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. (check it out here)

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

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!

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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.

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!

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How to Check your Tracfone Airtime Balance on Android Devices

How to Check How Many Minutes you have on Tracfone Android Phones

Tracfone My Account app

On older, non Android phones, airtime and service days was displayed on the home screen and via the prepaid menu for easy monitoring.

But on Android Smartphones, there is no automatic menu or display for your airtime. So how can you check your balance? We will answer that here!

Tracfone is a prepaid cell phone service provider that also sells phones to use with their service. They have a wide variety of phones, from flip phones to touchscreen smartphones. (visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to see the options).

On the Android phones, minutes are not treated the same as on feature phones, they are split into three buckets for texts/talk/data.

It is always important to keep track of your airtime and service days with Tracfone because if you run out of minutes or service days, you can't make any calls. Now with your texts, talk and data split into different buckets for Android phones, it is even more important to keep track of how many of each you have remaining. Take a look at our explanation of How Minutes Work on Android Phones for more information.

Well there is an easy way to track your Tracfone minutes on the Android phones:

Tracfone Airtime App for Checking your Balance

Tracfone Airtime Widget on Android

The Tracfone App (follow the link to it on Google Play) is a helpful app you can download on your Android phone and use to check your balance.

Once you download the app you can enter your details and keep up with your remaining minutes.

You can even add a widget to your home-screen that will display your airtime, much like on older feature phones!

If you don't have the space for this app on your phone, or want to check your balance online, there are two more methods you can use.

You can always go to the Tracfone website, whether from your phone or on a computer, and log in and view your account details. From there check your airtime balance and it should show your remaining minutes, and/or send you a free text with this information.

Speaking of texts, you can now buy extra text messages for your phone. Read our analysis of the new Text Message card and more!

Additionally, you can enter the following URL to check your balance: "https://www.tracfone.com/direct/CheckBalance?input_phone=1234567890" (replace 1234567890 with your phone number). You will get a text with your balance.

Tracking your airtime is important, so that you don't run out at an inconvenient time when you really need the phone. You can make your life a little easier by looking into the Tracfone Family Value Plan.

With this plan, you pay $10 a month for the first phone, and $6 for each additional phone to receive 50 and 40 minutes plus 30 service days, each month. Follow the link above to view our full post on it, and learn how to enroll.

If you're shopping for a smartphone, be sure to check out our Android Tracfone List, which includes all the current smartphones available from Tracfone. And see our post on the Major Differences between Android and Non-Android phones from Tracfone.

You can also Bring Your Own Phone to Tracfone, including devices like the Moto G and iPhone 4S.

Thanks for visiting and leave a comment if you still have any questions.

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What is the Best Tracfone?

Which Tracfone Device is the Best?

This a popular question here on TracfoneReviewer, and we will share with you which Tracfone smartphone is the best overall phone, as well as compare it to the other options available.

Our Pick for the Best Tracfone Device

Tracfone has released many new phones over the last year for use on their wireless prepaid network. This includes mostly Android powered smartphones. And we're expecting them to continue to release newer and better phones.

It is also possible to bring your own phone to Tracfone. This opens the door to many more devices, although it is still somewhat limited. Visit our Tracfone BYOP page for the full list of phones.

With all these different devices, sometimes we just want to know which one is the best phone to buy?

We are here to answer that question! We will cut to the chase and just tell you, and then explain why:

TracfoneReviewer's pick for the best phone as of January 2015 is the LG Ultimate 2.

Before you jump to the comments section and post why it isn't, we do want to say that the LG Ultimate 2 isn't the best phone for everyone. It has certain features that make it the best phone for most people.

So we will compare the LG Ultimate 2 with several other phones, which may be better options for you, including the Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop, Moto E, and Moto G and share why the Ultimate 2 wins overall.

LG Ultimate 2 Comparison

The LG Ultimate 2 has a lot of great features that put it well beyond many other Tracfone devices. But there are some other recent phones which have great features as well.

We will be quickly covering some of the other best phones currently available from Tracfone, and hopefully giving you a better idea about what each phone offers, and which one might be the best for you.

Let's get started.

LG Ultimate 2 Vs Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop

Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop

The Alcatel Onetouch and Ultimate 2 were each released about the same time, in November 2014. They each offer a lot of great features, with several similarities like Android 4.4, 5MP rear camera with front camera (and autofocus), 1 GB RAM, WiFi, GPS, etc.

But there are also some key differences which we will go into now.

One of the most obvious differences when comparing these phones is the size difference. The LG Ultimate 2 has a 4.5" screen while the Alcatel has a larger, 5" screen. However, the Ultimate 2 has a higher pixel density, so images might look slightly better on the Ultimate 2.

For processing power, these two phones are fairly similar with the Ultimate 2 using a 1.2 Ghz Dual Core and the Alcatel using a 1.2 Ghz Quad Core. The extra cores on the Alcatel Onetouch help it keep up with the large screen, and increase its multitasking ability.

Now for a major difference that isn't always clear. The Alcatel Onetouch comes with about 2 GB of usable memory on the phone to store apps and other information. The Ultimate 2 has closer to 5 GB of internal storage. Both phones also have external memory slots, but not all apps are transferable to external memory, and it is usually nice to have more space for storage.

So as you can see, both phones offer great features, but in our opinion the LG Ultimate 2 is the better phone overall. But if you want the largest screen, go with the Alcatel and you won't be disappointed.

LG Ultimate 2 Vs Moto E

Tracfone Moto E

The Moto E was also released about the same time as the LG Ultimate 2 and shares some similar features like 1.2 Ghz Dual Core processor, 1 GB RAM, 5 MP camera, Android 4.4, WiFi, GPS, etc.

Yet it lacks some important features, like a front facing camera or autofocus.

The Moto E also has a smaller screen, at 4.3", but with greater PPI.

The Ultimate 2 beats the Moto E on internal storage, with the Moto E only coming with around 2GB of usable space. Both phones have external SD card slots.

Where the Moto E does excel is in battery life and performance. It is a well made phone that can keep up with almost all modern apps and any other requirements, and easily last the full day on moderate to heavy use. The LG Ultimate 2 also does well performance and battery wise.

In the end, the Ultimate 2 wins because of the features the Moto E just doesn't come with. Yet the Moto E is a great choice for those who don't need to take selfies, and don't need a lot of space for apps.

LG Ultimate 2 Vs Moto G

Well, the Moto G sounds familiar right? It should, because it is the big brother to the Moto E, and improves over that phone in many great ways that put it on par with the Ultimate 2, such as 5 MP rear camera and 1.3 font camera with autofocus, 1 GB RAM, Android 4.4, 4.5" touchscreen, WiFi, GPS etc.

Before we get further, one major difference between these phones is that the Moto G only can be used with the Tracfone BYOP program, which means you have to find a phone that was previously used on Verizon, and then go through a process to activate it on Tracfone. For some, this has been an easy process, for others it has been much harder. The Ultimate 2, on the other hand, is activated normally with Tracfone, as you would any other Tracfone branded device.

Now for some more key differences. The Ultimate 2 comes with 6 GB of internal spaces, with over 4 GB of it usable. The Moto G has 8 GB, with over 6 GB usable. However, the Moto G does not have an external SD card slot, so no extra memory can be added.

The screens for both phones are the same size, but the Moto G has a much better screen quality and resolution, at 720x1280, with the Ultimate 2 using 800x480.

For processors, both phones have 1.2 Ghz, but the Moto G processor is Quad Core and the Ultimate 2 has only a Dual Core. The Moto G has a slightly newer processor and graphics, making it better at handling the latest apps.

Battery life for both phones is very good, but the Moto G has been crafted specifically with power saving in mind, leading to a full charge easily lasting two days with low to moderate use.

The Moto G beats the LG Ultimate 2 in many categories, yet we have a hard time giving it the top spot because it isn't as easy to find and activate, which is a big factor.

In the end, the LG Ultimate 2 is close or even with the Moto G on many features, but is easier to use with Tracfone, and has the ability for extra memory. It's a close call, but we choose the Ultimate 2.

If you're looking for the best specs, go with the Moto G on Tracfone BYOP (and that post will help give you the information you need to make it happen).

Where to Buy the LG Ultimate 2

The LG Ultimate 2 is widely available on Amazon, eBay and other online retailers. The best deal is to buy it bundled with minutes, where you can often save $50 or more. Check out these deals:

LG Ultimate 2 with 1200 Minutes on Amazon for $149

LG Ultimate 2 with 1200 Minutes on eBay for $149/free shipping

We hope you found this comparison useful, and that it helped answer your questions. If you have more questions, or wish to share your opinions, use the comment section below.

For a complete list of all the smartphones available from Tracfone, visit our Android Tracfone List. You will also be able to compare key features from each of the phones to help you choose the best option that fits your needs.

Visit the Cell Phone Reviews page for an index of all our reviews and a great place to start when shopping for a phone.

Finally, we recently completed a Beginners Guide to Tracfone, which shares a lot of useful tips and information and may be helpful even if you've been with Tracfone for a long time.

Thanks for visiting!

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Tracfone Gift Guide - Christmas Gifts for Tracfone Users

Tracfone Christmas Gift Ideas 2014

As the holidays quickly approach, we start to look harder and harder to find the right gifts for others. Sometimes this can be a real challenge! Certain people are just hard to find gifts for.

2014 Tracfone Christmas Gift Ideas

So we have created a Christmas Gift Guide with a wide variety of Tracfone related gear and accessories to give you some ideas for Christmas gifts this year!

Christmas can be a great opportunity to surprise someone with a new phone, upgrading them to something that will give them more minutes (like a triple minute phone) or a powerful Android smartphone.

Giving Tracfone cell phones to kids (at the appropriate age) is also a great gift, and it can even help teach them some valuable skills as they manage their prepaid minutes. The first section below will cover a range of Tracfone cell phone options,

But if you're not looking for new phones, there are plenty of other options too! There are extra prepaid minute cards that range in price and can be added to any Tracfone. There are also lots of accessories, including cases, covers, external batteries and SD cards!

Well, let's get to the gift ideas:

Tracfone Cell Phone Christmas Gift Ideas

Below are a selection of the newest smartphones along with some great value phones. All have triple minutes for life.

Newest Android powered Touchscreen Smartphones:

LG Ultimate 2

LG Ultimate 2 - With a 4.5" touchscreen, 1.2 ghz dual-core processor, and Android 4.4, the Ultimate 2 is one of the latest smartphones available with Tracfone, and also one of the best.

The LG Ultimate 2 also has front and rear cameras, and over 4GB of usable internal memory along with an external SD card slot. Read up on all the specs for this phone, and see what others are saying, on the main page for the LG Ultimate 2.

The Ultimate 2 retails for about $130 and is not always available on the Tracfone website. However it is available through a variety of other retailers.

Where to find the LG Ultimate 2:
LG Ultimate 2 on Amazon
LG Ultimate 2 on eBay
LG Ultimate 2 on Newegg

Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop - Another recent phone from Tracfone, the Alcatel Onetouch has a massive 5" Touchscreen plus quad-core 1.2 ghz processor. It has many similar features as the LG Ultiamte 2, including front and rear facing cameras

The Alcatel comes with Android 4.4 and is the largest smartphone available with Tracfone at this time. You can see all the features and specs on our Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop page.

The Alcatel Onetouch initially was retailing for $150, but it has appeared on the Tracfone website for just $99. We're not sure if this is an error or not, or how long it will last, but look into it if you're considering this phone.

Where to find the Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop:
Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop on Amazon
Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop on eBay

Moto E - Only just released, the Moto E is another smartphone with similar features as the phones above. It comes with a 4.3" screen, Gorilla Glass 3, rear camera, 1.2 ghz dual-core processor, and Android 4.4. It does not have a front facing camera, but the battery life for the Moto E is excellent.

Visit our Moto E page for full specs and details.

The Moto E wasn't on the Tracfone last we checked, but is available through other retailers for about $100.

Where to find the Moto E:
Moto E on Amazon
Moto E on eBay
and the Moto E on eBay with 1200 Minutes for $99 which is a great deal!
Also reported available at Target

Great Value Smartphones and Other Phones:

LG Optimus Fuel - Another phone recently released by Tracfone, the Optimus Fuel comes with android 4.4, a 1.2 ghz processor, and 3.5" touchscreen. This is a compact, but powerful little device perfect for those who prefer a smaller size that can easily fit in your pocket.

LG Optimus Fuel

For more features and specs, visit the LG Optimus Fuel page.

The LG Optimus Fuel retails for $80 on the Tracfone website, but is much less through other online retailers. It is even advertised as low as $10 for in several Black Friday Deals. So act quickly if you're planning to get this phone.

Where to buy the LG Optimus Fuel:
LG Optimus Fuel on Amazon
LG Optimus Fuel on eBay
LG Optimus Fuel available through many other retail stores, and Black Friday deals.

LG 306G - This is a non-Android touchscreen phone that features Triple Minutes for Life (as do all Android smartphones). It has a 3.2" screen, camera, and connects to WiFi. Get all the details on this phone by reading our Review of the LG 306G.

The LG 306G is a good choice for those who aren't interested in the extra features an Android phone offers, or are simply looking for a solid phone for calling and texting. There is also a CDMA version of this phone, called the LG 305C.

The LG 306G is usually available through a variety of retailers, including the Tracfone website.

Where to buy the LG 306G:
LG 306G on Amazon (currently $15!)

If you're looking for more phone ideas, visit our Cell Phone Reviews where we have links to lots of phones, and their reviews.

For even more options, read up on the Tracfone BYOP program, and check out the list of phones on that page as well, which includes the Moto G that can be used with Tracfone.

Lastly, if you're just looking for Android phones, see all of Tracfone's offerings on our Android Tracfone List.

Now for some more holiday gift ideas!

Tracfone Accessories and Prepaid Minute Gift Ideas

Not everyone is in need of a new phone. But there are lots of other useful accessories that will make anyone already using Tracfone very happy.

The first option below are additional prepaid minutes for Tracfone. With Tracfone, you can buy prepaid cards of various amounts, and then use the unique PIN on each card to add minutes to any Tracfone device. This makes giving a prepaid card as a gift very easy, and is a great way to say, 'I want to stay connect!' to your friends and family.

Prepaid minutes can be purchased both online, and in stores. The benefit of buying online is that you can sometimes find a discount. Below are a variety of options for buying Tracfone Prepaid Minute Cards.

List of Prepaid Minute Cards

Tracfone 400 Minutes/ 1 Year card

Every Tracfone user knows how useful extra minutes on their phone can be. It is always nice to have a surplus of minutes or service days to allow you not to worry about it.

Buying minute cards online or in stores is very easy, and there are lots of different options, depending on how much you want to spend.

60 minute prepaid cards are the cheapest, at about $20, and give the user 60 additional minutes plus 90 more service days. The options continue, as you have a 120 minute card, 200 minute card, and 450 minute card, each a little more expensive, but giving more minutes. There is also a 400 minute card that comes with a full year of service and is usually about $100.

Where to Buy Tracfone Minutes:
Find Tracfone Prepaid Cards on Amazon
Find Tracfone Prepaid Cards on eBay
Find Tracfone Prepaid Cards in stores like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Dollar General, and many gas stations and other retailers.

If you buy on the Tracfon website, the minutes will be added electronically rather than getting a physical minutes card with a PIN.

Be sure to also visit our Tracfoen Promo Code page to get additional minutes for free when adding a new card. (note that promo codes don't work with Android phones.)

Tracfone Cell Phone Cases and Covers

A cell phone cover or case can go a long way in protecting a cell phone, and add a nice accent or style to the phone. There are usually many options for each phone, especially for the more popular phones.

Smartphones especially benefit from a case or cover, which adds extra protection, and can even make the phone waterproof, depending on the case..

You can search for Tracfone cases on Amazon or eBay and find many options. If you search for the name of the phone, plus 'cover' or 'case', you should be able to find a number of options.

There are also plenty of options for screen covers, and even leather cases. Just be sure you know the type of phone you are buying the case for.

Some retail stores like Best Buy, Dollar General and others, may have cases and covers that fit Tracfone devices.

Cell Phone Chargers and Other Accessories

There are plenty of other gift ideas that a cell phone user may find useful, including car chargers, external batteries, and extra memory.

Below are some accessories that work with almost all phones from Tracfone, and will certainly be useful for Tracfone users.

Cell Phone Charger/Car Charger
An extra charger or car charger is a handy accessory to have especially for smartphone users, as these phones usually need to be recharged every 24 hours.

Many phones are using a standard Micro USB port for charging. You can find lots of options on Amazon for a Micro USB car Charger.

Some Tracfone devices use a variety of other connections, so you should check which connection you need before buying a charger.

Cell Phone Mount
Another handy idea (or hands-free idea) is a cell phone car mount, which holds the cell phone so you can keep your hands on the wheel.

Many mounts will hold a variety of different phones, and make using the phone's GPS much easier.

Cell Phone External Battery Charger
Smartphones are useful in so many ways, ranging from keeping in contact with others, to listing to music and playing games. But the battery just seems to drain so quickly, and sometimes we don't have access to a charger.

That's when you can use an external battery pack to store a charge for when your phone needs to be recharged while in a remote area.

Solar Powered Charger

There are a wide variety of options to choose from, and a handful of different colors too.

If you really want freedom from the electricity grid while keeping your phone charged, check out Solar Powered Cell Phone Chargers, which are really cool power producing options. Pair this with an external battery pack, and you can stay charged no matter where you are in the world.

Micro SD Memory Storage
Most Tracfone cell phones have a slot for a Micro SD card which can store extra pictures, music, videos, games and more.

This is a convenient gift idea, and there are lots of options ranging form 2 or 4 GB up to even 32 GB.

Amazon offers a lot of options for Micro SD cards, and you can find them in the electronic sections of almost any retail store.

Be sure to double check that the phone will accept a Micro SD card, and that you choose the correct size. Most Tracfone Smartphones will accept up to 32 GB.

Tracfone Gift Guide Conclusion

We hope these ideas will give you some options for gifts for others, or even yourself. This list is not exhaustive, and if you have other ideas let us know in the comments! There are many more phone options, and plenty of other Tracfone related accessories, but these will help get your ideas going.

Be sure to also check out our Black Friday and Christmas Deals List which we will continue to update through the holidays!

Join our community of over 500 fans on Facebook where we post all the latest news, deals and updates. Plus lots of other people share great info too!

Thanks for visiting, and Merry Christmas from us here at TracfoneReviewer!

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Alcatel Onetouch ICON Pop Tracfone - Specs and Buying Guide

The Alcatel Onetouch ICON Pop (A564C) Released for Tracfone

We are sharing details and specs below about the Alcatel A564C touchscreen smartphone newly released for use with Tracfone Wireless. TracfoneReviewer will continue to update this post as more information is available.

Tracfone Alcatel onetouch Icon Pop

See links at the end of the post for buying options from Amazon and eBay!

The Alcatel Onetouch ICON Pop has a really long name, and also a really large screen, the largest for a Tracfone device yet, at 5". This phone was released by Tracfone rather quickly, along with the LG Ultimate 2.

Tracfone is moving a little faster at adding new Android smartphones to their lineup that already includes several other options. But until now they were lacking a smartphone with a larger screen size, and the Alcatel Onetouch (and LG Ultimate 2) appears to fill that void.

The previous screen size options were the LG Optimus Fuel with a 3.5" touchscreen, and the LG Optimus Dynamic II at 3.8", among others.

The Samsung Galaxy Ace Style, with a 4" touchscreen, and the Moto E, with 4.3" touchscreen, are both expected to be released in the near future, but have been overtaken before even being released. The LG Ultimate 2, which was released at the same time as the Icon Pop, has a 4.5" screen, and shares many similar features and specs.

In case you're wondering (like we were), here is the breakdown of why the name is so long. Alcatel is the company name, Onetouch is the name of the line of phones, and Icon Pop ( or sometimes POP Icon) is the name of this phone. There are a few other Alcatel Onetouch phones, like the Pop Mega, and Pop Star, but Tracfone isn't adding them to their selection. Tracfone then classifies this as the A564C, with 'C' denoting that it uses CDMA technology.

Let's look at what you can expect from the Alcatel Icon Pop.

What to Expect from the Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop on Tracfone

First off, the Icon Pop will be used on Verizon CDMA 3G service through Tracfone prepaid. This is the same as Tracfone's other Smartphone offerings at this time.

It will have Triple Minutes for Life, and minutes will be separated into Talk, Text and Data. For more info on this, read our post, How Minutes Work on Tracfone Android Phones.

The 5" touchscreen is obviously the most noticeable feature on the Alcatel A564C, but there are several other features that are very exciting for Tracfone users who are looking for an upgrade on their current phones.

Time to take a closer look at the Icon Pop features and specs.

Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop Features and Specs

We will cover the main features for the A564C, followed by the technical specifications below.

• Android 4.4
• 3G on Verizon networks
• WiFi
• 5MP Rear Camera
• 0.3MP Front Camera
• Bluetooth
• GPS
• Large Screen Icons
• Hearing Aid Compatible, Hands free Speaker
• MP3 Player, FM Radio
• Triple Minutes for Life
• Flashlight
• Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, etc.
• Voice Dialing
• Access to over 1 Million apps via Google Play

Alcatel A564C Icon Pop Specs:

• Size: 5.55" x 2.84" x 0.39"
• 5" touschreen (854 x 480)
• 1.2 Ghz Quad-core processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 4 GB Internal Memory(~2GB available), Up to 32 GB Micro SD card Compatible
• Weight: 5.2 Ounces
• 2000 mAh Battery with 9.5 hours talk time, 20 days standby (2.5 hrs to fully charge)

Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop and 5" screen

A number of the features and specs listed above for the Alcatel Ontouch Icon Pop are improvements over Tracfone's older smartphones, and similar to the Moto E and LG Ultimate 2. Let's take a closer look.

One of the big features is the processor and RAM on the Icon pop. With a quad core and 1 GB, it should be able to keep up with your needs. The LG Ultimate 2 and Moto E each have 1 GB of RAM and 1.2 Ghz processors, but they are only dual core. Other Android phones like the ZTE Valet and LG Optimus Dyamic II are single core with 512 MB RAM.

Another big feature on the Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop is the camera. It has a 5MP rear camera plus a 0.3MP front camera. And after looking through sources, it appears to have autofocus.

The Ultimate 2 also has a 5MP camera with autofocus, and 1.3MP front camera. But the Moto E only has a 5MP rear camera and no autofocus.

Lastly, the 5" screen is a nice feature, and a bit bigger than the other smartphones from Tracfone at this time as we mentioned above. Some sources indicate that it has a resolution of 854 x 480 while we found others saying 960 x 540. 

Our Thoughts on the Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop

This phone brings some great new features to the table with a 5" screen and quad core processor. While this phone is still at the low end of the smartphone market, it is ahead of many of Tracfone's other devices.

Each new phone that Tracfone releases pushes the list of features further and further into what other carriers are using. Tracfone is still behind the curve, but they are trying to catch up. It is unlikely they will ever sell top of the line phones with their prepaid service, but at least users can get some newer tech.

The Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop is a a great looking phone with a nice large screen, but is it better than the Moto E and LG Ultimate 2? Spec-wise, it does have more processing cores, and a larger screen, but each user must choose what is important to themselves when selecting a phone. Not everyone, for example, wants a 5" screen.

At $150 from the Tracfone website, the Alcatel Icon Pop is the most expensive Tracfone yet. We  have just found the Alcatel on Amazon, as well as eBay with several attractive minutes bundles, and at a slightly discounted price:

Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop available on Amazozn and eBay with Minutes options:

Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop on Amazon for $129 (plus $5 shipping)

Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop on eBay for $119

Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop with 600 Minutes on eBay for $169

Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop with 1200 Minutes on eBay for $199 $129!

These are some pretty decent deals if you're looking to buy the phone along with minutes. Last check the Alcatel was in and out of stock on Tracfone's site. So if you are looking for this phone, you might want to move fast!

We will also be doing a full review of the Alcatel smartphone in the near future.

The Alcatel will be great for those looking for a big phone, and looking to impress with a large screen. Although these days, 6" screens or bigger seems to be necessary.

Let us know what you're thinking about this phone, and if you have any questions about it.

Here is the Alcatel ontouch interactive tutorial to see how the phone works.

If you're hunting for a new phone, consider the Tracfone BYOP Phone List page where we have lots of information on bringing your own phone to Tracfone, including the Moto G and iPhone 4S!

Also be sure to check out our Android Phone List and Comparison where we have all the Android phones from Tracfone in one place for easy comparison.

Thanks for visiting!

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LG ULTIMATE 2 Review, Specs, and Where to Buy for Tracfone

Tracfone LG Ultimate 2 Android Smartphone now Available!

Below we will share details and specs for the LG Ultimate 2 which was recently made available for use with Tracfone. TracfoneReviewer will continue to update this post as more information becomes available.

Tracfone LG Ultimate 2

Note: The LG Ultimate 2 is now available with Minutes Bundle from eBay! See the last section below for links to the phone on both Amazon and eBay.

Another Android powered smartphone for use with Tracfone, has been released and it is the LG L41C, also known as the LG Ultimate 2. Tracfone continues to release newer, and slightly better, smartphones for use on their prepaid service.

The LG Ultimate 2 comes with Android 4.4 OS, a 5MP camera with autofocus, 1 GB RAM and uses Verizon 3G cell towers. It also havs a 4.5" screen, which will make many Tracfone users very excited.

Along with the LG Ultimate 2, there are several other Android phones coming, or already available for use with Tracfone. The LG Optimus Fuel, Samsung Galaxy Ace Style, and Moto E are some of the other options. You can also see the full list of smartphones by visiting our Tracfone Android Smartphone List. The Alcatel A564C Onetouch Icon Pop was also released by Tracfone, and we will be posting more on that very soon. It has a 5" screen, and Android 4.4, as well as a quad care processor.

Tracfone has a number of phones that they may be releasing in the future, like the Moto E, and possibly several Android phones for use on GSM networks. Keep up with our latest news and posts by following us on Facebook.

Now, let's take a closer look at what to expect from the LG Ultimate 2.

Tracfone LG L41C - What to Expect

Many of the details about the LG Ultimate 2 have become clear over the last few months that the phone has been available. It has become widely accepted as one of the best phones currently available from Tracfone, a long with the Moto E, and Alcatel Onetouch.

The LG Ultimate 2 has already been spotted for use with Straight Talk, and at a price of $130. It is also now listed on the Tracfone website for the same price, but is available from many online retailers like Amazon, eBay, HSN, and others, for just over $100.

The Ultimate 2 is basically very similar to the Verizon prepaid LG Optimus Exceed 2. which appears to be a well rounded smartphone.

You can expect easy viewing on the LG Ultimate 2's 4.5" touchscreen (800x400) that will make it bigger than the LG Optimus Fuel, Moto E, or LG Optimus Dynamic II. Only the Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop has a larger screen at this time, at 5".

As mentioned above, the dual core processor and 1 GB RAM give the Ultimate 2 good performance, and the ability to keep up with almost any app currently available for Androids. Many consumers are extremely happy to have the opportunity to upgrade from single core, 512 MB phones.

Another great feature that may be the most important for some people, is the amount of internal memory available for loading apps and other things. Initially it appeared that the LG Ultimate 2 would have 4GB of Internal Memory, with somewhat less than that actually usable. However, it has been reported that there is over 4GB of usable space on the LG Ultimate 2, meaning that it probably comes with 5GB or more of internal memory.

The Cameras on the LG Ultimate 2 are nothing amazing, but if you've been stuck with the cameras on older phones it will be a refreshing upgrade. The Ultimate 2 comes with a 5MP rear camera, and 1.3MP front camera. Both a capable of good pictures, and the rear camera has autofocus for reading bar codes etc.

Below is a list of the features and specifications for the Tracfone LG Ultimate 2.

LG Ultimate 2 Feature and Specs

First the features, and below the technical specs for the LG L41C.

• Android 4.4
• 3G on Verizon CDMA Networks
• WiFi
• 5MP Camera with Auto-focus
• 1.3MP front facing camera
• 3 Home Screens
• Proximity Sensor
• Bluetooth
• GPS Enabled
• Handsfree speaker, Hearing Aid Compatible
• Call Waiting, Caller ID, Email, MMS, Voicemail
• Voice Dialing
• MP3 Player
• Triple Minutes for Lfie and separate Call/Text/Data pools
• Access to over 1 Million apps on Google Play

 LG Ultimate 2 (L41C) Technical Specifications:

• 5.01" x 2.63" x 0.38"
• 4.5" IPS at 800x480 (240 DPI)
• 1.2 Ghz Dual-core processor (Qualcomm)
• 1 GB RAM
• 5 GB Internal Memory (over 4GB usable space), up to 32GB Micro SD card compatible 
• Weight: 4.5 ounces
• 2100 mAh Battery with 12 hours talk time/ 9 days standby

LG Ultimate 2 Keyboard

The L41C has some decent specs, with 1 GB of RAM, and a nice large screen, almost a full inch large than the previous phones.

While the battery is a decent size at 2100 mAh, the talk time and standby are less than the Moto E (which only has a 1980 mAh battery). It should last a full day with moderate use, but if you need a long battery life, the Moto E does an excellent job managing power consumption. Also turning GPS, WiFi and Data off will help conserve battery life.

Many of the other specs on the Ultimate 2 are a big improvement over phones like the LG Optimus Dynamic II, ZTE Valet, and Samsung Galaxy Centura.

Tracfone was relatively quick in releasing the the LG Ultimate 2 and Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop. We heard about the Samsung Galaxy Ace Style months ago, but it has not surfaced, and may even be a lesser option with these new phones now available.

LG Ultimate 2 Review and Thoughts

So how does the Ultimate 2 perform, and what are our likes and dislikes about the phone? Glad you asked! Let's jump right in. We've collected a lot of information from around the web, and even from user comments below to share as balanced a review of the LG Ultimate 2 as we can.

Best Features and Likes for the Ultimate 2
We want to focus here on a few key features for the Ultimate 2 that make it stand out from other phones available from Tracfone at this time, and that might be important for those looking at buying this phone.

The internal memory and RAM, screen size, and cameras are some of the biggest factors that may lead you to be interested in the LG Ultimate 2, so let's take a closer look.

The internal memory for the Ultimate 2 is the space available for installing Android apps, and saving other data like pictures. The Ultimate 2 comes with over 4 GB of usable space, which is a lot compared to the 2 GB or less available on most other Tracfone smartphones. And some apps and data can even be transferred to an external SD card, freeing up additional space.

1 GB of RAM and a dual-core processor are about the minimum needed these days to comfortable run all the popular apps on an Android smartphone, and the LG Ultimate 2 meets this just fine. Many users report 200 MB or more of available RAM at any given time, and if you use a speed boosting app you can get even more free space. For those that might not know, RAM basically allows you to run multiple apps at the same time. So more RAM means more things can go on at once without problems, and less RAM means less stuff at once. When you get to 512 MB of RAM or less, you start to run into issues with overloading the RAM, which causes apps to close and other annoying stuff.

The LG Ultimate 2 has a 4.5" touchscreen. which is one of the biggest features for this phone. Previously, Tracfone only had phones with 3.5" to 3.8" screens, which may be fine for some people, but for others it is just a little too small. 4.5" is a nice screen size for reading, watching videos, typing on the virtual QWERTY keyboard, and really everything else. The only reason why one might not want a screen that large is for portability. But these days a 4.5" screen is average sized, and in no way uncomfortable to hold or use. Screen quality is very good, with 480x800 size, and 240 dpi.

Finally, front and rear facing cameras with flash and autofocus are a feature many Tracfone users have desired for a long time, and the LG Ultimate 2 delivers. The 5MP rear camera performs well and functions as it should. You can scan barcodes or QR codes with it, and the image quality is one of the best for Tracfone devices. Remember that if you want to send an image, you need to turn on you data.

Many users report being extremely satisfied with the Ultimate 2, as it is a phone with enough modern specs to keep up with other devices. The ability to have a smartphone running Android 4.4 on Tracfone's low cost network is a great thing.

But now we do want to share a few negatives about the phone to keep in mind.

Dislikes for the Ultimate 2 with Tracfone
First off, there is a lot to like about the Ultimate 2. It has a large screen, good cameras, great amount of memory available, good processor and RAM, and plenty of other things. But there are a few things to be aware of before you purchase it.

Many of the negatives with the LG Ultimate 2 actually revolve around using it with Tracfone service, and so aren't directly related to the phone. However, since you must use this phone with Tracfone, we will cover them here.

Our dislikes for the Ultimate 2 include using Verizon cell towers, splitting texts, calling and data up, tracking minutes, and it doesn't use the latest version of Android. If you already use Tracfone, and especially if you already use an Android phone with Tracfone, then you already know most of these issues.

Tracfone currently only uses Verizon 3G CDMA cell phone towers for all their Android devices. This works great if you live in an area with good coverage. If you don't, then it isn't so great. You should check with friends or neighbors in your area to see if they use Verizon, and you can also enter your ZIP code on the Tracfone website and see if the Android phones come up, which will help indicate if there is good service in your area.

However, if Tracfone doesn't show Android phones for your area, or tells you that you can't activate a smartphone at your ZIP code, that doesn't necessarily mean you won't get service there! Many users report activating their smartphone using a ZIP code from another area, and then having  no problem with reception. Just be aware that you are taking responsibility for the risk.

For all Tracfone Android and BYOP phones, prepaid minutes are split into three buckets or pools. You have calling minutes, texts, and data. All airtime is also tripled when adding it to the phone. This is generally a great deal for most people. However, for heavy texters, you might run out of texts more quickly, and there is no way to just buy more texts, you will have to buy a regular minutes card. This isn't a big deal for most people, but be aware of it.

Tracking minutes on the Android phones isn't as easy as before. Older 'dumb' phones displayed your remaining minutes and service time on the home-screen, and this isn't possible on Android devices. But it is easy enough to go online to the Tracfone website and check your balance there, or download and use the Tracfone app (just search for Tracfone app in the Google Play Store).

The LG Ultimate 2 runs on Android 4.4, which is no longer the latest version of Android. The latest is 5.0 lolipop, and the Ultimate 2 will not be updated to it. Don't worry though, Android 5.0 isn't really that great in my opinion, and mostly just changes the appearance for a lot of things, and adds extra steps for several functions.

As a final negative for all the Android phones, you can't use Promotional Codes with Tracfone Android devices. This isn't a huge deal, but for those that rely on the extra minutes, it is disappointing.

Overall, consumers who haven't used a Tracfone device may be disappointed with the customer service, and sometimes limited coverage of cell service, but for everyone familiar with Tracfone, the service shouldn't be any different.

Our opinion of the LG Ultimate 2 is very high, as it meets or exceeds many expectations for a good, modern smartphone. It is worth the money, especially if you buy it bundled with minutes.

Compared to the Moto E and Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop

LG Ultimate 2

Two other Tracfone devices that are on par with the Ultimate 2 are the Moto E, and Alcatel Onetouch. We will quickly compare each of these phones to the Ultimate 2 in case you are considering them.

The Moto E is a well designed budget smartphone in the same lineup as the Moto G and Moto X. The Moto E has a smaller, 4.3" screen, but it is slightly better quality. The Moto E doesn't have a front camera, nor autofocus or flash, which are deal-breakers for some. The Moto E also doesn't accept an external SD card, so you're stuck with just the internal memory. Battery life is probably better on the Moto E, but the battery isn't removable. Overall, the Moto E is a great phone, but the Ultimate 2 beats it in many categories.

The Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop features a larger, 5" screen and quad-core processor. If you want the biggest screen available, the Onetouch is your choice. But users report some minor video lag when watching Youtube, and in general, the Ultimate 2 is a better all around phone. They both have front/rear cameras, and both 1 GB RAM. The Alcatel Onetouch has around 2GB of internal memory, which is a bit less than the Ultimate 2. So if you want the largest screen, go with the Alcatel, but otherwise, the Ultimate 2 is a slightly better choice.

For some sample pictures, and more information on the performance of the LG Ultimate 2, check out this forum post.

Each of the Android smartphones released by Tracfone have certain strengths and weaknesses and the LG Ultimate 2 is no different.

You can take a look at the LG Ultimate 2 Interactive Tutorial to get a better feel for how the phone looks.

We hope the information provided here was useful to you. Let us know your questions and thoughts about the Ultimate 2 in the comments section below. Also take a look at what others have to say.

If you haven't already, take a look at our List of the Best Android Apps for Tracfone users.

Where to Buy/Find the LG Ultimate 2

As we mentioned, the LG L41C is retailing on the Tracfone website for about $130. However, it has recently disappeared from their site (likely it went out of stock) and cannot be purchased directly from them at this time. But you can buy it elsewhere with no problem, and often much cheaper!

The Ultimate 2 has been available bundled with minutes on QVC and similar sites, but limited quantities.

The LG Ultimate 2 is also finally available on eBay and Amazon, with several options to choose from:

LG Ultimate 2 on Amazon for $119

LG Ultimate 2 on Amazon with 1200 Minutes for $149

LG Ultimate 2 on eBay for just $99

LG Ultimate 2 with 600 Minutes on eBay for $149

LG Ultimate 2 with 1200 Minutes on eBay for $199 (currently on sale for $129)

No word yet on when/if the Ultimate 2 will be available from other retailers, but we will update as more information comes in.

There are plenty of cases for the LG Ultimate 2, because it is very similar to so other popular phones including the LG Exceed 2.

You may find our Tracfone BYOP page useful if you're looking for new phone options. It provides information on Bringing Your Own Phone to Tracfone, including some information on the success people are having with using the Moto G with Tracfone.

Also take a look at our Guide to How Minutes Work with Android Tracfone Devices. Tracfone changed things in several ways with the Android phones they now offer, and the article explains the changes, and what difference it makes for you.

If you don't fully understand how Tracfone works, and the options available, take a look at our Beginners Guide to Tracfone which lays out the basics for how it works.

Thanks for visiting! Check the comments for lots of additional information posted by readers!

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