Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro (S327VL) - Tracfone Smartphone Review
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| Tracfone Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro (S327VL) |
We will share the full list of features and specs for the Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro, followed by our review and comparison to the Galaxy Sky and other similar devices.
Tracfone is continuing to add new smartphones to their lineup with the Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro one of several recently released. You can keep up with what's new on our Latest Tracfone Smartphones List.
Remember, though, that many of the newer phones from Tracfone will not include triple minutes, which is a recent change Tracfone has made. We discuss more about this in our post, Tracfone Changes to Triple Minutes for Life.
Let's start with the Galaxy Luna Pro's quick pro's and con's.
Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro Quick Facts
The Good16 GB Memory
1.5 GB RAM
Great value with airtime bundle
The Not so Good
No Triple Minutes
While the Galaxy Luna Pro does come with 16 GB Memory, which is typically the minimum acceptable amount, it doesn't come with Triple Minutes which may be disappointing to some users.
But, for those who already purchase the smartphone only cards anyway, the lake of triple minutes doesn't really make a difference. For many, the smartphone only cards are a better deal.
Tracfone Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro (S327VL) Features and Specs
Below are the features, followed by the technical specs- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- 4G LTE service (CDMA - Verizon)
- WiFI
- GPS
- Bluetooth 4.2
- MP3 Player
- Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play Store
- Caller ID, Voicemail, SMS/MMS
- 5 MP Rear Camera/ 2 MP Front
- Size: 5.55" x 2.76" x 0.34"
- 5" HD TFT Touchscreen (720x1280)
- 1.4 Ghz Quad Core Processor
- 1.5 GB RAM
- 16 GB Memory
- Battery: 2600 mAh with 25 hrs talk time, 20 days standby
The Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro is designed as a budget friendly device but it still has the specs to keep up with moderate smartphone users who want to run a variety of apps and maybe some games.
Let's look at the details about this phone to learn more.
Tracfone Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro Review
Screen SizeFeaturing a 5" TFT screen with HD resolution and gorilla glass protection, the screen is bright and quite good for this phone. Its not up to the level of a flagship phone like the Samsung Galaxy S8, but this device is also much less expensive. The bezel on the sides is actually very small, and overall the phone has the look of a more expensive phone.
Internal Specs - Memory, RAM, and Processor
The biggest change going from the original Luna to the Luna Pro is the step up from 8 to 16 GB memory. Although 16 GB memory is still not a lot of space, it leaves enough room for storing your favorite apps, photos and some videos. The Android OS takes up about 7 GB, leaving around 9 GB free. Remember that the storage on the Galaxy Luna Pro can be expanded using a Micro SD Card (up to 256 GB).
The Galaxy Luna Pro also has 1.5 GB RAM and a 1.4 Ghz processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 425) that results in good performance and multitasking. Overall the performance on the Luna Pro is very good for a phone at this price. It has enough storage and power to keep up with surfing the web, using various apps and most games.
Camera
While the rear camera is just 5 MP which seems a little limited, it is actually very capable and can shoot HD video at 60 fps and has autofocus, flash and more.
The front facing camera is 2 MP and works well for video calls and selfies.
Battery
A 2600 mAh battery comes with the Luna Pro that gives about 26 hrs talk time, and 20 days on standby. We're very impressed by this, and while average uses will probably get slightly less battery life, the Android 6.0 operating system does a great job at reducing battery drain.
Android OS
Tracfone has released several phones with Android 7.0, but the Galaxy Luna Pro only comes with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. It is still a relatively recent OS, but remember that you won't be able to get any updates.
With Android you have access to over 1 Million apps on Google Play and many are free.
Triple Minutes
Many of the newer phones Tracfone is releasing, including the Galaxy Luna Pro, do not come with Triple Minutes for Life, a feature they used to include with all smartphones.
This only affects users who typically buy regular airtime cards such as the 60, 120, 200 and 450 minute cards. For those who already buy the Smartphone Only cards, there is no difference.
Conclusion and Where to Buy the Galaxy Luna Pro
The Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro (S327VL) is a nice upgrade in many ways over Galaxy Luna and many of Tracfone's other older smartphones. It offers very adequate performance, storage, camera and battery life at a great value.Where to Buy
What really makes us impressed with the Galaxy Luna Pro is that it is available from several online retailers with an airtime bundle that makes the phone almost free. Here are the options:
- Available on Amazon with 1000 Talk, 2000 Texts and 2 GB data for $109
- Currently on sale from QVC with 1500 minutes for $99!
- View the Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro on HSN (with 1200 minutes for $99)
- We've also found it available from BestBuy, but for $99 for just the phone.
Compared to the Galaxy Sky and Luna
The Galaxy Luna Pro is very similar to the slightly older Galaxy Sky. They both have 5" touchscreens, Android 6.0, 16 GB Memory and 1.5 GB RAM. They differ in the processor, with the Luna Pro featuring a newer, slightly more powerful quad core processor. The Galaxy Luna Pro is actually available for a little less than the Galaxy Sky, and would be our pick between the two.
Compared to the Galaxy Luna, the Luna Pro is an upgrade in most ways. The only downside would be that the Luna Pro does not include triple minutes.
We also recently reviewed the ZTE ZFIVE, which has a 5" screen, Android 6.0 and Triple Minutes. However, it only has 1 GB RAM and 8 GB Memory. Compared to the ZFIVE, the Luna Pro is a better choice for those who will need the extra internal memory and performance.
That concludes our review of the Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro. You can learn more about this phone by checking out the online tutorial.
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I think available as a package on QVC, with 1500 minutes/texts/data, $89.96.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.qvc.com/Tracfone-Samsung-Galaxy-J3-Luna-Pro-5%22-w-Case-%26-1500-MinTextData.product.E231210.html
Thanks for the Luna Pro review. However, when compared to Sky, you forgot the most important feature of Sky: OLED screen. You can't find OLED screen on many phones except Galaxy S-series (& New Iphone X), and difference with LCD is dramatic, specially at bright daylight.
ReplyDeleteJust ordered the Galaxy Luna pro J3 for 99.00 from HSN,can't really beat this deal that is offered.basically a free phone you get for buying a year's worth of service and you get a case and car charger included.iam upgrading from a galaxy Luna because I wanted more memory and a 5inch screen.Looking forward to seeing how it performs.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty much the LG Phoenix 2, Which I feel is actually a better phone than this one IMO.
ReplyDeletewhat about this deal?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.qvc.com/Tracfone-Samsung-Galaxy-J3-Luna-Pro-5%22-w-Case-%26-1500-MinTextData.product.E231210.html?sc=SRCH
Good morning folks, I just ordered this phone from HSN for 99.00 which comes with a year's service 1200 minutes, iam replacing the Galaxy Luna that only had 8gb mem and this includes 16 gb,a big improvement, does anyone know if the phone has gorilla glass? Just curious. .....
ReplyDeleteIs this the same as the J3 Luna Pro?
ReplyDeleteWell, QVC did have this phone for $89.96, but as of today 9/18/17 the price has gone up to $99.75.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.qvc.com/Tracfone-Samsung-Galaxy-J3-Luna-Pro-5%22-w-Case-%26-1500-MinTextData.product.E231210.html
Ordered mine from HSN for $99 and received over the weekend. Replaces an LG L41C (Ultimate 2) I had for two years. The Luna Pro is a definite upgrade. For an inexpensive phone, it doesn't feel cheap in your hand. As I get a feel for it, everything works like it's supposed to.
ReplyDeleteA nice little quirk happened when I transferred my Tracfone account over to the Luna Pro. All the minutes, texts and data I had remaining on the old phone DOUBLED when they were moved to the Luna. Then it added the 1200 minutes, 1200 texts and 1200MB of data that came with the Luna Pro from HSN.
Using the Tracfone Transfer Wizard on the Google Play Store easily transferred my contacts, text messages, call logs, photos, videos and music over.
As of now I'd highly recommend this phone. QVC is also selling it for $99.75
--Paul R.
I JUST PURCHASED mine from hsn as well,won't get it for few days,will wait till close to Xmas to start using,My other phone also purchased threw hsn it's a Samsung on 5 it only has 8gb,which most is taken up by pre installed samsung apps which you can not remove.It did come with the 1 year,activation as well .my huby has the on 5 as well it's perfect for him,he don't bother with apps,but I love apps,so excited to get a 16gb phone.gyess the j3 luna pro isn't triple minutes.They say that the minutes I have will transfer.so I have 1 gig data,plus 2500 minutes and text.the hsn luna pro will come with 1200 minutes.thanks for the info about the wizard app,sounds very useful.
DeleteHey Paul R, that same little quirk about the mins being Doubled and then the 1200 min being added from HSN happen to me also,wonder if it's a new feature that is being added because of the TML being discountinued??? Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteHey Steve:
ReplyDeleteNo idea why that quirk is happening with HSN. All I know is now I have a whole lot of minutes, data and texts. Enjoy the gift.
--Paul R
So if you buy a phone from HSN (Galaxy Luna Pro 5) with 1200 minutes and one year service, basically triple minutes, for $89. After you get your phone, can you transfer the minutes to an existing Galaxy S5 that is already a Tracfone? (The S5 has a more powerful processor.)
ReplyDeleteWhat cell phone case will fit this phone? I can't find any for the Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro.
ReplyDeleteAlso want to know about the case questions asked by another user.
ReplyDeleteDo you have to purchase a 'smartphone only' card? I have seen conflicting info in reviews from people claiming to work for tracfone but can find nothing on the tracfone website/forums. As a minimal user, the 60 minute phone cards would be much more cost effective for me.
UPDATE to message of 24 Nov 2017:
ReplyDeleteI was able to upload a standard 60 minute card to my J3 Luna and received the double minutes I would have received with my flip-phone.
Phone was purchased off the shelf at Best Buy and not part of any special promotion, if that matters to anyone.
In the review of the Samsung Sky, it was noted :
ReplyDelete"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".
I didn't see update on this note in the Sky review. Is this also true with the Luna Pro? It's a big issue for person I was getting one of these....if no diff we'd go with better sale on Sky!
Thanks in advance.
Thanks for this review! I just bought a refurb Tracfone J3 Luna Pro from Tracfone for only $24.99, to replace my Tracfone Samsung Galaxy Core Prime. I am amazed how much better it is! Battery life is INCREDIBLE. After transferring everything including apps, I had both at 100% battery, then let the Core Prime sit. When it's battery was dead about a day and a half later, the Luna Pro was still at 90%! And now a couple days after that it's still at 70%. I assume the reason is better power management by the later version of Android (6.0.1 vs. 4.4.4).
ReplyDeleteAnd the screen, wow. Comics like Calvin & Hobbes and Bloom County look beautiful and are easily legible. This is a HUGE upgrade over the Core Prime. Which was itself a fine phone that I was happy with.
Just bought this phone last night on Amazon for $24.99 refurbished. Hopefully my triple mins benefit does transfer over. This phone will replace my lg power I bought nearly 2 years ago.
ReplyDeletegot this phone and while it feels nice and looks nice its missing some serious features, for one it does not support mobile tethering and the camera i just got on the newest phone has been downgraded to just 2 mega pixes instead of 5 like before
ReplyDeleteif you need to take pictures with this they don't come out too well. if you need to tether your phone you cant do it and apps cant help you since its not factory installed.
you can get this phone at wal mart for 49.00 taxes are included in price. i do not know who would pay more than that for a phone with downgrading features
if you just need a cheap phone to make calls with or to send texts then this is a great phone but internet is slow and not recommended. i did my best to connect to a 500 mbps wireless device and got essentially 20 mbps while other devices i had got up to 250 mbps and its like wow even internet on here don't work well
good for calls = yes
good for texts = yes
nice looking phone = yes
big screen = yes
tethering = no
internet fast = no
camera quality = no
it is what it is a cheap phone that has good calls and call quality but not so much other things
number of stars i would give it is 2 / 5
good starter phone for kids, good starter phone if just coming into android and need to learn a few things but not for the advanced user who really needs features
Does the J3 Luna Pro support USB OTG for additional memory or accessories? My present J3 Luna(S120VL) does not, and I'm wondering if this is a feature delete by Tracfone.
ReplyDeletewhy is tracfone doing away with mobile hotspot and tethering? this phone don't have it and tracfone cant turn it on even with a new sim card. for me such things are a necessary and should not be done away with
ReplyDeleteI love the phone, but the camera is crap. Pictures at no zoom were passable, but zooming in puts everything out of focus. Terrible.
ReplyDeleteAm I missing something? Any suggestions would be appreciated.