Samsung Galaxy Sky (S320VL) Review - Tracfone Android

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy Sky (S320VL) Review

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Tracfone Samsung Galaxy Sky Review

The Samsung Galaxy Sky has a 5" touchscreen, quad-core processor with 1.5 GB RAM, and runs Android 6.0. It also has 16 GB internal memory, something very few smartphones from Tracfone have at this time.

We recently reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Luna, which has a number of similarities to the Sky, although it differs in screen size and internal memory. We will look more closely at how these phones compare, and several others from Tracfone, further along in our review.

Tracfone has released a number of new smartphones in 2016, and the Galaxy Sky, which was released in November, might be one of the best budget friendly options yet.

Lets look at the quick facts for the Galaxy Sky to get an idea of what it offers.

Samsung Galaxy Quick Facts
The Good:
-16 GB internal memory
-Android 6.0
-5" Super AMOLED HD touchscreen

The Not so Good:
-Only 5 MP camera

A major complaint that consumers have had with Tracfone is their lack of smartphones with 16 GB internal memory or more. The majority of Tracfone smartphones only have 8 GB memory, which fills up fast even if you only load a handful of apps. The Galaxy Sky comes with 16 GB which can hold a lot more apps, photos and more.  The ZTE ZMAX 2 is another option that also has 16 GB internal memory.

Of course, there are plenty of unlocked smartphones that have 16 GB internal memory or more. Take a look at our list of the Best Unlocked Smartphones to use with Tracfone BYOP for some ideas or go straight to our BYOP page.

But there are some more great features on the Sky, so let's take a look at the full list of features and specs.

Samsung Galaxy Sky Features and Specs

Below are the features, followed by the technical specifications

• Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• 4G LTE Capable using CDMA network (Verizon)
• WiFi, GPS
• Bluetooth 4.1
• Alarm Clock
• MP3 Player
• 5 MP Rear Camera, 2 MP Front Camera
• Handsfree speaker
• Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play Store
• Proximity and Accelerometer Sensor
• 3 Home Screens
• MMS (Picture and group) messaging 
• Caller ID, Voicemail
• Triple Minutes for Life (on regular airtime cards)

Samsung Galaxy Sky Specs

• Size: 5.60" x 2.79" x 0.31"
• 5.0" Super AMOLED Touchscreen 720x1280 resolution (HD)
• 1.2 Ghz Quad Core Processor
• 1.5 GB RAM
• 16 GB Internal Memory (with MicroSD card slot for up to 128 GB external memory)
• Battery: 2600 mAh with 25 Hrs Talk Time, 13 Days Standby

The Galaxy Sky is a little larger than many of the older smartphones from Tracfone such as the LG Ultimate 2 or Samsung Galaxy Stardust, but at 5", it is still a convenient size that will fit in most pockets or purses. Notice that the screen is Super AMOLED, which means deeper blacks, and in some cases, better battery life.

Let's take a closer look at some of the key features on the Galaxy Sky with our full review.

Samsung Galaxy Sky Review

Below we share what we like about the Sky, and what we don't like.

What we Like about the Sky:
There's a lot to like about this phone, but some of the key features that make it popular are the battery life, internal memory and Android OS.

Samsung Galaxy Sky front, side and back. Notice the rounded edges and slim design.

The battery life on the Samsung Galaxy Sky is very good compared to most other smartphones. The Sky doesn't have a large battery, but a combination of the screen, processor and operation system help conserve power to make it last all day with normal use, or nearly two weeks on standby. A longer battery life is something everyone can enjoy, whether you use your phone often or not.

Android 6.0 comes with a number of improvements, fixes, and upgrades (including better battery performance). One of the improvement is better integration of external Micro SD cards, however, it doesn't appear that the Sky is able to fully integrate external storage as if it were internal storage. .

Speaking of storage, the Galaxy Sky has 16 GB, with about 11 GB usable space. This is a great improvement over many of Tracfone's other smartphones.

Additionally, the combination of 1.5 GB RAM with the quad-core processor is more than adequate for the phone to handle most activities and apps.

We also want to mention the touchscreen, which has HD resolution and good colors. As we mentioned above, the 5" screen is a comfortable size for many and looks great, qith good colors and sharpness.

The Samsung Galaxy Sky packs nearly everything we would want in a budget smartphone from Tracfone. But there are some negatives we want to mention.

What we Don't Like:
The main drawback with the Galaxy Sky is the front and rear camera. The rear camera is only 5 MP, while the front is 2 MP. The quality is reasonably good, but at such a low resolution, you will probably want something better to capture any important memories.

It also appears that external Micro SD cards may not be integrated as internal memory the same way many other Android 6.0 devices are able to do. We're not sure why there is a difference with the Galaxy Sky, but will add additional information as it becomes known.

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Sky does come with a handful of apps most users won't want, but it is possible to remove some of them, or at least disable them. Most phones come with a variety of pre-installed apps, so this is not something specific to the Sky.

That concludes the issues we've found with the Sky. It is a well rounded phone in most ways and ideal for moderate smartphone users upgrading from an older Tracfone smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Sky Overview and Comparison to other Smartphones

The Galaxy Sky brings some very popular features at a reasonable price to Tracfone users who have been waiting a long time. While the camera is not a strong point, the phone does excel in many other ways, especially battery life, screen quality, and overall performance.

Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Luna, the Sky is a little more expensive, but also has twice the internal memory, and a larger screen. They both have the same processor, RAM and cameras.

The Samsung Galaxy Sky is a significant improvement over many older Tracfone smartphones like the LG Ultimate 2, Moto E and Samsung Galaxy Stardust for many reasons, but especially the 16 GB memory and Android 6.0 OS. They phone will be smoother and faster than older devices, as is to be expected.

While we do expect Tracfone to continue to release smartphones with similar or improved features in 2017, the Samsung Galaxy Sky is a great phone, and, with some of the airtime bundles below, a great deal.

For additional information on how to use the Galaxy Sky, take a look at the interactive tutorial.

Samsung Galaxy Sky on Amazon

Where to Buy the Samsung Galaxy Sky:

HSN - Available with 1350 Minutes and accessories - $129 (best value)
eBay - Available with $25 airtime card - $129
Amazon - With Airtime bundle - $119

Prices may change, and HSN will probably sell out sometime in the near future.

That concludes our review of the Samsung Galaxy Sky. We are excited about the improvements this phone has over older smartphones. Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments below.

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