October 10, 2016

Tracfone New Phones, Deals and Discounts - October 2016

New Phones, Discounts and Deals on Tracfone Devices and Minutes - October 2016

Welcome to TracfoneReviewer, a website that shares news, reviews and other information about Tracfone. 

new tracfones 2016
Tracfone News, Sales and More!
We've got the latest roundup of deals and discounts on Tracfone smartphones for October 2016, plus details on several new phones now available for Tracfone.

We want to share with our readers both the latest news, and some of the top discounts or deals from around the web.

Buying a new phone can be a challenging process with many options and lots of pro's and con's for each phone. We want to help by sharing a handful of phones that are either currently discounted, a great deal, or newly available for Tracfone.

We will start by covering some of the new devices available, then some great deals on Tracfone smartphones, and finally some great BYOP phones to bring to Tracfone.

If you're new to Tracfone, start with our Beginners Guide to Tracfone. And if you're not confident in how the activation or transfer process works, we've created a Guide to Activating or Transferring Service with Tracfone.

Let's take a look at some new phones.

New Tracfone Smartphones - October 2016

Some of these new phones were actually released right at the end of September, but we want to include them anyway. We will add any new phones to this list as they are released.

Samsung Galaxy On5
This 5" touchscreen smartphone features a 5 MP rear camera (2 MP front), 8 GB memory and Android 6.0. Besides the fact that it runs Android 6,0, which is a very recent version of the OS, the Galaxy On5 doesn't really bring any inspiring features. It compares similarly to the LG Treasure or LG Premier.

It is priced reasonably however, with a minutes bundle on HSN for $149 (on sale for $109). The On5 is a 4G LTE device that uses GSM networks.

Samsung Galaxy Luna
The Luna is fairly similar to the On5, running the same Android 6.0 operating system. It also has a 5 MP camera, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB Memory and quad core processor. The screen size on the Luna is slightly smaller than the On5, at 4.5", which some of our readers prefer. The Luna uses CDMA networks and has 4G LTE capability.

You can find the Samsung Galaxy Luna on QVC with an airtime bundle (1200 minutes) for $121, now on sale for $99. The airtime alone is worth $100.

ZTE Max Duo
The ZTE Max Duo is the type of phone many Tracfone users have been hoping Tracfone would release for a long time. It features 16 GB internal memory, a 1.5 Ghz octa-core processor and 2 GB RAM. It also has a full HD, 6" touchscreen with Gorilla Glass for extra durability.

One of the interesting features on the Max Duo is the dual rear camera. It has two rear facing cameras, one is a 13 MP camera, the other a 2 MP camera. Plus a 5 MP front facing camera.

There are a lot of great things packed into this phone, and it is currently available through HSN with minutes bundle for $249 (on sale for $199). Expect to see more information about this phone from us in the near future.

ZTE Cymbal
The first Android smartphone that is a flip phone. If you just can't give up the flip phone, this might be the upgrade you're looking for. It runs Android 5.1.1, has a 5 MP camera and WiFi. This phone is CDMA and has 4G LTE capability.

Right now we've only found it on BestBuy for $70, and no info on how it performs, but look for more in the near future.

We also want to mention the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus which Tracfone released in September. You can learn more, and see full specs and prices, by visiting our Tracfone iPhone 6 and 6 Plus post.

Tracfone Deals and Discounts - October 2016

Now we want to share some great deals or discounts on Tracfone devices from around the web. If you find other deals, or better deals, be sure to share them in the comments below!

Moto E - $20 on Amazon
The Moto E was first released several years ago, but it still can work as a basic smartphone, running a handful of apps, and useful for checking email or weather. It comes with a 4.3" touchscreen, Android 4.4 and 5 MP camera. See more about the Moto E including specs and features.

LG Lucky/Sunrise - $50 with 200 Minute Airtime Card ($40 value) on eBay or $15 on Amazon
Another low-cost smartphone option, the Lucky also runs Android 4.4 and has a 3.8" screen. As with the Moto E, it isn't a very powerful device, but good for basic smartphone functions, and, of course, calling and texting. With this bundle on eBay, you get the LG Lucky and a 200 Minute Airtime card, which is worth $40. At the price, it makes a great backup phone, or device for kids. The LG Lucky uses CDMA networks while the Sunrise uses GSM. Learn more about the Lucky in our Full Review.

LG 306G - $13 on Amazon
We like to include a non-smartphone option for those who are not interested in upgrading to an Android device. With non-smartphones, you get to keep all your airtime in one 'pool' and Tracfone Promo Codes will work on your device. However, non-smartphones are generally very limited in their features, and are best for simple calling and texting and usually not much more than that.

The LG 306G has a 3.2" touchscreen, and uses a java based operating system. It is a popular Tracfone device, although many users end up getting tired of the lack of features, and upgrade to a smartphone. Get full specs and more information in our full review of the LG 306G.

If you would rather have a flip phone, there are two options on Amazon that are currently $15 each. The LG 237C and the LG 441G are basic flip phones from Tracfone that use 3G networks. These are good for daily use, or as a backup. They don't do much beyond calling and texting, but have a long battery life and great durability.

That concludes the deals we've found on Tracfone devices, let's look at some great BYOP options.

Great Deals on Tracfone BYOP Compatible Unlocked Smartphones

Using the Tracfone BYOP program opens up many more options for phones, and many great value devices. Below we will share some of our top picks for unlocked smartphones to use with Tracfone.

BLU R1 HD - $109 on Amazon
At just $109 for 2 GB RAM and 16 GB Internal Memory, there are few phones that can compete with the value the R1 HD offers. Many Tracfone smartphones retail for over $100 and only have half the RAM and memory. The BLU R1 HD has received good reviews for being a budget smartphone, and if you're looking to get the most bang for your buck at the $100 range, this might be the best option (unless you go with a refurbished phone).

Moto G4 - $199 on Amazon
The Moto G4 is the latest in a line of popular budget smartphones from Motorola. At a very reasonable price point, it packs a lot of features and value into the $199 price tag. Many see the Moto G4 as the best budget smartphone available. It has a large, 5.5" touchscreen, 13 MP Camera, Octa Core processor, 2 GB RAM and 16 GB Memory. For an extra $30 you can get 32 GB memory.$199 for the features and performance this phone offers is a good deal, and it is compatible with both GSM and CDMA cell networks, making it easy to bring to Tracfone BYOP.

Moto G4 Plus - $299 on Amazon
For those looking for more, the Moto G4 Plus delivers, with more RAM and Memory. The G4 Plus has 4 GB RAM, and 64 GB internal memory (there is also a version with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB memory for $249), features we rarely see on a phone at this price. The extra RAM (compared to the 2 GB on the G4) means that the G4 Plus can handle more operations at once, it can run more apps, or more demanding apps, without slowing down. The G4 Plus also has  a 16 MP camera and fingerprint reader.

Honor 5X - $199 on Amazon
The Huawei Honor 5X is another budget friendly smartphone packed with great features. This phone has many similar features to the Moto G4, such as a 5.5" touchscreen, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB memory and 13 MP camera. But it also has two additional features - a finger print scanner and all aluminum body. The Honor 5X is certainly a worthy phone to consider along with the Moto G4.

Learn more about the BYOP program, and see a full list of many more smartphone options, on our Tracfone BYOP page.

That concludes our roundup of new phones, great deals and discounts, and popular BYOP devices for October 2016. We hope this information is useful, especially if you're considering buying a new phone. Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions below.

Also Follow us on Facebook (where many of you already do!). We share the latest posts, news and answer questions.

Our recent post, 4 Ways to check your Airtime on a Tracfone Smartphone may be very helpful for those who like to keep track of their minutes.

We also did a full Tracfone Airtime Comparison to see which airtime cards from Tracfone were the best value.

Thanks for visiting!

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10 comments :

JimWiz1 said...

Totally surprised to not see the ZTE Z353VL here. A Tracfone Android 5.1.1 flip phone http://tracfone.devicebits.com/tracfone/home.seam?custId=TFZEZ353VL&locale=en_US
CDMA only though. $69.99 at Best Buy the week of 16 to 22 Oct. There are some errors in their ad, as it does take a micro sd, up to 32GB. The ZTE Cymbal T LTE 4G LTE with 3GB Memory is really an 8GB but only just over 3 are available for user.
Live long and Prosper,
JimWiz1

TracfoneReviewer Team said...

Good find, what an interesting phone. First Android flip phone I've ever heard of.

Steve said...

Just purchased the TracFone Samsung Galaxy Luna 4Glte that runs on the Verizon tower's,upgrading from a moto E TracFone,looking forward to it as I bought it online from Best buy thru eBay for the sale price of 69.99,regulary 110.00 stay tuned.....

Anonymous said...

i'm looking at the luna as well. Cant wait to see what you think.....

Anonymous said...

Hi, I saw Samsung Galaxy Luna phone on HSN, QVC and Bestbuy. On bestbuy, it listed with 1.5GB RAM. On QVC, it listed with 1GB RAM. There is no info on HSN regarding RAM spec. In this article, it says 1GB RAM. However, all other websites (e.g. gsm-specs.com) says 1.5GB RAM? Does anyone buy from HSN and how much RAM it has? RAM is important now as newer Apps (like Pokemon Go) require more RAM.

Anonymous said...

Just noticed that QVC has an LG "xStyle" Tracfone bundle for $109. The phone has a 5" HD display (1280x720 TFT), 5MP front and rear cameras, Android 6.0.1, 1.3GHz quad core processor, 1.5GB ram, 4G LTE (CDMA), and the standard QVC add ons. They ship 'em beginning Nov. 8th.

Didn't see a mention of this particular phone before so I thought I'd pass along the info.

Irene's Tips for Teachers said...

I am looking for the online tutorial for the Galaxy Luna. Is there an actual number for that phone - not just the name - since searching for tutorials at Tracfone seems to go by product numbers (my LG Sunset is called LG L33L, for example). I am trying to make sure that mobile data can be turned off on the Luna. Any help appreciated. Thanks!

Michael said...

I bought the LG xStyle (LG L56VL, Verizon towers) from QVC. It was $99.00 for the first 48 hours. It comes with 1350 min, text, data. Great phone. Upgraded from a LG Ultimate 2. Would recommend it over any of the others on QVC. Be aware the LG Premier has the power and volume controls on the back of the phone. Not very convenient. Michael

Michael said...

One thing I should of mentioned in the post above. Although the LG xStyle has 8G of internal storage where the LG Ultimate 2 only had 5G, I couldn't install all the app's in the xStyle I had on the Ultimate 2.
That was because Android version 6 was taking up a lot more space than Android 4 did. I almost returned it. But then I found I could disable some of the new features added to Android 6, and others I never use. Specifically Chrome, Cloud Print, Docs, Drive, Gmail, Google App, Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music, Hangouts, Music, Sheets, and Slides. You can also move some Apps to the SD card. Michael

Anonymous said...

I just bought a ZTE Cymbal TracFone Android flip phone yesterday (2017 January 13). Have only made one phone call with it, and the other person said that my voice sounded far away. This would be because the microphone is actually two or three inches from my mouth, and I tend to have a soft voice. She could understand me, though. (I've been the listener to "far-away" voices when the speaker used a smartphone with the microphone was built-in facing away from the mouth at the bottom of the phone. At least the ZTE Cymbal microphone faces more toward the speaker.)

It's easier for me to use the flip phone portion for typing, and I use it for the "back" key because I don't know how to go back to a previous screen just by tapping or swiping (at least from certain screens). I had an LG 40, tiny screen, that I had bought for $5 (yes, five dollars) a year and a half ago, but the battery isn't keeping its charge as well anymore, so I decided to get a new phone. When I saw the TracFone flip phone smartphone, I bought it (at Target) for $99 (plus tax).

I only use my mobile phone a few times a month for phone calls and sometimes for photos, but since I have data minutes now, I might use them more.

I entered a bunch of my contact phone numbers by hand, and that was easy to do. I figured out the swiping to go back within the Contacts portion.

I did read the instructions, so I knew that the "C" key (for "clear", I presume) was the "erase a typo" key. It also told me how to move the icons around on the desktop, and I accidentally did it and then had fun moving things around wherever I wanted them.

A few more choices for the wallpaper might be nice, and the options for some of the ringtones that I looked at (like the alarm clock) maybe could have some more options, but the ones that are there are acceptable choices.

Time will tell how this phone works out, but I have no initial regrets.