December 7, 2016

Top 10 Tracfone Gift Ideas - Christmas 2016

The Best Phone and Accessory Gift Ideas for Tracfone Users

Welcome to TracfoneReviewer, below is our annual list of gift ideas. If you're new here, be sure to take a look at some of our other Tracfone related information! 



The holidays are fast approaching, and that means it's time to put up the Christmas tree, the lights, and all the other decorations (if you haven't already!)

It also means it is time to find presents for family and friends. This can be a real challenge sometimes, and we could all use some extra ideas for that one person who is hard to find gifts for...

We're here to help! With the latest phone and accessory gift ideas for Tracfone users. This list includes Tracfone smartphones, unlocked devices to bring to Tracfone, great accessories for smartphones, and a few extra ideas.

Here's the overview of our list:
1. Latest Tracfone Smartphones
2. Unlocked Smartphone Gift Ideas
3. Phone Case, Cover or Screen Protectors
4. External Battery Packs
5. Tracfone Airtime
6. Gift Cards for Purchasing Apps and Other Things
7. Car Charger and other On the Go Accessories
8. Headphones or Speakers
9. External Phone Storage
10. Personalized Coupon for a Phone, Accessory, Game etc.
Plus a Bonus idea!

While this list is geared towards those who use Tracfone, many of the ideas here (especially the accessories) are great for anyone who uses a smartphone.

Tracfone Wireless offers flexible prepaid service that can be a great way have a cell phone at a reasonable price. If you're not familiar with how Tracfone works, visit our Beginners Guide to Tracfone for some helpful information.

Now, let's get straight to our list of 10 Christmas gift ideas!

1. Tracfone Smartphone Gift Ideas

A new phone brings new features, and new possibilities. From improved performance, to better cameras, everyone enjoys an upgrade.

Here are some of the latest smartphones from Tracfone. These make great gifts for almost anyone, from kids to adults, and are usually fast and easy to set up. Most Tracfone cell phones are relatively inexpensive - between $50-150, which is great, but they don't always have the best cameras or a lot of memory. They generally make great phones for those who are low to moderate phone users, and stick with a handful of the basic apps.

It is important to know whether you need a GSM or CDMA compatible device. Tracfone uses several other major cell phone service providers, including AT&T for GSM service, and Verizon for CDMA. So check which service is best for your area. Some locations have service from both.

Here are some of the latest phones available form Tracfone:

Samsung Galaxy Luna - 4.5" Touchscreen, Android 6.0 and quad core processor. But the Luna only has 8 GB internal memory, and 5 MP rear camera. View our full review of the Luna or view the Luna on HSN or from eBay.

ZTE Max Duo - The largest screen on any Tracfone at 6", the Duo also has 16 GB internal memory and a 13MP rear camera. It is a little more expensive at around $200, but comes with an airtime bundle from HSN.

iPhone 5S - Tracfone now offers the iPhone 5S (and iPhone 6) for use on their prepaid network. While the 5S is a few years old now, it still has a great camera, and runs on iOS. Plus it is reasonably priced at $199. The iPhone 5S has been available from Target. Learn more about the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus also available from Tracfone by following the link.

Samsung Galaxy Sky - Released at the end of November, the Samsung Galaxy Sky is a great value with a 5" super AMOLED screen, 16 GB internal memory, Android 6.0 and quad core processor. The only drawback might be the 5 MP rear camera. Retailing for a round $150, you can find the Sky bundled with minutes from eBay and HSN.

ZTE Citrine - A very budget friendly option, the CItrine has a 4" touchscreen, 8 GB memory, 5 MP camera and runs on Android 5.1. It isn't a very powerful device, but at $30 from many retailers, it could make a great option for kids, or as a backup. Visit our ZTE Citrine Review for more details and where to buy. We've also found it for $30 on eBay.

For more phone options and ideas, visit our Cell Phone Reviews page where lists all our recent reviews of Tracfone devices.

Next are some unlocked phones that can be brought to Tracfone.

2. Unlocked Smartphone Gift Ideas

Almost any unlocked smartphone can be used with Tracfone. As with Tracfone smartphones, it is important to know whether you need a GSM or CDMA compatible device (although the first phone on our list is compatible with both).

tracfone gift ideas
Moto G4 Unlocked
Many unlocked smartphones, including the ones we've listed here, have more features and performance compared to most Tracfone smartphones. They generally have more memory and better cameras, which is important to some users (particularly teenagers).

Buying an unlocked smartphone for a friend or family member is best if they tend to use their phone often, and enjoy using a wide variety of apps like Facebook, Instagram and Google Maps (or games!). The newer the phone, and the better the specs, the faster it will run and the more apps it can handle.

Moto G4 (and Moto G4 Play) - The G4 has a large, 5.5" touchscreen, 16 GB memory, 2 GB RAM, Android 6.0 and 13 MP camera. It is one of the best all-round phones available for the price at this time. There are a number of other great phones in this price range, but the Moto G4 is convenient because it is compatible with both GSM and CDMA networks. There is also a cheaper version, called the Moto G4 Play, which has a 5" screen, 8 MP camera but many of the other same features, for $50 less. You can find the Moto G4 on Amazon for $199 and the G4 Play on Amazon for $149. They are also available from other retailers like BestBuy, Target and Walmart.

Visit our list of the Best Unlocked Smartphones to use with Tracfone BYOP for more great ideas and also take a look at our Tracfone BYOP page which has details on requirements, how it all works and more.

3. Phone Case, Cover or Screen Protector

Most people use a case or cover for their smartphone to keep it safe and protected. Some cases are very simply, and offer a small amount of additional protection from drops. Other cases are fully waterproof, making the phone nearly indestructible.

For popular phones like iPhones, there are many different cases available, and you might even be able to find one that matches the personality of the person you're giving it to.

There are a lot of phone cases and covers on both Amazon and eBay. It can be hard to find the right case sometimes, but try searching using the name of the phone, plus case, or cover etc.. For example, if you're looking for a Moto G4 case, simply search on Amazon 'Moto G4 case' or 'Moto G4 waterproof case' and browse the results.

For some additional information on cases, including a short explanation of different types, visit our Tracfone Covers and Cases post.

4. External Battery Pack

tracfone christmas gifts
Anker External Battery
Remember the time when you could charge your flip phone once every two weeks? Well smartphones use a lot more power, and run out much faster, so why not gift an external battery pack/charger? The battery pack stores power for when your phone starts to run low, and then you simply connect them, and your phone gets recharged. No need for a wall socket, now you can recharge your phone from anywhere.

There are many external battery packs available, and they range in the amount of power they can hold, and other features. The Anker Astro (5200mAh) charger is a popular choice on Amazon and is also extremely small and compact. Last check it was just $16.

There are also solar powered chargers available that boast features like being waterproof, shockproof and more. Might be a fun gift for the adventurous.

5. Tracfone Airtime Cards

Every Tracfone user can enjoy the practicality of extra Tracfone airtime. You can purchase a range of cards at different prices, from the 60 Minute card for $20, to the 1 Year/400 Minute card for $99. Plus, there are several Smartphone-only airtime cards that also offer great value.

Data only refill cards and Text only cards are both reasonably priced at $10 for 1 GB data and $5 for 1000 texts. These might be ideal for teenagers.

Prepaid airtime cards can be a great way to say, 'I want to hear from you more!' and you can find them in almost any retail store, and also from eBay, Amazon and other retailers.

Check out our Tracfone Airtime Comparison for details on which airtime cards are the best deal.

6. Gift Cards for Purchasing Apps and Other Things

Some apps and games on the Apple and Google app stores cost a few dollars, and giving a gift card to cover these purchases is a convenient and safe way to allow kids (or adults) to have some fun.

There are many gift card options out there, here are some choices:

tracfone gift ideas 2016
Amazon eGift Card
iTunes Gift Card - Can be redeemed in the App Store or iTunes store for a wide variety of media including music, apps, books and more. Widely available in stores, from online retailers like Amazon and directly from Apple

Google Play Gift Card - Like the iTunes Gift Card, but for Android devices. The Google Play gift card works in the Google Play Store, and you can redeem for a wide variety of music, apps, games and more. Widely available in stores, online retailers like Amazon, and from Google.

Amazon Gift Card - Can be used to purchase almost anything from Amazon, which includes many options such as music, videos, apps, games, and more. Gift cards come in almost any amount. eGift cards are also available, which you can send via email or text. View amazon gift card options.

7. Car Charger and other On the Go Accessories

If you know someone who spends a lot of time commuting, they probably could use some phone accessories for their car. Here are some ideas:

8. Headphones or Speakers

Streaming music from a smartphone is a popular feature and whether you use Pandora, Spotify or something else, and headphones or a Bluetooth speaker are great for covering any music needs.

A Bluetooth speaker can wirelessly connect to a smartphone, and play music like you would from a CD player. It is great for get-togethers, parties, or even outdoor activities. There are many options available, including this portable waterproof speaker and poplar water-resistant Bluetooth speaker.

For headphones, there are several different styles, including over-ear noise canceling, or in-ear headphones.

9. External Phone Storage - Micro SD Card

christmas gift ideas
Samsung Micro SD Card (32 GB)
Many of Tracfone's smartphones only have 8 GB internal memory, which can be used up pretty quickly. Adding external memory with a Micro SD card is a nice way to expand the memory on the phone, and add additional music, photos or other content. Make sure to check first that the phone has a Micro SD card slot, which most Tracfone smartphones do have, but not all.

There are a lot of options for Micro SD cards, but the Samsung 32GB Micro SD card is a great value at just $10. You can also get 64GB, 128GB and 256GB, but make sure the phone can accept larger size cards before you buy.

10. Personalized Coupon for a Phone, Accessory, Game or anything else.

If you're having trouble narrowing down the gift ideas, you could always create a personalized coupon that is good for one Phone, Accessory and anything else.

Try to make the coupon specific, and personalized. This can be a fun and easy way to make sure a picky recipient ends up with what they want.

Bonus - How to Guide for using Android Smartphones
If you have a friend or family member who isn't very familiar with how to use a smartphone, consider this How-to book on using Android smartphones.

Additionally, if you already have some know-how, you could offer some lessons on the basics of using a smartphone, like turning it on and off, texting, and using basic apps.

There are also some great online tutorials that are completely free.

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That concludes our Christmas gift ideas for 2016! We hope these ideas will help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

Let us know in the comments if you have any thoughts or questions, or even additional Christmas gift ideas!

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We've updated our Tracfone Promo Codes for December, so take a visit before you add an airtime card. Promo Codes might also work on smartphones, so worth trying.

Also visit our Guide to Activating or Transferring a Tracfone Smartphone for tips and advice on that process, or read up on 4 Ways to Check our Airtime Balance on Tracfone Smartphones.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

My LG L34C kdyboard stopped working and I get "Unfortunately LG has stopped working". No option to use different keyboard it is locked to LG. Many opions on web recommend using Droid or Google keyboard app. Those people have no clue that to get anywhere on web i need to use keyboard.
Will replace with iphone 5S and hope i do not have to contact Tracfone because they are of no help when you call. But there is a solution for all Tracfone users getting runaround is to go to FCC web page and file complaint. Did it with our cable company and got response in 24 hrs. Caable manager was not happy but too bad, they deserve being under scrutiny since rhey make a lot of people lifes misareble. It's their turn in the barrel!!!!

Kim Veen said...

So, do you have a #1 tracfone android pick for under $80?