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LG Optimus Dynamic Review - Tracfone Smartphone

The LG L38C Android Powered Smartphone from Tracfone

This review by TracfoneReviewer covers the LG Optimus Dynamic (LG L38C) offered by Tracfone.

LG Optimus Dynamic Review

The LG Optimus Dynamic is one of four new Android powered smartphones that Tracfone has made available to consumers.

The ZTE Valet and Samsung Galaxy Centura (click the links for our reviews of each phone) are two of the other three smartphones, and are both widely available. The fourth Tracfone smartphone is the Huawei Glory, which we have just reviewed, so check it out!

These four phones are the first smartphones (using Android OS) Tracfone has made available for use with their prepaid service.

Tracfone has also just recently released the LG Optimus Dynamic II, an Android smartphone with many improvements over the original Dynamic reviewed here, but also more expensive.

Tracfone Wireless is a prepaid cell phone company that offers relatively inexpensive phones and prepaid minutes/service days at low prices. Learn more about Tracfone by reading our Overview of Tracfone.

Now, let's get to the details of this LG Optimus Dynamic review:

Review of the LG Optimus Dynamic from Tracfone

The LG Optimus Dynamic is a touchscreen, candy bar style phone with Android Operating System 2.3. The LG Optimus Dynamic is a phone offered by several different cell phone service providers (like Net10), but a Net10 LG Optimus Dynamic will not work with Tracfone service.

This phone uses the CDMA network (you can tell by the 'C' at the end of LG L38C), which is the case with all of Tracfone's current Android phones. Using the CDMA network means that this phone will most likely use Verizon towers. Learn more about the difference between GSM and CDMA cell phone networks.

Let's take a look at the full feature and specifications list for the LG Optimus Dynamic:

LG Optimus Dynamic Features and Specs:

WiFi Connectivity
3G Network Speeds
Triple Minutes for Life
Android 2.3 'Gingerbread'
3 MP Camera and Video Recorder
4 GB Micro SD card included
Supports up to 32 GB Micro SD Card
MP3 Player
Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Access to over 700,000 Apps on Google Play
GPS Enabled
Gravity/Shake/Tilt sensor
Hearing Aid Compatible
Alarm Clock
Text/Picture Messaging
Email and Mobile Web
Hands Free Speaker
Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting

Specifications and Dimensions for the LG Optimus Dynamic:

800 Mhz Processor
Size: 4" x 2.4" x 0.5"
3.2" Touchscreen
Battery Standby: 6 Days
Batter Talk time: 6 Hours

A powerful list of features, especially compared to Tracfone's older, non-Android phones. While the LG Optimus Dynamic comes with Android 2.3, which is not the most recent version of Android, it will still provide plenty of bang for your buck. If you want a phone with a newer version of Android, like 4.0, check out the other smartphones Tracfone offers, as they all use Android 4.0 or higher.

But before we get too far into analyzing the features, and comparing this phone with the others, let's just see the likes and dislikes we have about the LG Optimus Dynamic.

Likes and Dislikes for the LG Optimus Dynamic

LG Optimus Dynamic Likes:

Let's begin by saying there is a lot to like about this phone. Comparing it to older Tracfone mobile devices, this phone is light years ahead because of one great feature - Android Operating System.

LG Optimus Dynamic
(click image to zoom)

The Android Operating System allows the user to access Apps (applications) that are available through Google Play. There are over 700,000 different apps, which means lots and lots of features at your fingertips.

Some of the top apps include the Chrome web browser, YouTube, Instagram, Google Calendar, FIFA 14 and plenty more. To get many of these apps, you simply download them to your phone.

Some of our other big likes about the LG Optimus Dynamic are the WiFi, Triple Minutes for Life, and 3MP Camera.

WiFi on the Optimus allows you to surf the web for free when connected to a wireless network, like at home, work or at a coffee shop. You won't use any minutes when you are surfing the web using WiFi.

Triple Minutes for Life is the best deal Tracfone offers at the moment, and it basically triples any minutes you add to the phone. So if you buy at 60 minute refill card, you will get 180 total minutes.

The 3 MP camera is decent enough, and can take good photos in well lighted situations. Don't expect too much from it, as many newer smartphones have much better cameras.

Finally, we really like that the LG Optimus Dynamic comes with a 4 GB Micro SD Card. It is convenient to be able to lead music onto it for the MP3 player, or store pictures and other information from the phone on it. While the ZTE Valet also comes with a 4 GB Micro SD card, the Samsung Galaxy Centura does not.

There are several more nice features on this phone, but we want to take a look at some of the dislikes to give a balanced perspective.

LG Optimus Dynamic Dislikes:
It's true, there are a few things we don't really like about this phone, but none of them are enough to keep us from buying this phone. Let's run through them so you have an idea, and can make your own decision.

First off, while the Android 2.3 OS is great, it is not the newest, and all the other smartphones from Tracfone offer newer versions of the OS. So this is important to be aware of.

A dislike that is more of a disappointment is that these new Android Smartphones won't accept promo codes. In other words, you can't get any bonus minutes when adding a new card.

Which brings us to another slight dislike, the prepaid minutes for this phone (and the other Android smartphones) are broken up into three pools or buckets - calling minutes/texting/data.

When you add a 60 minute card, for example, you will now get 180 minutes for calling, 180 texts, and 180 MB of data to use (because the phone has Triple Minutes for Life). While this is a good deal for people who use all three of these functions, people who just text will not get as great a deal.

Finally, this phone is not exactly a new smartphone, it has been around for a few years. So if you are looking for the latest and greatest smartphone, this is not a phone for you. However, it is a tried and tested phone that is used by several different cell phone service providers, so it has been thoroughly tested (as is the case for most Tracfone mobile devices).

To conclude, there are things about this phone that we really like, and there are a few things we didn't like, but all in all it is a good phone for most users, especially those who would like their phone to have additional features beyond the basics.

How to Check your Airtime Balance:

On the LG Optimus Dynamic (and all of Tracfone's new smartphones) there is no airtime display like we are accustomed to. You must now check your airtime through other methods. The easiest is as follows:

Download Tracfone's official app on Google Play which will allow you to sign in, and check your airtime balance from there.

Another options is to log on to your Tracfone account and submit a balance request, OR simply set up a bookmark in your browser (on your computer or phone) to go to "https://www.tracfone.com/direct/CheckBalance?input_phone=1234567890" (replace 1234567890 with your phone number). You'll get a free text message on your phone with your balances. The service end date is not in the text message. It's only shown on the browser screen.

Overall Review and Pricing for the LG Optimus Dynamic

The LG Optimus Dynamic is a good phone, and offers a huge upgrade for most longtime Tracfone users. LG is a great brand with a history of good phones.

LG Optimus Dynamic

It is a phone best suited to people who want more out of their cell phone than just calling and texting. The app market on Google Play brings a huge selection of features to the table that older Tracfone devices don't have. If you are looking for a more simple phone, visit our Cell Phone Reviews Page.

The LG Optimus Dynamic is available in some stores and many places online including Tracfone's website. It retails for $99 most places, although it can be found for less, especially when bundled with minutes or other accessories form eBay or HSN.

We have also found it on Amazon for $20 plus Free Shipping!

And there is even a white version of the LG Optimus Dynamic for those who want to stand out a little more than the rest.

Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Centura, the LG Optimus Dynamic is better in several ways, such as price and included Micro SD Card, however it uses an older version of Android, which is a drawback.

When comparing the LG Optimus Dynamic to the ZTE Valet or Huawei Glory, TracfoneReviewer would likely choose the Valet or Glory because of the slightly better processor, similar price, slightly larger touchscreen, and newer Android OS. But these phones are very similar, and it could come down to specific features or even brand.

Additional Resources: LG Optimus Dynamic Tutorials and Information

Leave a comment with your thoughts on the LG Optimus Dynamic, and any questions or reviews you have.

You might find our recent post with the New Tracfone Promo Codes for June 2014 useful if you haven't upgraded to a smartphone yet, or learn how to Get a Burn Phone Fast with Tracfone.

Also learn more about bringing your own phone to Tracfone on our Tracfone BYOP page where we have information, details, and a phone list.

We hope you found this useful, thanks for visiting!

Review of the Android Powered Centura from Tracfone

This review by TracfoneReviewer will cover the Samsung Galaxy Centura, one of Tracfones first Android smartphones. There are several newer and better phones available, and you can see them in our Cell Phone Reviews page in the menu above.

Samsung Galaxy Centura Front

The Samsung Galaxy Centura is one of several new Android smartphones released by Tracfone for their wireless prepaid customers.

Tracfone is a prepaid wireless cell phone service provide that offers low cost phones and service. They only recently began selling Android smartphones, and the Samsung Galaxy Centura is one of the first available.

The ZTE Valet, Huawei Glory and LG Optimus Dynamic and Dynamic II are the other Android phones also available. Follow the links to read our reviews of each phone.

If you're looking for more phone options with Tracfone, be sure to visit our Tracfone BYOP page where we give all the details on bringing your own smartphone to use with Tracfone.

Visit our Android Tracfone List, which contains all the Android phones available form Tracfone, including several newer and better phones than the Samsung Galaxy Centura. At this time, the Centura is fairly out of date, and you are probably better off going with one of the newer options, like the LG Ultimate 2 or Moto E.

Now let's get to the full review of the Samsung Galaxy Centura.

Review of the Samsung Galaxy Centura Smartphone

The Samsung Galaxy Centura is a touchscreen smartphone running on Android 4.0 operating system. It can be used exclusively with Tracfone prepaid wireless service, meaning you can't buy the phone and then try to use it with other service providers. The Centura uses the CDMA network, running on Verizon towers.

You can read more about the difference between GSM and CDMA, and how to determine which is right for you, in our recent post on that topic.

Before we get to far, let's take a look at the features and specifications for the Centura.

Samsung Galaxy Centura Features and Specs

Android 4.0 OS
3 MP Camera and Video Recorder
3G speeds
WiFi connectivity
Bluetooth Wireless
Mobile Web
MP3 Player
Instant Messaging
GPS Capabilities
Gravity and Tilt sensors
Hearing Aid Compatible
Hands free speaker
Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
Comes with Battery and Charger

Now let's look at the technical dimensions and specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Centura:

Samsung Galaxy Centura Dimensions and Specs

3.5" Touchscreen
Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.4 x 0,4 inches
4.4 ounces
800Mhz Processor
Internal Memory: 4GB NAND
512MB RAM
Compatible with up to 32GB external MicroSD Card
Battery Standby 10 days
Battery Talk time 7 hours

The Centura is a phone from Tracfone packed with more features than any other non-Android phone. You can surf the web on 3G or for free on WiFi. You can use thousands of apps from Google's app store. The possibilities are greatly expanded with the Android OS.

To give a balance of the pros' and cons' for the Samsung Galaxy Centura, let's take a look at TracfoneReviewer's short list of Likes and Dislikes about this new touchscreen smartphone. While we don't cover every good or bad thing about this phone, we do strive to highlight enough information to allow you to make a more informed decision when buying this phone.

So let's get to the review.

Samsung Galaxy Centura Review - Likes and Dislikes

We will begin by taking a look at some of the things we really like about the Centura, and then move to some features we didn't like, or thought should have been included.

Likes for the Samsung Galaxy Centura:

There are many features that come with this phone that make it a great value compared to other Tracfone cell phones.

Samsung Galaxy Centura Back

We like that the Centura comes with WiFi connectivity, 3G speeds, Triple Minutes for Life and a 3MP camera.

WiFi access on the Samsung makes it possible to surf the internet for free when connected to wireless internet. 3G speeds means that when you aren't on free WiFi, you can still be online at decent speeds using the phone's data.

The 3 mega pixel camera will take both pictures and video recording at fair quality, especially compared to the 1MP camera's on many other Tracfone devices.

Triple Minutes for Life is the best deal offered by Tracfone. (Some of their older phones have only double minutes for life.) What this means is that for every minute you add to the phone, you get 2 more for free. So if you add a 60 minute prepaid card, you will get 180 total minutes!

The biggest like about the Samsung Galaxy Centura is the Android operating system which allows users to have access to over 700,000 apps from Google's Play store. Many apps are free, or a just a few dollars and provide huge features and functionality. You can use Google Maps, play thousands of games, or find time saving apps that make your life easier. Visit the Google Play store to learn more about the apps they have to offer.

There are a few things we are not such huge fans about for the Centura, which we will now cover.

Dislikes for the Samsung Galaxy Centura:
The first thing we are not huge fans about is the new system for splitting up calling minutes/texting minutes/data into three separate pots or pools. What this means is that when you add a 60 minute prepaid card, you will get it tripled into 180 calling minutes, 180 texts, and 180 mb of data.

For many, this will work just fine, and is even a better deal than the previous system where you would just get 180 total minutes for calling/texting/web browsing.

But for those who are heavy text users, this reduces the number of texts you get form a 60 minute card from 600 to just 180. That is a significant reduction. So if you tend to do way more texting than other activities, you may want to stick with older models. For the rest of us, this is simply a new system we must get accustomed to.

Another small dislike about this phone, and all the new Android phones from Tracfone, is that Tracfone Promo Codes won't work on them. You can no longer get extra minutes for free when adding a new prepaid card.

We also dislike that there is no Airtime display on the home screen, but you can quickly and easily find your minutes balance, which we will explain a little further below.

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Centura is on the expensive side compared to other Tracfone mobile devices. It typically retails for $130 in stores and on the Tracfone website. We will cover more on where to buy this phone, and how to get it for less, at the end of this review.

That covers the main likes and dislikes we found with the Centura, check out the comments, or leave your own, with more thoughts on the pros' and cons' of this phone.

We have received a number of comments from consumers reporting problems with the Samsung Galaxy Centura including the phone freezing and malfunctioning in other ways. These problems don't exist for every one, but if you are experiencing issues with your phone we recommend contacting Tracfone and working towards getting a replacement, or go with something better like the LG Ultimate 2, Moto E or Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop.

How to Check Your Airtime Balance on the Samsung Galaxy Centura

This is a question/problem we have been seeing a lot, so we want to cover it here for your convenience. As we mentioned above, these is no display on the home screen, but checking your Tracfone balance is very easy.

The first option is to use the new Tracfone app, that will give you your balance. We haven't tested this very much, but you can go directly to the app on Google Play to learn more, and download it.

The other option is to follow this simple process:
To find out the number of minutes/text/data left, you'll need to log on to your Tracfone account and submit a balance request, OR set up a bookmark in your browser (on your computer or phone) to go to "https://www.tracfone.com/direct/CheckBalance?input_phone=1234567890" (replace 1234567890 with your phone number). You'll get a free text message on your phone with your balances. The service end date is not in the text message. It's only shown on the browser screen.

Overall Review of the Samsung Galaxy Centura


View on Amazon

The Centura is a powerful phone form a well known electronics company with a history of great devices. The Samsung Galaxy Centura is best suited for those who want their phones to do more than just text and call. With access to thousands of apps, this phones potential is nearly endless, limited only by what the user chooses to do.

For those who prefer a more simple device, check out some of the other phones we have reviewed at our Cell Phone Reviews page.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Centura is a great value and provides massive improvements over past Tracfone cell phones. It is one of the first true smartphones offered by Tracfone. The ability to surf the web for free via WiFi and use apps for entertainment, work or social make this a phone with multiple uses and functionality.

For those comparing it to the ZTE Valet, we suggest checking out our post showing the features and specs for both the Valet and Centura.

The Samsung Galaxy Centura typically retails for $129.99 in stores and online. We found the Centura on Amazon at a discount. And you can also read several informative customer reviews there as well.

You may also want to check out eBay and HSN.com for phone/minutes bundles that can be a good deal.

We would suggest you look into getting a case and/or screen protector to help keep your phone in good shape. There are lots of cases and screen protectors for the Centura on Amazon.

This concludes our review of the Samsung Galaxy Centura. We hope you found this useful. Be sure to share this with others who might like it, and leave a comment with any questions, thoughts or corrections.

You might enjoy reading some of our other recent posts such as Where to Find Tracfone Prepaid Cards or perhaps the Summer Sales and Discounts on Tracfone Cell Phones (2014)

Thanks for Visiting!

Resources:

Interactive Tutorial

Samsung Galaxy Centura User Guide (pdf)

The ZTE Valet- Android Powered Smartphone from Tracfone

This review by TracfoneReviewer covers the ZTE Valet (Z665C) from Tracfone.

Tracfone ZTE Valet Android Smartphone

It has been a long time coming, but Tracfone has finally released several new Smartphones powered by the Android operating system for use with Tracfone prepaid service.

The ZTE Valet, which we will review here, the Samsung Galaxy Centura, the LG Optimus Dynamic, LG Optimus Dynamic II and the Huawei Glory are the new smartphones offered by Tracfone.

Read our reviews of each of the other phones (by following the links above) to learn more about their features,

Tracfone also recently made it possible to bring your own phone to Tracfone, including smartphones and the iPhone 4/4S. Visit our Tracfone BYOP page for all the details and a list of compatible phones.

Visit our post on Android powered smartphones coming to Tracfone to learn more.

Now let's get to the review of the ZTE Z665C Valet from Tracfone.

Review of the ZTE Valet Android Smartphone

The Z665C is a candy bar style, touchscreen smartphone that runs on Android OS 4.1 and is available to use exclusively with Tracfone prepaid wireless. The Valet is a CDMA phone, and uses Verizon networks, although some Tracfone CDMA phones may use Sprint networks.

Let's take a look at the full feature list for the ZTE Valet.

ZTE Valet Features and Specs:

Android 4.1 Operating System
3 MP Camera and Video Recorder
3G/WiFi Connectivity
Triple Minutes for Life
Alarm Clock
Bluetooth
MP3 Player
GPS Enabled
Gravity/Proximity Sensor
Instant Messaging
Five customizable home screens
Access to Google Play with over 700,000 Apps
Multi-calling
Hearing Aid Compatible
4 GB Micro SD card included, up to 32GB capacity
Mobile Web
Handsfree speaker, Voicemail, Call Waiting, Caller ID, and Text/Media Messaging
Also comes with Battery and Charger

Now let's look at the dimensions and technical details for the ZTE Valet.

Specs and Dimensions for the Valet:

1.0 Ghz processor
3.5" touchscreen
Size: 4.6" x 2.5" x 0.5"
4.5 ounces
11 days standby, 5.5 hours batter talk time

Quite a list of feature sand specifications for the Valet, which packs a powerful phone for calling, texting and surfing the web. The Valet is hard to compare with any of the previous non-Android phones offered by Tracfone because of the huge increase in the things you can do with an Android powered smartphone. Even the LG 840G, which has lots of impressive features, can't come close to the practicality of having access to hundreds of thousands of apps from Google Play.

Before we got too far on this, let's look at some of the likes and dislikes for this prepaid Android smartphone.

Likes and Dislikes for the ZTE Valet

ZTE Valet Likes:
First off, this phone comes with three great features we see on several of Tracfone's other top phones: Triple Minutes for Life, WiFi, and 3G connectivity.

Back of the ZTE Valet - Note camera w/ flash

With Triple Minutes for Life, any airtime you add to this phone will automatically be tripled. So if you add 60 minutes, you will get 180 total minutes. (We will discuss more about minutes, texts and data rates for this phone below)

WiFi allows you to connect to wireless internet and surf the web for free without using minutes/data. This is a great money saving feature and especially useful if you are often in WiFi areas like you home or work. The ZTE Valet even has a feature that allows you to turn off the phones data, so that you will only connect to the web through the free WiFi whenever available.

3G speeds make this phone fairly quick when not connected to WiFi and, while not as fast as 4G, it is quite adequate for most people.

Two other convenient features for the Valet are the 3 MP camera and included 4GB Micro SD card. The camera on the ZTE Valet is decent, although you would want a better camera if you plan to take a lot of pictures in medium to low light areas. With the included Micro SD card, you can store pictures, apps or music without overloading the phone's internal memory. It is also possibly to purchase up to a 32 GB Micro SD card if you want to expand the memory.

Finally, our biggest like about the ZTE Valet is that it uses Android 4.1 OS. This opens up a world of options and features. You can choose from thousands of apps on Google Play and download them (save money by using WiFi) to the phone. You can use Google maps to get directions, or watch videos on Youtube. The possibilities are impressive and make this phone way more than just a device for calling and texting.

But there are a few dislikes about the ZTE Valet we want to mention in this review.

ZTE Valet Dislikes:
The main dislike we have for the ZTE Valet isn't really a problem with the phone, but rather a dislike about how Tracfone is going to charge for Calling, Texting and Data.

On all of Tracfone's non-Android devices, calling and texting are both deducted from a single minutes pool.

With the new Android Smartphones, calling, texting and data are split into three different pools. So if you add a 60 minute card, it will be automatically tripled, and you will get 180 minutes for calling, 180 texts, and 180mb of data.

The problem is that some people text way more often than call, and with this new break down of minutes, they would run out of texts rather quickly, but still have lots of calling minutes and data left over.

The same would happen for those who mostly use the phone for calling. They would run out of calling time, but have a lot of texts and data left over. The only good news is that all minutes, data and texts for the Valet will carry over to the next month. But this could be an issue for some people.

Another dislike about these new Android phones is that they may not accept promo codes. We haven't tested this extensively, and would appreciate feedback on this.

While there are a few more likes and dislikes we could mention about the ZTE Valet, this covers the major information that would be useful for learning about this phone.

How to Check your Airtime Balance on Tracfone Smartphones

Many are wondering how to find out what your airtime balance is on these new Android smartphones. There is no dedicated display that shows your balance, however, there is a very easy way to check your balance. This information courtesy of an anonymous visitor:

To find out the number of minutes/text/data left, you'll need to log on to your Tracfone account and submit a balance request, OR set up a bookmark in your browser (on your computer or phone) to go to "https://www.tracfone.com/direct/CheckBalance?input_phone=1234567890" (replace 1234567890 with your phone number). You'll get a free text message on your phone with your balances. The service end date is not in the text message. It's only shown on the browser screen.

We recommend you signup for an account on the Tracfone website, which will make managing your cell phone and adding minutes much easier. If you have further questions or thoughts on adding/checking minutes, leave a comment below!

Overall Review and Pricing for the ZTE Valet

The Valet is a powerful mobile phone that offers a number of features appreciated by more tech savvy individuals. While it would not be a good choice for someone who just needs a phone to call and text, it is a great choice for those who like a lot of features, and want access to Google apps. It is a true smartphone, and provides good functionality while keeping costs low by using prepaid. This might be a great phone to use with Tracfone's family value plan.


ZTE Valet on Amazon

In comparison to the Samsung Galaxy Centura, another Android Tracfone smartphone, TracfoneReviewer would choose the Valet for the lower price, included Micro SD card, and better processor. But you should make that decision for yourself. Read our recent post with the feature and specs for the ZTE Valet and Samsung Galaxy Centura to help compare these phones.

The ZTE Valet retails for $99 in most stores, and online at the Tracfone website. We have also found the ZTE Valet on Amazon at a discount.

Learn more about the CDMA network the Valet uses, in our post, GSM vs CDMA. You might also enjoy getting some free bonus minutes by using a Tracfone Promo Code. Although they don't work on the Android phones.

Be sure to leave a comment with any thoughts, reviews, or questions about this phone, and share this review with others who might find it useful.

We strive to provide useful, informative and accurate reviews for your convenience. But we make no guarantees and you take full responsibility for how you use this information. If we made a mistake, let us know in the comments! Thanks for visiting.

Comparison of the LG 500G to the LG 530G - Which is Better?

It is a common question we get, should I buy this phone or that? What does the LG 530G have that the LG 500G does not? Here we will compare two similar phones to help you decide which is better for you.

Both of these phones are sold by Tracfone Wireless, a prepaid cell phone company, and these phones as well as prepaid minutes, can be purchased both online and in many retail stores. This information is provided with the goal of increasing consumer information, and to help with buying decisions.

Now, let's begin by looking at some of the similarities between these phones:

Similarities Between the LG 500G and LG 530G

To be quite honest, these phones are very similar, and that is because the LG 530G is the newer version of the LG 500G. (Sort of like our comparison of the LG 800G vs LG 840G)

Both phones have:

lg530g vs lg500g tracfone cell phone comparison

TracfoneReviewer's LG 500G vs LG 530G Comparison

Full QWERTY keyboards for fast and easy texting
Mobile web
MP3 player and MicroSD slot
1.3 MP camera and recorder
Hands free speaker, voicemail, phone book
Alarm Clock, Bluetooth and other common cell phone features
Long battery life
Durable construction

As one can see, these phones come with very similar features. Both phones function well, and are great for people who like to text often.

On appearances, these phones are similar, although the LG 530G has more modern styling, and is a little wider. It generally feels and looks a little newer.

Time to look at some key differences between these phones:

Differences Between the LG 500G and LG 530G

There are two key differences between these phones that could make one or the other better for you to purchase.

The first difference is that the LG 500G comes with Double Minutes for Life, and the LG 530G comes with Triple Minutes for Life.

What this means is that with the LG 500G, if you add 60 minutes of airtime, you will get 120. But if you add 60 minutes of airtime to the LG 530G, you will get 180. (and don't forget about using a bonus code for extra minutes). Thus, for people who will use their phone more, the LG 530G is the better deal.

LG 500G

But the second difference is Price.

The LG 500G is typically much cheaper than the LG 530G, sometimes half the cost.

The LG 500G often retails for around $20, and can be found on Amazon for that price, or sometimes cheaper. The LG 530G, on the other hand, retails for $50, unless you can find it on sale, like on Amazon.

So if you are looking for the cheaper option, the LG 500G is less expensive.

LG 500G Vs LG 530G - And the Winner is:

LG 530G

The LG 530G wins in our book, because of the more modern design and the Triple Minutes for Life. The phone is sleek, feels solid, and performs well.

However, this was a close comparison, and if money is a big factor, and you don't plan to be constantly calling or texting, the LG 500G might just be your best choice. It is much cheaper, and still has almost all of the same features.

You can read a detailed review of each of the phones to compare them for yourself:

Review of the LG 500G

Review of the LG 530G

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This cell phone comparison is part of a series of comparison TracfoneReview is creating. You can see all the Phone Comparisons and be sure to leave a comment below if you have questions, or want to suggest the next two phones to compare! Also be sure to share this with others who might find it useful.

We've got more than just cell phone comparisons, learn more about the difference between GSM and CDMA cell phones or check out or recent post covering the Best Tracfone Cell Phones.

You might also find our post about the top cell phone deals interesting.

What is the Best Value Tracfone Cell Phone?

It is a question many have asked, and many have pondered, so here at TracfoneReviewer, we will answer that question for you!

Tracfone offers low cost, budget cell phones and prepaid minutes so their phones tend to not have the most modern features and capabilities. But there are several phones from Tracfone that stand out, and are vying to get into our list.

We will be compiling this list based on several factors, including the cell phone's general popularity, useful features, and TracfoneReviewer's own special metrics.

This list contains the top 3 best value cell phones from Tracfone. You might also be interested in one of our previous posts, the Best Tracfone Cell Phones for Texting.

Please Note: This post covers the best value cell phones from Tracfone based on price and features. Tracfone recently released four new Android powered Smartphones that are pretty impressive with lots of great features. Visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to learn more about each of these phones.

Now, let's get into this list.

Top 3 Best Value Tracfone Cell Phones

This was a challenging list to compile, with several great options to choose from, and many features to compare. But in the end, we settled on the phones listed below, so let's begin with number three in the list:

#3 Best Value Tracfone Cell Phone - LG 530G

LG 530G

Read our Review of the LG 530G

This phone comes in at #3 in our list for its great durability, long battery life, and other good features. A phone with full QWERTY keyboard, it makes for fast and easy texting. Add to that Triple Minutes for Life, MP3 player, 1.3mp camera and video recorder, and all the other common phone features, and you have a solid phone that will last.

The LG 530G typically retails for $50, but can be found on sale at various locations. We recently found this phone for less than $40 on Amazon.

#2 Best Value Tracfone Cell Phone - Samsung S390G

Read our Review of the Samsung S390G

Samsung S390G

The S390G reaches #2 in our top three list for some of the same reasons the LG 530G had, including a full QWERTY keyboard, good battery life and Triple Minutes for Life, but it is higher because of one great feature; WiFi capability. The Samsung S390G is capable of connecting to WiFi internet allowing the user to surf the web for free from the phone.

While this phone does come with lots of fantastic features, it is also important to note that a fair number of users have reported various quirks with this phone, including ghost calls to 911. So if you get a defective phone, be sure to return it for one in good working order.

The Samsung S390G goes for about $50 but again, it can usually be found for less. In fact, last we checked it was less than $25 on Amazon!

#1 Best Value Tracfone Cell Phone - LG 840G

Read our Review of the LG 840G

White LG 840G

What gives the LG 840G the top spot in our list of the best Tracfone cell phones? Besides features like Triple Minutes for Life, WiFi capability and a 2MP Camera, this phone also comes with a 2GB MicroSD card, touchscreen, and 3G connectivity.

While touchscreens may not be for everyone, this phone is as close to a smartphone as you can get. The phone is relatively small and fits in your hand comfortably. It can connect to WiFi internet, or surf from the mobile browser at 3G speeds.

It is, by far, the most feature rich phone Tracfone offers, (besides the new Android powered smartphones) and the most popular, which is why it tops our list and is TracfoneReviewer's pick for the Best Value Tracfone Cell Phone.

You can find the LG 840G in most stores and online for around $60. But we found the phone for less than $40 on Amazon!

Honorable Mention - Samsung S425G

It is worth mentioning the Samsung S425G because it is also a great phone from Tracfone with lots of good features including 3G connectivity and a sliding QWERTY keyboard. The only reason this phone didn't crack our list is its lack of popularity and the fact that not everyone is interested in a slider style phone. You can learn more about this phone by reading our Full Review of the Samsung S425G.

We hope you found this list useful. Leave a comment with your questions, thoughts or top 3 picks!

Don't forget to check out our Tracfone Promo Codes page to find codes for free minutes the next time you add a prepaid card to your phone. And you can also read all our reviews by visiting our Cell Phone Reviews page.

You can also read our recent posts, The Top 3 LG Brand Cell Phones from Tracfone and The Top 3 Samsung Brand Cell Phones from Tracfone for ore top picks!

Learning the Difference between GSM and CDMA Tracfone Cell Phones might also be useful to know!

New - Top 3 CDMA Tracfone Cell Phones - For all the Verizon network users!

A Durable and Inexpensive Phone From Tracfone with Double Minutes

This review will cover the Samsung S125G, which is a simple candy bar style phone with an LCD screen, 9 digit dialing pad, and long battery life.

S125G Review

It is also very inexpensive; available at many locations for $10. The low cost and good durability of the Samsung S125G makes it a good choice for a backup phone, emergency phone, or a phone for those who don't expect to use it too often.

The S125G is a very simple phone, so for those who are looking for a little more functionality, including Triple Minutes for Life, consider the Samsung S425G or the LG 840G. You can also view all our cell phone reviews and find one that best suits your needs.

Now, let's look at some of the features and specs for the Samsung S125G.

Features and Specs - Samsung S125G

This phone comes with all the basic phone features, including caller ID, 200 entry phone book, voicemail and several more convenient features listed below:

LCD Color Display
Hands Free Speaker
Keypad lock
Auto Redial
Text Messaging
Alarm Clock
Double Minutes for Life
Battery, Wall Charger, Activation Information etc.

Specifications for the Samsung S125G:

Long Battery Life - 6hrs talking, 12.5 days standby
Light Weight - 2.47 OZ
Display Size - 1.52 Inches

Review of the Samsung S125G - Likes and Dislikes

Beginning with our likes:

S125G features and specs

The Samsung S125G is a simple phone, and here at TracfoneReviewer, we liked that it was very inexpensive to buy, but with good durability and nice features like Double Minutes and hands free speaker.

For anyone who might not know, the double minutes feature on this phone means that for every prepaid minute added you will get 2 total. So if you add a 60 minute card, you will get 120 minutes total. And of course you will get a few more bonus minutes by using a promotional code!

The battery life on the S125g is very good, and TracfoneReviewer estimates it will last a week or more on one charge with low to moderate usage (a call or a few texts a day). Compare that to the average of 24hrs for modern smartphones!

Dislikes for the Samsung S125G

We do have a few dislikes about this phone, specifically: no camera and no MP3 player.

This phone does not come with a camera, as most cell phones even from Tracfone do these days, we found that to be a dislike. But the lack of a camera is not really a big deal, because this is a mobile phone, not a camera anyway.

The S125g also does not have an MP3 player, which for most is not a big deal. But for just a few dollars more, you can get a phone like the LG 500G which comes with both a camera and MP3 player and full QWERTY keypad.

Clearly this phone was made to be very low cost, with only the more important features included. But that makes it a very low price, and easy to use as a backup phone, or even a burn phone...

Overview of the Samsung S125G from Tracfone

This phone is a great choice for consumers who are looking for a phone that does the basics - calling and texting. The extremely low cost, $10 or less, and good durability/battery life, gives this phone great value.

TracfoneReviewer suggests this phone for consumers who only need the basic functions from a phone, and don't want to pay for extra features. If you only need to call and text, this phone might be a good fit. For those looking for more features, like Triple minutes for Life, check out our list of Triple Minute Phones from Tracfone

Good Deal Alert: We found this phone on Amazon for $9 with a bundle of extras like car charger, case and hands free headset. View this deal on Amazon.

Got questions or comments? Leave 'em below! Also be sure to share this cell phone review with others who might find it useful!

Tracfone Cell Phones with Triple Minutes for Life

Here is a list of Tracfone cell phones that come with triple minutes for life, the best deal Tracfone offers.

These phones tend to also be the newest from Tracfone, with several featuring full QWERTY Keyboards or even touchscreens.

Triple Minutes for Life means that for every minute added you will get three minutes total. So if you add a 200 minute prepaid card, you will receive 600 minutes total. You can also get even more minutes by using a Promo Code when adding your minutes.

Now, here is the list of cell phones form Tracfone with Triple Minutes for life.

List of Tripe Minute Cell Phones from Tracfone

This is the list of Tracfone prepaid cell phones that come with Triple Minutes for Life. Found a triple minute phone that isn't listed here? Leave a comment so we can add it!

To get more info on each of these phones, and read our reviews of them, simply follow the link for each one. Again, all of these phones come with Triple Minutes for Life!

LG 505C

LG 530G - This phone comes with a great QWERTY keyboard making texting fast and simple. It also has lots of other good features like an MP3 Player, and long battery life. This is one of Tracfone Reviewer's favorite phones because of the sleek feel and solid, durable construction of the phone.

LG 505C - A phone with both a touchscreen and slider qwerty keyboard, this phone is very modern and sleek. It also uses the CDMA network, typically Verizon towers, so it is a good option if other GSM Tracfone cell phones won't work in your area. Tracfone Reviewer will be reviewing this phone soon, but until then, you can check it out on Amazon.

LG 800G - A slightly older Tracfone mobile device that features a touchscreen and many other good features. This phone, while not the best, can often be found at deep discounts and serves well as a back up or temporary phone.

LG 840G

LG 840G - A big upgrade from the LG 800G, this stylish touchscreen phone comes with WiFi and 3G connectivity making it a great value and one of Tracfone's best cell phones. This phone also comes with a MicroSD card, and lots more. Read our full review to see all the great features and the best deals.

Samsung S390G - This phone is another great option from Tracfone that comes with a QWERTY keyboard for fast texting, and WiFi connectivity for free internet browsing from the phone. Anytime you are connected to a wireless internet network, you can browse the web without using your prepaid minutes, adding huge value to this phone. Be sure to read our full review by following the link to learn more.

Samsung R455C - Another cell phone from Tracfone that uses CDMA networks instead of GSM, this phone has very good features such as a sliding qwerty keyboard, and is a good option for those in areas where Verizon networks have better coverage than AT&T. View this phone on Amazon to learn more about it.

Samsung T404G

Samsung T404G - A slider QWERTY keyboard style phone that is similar to the R455C except that this phone uses GSM networks, like AT&T. Tracfone Reviewer hasn't reviewed this yet, so view this phone on Amazon to learn more.

Samsung S425G - An updated version of the T404G, this phone features 3G connectivity making browsing the web faster and easier. It has a full sliding QWERTY keyboard that allows for fast and simple texting, and impressive battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Centura Android Tracfone is the newest phone from Tracfone, but so far we have only found it on HSN.com. We will update this (and post a new article) when we learn more and it becomes more widely available.

Know of another phone not listed here that comes with Triple Minutes for Life? Leave a comment so we can add it!

Learn more about the phones Tracfone offers by visiting our Cell Phone Reviews page.

And you might be interested in viewing the phones from Tracfone that have WiFI.

A Feature Packed Flip Phone From Tracfone

The LG 440G is a compact flip phone that packs a nice punch with several great features.

Two of the most notable features for the LG 440G are 3G connectivity, and low price. Not only will surfing the web on the phone's mobile browser be fast, but you can get thise phone for less than $20.

The LG 440G looks like a simple flip phone, but with the impressive features, it is a nice upgrade from other, older Tracfone flip phones.

Let's look at the full feature list next.

LG 440G Features and Specifications

While WiFi and 3G are great features, there are several more features with this phone that are also useful.

Mobile Web
3G Connectivity
1.3 MP Camera and Video Recorder
MP3 Player
Hands Free Speaker
Voice and Sound Recorder
Voice Dialing
Alarm Clock
1000 Entry Phonebook
Battery Life on Standby 7-10 Days
Hearing Aid Compatible
Airtime Balance Display
Double Minutes for Life
(Initially reported to have WiFi, but does not!)

Likes and Dislikes for the LG 440G

Let's begin with the Likes

The LG 440G comes with many great features for a flip phone from Tracfone.

We already mentioned the 3G feature. The 3G means that the LG 440G uses a faster network than most older phones, making surfing the web on the phone's mobile browser quicker.

Another big like about this phone is the 1.3 MP camera. While certainly nothing fancy, it is adequate. And pictures can be sent to friends through MMS.

The 3G alone make the LG 440G stand out from other Tracfone flip phones. This is a nice step up from models like the Motorola W376G or other older flip phones.

At $20 retail, and often on sale for less, this phone offers great value for the money, and can easily be used as a backup phone with minimal money spent.

Dislikes for the LG 440G

While this phone does have some valuable features, it is not a fancy phone. If you are looking for a phone that you will use for surfing the web often, you might want to consider a phone with a larger screen, like the LG 840G, or even the Samsung S390G. Both of these phones also come with Triple Minutes for Life and WiFi, which the LG 440G does not have.

If you plan to use your phone for more than just a backup phone, you may want to consider a Tracfone with Triple Minutes for Life, instead of the LG 440G, which only comes with Double Minutes for Life.

The LG 440G has an advertised 7-10 days on standby, which sounds pretty good, and compared to most smartphones these days (which seem to only last 2-3 days), it is pretty good. But compared to say, the Samsung S425G, which lasts 12.5 days on standby, 7-10 days isn't as good.

The LG 440G was initially advertised to come with WiFi, but it turns ot it does not have it.

Finally, this phone does not have a MicroSD card slot, meaning you can't expand the onboard memory, or add very much music/games to the phone. But not many people are planning to use this phone for more than calling and texting anyway.

Overview and Recommendation

Overall, the LG 440G is a good flip phone from Tracfone. The 3G and low price are huge bonus features which give this phone a lot of usefulness.

However, unless you prefer a flip phone style, you may find other phone from Tracfone more appealing with larger screens, and full QWERTY keyboards. Visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to see some of the other options available.

But one of the biggest selling points for us on this phone is the low price. The LG 440G retails for $20 in most stores, but can often be found for much less, even $10 on Amazon!

This low price combined with the useful features makes LG 440G a superb value. For consumers interested in a good value for the money, and a flip style phone, this is a great buy.

View the LG 440G on Amazon to see if you can get it on sale for only $10!

If you're looking for a Tracfone that offers a lot more features, take a look at our reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Centura, ZTE Valet, Huawei Glory and LG Optimus Dynamic. These phones are android powered devices that offer lots of features and still use Tracfone's prepaid service.

Thanks for visiting, leave a comment with your thoughts or questions!

A Big Button Phone from Tracfone that is Simple and Easy to Use

Are you tired of touchscreens, flip phones or small keys? Are you looking for a simple phone that does calling and texting? Or maybe you just need a backup phone that will be easy to learn to use?

For a lot of people, the Alcatel A382G Tracfone prepaid phone is the answer.

It gives the user all the basic functions a cell phone needs, without adding extra features. buttons, or screens that can get confusing and in the way.

Features and Specs for the Alcatel A382G

This phone provides several good features that increase its usefulness, without making it more complicated. Here is the full list of features and specifications for the Alcatel A382G.

The Alcatel A382G

Big Buttons with Lighted Keypad
Larger Font Size
Built-in Flashlight
Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail
Hands Free Speaker
FM Radio
Background Noise Reducer for Call Clarity
Alarm Clock
Hearing Aid Compatible
1000 Entry Phone Book
Double Minutes for Life
Long Battery Life - 16 Days on Standby
Weight: 4 oz.

Overview of the Alcatel A382G

This phone is made for simplicity and convenience in mind with its large buttons, long battery life and basic features. Let's look at some of the features in more detail to better understand this phone.

Big Buttons and Larger Font Size

The Big keys and font size makes it easier to not only see and read what you are looking at, but also to actually make punching in numbers less cumbersome for those who find small keys difficult to use.

Even at night, the phone continues to be easy to use with a lighted keypad. Also included with the phone is a built in flashlight, giving this phone multiple uses!

Long Battery Life

The battery on this Alcatel A382G is expected to last up to 16 days on standby, which is very impressive for a cell phone. Many smartphones only last a day or two before requiring a charge.

A long battery like makes this phone this phone useful not only to people who may forget to charge their phone, but also for anyone looking for a backup phone.

Double Minutes for Life

While some newer Tracfone cell phones now come with Triple Minutes for Life, such as the Samsung S425G, the Alcatel A382G comes with Double Minutes for Life which is still a great deal. What this means is that for every minute you buy and add, you will get another minute for free!

So if you buy a 60 minute refill card and add it to the phone, you will get 120 minutes total airtime!

Final Thoughts on the Alcatel A382G

The Alcatel A382G is a phone made for people who want a basic cell phone that can keep them in contact with friends and family. It does simple tasks well, such as calling and texting.

Buy on Amazon

It is a very basic phone, and if you are looking for a fun feature-filled phone, this may not be the phone for you.

The only drawback for this phone may be that it does not come with a user manual, but we have found a pretty good walk through of many of the features on this phone. Visit the Alcatel A382G Tutorial to learn more about using this phone.

Overall, the Alcatel A382G is a good option when considering simple prepaid cell phones. It makes communication easier for more people. But if you are looking for a phone with more features, consider some of the newer phones from Tracfone on our Cell Phone Reviews page.

The Alcatel A382G typically sells for around $30, but is often on sale on Amazon for $19.

A 3G Slider Phone from Tracfone with Triple Minutes

The Samsung S425G has a sliding full QWERTY keyboard making texting and typing fast and easy.

Samsung S425G

This phone is also 3G capable, meaning that surfing the web is faster, as well as better coverage compared to older, 2G mobile phones.

As a GSM phone, the Samsung S425G primarily uses AT&T's 3G network, sometimes falling back on the 2G if coverage is unavailable. Be sure to check that you have good service for GSM in your area before purchasing this phone.

While this cell phone is also available through Net10 and StraightTalk, this review will be based on Tracfone's version of this handheld device

Now, lets look at the full list of features for this impressive mobile phone.

Samsung S425G Features and Specs

This phone comes with a lot of convenient features while maintaining good durability and battery life. The Features include:

Triple Minutes for Life
Full QWERTY Sliding Keyboard
2 Megapixel Camera and Video Recorder
Mobile Web
3G Capable
Bluetooth Wireless Technology
MP3 Player (MicroSD card not included)
Hands Free Speaker
Voice Command and Voice/Sound Recorder
Alarm Clock
1000 Entry Phonebook
Voicemail, Call Waiting and Caller ID
Battery Standby time of 12.5 days, Talk Time 6 hours
Hearing Aid Compatible

Likes and Dislikes for the Samsung S425G

Beginning with the Likes:

The Samsung S425G comes with some really nice features that make it a very good prepaid mobile phone.

The QWERTY keyboard, MP3 Player and Triple Minutes for Life are just three of the many features that stand out on this phone.

The Sliding full QWERTY makes for fast texting, even faster than those experienced with T9. And when you complete your text, simply slide it closed and the phone becomes nice and compact, covering the keyboard. Texting with a full keyboard is very easy to get used to, and also convenient for anyone with little or no texting experience.

Another big Like about the Samsung S425G is the MP3 Player. It is sleek and improved from older Samsung phones, and allows users to load, and play music on the phone. To load the music, you will need to buy a MicroSD card(up to 32GB) separably, but they are pretty inexpensive. Read our guide on How to Play MP3's On Tracfone cell phones to learn more about that.

As with most newer phones from Tracfone, the Samsung S425G comes with Triple Minutes for Life. This means that for every minute you buy, you get 2 extra for free. This, by itself, is a big reason why many people are upgrading their older phones to this and other newer phones from Tracfone like the LG 840G and Samsung S390G.

Finally, several other features that are worth mentioning include the 2MP camera which is nothing fancy, but very adequate, the 3G capability, and the very long battery life.

Just how long is the battery life? Well lets compare it to the LG 500G which advertises 9 days on standby, 3.5 less than the Samsung S425G, and from our testing the LG 500G easily goes a week with minimal use, and 4-5 days with normal daily texting, calling, and music listening. Based on this, the Samsung S425G could easily go a week or more with one charge and normal use. Very handy to have a phone with long battery life!

Now, let's look at a few Dislikes:

While this is a very good Tracfone, don't try to compare it with smartphones from other carriers. It is a simple phone for basic uses such as calling, texting, and minor web browsing. The extra features it comes with(mentioned above) are very nice, but can't really compare with modern smartphones. If you are looking for a smartphone, you will have to spend (much) more money, and look somewhere other than Tracfone.

With that said, the only other dislike have to do with how the phone charges your minutes.

When surfing the web on the mobile browser, you are charged based on the number of kilobytes/megabytes downloaded. So as long as you visit webpages that are relatively light graphics-wise, it won't cost very much. But visit a graphics-heavy site, and you might burn through 10 unites of airtime in a minute or two.

Another dislike for the Samsung S425G is the MMS picture messaging. It appears to cost 5 to 10 unites for one MMS message when it used to cost about 1 unit. This may be a bug, and Tracfone may have fixed it, so post feedback on this in the comments if it still exists.

Overall Opinion of the Samsung S425G from Tracfone

This phone has great call quality, very good durability, extremely long battery life and triple minutes, making it a really good buy for anyone interested in a sliding, full QWERTY phone.

TracfoneReviewer gives the Samsung S425G a high rating because of its overall solid performance and features. And while some might not be interested in buying this phone because, let's face it, a sliding keyboard isn't for everyone, it is a fine option when looking to buy a Tracfone.

The Samsung S425G typically sells for $59.99 in stores/online. Sometimes, the Samsung S425G can be found on Amazon at a reduced price, but this doesn't always last for long.

Interested in more Tracfone cell phone reviews? Visit our Cell Phone Reviews Page and see some of the other great options available. You might also find our recent post covering the Difference between GSM and CDMA Tracfone cell phones interesting.