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.

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

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New Smartphone Airtime Cards from Tracfone - Are They A Good Deal?

We Compare the New Smartphone Airtime Cards with the Regular Airtime Cards from Tracfone

Tracfone recently added several new options for buying airtime for your smartphone. These new cards are only for smartphone users on Tracfone, and add specific amounts of talk time, texts and data that does not triple when you top off your phone. Are these new cards a good deal? Are you better off buying the older cards? We are going to answer those questions right here for you!

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a prepaid wireless phone company that provides both cell phones, and service to use the phones on. Over the last few years Tracfone has offered many different Android powered smartphones to use with their service, as well as making it possible to bring your own smartphone device to use with their service (called the BYOP program).

All smartphones on Tracfone automatically split airtime cards into three separate categories - talk time, texts and data. All smartphones also automatically triple airtime you add to the phone, which is a nice bonus.

With these new airtime cards that can only be used with smartphones, the airtime is not tripled when you add it to your smartphone, and the cards come with specific amounts for talk time, texts and data.

For example, the new 2000 Minute Card comes with 2000 minutes talk time, 3000 text messages, and 1 GB data. Each of the new cards also comes with 90 service days.

So are these new airtime cards a good deal for Tracfone users? Let's take a look.

Comparison of Smartphone Airtime Cards Vs. Regular Airtime Cards

We are going to go through a couple of tables to analyze the different cards and try to determine which cards are a better value. We will do our best to explain each of the tables as we go through them. Please be sure to leave a comment if you don't understand how we came to our conclusions, or if you have a better way of explaining this.

Let's start with the first table that shows the two categories of airtime cards, how many minutes you get for each card, and what the price per minute is for each card. We also include text and data costs. Also note that we tripled each of the 'old' airtime cards, because they are automatically tripled when adding them to a smartphone.

Tracfone Smartphone Cards vs Regular Airtime Cards - Which One is Better?

As you can see from the table above, with a 450 minute card you will get 1350 minutes for talking, 1350 texts, and 1350 MB of data (1.35 GB).

Notice the 3000 minute smartphone only card. With this card you get 3000 minutes for talking, 3000 texts, but only 1500 MB data (1.5 GB).

Then take a look at the 200 minute smartphone card, you get 2000 minutes for talking but 3000 texts! And also 1000 MB data (1 GB).

So, as you can see, the new smartphone cards don't give even amounts of talk/text/data, but rather give a varying amount of each. The general trend for these smartphone only cards is that they give more talk time, a lot more texts, but less data than the regular airtime cards. This is generally very good, because many smartphone users go though their texts the fastest.

Now let's take a look at the second half of the table above, the part about price per minute, text and MB (data).

The general trend we can see is that the larger the airtime card, the better deal you get (you get more for your money when you buy more).

What we really want to take a look at is the cost (or price) per airtime amount. The smartphone only cards are cheaper for both talk time and texts, but a little more expensive for the data. The 'average' cost shows that the smartphone only cards are a little cheaper, mostly because they give you a lot more texts compared to the regular airtime cards.

Let's take a look at this next table which explains how many minutes you get per dollar.

Tracfone Smartphone Airtime Cards - Minutes per Dollar

The table above shows how many minutes you get for each dollar spent on an airtime card. So for the 450 Minute Card, you get just under 20 minutes talk time, 20 texts, and 20 MB for one dollar. You can see that this is the best deal for the 'old' cards.

Now look at the 2000 minute smartphone only card. For one dollar you get almost 27 talking minutes, 40 texts, and about 13 MB data. So, compared to the 450 Minute card, you get a better deal on talk time, twice as many texts, and a slightly worse deal on data.

How do the regular airtime cards compare to the new smartphone airtime cards?

The smartphone only cards are a better deal for talking, and MUCH better deal on texts, and a slightly worse deal on data.

So, if you use your smartphone primarily for texting, these new smartphone cards are a great value for you. You should especially consider the 2000 and 1000 minute cards, because both of these give you 40 texts per dollar, the best deal of any of the cards.

But if you use more data than anything else, you may want to stick with the old airtime cards, or just buy data only cards. You could also consider the 400 Minute/1 Year card, which we did not include in the table, but is a similar value to the 450 Minute Card.

For many, buying the 500 Minute Smartphone only card is a better value than the regular 200 Minute Airtime card because you get almost twice as many texts, with slightly less talk and data time.

Take a moment to consider your own needs, and which airtime card you usually buy, and see if there is a better option on the tables above.

We hope this analysis has been helpful, and understandable. Let us know in the comments what you thought, and which airtime card you will be choosing.

We have several other posts relating to buying airtime with Tracfone. Take a look at How to Buy Only Texts, How Data Works on Tracfone, and How Do Minutes work on Tracfone Smartphones?

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How to Block Unwanted Calls and Texts on Tracfone - The Call Detector App

Block Telemarketing Calls on your Smartphone with Call Detector App

Below we review and discuss an app available for Android users that can block unwanted calls. TracfoneReviewer is a blog dedicated to providing resources and information about Tracfone, and we share lots of different things from cell phone reviews to promotional codes. So have a look around if you want to learn more about Tracfone!

How to Block Unwanted Phone Calls

Many Tracfone users find it even more annoying than the average person when they receive a telemarketing or other unwanted call because it costs airtime. Even if you answer, then then hang up moments later, it will still deduct minutes form your Tracfone account.


The only way to combat this for many users was to try and pay close attention to who was calling, and then simply try to avoid answering it. But this isn't always possible, and sometimes we answer the phone without thinking.

Unwanted texts are also another way we lose valuable minutes. And on Android phones, there isn't a way to choose which texts you open (and pay for) and which you don't. So any text you receive on an Android phone reduces your remaining text balance.

Well Tracfone must have noticed consumers dissatisfaction with this, because they recently started promoting a free App for Android phones that says it will, "block any unwanted phone calls as well as automatically block all known scam callers."

So does this app work and will it block those annoying telemarketers? We're here to test it and find out, and then share the results with you below.

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a prepaid wireless cell phone company. They offer both cell phones, and prepaid airtime that allows users to pay for only what they plan to use. You can learn more about Tracfone by reading our Beginners Guide to Tracfone.

What is the Call Detector App?

The Call Detector App makes it possible to select numbers from your contact list or recent callers and choose to block their number. This is really great if you tend to get a lot of unwanted calls form the same number.

Call Detector offers several more features as well:

• Automatically block known scammers
• Identify incoming telemarketing and debt collection calls
• block all incoming private or blocked numbers
• Easily report telemarketers/debt collectors through the app
• Caller ID (only limited number of uses on free version of the app)
• Reverse number lookup (only limited number of uses on free version of the app)

The app is free to download, but does offer a premium upgrade that removes ads, and allows users to have unlimited Caller ID and Reverse number lookup, among other bonuses.

The Call Detector App says it was specifically created for Tracfone and Tracfone's other companies like Straight Talk and Net10.

Now we want to share what we thought of the app in our review of the Call Detector app.

Call Detector App Review - Testing the App

Call Detector App Homescreen

We tested the Call Detector app on an LG Ultimate 2 active with Tracfone service and had no trouble downloading the app from Google Play, and quickly loading it up onto our homescreen. (we also tried downloading it on a Moto G 1st Gen that isn't active on any network, and the app wouldn't connect.)

The app takes up about 9 MB of space on the internal memory, which isn't very much, and not a problem for the Ultimate 2 that comes with around 4 GB internal memory, but for some of the older Android phones you may not have much room to work with.

When loading up the app you will have to give Call Detector access to a number of different things on your phone, but this is what allows the app to automatically block calls, and select numbers to block from your list of received calls.

The home screen is simple, and we were able to quickly view either a list of our contacts, or recently received calls and choose from these lists any phone numbers we wanted to block. You can also choose to view the apps activity (what phone calls it has blocked), file a complaint through the app, look up a number, or purchase the full version.

We selected a few numbers to block, and then tested the app by using those numbers to call the phone. When a blocked number calls, you briefly see the call screen flash on the smartphone's screen, and then the call is disconnected. In the app's activity section, you get to see who called and what time they called.

We also tested blocking text messages, which we can't tell if this app is supposed to block. It does track both the number of calls blocked and texts, but in our test the text message was not blocked. We're going to continue testing this.

Looking up numbers is also a convenient feature on the Call Detector app and sometimes we would get the name of the caller, other times just the location of where they were calling from. With the free version of the app you only have a certain number of numbers you can look up.

We were not able to test the app's claim that it automatically blocks known scammers, or can automatically notify you if the caller is a telemarketer or debt collector - we just haven't received any calls like this yet. But if you test this out, let us know in the comments how the app functions for you.

Does the Call Detector App Work?

Well, yes, it does seem to work well at blocking numbers you choose for it to block. This is very handy if there are certain callers who keep bothering you. Will it block text messages or automatically block telemarketers? We couldn't quite determine this and will continue to investigate.

Overall we found this app was well designed, looked good and functioned as expected. On Google Play it is rated 4.2 stars out of 5, which is a good rating. It also has more than 100,000 downloads and will work on Android versions 2.3 or higher.

There are a variety of other call blocking apps available on Google Play, but none of them seemed any better than Call Detector.

If you're tired of getting sales calls, or just want to block a few numbers, Call Detector is a great app for doing that.

You can read more about Call Detector, and download it for yourself, on Google Play.

We hope this information is helpful for you! Leave a comment if you have any questions, or want to share your experience using this app.

If you're interested in what Android phones Tracfone has to offer, take a look at our recently updated List of Tracfone Android phones. You can see all the smartphones available from Tracfone, and quickly compare some of the key features from each phone.

You may also be interested in the Tracfone BYOP program, which allows consumers to bring their own smartphone to use with Tracfone, including both GSM and CDMA 4G LTE devices.

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How Data Works on Tracfone Android Devices

All About Tracfone Data Cards

Welcome to the TracfoneReviewer blog! This post will share specifics on how data works on smartphones with Tracfone. Be sure to also take a look at some of our other posts while you're here.

Data Cards for Tracfone

Tracfone is a prepaid cell phone service provider that offers both phones and airtime cards. On their newer smartphone devices, you also get data when adding an airtime card which you can use to surf the web when not connected to free WiFi.

Data is very useful on smartphones, but how does the data work on Tracfone smartphones, how can you get more, and what can you do with the data you have?

We are going to cover these questions and more in this post sharing all the details about how Tracfone Data works on smartphones.

Some of the popular smartphones that Tracfone offers include the LG Power, the LG Ultimate 2, and the recently released LG Sunset which uses 4G LTE service on GSM networks.

Or you might be interested in the Tracfone BYOP program, which allows users to bring their own smartphone. Follow the link to learn more, and see a list of the possibilities.

Both the smartphones offered by Tracfone, and the BYOP devices, use data in the same way. So let's get started looking at how data works on these phones.

What is Data on Tracfone Smartphones?

Data is the term generally used to describe the amount (usually in megabytes) you can download or upload on your smartphone via the cell phone network. So data is basically information you download or upload from the internet. This can include many different activities, like checking email, posting photos on Facebook, reading webpages, or watching videos.

Data is used based on the amount of megabytes you download or upload. So if you download a 20 MB image, that will use 20 MB of your data. If you visit a webpage that takes 1 MB to load, you will use 1 MB of data. (further down we will share more on estimating how much different online activities will use up your data.)

On older, non-smartphone devices, data was used at a rate determined by the amount of time you were on a website, but this is not the case for smartphones which is a nice improvement.

As you can see, data works similarly to your calling minutes, in that you are charged based on how much you use. But calling minutes are based on time, rather than megabytes. (EX: if you make a 20 minute call, you will be deducted (about) 20 minutes of talk time.)

How Can you Get More Data for your Tracfone Device?

There are two ways to get more data for your smartphone:

Airtime Cards - You get an equal number of Texts, Data and Talking minutes in various amounts from 60 to 450.
Data Cards - You get only Data, in various amounts from 300 MB to 4 GB (4000 MB)

For most situations you will probably want to add an Airtime card to your phone to increase all your 'buckets' of talk/text/data.

But sometimes you may only want to add data, in which case the data only cards are useful. Let's take a closer look at Data cards to better understand how to use them.

What Are Data Only Cards?

As mentioned above, Data cards increase the amount of data for your smartphone, without adding any additional texts or talking minutes.

This is similar to the Text only cards we recently discussed.

There are some important things to be aware of the make the Data cards unique.

First, they can only be used with smartphones, including the Android devices offered by Tracfone, and all phones offered through the BYOP program.

Second, in our testing, Airtime cards will triple for all smartphone devices, while the Data cards do not, so be aware of that when choosing one or the other. This doesn't necessarily make the regular Airtime cards a better deal, but we will compare the costs for each card next.

Data Card Amounts and the Cost Per MB Compared to Airtime Cards

Tracfone Data cards come in several different amounts, and are at this time, as follows:

300 MB for $10
750 MB for $15
2000 MB for $30
4000 MB for $50

You have several options to choose from, but which one is the best value, and how do they compare to the regular Airtime cards? Take a look at this chart:

Cost per MB for Tracfone Data cards and Airtime cards:

Cost per MB for Data and Airtime Cards

Straight away we can see that the Data cards cost between 1 cent and 3 cents per MB, with the largest card, the 4 GB (4000 MB), the best value.

If we look at the regular airtime cards and run the same calculation we see they are not nearly as good a deal for data. However, we are totally not incorporating the additional Text/Talk time you get with the regular Airtime cards from Tracfone. We are only looking at which card is a better deal for purchasing Data. It is interesting to note that the 450 Minute Card is the best value for the Airtime Cards.

We can conclude then, that if you are only in need of extra data, the 4 GB Data card is the best value.

Where to Buy Tracfone Data Cards

Tracfone Data cards are available form a variety of sources, as is the case for Tracfone Airtime cards. You can find Data cards on the Tracfone website under Airtime.

You can also find the Tracfone Data cards in many retail stores, and even online through other retailers. We have found Data cards on eBay in various amounts.

Now let's cover one more question that we see asked quite often.

How Much Can you Do Online with 300 MB of Data?

A common question we see is, what can you do online with a certain amount of data? This is a very good question, because many people tend to estimate how many airtime minutes they will need, and then buy the airtime card that suits their needs best. But if you're unfamiliar with how much data is used by smartphones, it makes it hard to estimate.

It is a little hard to give a straight answer to this question, it all depends on what you do online  Take a look at this image (provided by Tracfone) to help give you a better idea:

Estimated usage for 300 MB of data with Tracfone

From this table we see you can visit about 245 webpages with 300 MB of data, or send/receive about 4000 emails. Hopefully this information will help you gain a better understanding of how data is used with Tracfone, and where your data is going.

If you notice, doing certain things online, like streaming music, or even more so, streaming video, will use your data quickly, while visiting webpages or sending emails, especially those with few images, will use less of your data.

Another good resource for estimating your data usage is the Data Calculator on Verizon's website. Enter your estimated activities, and it will tell you about how much data you will use in a month.

Remember, that if you want to stop using data, you can usually go into the settings on your device, select data, and turn it off. Using WiFi networks, like at your home or work, does not deduct from your data.

Here is a helpful article on what online activities use data, and some other basic details about data usage from an AT&T Forum.

We hope you found this information helpful, and please leave a comment with any questions, or if you have something to add!

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Take a look at one of our other popular posts, the Over 30 Great Android Apps to use with your Smartphone.

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ZTE Zephyr Z752C Android Tracfone Review

Tracfone ZTE Zephyr Review, Specs and Features

This review covers the ZTE Zephyr from Tracfone (Z752C) and we will continue to update it as needed. This review was created by TracfoneReviewer.

ZTE Zephyr Tracfone Review

Tracfone has added another phone to their Android smartphone lineup in the form of the ZTE Zephyr. This device follows several other recently released devices, so how does it compare?

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a prepaid wireless cell phone and service provider. They are somewhat unique in that they offer both wireless service and a variety of cell phones and smartphones. You can purchase from Tracfone airtime and a phone to use. Tracfone also has several other brands, including Net10 and StraighTalk, but you can't use a phone from one brand with service from another.

Tracfone has slowly released more and more Android powered smartphones to use with their low cost service, and the Zephry is one such device.

The ZTE (Z752C) Zephry is a 4" touchscreen smartphone with Android 4.4 and runs on CDMA networks (Verizon networks). It appears to be a mid level phone, with some good features.

Yet with the recent development of Tracfone allowing many different 4G LTE devices on their BYOP program consumers have a much broader selection of phones to choose from, including some high-end devices like the iPhone 6 (for more on bringing your own phone, and to see a list of devices, visit our Tracfone BYOP page).

But let's get into what the Zephyr has to offer before we start comparing options.

Tracfone ZTE Zephyr Features and Specs

The Zephyr also includes all the features you normally see with Tracfone like Voicemail, Caller ID, and no activation fee.

ZTE Zephyr Features List:

• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 3G Connectivity on Verizon CDMA Network
• WiFi
• GPS
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 5MP Rear Camera with Autofocus and Flash, 0.3MP Front Facing Camera
• Hands Free Speaker
• Hearing Aid compatible
• MP3 Player
• Supports up to 32GB Micro SD Card
• Voice Dialing
• Triple Minutes for Life
• Access to over 1 Million apps on Google Play
  

ZTE Zephyr Specifications List

• Size: 4.91" x 2.51" x 0.44"
• 4" Touchscreen (480x800) TFT
• 1.2 Ghz Dual Core Processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 4 GB Internal Memory
• Battery Life: 10 Days Standby, 10 hours Talk Time, 1650 mAh

The Zephyr has some great features, most notably the 4" touchscreen, 4 GB of internal space, and Android 4.4 which is not the latest, but a very recent version of the OS.

We are excited to see this combination of features, however, there are several other options from Tracfone that appear to have better features at first glance. But let's get into our review of the Zephyr and then we'll compare it to other devices.

Tracfone ZTE Zephyr Review - Likes and Dislikes

We will share what we like about this phone, followed by some dislikes.

What we Like about the Zephyr
The Zephyr comes with a nice combination of features including some we've already highlighted like the Screen and Memory. The Camera is also a positive aspect of the phone.

Google Maps on the Zephyr

The 4" touchscreen on the Z752C is 800x480 pixels with 233 Pixels per Inch(PPI) and is made of Thin Film Transistors (TFT). It is a capacitive screen, meaning it has a fast response time, but usually requires you to use your finger to interact rather than a stylus. This screen is mid to small-sized for smartphones, with many devices featuring 5-6" screens. However, the overall quality of the touchscreen on the Zephyr is good, and a nice size for people who don't want a large device.

The Memory on the Zephyr is better than some of the older smartphone options from Tracfone. This phone comes with 1 GB of RAM (which allows you to have multiple apps open and running at once) and 4 GB of Internal memory (which allows you to store pictures, apps, and other information). You can also add up to 32 GB of additional storage through a Micro SD Card. 4 GB is not a lot of space these days, especially when almost half of that will be used up by the OS and other pre-installed features on the phone. However, this is better than older Tracfone devices that had something like 500 MB of internal Memory.

Finally, the Camera on the ZTE Zephyr is also good. It is 5 MP (2560x1920) with auto focus, LED flash, and touch focus. It can also do 30 FPS video at 800x480 resolution. The Zephyr comes with a 0.3 MP front facing camera for selfies and video chatting.

Overall, the Zephyr has good features, but let's get into a few things we don't like about this phone.

ZTE Zephyr Dislikes
There are a handful of dislikes, but mostly we just aren't overly inspired by this phone. We don't like the list price, it can only use Verizon cell towers, and no promo codes.

The list price on the Tracfone website for the Zephyr is $90 which seems a little steep when you look at the features on this phone. You can find devices with better features, like the LG Ultimate 2 and LG Power, for about the same price or a little more on retail sites like Amazon and eBay.

For a phone with the same version of Android (4.4) a slightly smaller screen (3.5") and a few other small downgrades, you can get the LG Optimus Fuel for just $28 on Amazon. We expect the Zephyr to have a lower price when it eventually becomes available on Amazon/eBay.

The Zephyr, along with all of Tracfone's current CDMA Android smartphones, uses Verizon cell towers for service. However, roaming is limited, and if you go outside of Verizon coverage, you won't have service. If you live in areas with poor or limited coverage, you might want to consider other options. We hope that Tracfone will offer GSM Smartphones in the near future.

All of Tracfone's Android devices come with Triple Minutes for Life, which triples any airtime card you add to the phone. Minutes are also split into separate 'pools' for Talk, Text and Data. However, Tracfone Promo Codes won't work on any smartphones, which is a downside to upgrading to these phones. Visit our blog post, How Minutes work on Tracfone Android Devices to learn more about the new system for minutes.

That covers the highlights of what we think of this phone. It is a device that is very middle-of-the-road in its features and specs. But now we will look at how it compares to other smartphones available from Tracfone.

ZTE Zephyr Compared to Other Tracfone Smartphones

Tracfone now offers more than 10 different Android powered smartphones to use with their prepaid service(not including the BYOP options). So how does this new addition to their lineup compare with other phones you can get?

LG Ultimate 2 and LG Power vs ZTE Zephyr
The LG Ultimate 2 and LG Power were released within a few months of the Zephyr and, initially, at a little higher price.

The Ultimate 2 and Power each feature 4.5" touchscreens, 5 MP rear camera with autofocus and flash, and front facing cameras. The Ultimate 2 has a 1.2 Ghz dual core processor with 5 GB internal memory and running Android 4.4 while the Power has a 1.2 Ghz quad core processor with 8 GB internal memory and uses Android 5.0. Both phones can be found on Amazon and eBay for under $100.

As you can see, the Zephyr has either similar, or less desirable features at a similar price. Thus we would recommend you look into the Ultimate 2 or Power instead of the Zephyr if you don't mind the larger screen size.

LG Lucky and Samsung Galaxy Stardust vs ZTE Zephyr
The Lucky and Stardust are two phones also recently released by Tracfone that are more similar to the Zephyr. The LG Lucky runs Android 4.4, has 1 GB RAM, 1.2 Ghz processor and 3.8" screen. The Samsung Galaxy Stardust has Android 4.3 with 1 GB RAM, 1.2 Ghz processor and 4" screen. The phones all are at similar price points, generally under $100.

Each of these phones are fairly similar, and the winner might come down to where you can find the best price, and a personal preference on a certain feature.

Conclusion and Where to Find the ZTE Zephyr

The Zephyr is a nice phone with a good mix of features and specs, but it isn't going to top our list of the Best Tracfone Cell Phones.

If you can find a good deal on the Zephyr, it might work out great for you. We do want to mention, however, that the ZTE Valet, which was released in 2013 with Tracfone, had issues with very low WiFi signal strength. Hopefully this has been fixed in the Zephyr.

The Zephyr is available on the Tracfone website, although it may go out of stock soon. We haven't seen it on Amazon or eBay yet, but expect to in the near future.

There are plenty of accessories for this phone online. View Zephyr Cases and Covers on Amazon to shop for them yourself.

You can check out an Interactive Tutorial for the Zephyr to get a better idea of how it works.

Be sure to check the comments below to see what other readers are sharing about this phone, ad leave your own questions or thoughts.

Check out our Android Tracfone List if you would like to see all of the Android phones from Tracfone in once place and compare what they each have to offer.

You might also be interested in our List of the Best Android Apps. There are almost 50 different apps that can do a huge variety of cool things. Don't miss out!

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LG Power L22C Tracfone Android Review

Tracfone LG Power Review, Specs and Features

We will continue to share news and updates about the LG Power on this page and be sure to read the comments for more information from users. This review was created by TracfoneReviewer.

Tracfone LG Power Review

The LG Power has just shown up for sale on eBay and brings some impressive new features for Tracfone users to enjoy. We will go over the features and specifications for the LG Power (L22C) and then share our thoughts on this device, as well as compare it with other options available for Tracfone.

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a wireless prepaid service provider that also offers devices to use with their inexpensive service. You can purchase both airtime, and a phone, through Tracfone. You can also Bring Your Own Phone to Tracfone (follow the link to learn more).

Tracfone has been adding more and more Android powered smartphones to use with their prepaid service over the last few years. Each new phone they release is usually a little better or newer than their other options (although this isn't always the case).

The LG Power might be the best phone to come to Tracfone yet, at least it looks that way on paper!

With a 4.5" screen, it shares some similarities with the current pick for Best Tracfone of 2015, the LG Ultimate 2, but it exceeds the Ultimate 2 by including a quad core processor and Android 5.0.

The LG Power (L22C) follows the LG Lucky (L16C) but has a larger screen, and better performance.

Let's go ahead and get into the list of features and specs for the LG Power.

LG Power Features and Specs

This device includes all of the typical features for Tracfone devices, like Voicemail, Caller ID, and no activation fees.

LG Power (L22c) Features List

• Android 5.0.1 Lolipop
• 3G Connectivity using Verizon CDMA Service
• WiFi
• GPS
• Bluetooth 4.1
• 5 MP camera (autofocus, flash) with VGA front camera
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Hands free speaker
• Triple Minutes for Life
• Access to over 1 Million apps on Google Play
• Micro SD card slot up to 32GB

LG Power Specifications List

• Size: 5.11" x 2.55" x 0.43"
• 4.5" Touchscreen (480x854 at 218 dpi)
• 1.2 Ghz Quad Core Processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 8 GB Internal Memory
• Battery: 10 Hrs Talk Time, 10 Days Standby, 1900 mAh (removable)

There are many desirable features listed for the LG Power, and the 8GB of internal storage, with a quad-core processor jump out as some of the top features. But let's not forget that the Power also comes with the latest version of Android, which is Lolipop 5.0 at this time.

We are very impressed with this sleek and powerful device, but time to get into what we actually like, and dislike, about the LG L22C in our review.

LG Power Review - L22C from Tracfone

We are going to cover the features we like about this new phone, and then share any negatives later on.
What we Like About the LG Power
There are many features to be excited about with the LG Power. We mentioned some of them above already, like the internal storage, processor and OS. We are also happy to see a 5 MP with autofocus, and a nice 4.5" screen.

Front, Side and Back of the LG Power

The LG Power comes with 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of Internal Memory for storing apps, music, videos, pictures and anything else. Tracfone has notoriously released smartphones with very little internal storage, much to the frustration of customers. The LG Ultimate 2 changed that when it came along with 5GB of space, and now the LG Power has even more at 8GB. While this isn't on par with top-of-the-line devices that have 16 or even 32GB of space, it is a welcomed feature. The Power also has a Micro SD card slot for up to 32GB of extra storage.

For those who want the latest and greatest, the L22C comes with Android 5.0.1, which is currently the latest version of Android. There are plenty of nice new features that Android Lolipop has over past versions, but in our experience, it isn't that big of an upgrade over 4.4, and comes down to personal preference and appearance.

The 5MP camera with flash and autofocus is nothing fancy, but the phone would be lacking if it didn't have it. We would like to see a better camera sometime in the near future, but this one gets the job done just fine.

Finally, the 4.5" IPS touchscreen is a great size, and has slightly better DPI than the LG Ultimate 2. While everyone has their own screen size preference, 4.5" is a nice middle of the road size that isn't too bulky, but still allows for comfortable viewing of movies, pictures, and text.

The LG Power is a great looking phone, and we have found almost all of the features very satisfying. But let's jump into a few things you should be aware of before buying this device.

LG Power Dislikes
There are a few small areas where this phone lacks, and we will highlight them here. The front facing VGA camera, locked to Verizon towers, and no Promo Codes.

This device is great overall, but if we were to try a find something to gripe about, it would be the front facing camera. It will work for a selfie, but don't expect very good quality out of it. We would be more happy if it had closer to 2 MP, but that is really only available on more expensive phones

The LG Power is for use on CDMA service that Tracfone contracts through Verizon. So if you don't have Verizon service in your area, or don't have very good Verizon service, you are out of luck. We hope that Tracfone will release some Android devices for use with GSM networks sometime soon, but no word on when that will occur. Service on Verizon's 3G network is good and adequte speeds for surfing the web on Data.

Lastly, Tracfone Promo Codes won't work on smartphones for getting extra bonus minutes when adding a airtime card. While this is unfortunate, all Tracfone smartphones come with Triple Minutes for Life, and minutes are split into Text, Talk and Data which ends up being a pretty good deal.

Overall we are very excited about the LG Power and can't help but think it is one of the best phones currently available with Tracfone (not including devices you can use with Tracfone BYOP).

We want to compare the Power to some of Tracfone's other devices and see how it matches up.

LG Power Comparison to LG Ultimate, Other Android Devices

Let's get straight to it; the LG Power is on par or better than the LG Ultimate 2. It has better performance and memory than the Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop, but the Alcatel has a larger screen.

The Power is bigger and better than the LG Optimus Fuel, Samsung Galaxy Stardust, and LG Lucky.

And the LG Power is light-years ahead of the Unimax Maxpatriot, ZTE Valet, Huawei Glory, Samsung Galaxy Centura and the rest of older Android devices from Tracfone.

View our Android Tracfone List where you can quickly compare all of the Smartphones available from Tracfone.

Should I upgrade from the Ultimate 2?
If you currently have the Ultimate 2, and are wondering if you should get the LG Power, we suggest you wait. The Power has a better processor, slightly better screen, a little more memory, and a newer version of Android, but otherwise the two devices are very similar.

Should I upgrade from the LG Optimus Fuel/Samsung Galaxy Stardust/LG Lucky etc.?
If you recently purchased a new Android like the LG Lucky or Samsung Galaxy Stardust, We would recommend you hold onto it if you like the size, otherwise look into buing the L22C. The Power features a screen size that is half to one inch larger than many of Tracfone's older smartphones. It also has better processor, especially compared to phones form a year or more ago. Bottom line, if you aren't having fun with your current phone, then look into upgrading to the LG Power.

Where to Buy the LG Power

The LG Power has been found initially on eBay. Tracfone consistently releases their phones through a variety of different sources. Sometimes they are found exclusively on the Tracfone website, other times they can only be found on other online retailers. We will update this as the Power is available through more sources.

View the LG Power with 1200 Minutes on eBay for $129

View the LG Power on Amazon for $99

This is a really good deal, as the 1200 minutes are worth $100 alone.

If you're looking for a case, view some of these options on Amazon.

Conclusion and Additional Links and Information

As you can probably tell, the LG Power is a great new device available on Tracfone's prepaid service. It shares a lot of similarities to the very popular LG Ultimate 2, but surpasses it in some areas.

You can learn more about this phone and see how it functions by viewing an interactive tutorial for the LG Power.

And see more stats and specifications for the LG Power (also known as the LG Leon) on GSM Arena.

Visit our recent post on How Minutes Work on Android Tracfone Smartphones if you don't fully understand the three bucket system of talk/text/data.

If you have questions, or want to share your own thoughts about the LG Power, leave a comment below and also see what other readers are saying.

You might also be interested in viewing our List of the Best Android Apps to go along with your new smartphone.

Finally, join over 1000 people who follow us on Facebook where we post updates, news and special deals.

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LG Lucky L16C Tracfone Android Review

LG Lucky Review, Specs and Details - Android Tracfone

This post shares the latest information on the LG L16C Lucky and includes our review and comparison to other available devices. We hope this information is helpful, and will continue to update as more details become available.

LG Lucky Review

Another new Android device is available for use with Tracfone, and it is the LG Lucky, also known as L16C. This is an android powered device that is for use with Tracfone prepaid service.

Tracfone sells both prepaid cell phone service, and cell phones to use with their service at fairly low prices. The phones available through Tracfone are not the latest options, but have enough features to satisfy most users. For those who demand a lot from their device, consider learning about Tracfone 4G LTE service which allows you to use top of the line Android and Apple devices.

The LG Lucky is the latest in a growing selection of smartphones that Tracfone continues to deliver since their first meager offering back in 2013 (do you remember the LG Optimus Dynamic?). You can see for yourself on our Android Tracfone List.

Phones have slowly improved over time, with several devices sporting 4" or greater screens, better processors, and more memory. The LG Lucky, while not at the top end of available phones, is a solid contender and compares similarly to the Samsung Galaxy Stardust and LG Optimus Fuel. The LG Ultimate 2 would be a good choice for those looking for a larger screen.

We can see straight away that the Lucky has a smaller, 3.8" screen. For most people, this is a big drawback. But some consumers would prefer a smaller device. Some of the other notable features include a 1.2 Ghz dual core processor, and Android 4.4.

Let's get into the full list of specs and features on the LG Lucky.

LG Lucky Specs and Features List

These are the current features available on the LG L16C Lucky smartphone.

• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 3G Connectivity on Verizon Towers
• WiFi
• GPS
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Triple Minutes for Life Split into Text/Talk/Data
• Hands Free Speaker
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Access to Over a Million Applications through Google Play
• Up to 32 GB SD Card Compatible, comes with 4 GB SD Card

LG L16C Lucky Specs

• Size: 4.43" x 2.50" x 0.49"
• 3.8" Touchscreen
• 1.2 Ghz Dual Core Processor
• 512 MB RAM
• Internal Memory 4 GB
• Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Battery: 7 Hours Talk Time, 10 Days Standby

There are a couple of features that stand out on this device, such as the processor and internal memory. We also like that it has Android 4.4.

Let's get into our review of the LG Lucky to give a better idea of how the device compares to other phones.

LG Lucky L16C Review - Likes and Dislikes for the Phone

Straight away we find that the Android 4.4 KitKat is a great OS to use. It is compatible with an extremely wide variety of apps through Google Play that give the LG Lucky many additional uses. You can take a look at our List of the Best Android Apps for some ideas.

The LG L16C also has a 1.2 Ghz dual core processor, and 512 MB of RAM. This is better than Tracfone's original Android offerings like the ZTE Valet, which means the Lucky will be faster, and able to handle apps better. However, modern smartphones are now running with at least 2 GB RAM, and often quad core processors. If you're planning on being a heavy user, especially with games, you may want to look for a more robust device.

While the size, at 3.8", might turn some people away, we find this is a convenient size for those who don't want to do much on their phone beyond talking and occasionally texting or checking email. If you do plan to do more than that, a 4" screen or larger is just much more convenient.

We have confirmed the Lucky comes with 4 GB of internal memory which is enough to store a variety of apps, but don't go overboard. You can use up to a 32 GB external SD card with this phone, and it even comes with a 4GB card which is great for loading some music or videos on.

The battery life on the LG Lucky isn't as great as some devices, especially the Moto E, which has a very nice battery life.

The LG Lucky will use Verizon towers through Tracfone's prepaid service, so be sure to check what the service will be like in your area before buying the phone. Android phones split minutes into three separate pools of Talk, Text and Data.

The camera on the Lucky isn't very impressive, and it doesn't appear to have a front facing camera either.

Overall, the LG L16C is a versatile, average performing Android device that might be right for certain people. Starting at just $60, it is a lot easier on the budget, but you might be better off with an LG Optimus Fuel which shares many similarities, but can be found on Amazon for $30.

How the LG Lucky Compares to Other Android Phones

Access Google Maps on the LG Lucky

The LG Lucky is very similar to several other Tracfone devices including the LG Optimus Fuel, and Samsung Galaxy Stardust. Indeed, these phones share many of the same features with only slight variations such as screen size or memory.

The LG Ultimate 2 is a little ahead of the LG Lucky in performance and screen size, plus the Ultimate 2 has a nice amount of Internal Memory.

The Lucky is recommended over the ZTE Valet, LG Optimus Dynamic, Samsung Galaxy Centura and Unimax Max Patriot phones. These phones are all a bit too old to be very useful anymore.

We are excited to share that it appears that Tracfone may also releasing several more phones, including the devices for use on GSM networks. These devices are the LG L15G (same as the LG Lucky, but for GSM) LG L22C and LG L21G. The LG 22C and 21G are the same, but for CDMA and GSM respectively and will feature Android 5.0. No word on when these will be released, but we will keep you updated!

Read up on our GSM vs CDMA comparison if you aren't quite sure what this all means.

For a full list of phones, check out our Cell Phone Reviews page.

Where to Buy the LG Lucky and Covers/Cases

We have currently only found the LG Lucky on the Tracfone website. Head over there and then shop their phone selection to see the device. Tracfone may go out of stock, in which case they remove the listing.

We will update when the Lucky is available through other retailers.

You can find plenty of cases and covers for the LG Lucky on retailers such as Amazon and eBay. Here are the LG Lucky Cases we've found on Amazon.

You can also take a look at the interactive tutorial for the LG Lucky.

The LG Lucky is another stop in Tracone's slow progression of Android devices, and it offers some nice features, but we hope Tracfone continues to bring us more modern smartphones.

Thanks for visiting and we hope you found this information useful.

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You might also want to check out our Tracfone BYOP page which contains the latest information on brining your own phone to use with Tracfone.

If you have questions or thoughts, be sure to leave a comment below, and also check for information posted by other readers!

How to Buy Only Texts for your Tracfone Smartphone

Add More Text Messages to Your Tracfone Device

Get Extra Texts with a Text Airtime Card

For many of us, texting is our biggest drain of minutes on our Tracfone smartphone. And up until now, the only way to add more texts was by getting a card for more calling and data as well.

With Tracfone, you buy phones and prepaid minutes to allow you to make calls, send texts and surf the web on data. Tracfone sells a variety of prepaid cards, and each card adds more texts, data and calling minutes at the same time. However, with Android powered devices, your texts, data and calling minutes are split up, so you can run out of data or texts and have to buy more calling minutes to refill your data and texts, even if you don't want any more calling minutes.

But Tracfone has just added a new prepaid card you can purchase to add additional text messages to your phone. (available on the Tracfone site here and in many retail stores, including Target)

Now you can buy extra cards for data, or texts without spending more on calling minutes.

This is great news, especially as Tracfone offers more and more smartphones, including through their 4G LTE BYOP program. And remember that these data and text specific cards only work with smartphones.

Let's explain how each of these cards work, and how much it costs.

Buy Only Data or Text Messages for your Tracfone Smartphone

There are three kinds of prepaid cards you can buy from Tracfone to use with your smartphone:

Airtime Cards - available for all phones
Data Cards - only available with smartphones
Text Cards - only available with smartphones

Text Refill Card available at Target

Airtime cards provide you with a certain number of minutes, as well as service days. Here is the list of card amounts and service days. Remember, all smartphones also receive Triple Minutes, which triples each of these cards when you add them to your phone.

• 60 Minute Card comes with 90 service days (with a smartphone, split into 60 calling minutes, 60 texts, and 60 mb of data) - $20
• 120 Minute Card come with 90 service days - $30
• 200 Minute Card comes with 90 service days - $40
• 450 Minute Card comes with 90 service days - $80
• 400 Minute Card comes with 365 service days - $100
• 1000 Minute Card comes with 365 service days - $160 (online only)
• 1500 Minute Card comes with 365 service days - $200 (online only)

Data Cards will give you additional data, but nothing else, no additional service days are added. We would recommend trying to use your home or work WiFi that is free, rather than using data unless you need it. Here are the data cards available.

• 300 MB - $10
• 750 MB - $20
• 2 GB - $50

And finally, Text Cards can be added to give additional text messages to your smartphone. Again, no additional service days are added. There is currently only one option for adding more texts to your phone.

• 1000 texts - $10

At first glance, 1000 texts for $10 looks like a good deal, but is it? Let's break it down.

Comparing the Cost Per Text for Airtime and Text Cards

Tracfone Airtime Card

Is it cheaper to buy an Airtime card or a Text card to refill your Texts?

If you buy the 60 Minute Airtime card, you will get 60 texts, which is automatically tripled to 180 on all smartphones (you also get 180 calling minutes, and 180 mb of data, plus 90 days of service) for $20. This works out to just over 11 cents per text - not great.

But if you got the 450 Minute Airtime card you will get 450 texts, tripled to 1350 for $80. This comes to about 6 cents per text, which is better, but not great.

What if you went for the 1500 Minute Airtime card which gives 1500 texts, tripled to 4500 for $200. You would be paying 4.4 cents per text.

And what does the 1000 texts for $10 come to per text? 1 cent per text. Let's put all the number together:

60 Minute Card = 11 Cents per Text
450 Minute Card = 6 Cents per Text
1500 Minute Card = 4.4 Cents per Text
1000 Texts Card = 1 Cent per Text

As you can clearly see, if you only need text messages for your phone, the special text card is the best deal. But if you need additional calling, data or service days, the 1500 Minute Card is the next best deal.

So what should you do if you need just a few calling and data minutes, plus service days, but go through texts quickly? Try this setup:

Join the Tracfone Family Value Plan which is $10 for the first user, and $6 for each user after that. You get 50 minutes, plus 30 service days each month, and additional users get 40 minutes.

So you would have 150 Calling minutes, 150 mb of data, and 150 texts for $10 per month. Then you can buy the text refill card, which would give you 1000 texts for just $10. You would have a total of 1150 texts per month, for just $20. And other users could do the same.

This is a great option for families with teenagers who will mostly use text messages.

We hope this analysis is help for you if you're comparing airtime cards. Drop us a comment below if you have questions, or additional insight to share.

Be sure to take a look at our Tracfone BYOP page, which now includes 4G LTE devices like the iPhone 6, that you can use with Tracfone.

You may also be interested in our Android Tracfone List which shares a summary of each of the smartphones available from Tracfone.

And don't forget about our Tracfone Promo Code page, even though you can't use them with Android phones, you can still use them for all the other devices.

Thanks for visiting!

4G LTE with Tracfone BYOP

Use 4G LTE Smartphones with Tracfone BYOP program

This post details the latest on Tracfone BYOP and 4G LTE. We will continue to update it, as well as our main Tracfone BYOP page which also contains a list of compatible phones. 

Tracfone BYOP 4G LTE 

We are excited to share the news that Tracfone has now opened their BYOP program to 4G Smartphones! Previously, only Verizon compatible 3G phones were capable of being used with Tracfone BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone). This meant the best phones you could get were the iPhone 4s, Moto G, and other similar types. While these smartphones are great, they are not top of the line.

With 4G LTE now available with Tracfone, you can use the iPhone 6, or a Samsung Galaxy S6, or many other high-end devices and get the fastest data speeds. The only requirement is that it must be able to connect with Verizon 4G service to activate.

We will dive into more details on activating your phone and what kind of requirements there are after we cover the basics of how the Tracfone BYOP program works.

UPDATE: Tracfone is now offering Activation Kits for both CDMA and GSM devices. It appears that you can bring GSM devices compatible with AT&T to use with Tracfone BYOP. We will be sharing more details about this in a new post very soon.

How Tracfone BYOP 4G LTE Works

Using a 4G LTE device with Tracfone BYOP works similarly to bringing a 3G device to Tracfone. You will need to have your own smartphone, and it needs to be compatible with Verizon service.

Tracfone contracts with Verizon to use their cell towers for service, but everything goes through Tracfone. If you go outside the coverage of Verizon, you may lose service, or run on lower speeds.

To get started with Tracfone BYOP, you will visit this Tracfone page and check that your phone is compatible by entering your ZIP code and MEID/ESN. Following the steps, you will be prompted to buy an activation kit, which will give you a SIM card and Network Access Code.

Additionally, you can go over to SaveonTracfone.com and buy the Activation kit there. You can choose between the 4G LTE and 3G kits, and it might be a few dollars cheaper.

Most users are reporting a quick and painless process, but you should be prepared if something doesn't work right, and you need to make a phone call to customer service.

Phone Requirements and Activating on Tracfone BYOP

Activation Card for 4G LTE

The requirements for what kind of phone can be activated with 4G service on Tracfone seems a little more straightforward than before. You need a device that is compatible with Verizon 4G LTE, which includes a wide variety of top of the line devices. It also needs a clean ESN, which means it can't be in contract, or stolen.

A 4G LTE device will need a SIM card to connect with Tracfone, and this will come with your activation kit. On a side note, once you have activated a Verizon compatible 4G LTE device, you can take the SIM and move it to many other devices that would not be able to activate on their own. Not all the details are clear on this, but many users are confirming switching between devices.

This could be very convenient for those who want to have a backup device, since you could just buy another phone, and then switch the SIM card to it if you ever needed to.

To activate your phone, make sure you have the 4G LTE activation kit (or start by getting it, which will be mailed to you in about a day) and then proceed through the steps on the Tracfone website or by calling Tracfone.

To review, here are the steps:

1. Get a 4G LTE compatible smartphone that runs on Verizon and has a clean ESN (is not on contract or stolen) and test it on the Tracfone BYOP website.

2. Follow the steps on Tracfone and purchase your Activation kit (SIM card) and Network Access Code. The SIM card will be mailed to you. You can Also purchase this through SaveOnTracfone.com.

3. Activate your 4G device only at Tracfone.com or over the phone.

If you have thoughts or questions on this process, check out the comments below.

Where to Find Phones for Tracfone BYOP

You need a 4G LTE capable device that is for Verizon service (CDMA) to use it with Tracfone BYOP. Fortunately, there are many different phone options, and many different retailers to choose from. Used or new will work, as long as they are not currently under contract.

One of the cheapest and easiest places to find phones is online. You can quickly browse many different options and price points, as well as used, new and refurbished. Follow the links below to get started and see some of the options. Once you have a certain phone in mind, you can search for that device.

Search for Verizon 4G LTE phones on Amazon

Search for Verizon 4G LTE phones on eBay

There are many more retailers to search including Newegg, BestBuy and more.

To get some ideas, and for a full list of compatible phones for both 3G and 4G LTE, visit our Tracfone BYOP page.

We hope this covers the exciting news about Tracfone's slow expansion into 4G LTE and hope that they will also add support for 4G on GSM networks.

Please let us know if we missed anything, we strive to provide accurate and helpful information!

If you're interested in other phone options, visit our Cell Phone Reviews page which includes many Android devices like the LG Ultimate 2, which was our pick for the Best Tracfone Smartphone.

We have also created a list of the best Apps for Android with more than 40 great apps, almost all of which are free. I have found Clean Master App to be very handy for keeping my phone running well, and reducing wasted space.

Thanks for Visiting!