Unimax MaxPatriot.

Unlike the ZTE Valet and LG Optimus Dynamic, the MaxPatriot was an inferior phone from the start. When it was released there were several other phones from Tracfone that were significantly better (specifically, the LG Ultimate 2). Plus, user comments and reviews quickly outlined a number of quality issues with the phone, and the phone manufacturer.

It is the only phone that we couldn't recommend for anyone, because there were phones that were both better and cheaper available at the same time. But some people still decided to try out the Unimax, and here are some of their comments:

Comment on the Unimax MaxPatriot

Comment on the Unimax MaxPatriot

And finally this user was clearly unhappy with the Unimax phone:

Comment on the Unimax MaxPatriot

Other comments were more restrained and merely read, "ditto on all the bad reviews."

To be fair, there were some comments from users who actually liked the phone, or at least weren't unhappy with it.

While there are other phones from Tracfone that do have their issues, none (as far as we know) were as bad as the Unimax MaxPatriot.

Let us know in the comments what your choice for the worst Tracfone would be, or if you have had a good experience with any of the phones in our list.

If you're looking for a new phone, we recommend taking a look at our Tracfone BYOP page where you can learn all about bringing your own phone to Tracfone. This includes a wide variety of GSM and CDMA phones, and even 4G LTE devices. You can find a list of compatible phones on that page as well.

We also recently reviewed the Call Detector App, which you can use on Android devices to block unwanted calls.

Stay up to date with the latest Tracfone news and information by following us on Facebook! As Black Friday and Christmas approach, Tracfone has traditionally released new phones or great deals, and we will share them both on the Facebook page, and here on the blog as we find them.

Thanks for visiting and we hope this post was useful and informative!