Tracfone Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro (S327VL) Review

Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro (S327VL) - Tracfone Smartphone Review

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Tracfone Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro (S327VL)

The Luna Pro is a Android smartphone released by Tracfone with upgraded performance over the original Galaxy Luna. It comes with some great features like a 5" screen and 16 GB memory that make it very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Sky, but at a slightly lower price.

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 Good
16 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

Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro Technical Specs

• 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

Samsung Electronics is a multinational company based in Korea and the second largest information technology company behind Apple. They are the largest manufacturer of mobile phones, with the Galaxy line being their most popular.

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 Size
Featuring 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.

Leave a comment below with any thoughts or questions.

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We've got lots of helpful information on Tracfone smartphones, here are some of our most popular resources:

Tracfone Smartphone Resources:
How to Check your Airtime on a Smartphone
How to Activate or Transfer a Tracfone smartphone
How Data Works on Smartphones
How to Buy Extra Texts for Smartphones
Tracfone Airtime Comparison - Which Card is the Best Deal?

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Tracfone Promo Codes for September 2017

Tracfone Promo Codes - September 2017

Brought to you by TracfoneReviewer, where we share the latest news, reviews and information about Tracfone

Tracfone Promo Codes Sept 2017

Summer is fading, school is starting, but we have new Tracfone Promo Codes to bring to you!

Each month Tracfone releases new promotional codes to use with their prepaid airtime cards for extra minutes for free. These codes can be used when adding an airtime card.

We work hard to collect and test the latest codes to share them here with our readers. We also have a more expansive list of codes on our main Tracfone promo codes page.

Most promo codes from Tracfone are for use with regular airtime cards, but Tracfone has also released some codes for smartphone only cards.

If you don't know all the differences between these cards, or simply want to learn which one is the best deal, visit our Tracfone Airtime Comparison.

And if you're considering a new phone, be sure to stop by our Cell Phone Reviews page which has all our latest reviews of Tracfone devices.

Now let's look at the new codes for September.

Tracfone Promo Code List - September 2017

Some codes may only be used once, others can be used multiple times.

60 Minute Card use code 12745 or 22703 for 60 free minutes (note - only working for some)

120 Minute Card enter 25674 to get 30 bonus minutes or try 95080 for 40 minutes

200 Minute Card add code 48711 and receive 40 additional minutes or code 82092 for 50 minutes

450 Minute Card (No new code at this time)

Get $15 off the 1 Year/400 Minute Card with code 40238 (online only)

Smartphone Only Cards - Use Code 34313 for 100 MB Free Data on $25 Smartphone card

Those are the latest codes, collected and shared here for our readers. We hope they work for you! To see even more options, visit our full Tracfone Promo Code page.

Follow us on Facebook where we post news, reviews and more. Plus we have a growing community of users who can help answer questions or provide advice.

See our List of Latest Tracfone Cell Phones to keep up with the new releases from Tracfone

Also take a look at our 10 Tips for Improving your Cell Signal if you have ever found yourself with a low signal.

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ZTE ZFIVE (Z862VL) Tracfone Smartphone Review

Tracfone ZTE ZFIVE (Z862VL) Review

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Tracfone ZTE ZFIVE Review

The ZTE ZFIVE is a recent smartphone released by Tracfone that uses Android 6.0.1 and has a 5" touchscreen. It also comes with Triple Minutes for Life.

In this review we will share the full specs and details about the ZFIVE and where to find it for the best deal.

Tracfone offers a wide variety of Android and Apple smartphones through online and in-store retailers. We have reviews for a number of them on our Cell Phone Reviews page. And you can also check out the list of Latest Tracfone Cell Phones to keep up with whats new.

Although the ZTE ZFIVE is a budget phone and limited in some features, it does come with several good features that will catch some attention, and is available at a reasonable price

Let's start with the quick facts:

ZTE ZFIVE Quick Facts

What we Like
-Android 6.0.1
-Triple Minutes for Life
-Reasonable Price

What we Don't Like
-Only 8 GB Memory
-Just 1 GB RAM

One of the big positives about this phone is that it still comes with Triple Minutes for Life, which Tracfone has stopped including on many new smartphones they release. If you want to learn more about this, read our recent post on the Tracfone Ends Triple Minutes for Life.

Below are the full list of features and technical specifications for the ZFIVE.

ZTE ZFIVE (Z862VL) Features and Specs

• Android 6.0.1
• Triple Minutes for Life
• CDMA LTE Coverage (on Verizon cell network)
• 5 MP Rear Camera with Auto-focus/flash, 2 MP Front Camera
• WiFi (802.11 b/g/n)
• Bluetooth 4.1
• GPS
• Voicemail, MMS, Caller ID
• Voice Dilaing
• Handsfree speaker
• Alarm clock
• MP3 player

Technical Specs

• Size: 2.8" x 5.69" x 0.33" (5.21 oz)
• 5" IPS LED Touchscreen with HD (720x1280) resolution
• 1.1GHz Qualcomm Quad-Core MSM8909
• 1 GB RAM
• 8 GB Memory with Micro SD Card Slot (up to 64GB)
• Battery: 2500 mAh with 12 hrs talk time, 8 days standby

Most of these features are fairly typical for a phone in this price range, but we do see a couple updates over older Tracfone smartphones that may make this a good option for some consumers.

ZTE is a electronics company based in China and one of the largest cell phone manufacturers in the world. They generally focus on low-cost devices, especially those targeted at prepaid users.

ZTE phones generally offer enough features and performance to handle basic smartphone activities, like surfing the web, using a few apps and taking photos, while maintaining a budget price tag.

The ZTE ZFIVE fits this description, and let's take a closer look at some of the good, and bad, points about this phone.

Tracfone ZTE ZFIVE (Z862VL) Review

Screen Size:

The ZTE ZFIVE for Tracfone

The 5" touchscreen on the ZFIVE is a sweet-spot for many users, who don't want their phone to be too big or bulky. The resolution is HD (1280x720) with a pixel density of about 293, resulting in fairly crisp and clear display. The colors on this screen aren't bad, but can look a little washed out, especially when viewing outdoors.

Internal Specs - Memory, Processor and RAM
While the 1.1 Ghz quad-core processor isn't bad, the memory and RAM on the ZFIVE are a little low for most users. You get just 8 GB internal memory, with around 4 GB actually usable. There is a Micro SD Card slot, with up to 64 GB external storage. Similarly, the 1 GB RAM is enough for web browsing, popular apps like Facebook and Instagram, and basic games, but will struggle to keep up with 3D games or any apps that aren't well optimized.

If you typically only use a few different apps, and are not interested in newer games, the performance of the ZTE ZFIVE should be adequate.

Camera
The 5 MP rear camera on the ZFIVE comes with auto focus and flash, and is surprisingly good for what it is. You can also record full 1080p HD videos which look pretty good too. There is also a 2 MP front 'selfie' camera for video chatting and photos.

Battery
At 2500 mAh, the battery on the ZTE ZFIVE is a little smaller than most phones these days, and gives about 12 hrs under normal use, 8 days on standby. If you're a moderate to heavy user, expect to need to charge this phone during the day.

Android Operating System
The ZTE ZFIVE runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow which is a newer version of the OS, and nice to see included. With Tracfone devices, they don't get software updates, so whatever version the phone comes with is what it will keep.

With Android users have access to over a million apps through Google Play. Visit our List of the Best Apps for Tracfone to get some ideas.

Triple Minutes for Life
While most new phones from Tracfone no longer include triple minutes, the ZFIVE does, which is nice to see. With triple minutes al regular airtime cards triple when added to the phone. Smartphone only airtime cards do not triple, but generally come with more texts and data, which many users prefer.

ZTE ZFIVE Overview and Where to Buy

The ZTE ZFIVE from Tracfone is a cost-friendly smartphone best suited for users who don't need very much memory on their phone, and don't plan to run any performance heavy apps or games.

It could make a nice upgrade from older Tracfone devices like the LG Ultimate 2, LG Power, LG Rebel, or any Alcatel or ZTE phones running Android 5.1 or older.

For those that want a little more performance, and a larger screen, consider the ZTE ZMAX Champ, LG FIesta or Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro, but be aware these phones do not come with Triple Minutes.

If you really want a phone with the capability and power to handle almost any game or app, consider an unlocked device like the Moto G5 Plus and using it with Tracfone BYOP. This is a great option for those who are moderate to heavy cell phone users, but still want the advantages of Tracfone prepaid service.

Where to Buy the ZTE ZFIVE

• Get the ZFIVE with 1000 Talk, 2000 Texts, and 2 GB data on Amazon for $79
• The ZTE ZFIVE can be found bundled with 1200 minutes for just $79 on HSN.
• Available on the Tracfone website, listed as the ZTE ZFIVE 2
• If they are sold out, the ZFIVE may also be available through WallMart and Target stores.

We hope this information was helpful. Leave a comment with any thoughts or questions.

New to Tracfone? Take a look at our Beginners Guide which covers some of the basics on how it works, and the different options available.

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Tracfone Promo Codes for August 2017

Tracfone Promo Codes - August 2017

The latest promotional codes collected and shared by TracfoneReviewer

Tracfone Promo Code List - August 2017

It's a new month, and summer is almost over, but we've got fresh Tracfone promo codes to make things a little better! Each month we gather these promo codes, test them, and then share them here for our readers!

There's nothing to click or do, the promo codes are free to use! Simple add the promo code when entering the Tracfone airtime PIN number in the spot marked for it. You can add airtime on your phone, over the phone or online.

Promo codes are meant for non-smartphones, but will usually work for both Tracfone smartphones and BYOP devices. If you're looking for a new phone, check out our Cell Phone Reviews or the BYOP page for recent reviews and information.

Some of the recent phones form Tracfone, like the LG Fiesta, don't come with Triple Minutes for Life, but promo codes should still work with them.

This page includes only the latest codes from Tracfone that a re for August 20177 but we also have a larger, Tracfone promo code page with more options, so if you don't see a code here that works, be sure to also visit there.

Let's get to the codes!

Tracfone Promo Codes List - August 2017

Some codes may be one time use, and others may be limited to certain airtime cards. But for most codes, they can be used with a specific airtime card or any card of greater value. Adding airtime over the phone may be the easiest way to ensure you receive bonus minutes.

60 Minute Card use promo code 22703 for 60 minutes (may be one time use) or try 12745 for 60 minutes

120 Minute Card add code 38007 for 30 extra minutes

200 Minute Card enter code 41993 and get 40 bonus minutes (valid until August 16th) or use 59905 for 40 minutes

450 Minute Card use code 85337 to receive 50 additional minutes

1 Year/400 Minute Card use 89823 for 250 free minutes (valid until August 16th) or try 82024 to get 300 minutes!

$15 off the 1 Year/400 Minute card with code 91875 (from Tracfone website only)

We hope these codes get you the extra bonus minutes, let us know in the comments below which one you used, and how it worked.

Take a look at our 10 Tips for Improving your Cell Signal if you've ever wondered about how to boost your signal, or why you lose it in certain locations.

Also check out the latest post of Tracfone Deals, Discounts and Sales which includes both Tracfone smartphones and BYOP devices.

Join us on Facebook, where our community of over 2600 offers helpful information and advice. And send us a message if you have a specific question, its the best place for us to respond.

And if you are curious about what WiFi Calling is and how it works or if you can unlock your Tracfone then follow the links to our recent articles!

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10 Tips for Improving Your Tracfone Cell Signal

How to Check and Boost your Tracfone Cell Signal

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10 Tips to Boost your Cell Signal

Don't you hate it when you lose signal while on the phone, or when you can't send a text because you are in a dead zone?

In this post we look at how cell signal strength is measured, how to check your signal, and tips for improving it. We often get questions relating to signal strength, and hopefully this will help clear some of those up.

Tracfone users several other cell phone networks, including Verizon and AT&T, and the coverage is usually pretty good in most cities and towns. However, there are plenty of places where the signal can be partially blocked, or has much further to travel.

The information provided here is to help you get the most from your cell phone, so let's get started.

How Cell Signal Works (And How to Check yours)

Cell signal is measured in dBm (Decibel milliwatts) where about -60 dBm is a very excellent signal, and -110 very poor. Ranging between -70 and -98 dBm will usually result in a very adequate signal. As we will see further on in our tips for boosting signal strength, little things like holding the phone in certain ways, can significantly affect the signal.

The signal strength bars at the top of your device don't have any standardized correlation to your actual signal strength, but are a general representation. Different phones may report a different number of signal strength bars even with a similar dBm number. So, for example, if two phones both have -93 dBm signal strength, one might show three bars and the other four.

But how can you know what the actual signal strength is on your phone if you can only see the service bars? Well fortunately there is an easy way to check, for both iPhones and Android devices.

How to Check your Cell Signal Strength

Knowing your cell signal strength is very handy for avoiding dropped calls, and checking if there are ways to improve it. Here is how to check your signal (measured in dBm) on an Android device and an iPhone:

Android:
On an Android device go to Settings > About Phone > Status (or Network Status) > Signal Strength (On some devices you may need to tap SIM Status)

iPhone:
Dial *3001#12345#* on your iPhone then press Call. The signal strength will be displayed in the top right corner.

Once you see the number, try moving around or covering your phone with your hand, you should see the signal strength change. In our testing with a Moto G4, placing a hand over the top of the phone resulted in a loss of about 5 dBm signal strength.

Below is the steps for checking your signal strength on an Android, but be aware it might be slightly different for you. Start by going to settings, and then scroll to the bottom, following the steps below.

How to Check your Cell Signal Strength on Android

Now that you know how to check your signal strength, here are ten tips for improving it.

10 Tips for Improving your Cell Signal

There are a number of different ways you can improve your cell signal and some of these may help more than others, depending on your situation.

1. Remove Obstructions
Anything that can block the radio waves reaching your phone could be reducing your signal strength. Things like a thick phone case, or leaving your phone in a purse or bag, could result in a worse signal, or even no signal. Test your phone case by checking your signal strength with it on, then off, and see if that makes a difference. Remember, closer to -60 is better, with anything between -70 to -100 still good, and beyond -110 very poor. If you notice your phone receives a lot of texts when you pull it out of your bag or purse, it could be getting blocked while in there.

2. Put your Phone in a Cup
This may sound a little odd, but it can actually helps amplify the reception in certain cases. If you get a poor signal, and are located in the lower levels of a building or the basement, try placing your phone in a cup to boost the reception. It might be hard to make any calls, but you will at least be able to check texts and voicemail. This also works well for improving the sound of your phone. You can also test with other objects that can catch and funnel the waves to your phone.

3. Check How you Hold your Phone
Cell phone manufactures put the antenna in a variety of different places, and sometimes the way you hold your phone could be reducing your signal. Check your signal strength with different ways you hold your phone and see if you might inadvertently be blocking the internal antenna.

4. Check your House for the Best Location
It can be helpful to walk around your house and check the signal strength in various parts. If you find a much stronger signal in certain areas, you can try and go there for making phone calls to help improve the signal.

5. Go Outside
Going outside, and away from buildings that might be blocking your cell signal, can make a huge difference in improving the connection. If you need to make an important call and find yourself with a low signal inside, make a quick trip outside and it will likely improve.

Using the Open Signal App to find the closest Cell Tower

6. Locate and get Closer to the Cell Tower
There are a number of free (and paid) apps that will show you where the nearest cell towers are, and which one you are currently using. This is very helpful if you need to get a better signal for an important call, or if you're just curious about where the cell towers are located.

Open Signal is available for free from the Google Play store and displays the nearby towers, and which one you are currently connected to.

Take a look at the screenshots from the app: on the left, it shows the dashboard which indicates which direction the cell tower you are currently connected to is located, and the map on the right side shows all nearby cell towers.

7. If in a car, open the window
Cars are basically large metal boxes and they do a pretty good job of reducing your signal strength. If it is not too noisy, try opening your window to improve your service. Obviously, you shouldn't be driving and talking on the phone, so maybe consider pulling over.

8. Create your own DIY Signal Booster
Using some everyday items you may be able to boost your signal with this DIY hack. There are lots of online guides and tips for creating and attaching signal boosters to your phone, but one we found was very simple, and made an improvement.

Simply attach the charging cord to your phone, and then wrap the other end around a metal object, such as a pen, and hold it up in the air. Try it for yourself and see what kind of an improvement it makes for you.

9. Keep your Battery Charged
Constantly sending and receiving signals does use a lot of battery power, especially when your phone has a weak signal, it has to send and resend several times. Keeping the battery charged will help your phone have plenty of juice to keep sending information even at low signal strength.

10. Use WiFi Calling
WiFi Calling works by using your home WiFi (or any WiFI) to transmit texts and calls for your device. You still have to pay for calls/texts, but at least you will be able to stay connected in locations with poor or no service.

We've just created a full Guide to WiFi Calling with Tracfone which includes more details about how it works, and how to check if your phone is compatible.

Bonus Tip! - Cell Phone Signal Booster
Cell phone signal boosters usually work by collecting the signal from outside your house, and sending it to another device that broadcasts it inside your house for a much stronger signal. They can be fairly expensive, sometimes several hundreds of dollars, but if you can't find another way to improve your poor signal inside, it may be an option worth looking into.

WeBoost (available form Amazon) is one such option that offers several different solutions. If you live in an area with a weak signal, this could dramatically improve your signal.

If you find that you still can't get a signal in places you commonly visit like your home or work, check with others to see if they have a better signal using a different network, and then consider switching. Tracfone uses several different networks, including Verizon and AT&T, so if you are using one service, you could consider switching to the other if you know that it has better service.

We hope this information about improving your cell signal helps boost yours! And let us know in the comments below if you have any thoughts or questions (and share your best signal boosting tips too!).

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Take a look at our Cell Phone Reviews list if you are considering a new phone, we've got lots of specs, details and where to buy the phones.

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