6 Major Differences between Tracfone Smartphones and 'Dumb' Phones

How Are Smartphones Different from Regular Tracfone Devices?

Updated 1/9/2018

Tracfone Smartphones vs Dumb Phones

Should you buy a smartphone from Tracfone? What will change if you switch from a regular Tracfone device to a smartphone?

We answer these questions and more with an explanation of how smartphones are different than 'dumb' phones and some things to consider before upgrading.

Let's start with a basic but important question:

What is a Smartphone?

The basic definition of a smartphone from the dictionary is, 'Any phone that performs many of the functions of a computer, such as accessing the internet, and capable of downloading and running applications.'

So a smartphone is just a small computer that also has calling and texting capability included.

There are two main operating systems for smartphones - Android and iOS. Only Apple smartphones use iOS (such as the iPhone 6, iPhone 7 etc.), and the rest of smartphones use the Android Operating System (such as Samsung, LG, Motorola, ZTE, etc.).

Android OS allows users to have access to over a million  different applications through the Google Play Store. These 'apps' provide added functionality, and many are free to download and use. There are apps for nearly anything you can think of, ranging from music and radio streaming, to games and entertainment.

Apple's iPhone devices also have a similar selection of apps that users can install on their phone.

For more about Android OS, here is a link to the Wikipedia page on Android.

And for our recommendations on some great apps for your phone, read our List of the Best Android Apps for Tracfone Users.

Now, we want to mention here that there are three categories of phones form Tracfone at this time:

Three Types of Phones for Tracfone:

• Tracfone Smartphones - cell phones that use either Android or iOS and are sold by Tracfone
• Non-Smartphones - All other phones from Tracfone (visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to see them) often called 'dumb' phones. 
• BYOP Phones - A program from Tracfone that allows you to 'Bring Your Own Phone'. (follow the link to learn more about this program) including iPhone and Android devices.

So there are a few different types of phones to choose from, but we won't get into that. We will focus just on Tracfone smartphones, and comparing the difference between them and all other phones offered by Tracfone.

So let's get to the main question, how are smartphones different from regular Tracfone devices?

6 Key Differences Comparing Android Smartphones vs 'Dumb' Phones from Tracfone

A list comparing the major differences between phones with Android operating system, and all the rest that are available from Tracfone. Use this list to help choose whether an Android phone may be right for you. Note, Apple iPhone's use a different operating system compared to Android phones, but have basically the same functionality as far as apps and smartphone capabilities.

Find Apps for Android

1. Access Over 1 Million Applications with Smartphones
Androids are called smartphones because of their increased functionality with access to standardized applications (apps). These apps can do many of the same things that computers programs do, including web browsing, photo editing, games and much much more.

Apps for Android phones are available from the Google Play Store and many are free or just a few dollars. There are over a million applications and they do quite a number of different things.

Access to applications gives Android phones almost unlimited functionality because you can always download and install a new app to do something you couldn't do before.

Non-Android devices from Tracfone are usually limited to the features that come with the phone, like an alarm clock, web browser, etc.

Visit the Google Play Store to see some of the apps available to use with Android.

2. Minutes are Split into Three 'buckets' for Android Phones

One of the major differences between Tracfone's smartphone devices and their non-Android phones is the way minutes work. 

Use the same prepaid card for Androids

On the non-Android phones (such as the LG 840G or LG 306G), when you add a 60 minute card, you get 60 minutes (or 180 if you have Triple Minutes for Life) for talking, texting and web browsing all in one 'bucket'. Also, texts cost only 0.3 minutes each.

For Android smartphones (like the LG Fiesta or Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro), a 60 minute card will be split into three 'buckets' and give you 60 minutes calling, 60 texts, and 60mb data (and these will all be tripled to 180 with Triple Minutes for Life). So you get the same number of calling minutes (180), plus texting and data (180 of each)!  

Note that Tracfone stopped including certain smartphones with Triple Minutes for Life (follow the link to learn more). Phones running Android 7.0 or newer, or some devices released after April 1, 2017, might not have triple minutes  so be sure to check on that if you are buying a new phone.

The lack of triple minutes does not affect smartphone only cards, which do not triple anyway.

It is also possible to buy only texts for your Tracfone, and buy extra data too.

And Tracfone offers Smartphone Only Airtime Cards which may be a better deal for some users.

So prepaid minutes work a little differently, but for most, this is very beneficial.

3. Touchscreens on All Tracfone Smartphones
Not everyone likes to use a touchscreen, but all of the smartphones from Tracfone have touchscreens at this time. This includes both Apple and Android devices.

Most smartphones these days only have a touchscreen, it has become the standard, and most touchscreens have a good response and sensitivity. But if you prefer the feel of buttons under your fingers, then you might want to stick with Tracfone's like the Samsung S390G or Motorola EX431G which both have full QWERTY keypads.

Additionally, you can visit our Tracfone BYOP page to learn about how you can bring a smartphone to use with Tracfone, including some phones with sliding keyboards. Visit the BYOP page for a phone list and all the details.

4. Android Phones are (generally) Newer
Most of the newest phones from Tracfone are all Android or Apple iPhone devices. Although Tracfone does often release phones that are already a few months to a few years old, they are much newer than any non-smartphone devices from Tracfone.

If you're looking for a newest phones from Tracfone, Android is where you should look. Keep up with the latest Tracfone cell phones in our recent post.

5. Android Phones are (generally) More Expensive
Because the Android phones from Tracfone are newer and have more features, they also tend to be more expensive. Typically the phones will be priced above $100. There are a variety of online stores that offer some great deals, including deals with minutes. So shop around when searching for a phone.

But not all of the Android smartphones are expensive, you can even get the LG Optimus Dynamic for $20 on Amazon right now. Just don't expect too much out of a cheaper smartphone.

6. Smartphone Only Promo Codes
When Tracfone released smartphones they initially did not accept promo codes.

But now there are promo codes for the new smartphone-only airtime cards, and some promo codes for regular airtime cards also work on smartphones.

View our current list of promotional codes for Tracfone that also include several for smartphones.


Bonus Point! You are Charged for Every Text You Receive on Android Phones
On smartphones with Tracfone you cannot choose which incoming texts you read (and are charged for). You are automatically charged for every incoming text, whether you read it or not.

On older 'dumb' phones from Tracfone you can choose not to read a text, and thus not be charged for it. So be aware of this, and if you receive a lot of spam texts, you may want to change your number when changing to an Android phone from Tracfone.

This concludes the list of key differences between Android smartphones and the regular cell phones offered by Tracfone.

We hope these points will help you choose if an Android phone is best for you. If you have any questions, or additional points to add, leave a comment below!

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.Join us on Facebook where we have a growing community of Tracfone users and are able to respond to messages directly if you have special questions.

Learn 4 Ways to Check Your Airtime with a Tracfone Smartphone if you're worried about keeping track of your minutes.

Also take a look at our 10 Tips for Boosting your Cell Signal.

Thanks for visiting, and we hope this information was useful!

Tracfone Promo Codes for January 2018

Tracfone Promo Code List for January 2018

Welcome to 2018 and with a new year, we've also got new promo codes to share!

Tracfone Promo Codes - January 2018

Each month we gather the latest promotional codes from Tracfone and share them here for our readers to use to get free bonus minutes when adding an airtime card with Tracfone.

Each code is usually for a specific airtime card, but in some cases they can also be used with cards of greater value. There are also some codes for smartphone only cards that provide extra data.

This list contains just the newest codes, for a more exhaustive list, visit our main Tracfone Promo Code page.

To use these codes simply add them int he promo code box on the Tracfone website or add airtime over the phone and include the code when prompted.

Get a glimpse of the future with our Predictions for Tracfone in 2018!

Now let's get to the codes!

Tracfone Promo Code List - January 2018

Some codes may be one time use.

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

120 Minute Card add 23078 for 40 bonus airtime

200 Minute Card enter code 66618 and get 50 extra minutes

450 Minute Card (no new codes at this time)

1 Year/400 Minute Card use 39250 for 300 additional minutes


Smartphone Only Card Promo Codes:
Get 1 GB Data with Promo Code 53629 on $25 and $35 smartphone cards

These are the latest codes for January 2018. Let us know in the comment section below which code you tried and how it worked!

Keep up with the latest news and information about Tracfone by following us on Facebook with a growing community of other helpful people!

Learn about the difference between GSM and CDMA cell service (and how to tell which one you have) in our recent updated post.

Also, learn all about WiFi calling for free with your Tracfone!

Happy New Year!

The Future of Tracfone in 2018

New Phones, Changes, and Predictions for Tracfone in 2018

Welcome to TracfoneReviewer. We share news, reviews and other information about Tracfone!

The Future of Tracfone in 2018

A New Year is upon us and whether last year was a good year, a bad year, or just another year, it is coming to a close with the opportunity for next year to be something new.

With 2018 here, we are sharing our expectations and predictions for what Tracfone will do in the near year, what we hope Tracfone will do, and also a look back at what went on in 2017 and the major changes and new phones.

Each year we share our predictions and expectations, and you can look back at our post from last year to see how we did.

Remember that this site (TracfoneReviewer) is not affiliated with Tracfone in any way. But we are passionate about learning and sharing information, and while our predictions are based on years of experience, they may not always be accurate and so we cannot guarantee any of our predictions.

Let's begin with some of the highlights of 2017.

Looking back at 2017 - Major News and Changes

Tracfone made some significant changes in 2017, and also released several popular phones. Here are the highlights.

• Tracfone Ends Triple Minutes for Life - This was probably the biggest news story from Tracfone from 2017.
• Expended iPhone options including the iPhone 5S, 6 ad 6S and iPhone SE
• Tracfone releases several smartphones with large screens and 16 GB memory/2 GB RAM at under $200 (LG Fiesta 2/Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro)
• Tracfone Expands Brick and Mortar Stores

Although Tracfone released some great phones, they did not help their customer satisfaction level by ending the popular Tripe Minutes for Life program.

Most Popular Phones in 2017
We looked at which of our Tracfone cell phone reviews had the most hits, and created our list from there. This is somewhat unofficial, but we still found it interesting and wanted to share it.

1. Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro
2. LG Fiesta 2 (and LG Fiesta)
3. Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro

The Samsung Galaxy Sky Pro was the most popular phone from last year which comes at no surprise, considering it offers some of the best features and specs of any budget Tracfone to date.

Now that we've looked back at last year, let's get into our predictions and expectations for Tracfone in 2018.

What to Expect From Tracfone in 2018

The Future Phones from Tracfone
We expect Tracfone to release several new phones in the next few months that will be modest upgrades to the current smartphones such as the LG Fiesta 2 and Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro.

In 2017 we saw Tracfone release several popular budget phones from major brands (LG and Samsung), and we predict they will offer updated versions of these phones, or similar offerings.

Tracfone will likely also continue to offer older high end phones at a discount, such as the iPhone SE that they offered in 2017. Could we see the iPhone 8 or other popular high end smartphones? Perhaps, but they will come at a high cost which is .

The Future of Tracfone BYOP
Tracfone's 'Bring Your Own Phone' program has grown in popularity as they ironed out issues and made most phones compatible. We will have noticed users running into issues activating certain phones, but with enough patience this can usually be overcome. In many cases it is even possible to simply swap the SIM card from one phone to another, effectively switching service to a new phone at any time with no other effort involved.

We expect Tracfone to maintain the BYOP program although they likely won't make any significant changes to it. Users can already bring almost any unlocked GSM or CDMA device to use with Tracfone.

The Future of Airtime
Tracfone will continue to encourage customers to use the smartphone cards instead of the regular airtime cards. For many users, the smartphone cards are a better deal because they offer more data and texts compared to regular cards. But for those who don't use their data or texts, it still doesn't make sense to use smartphone only cards.

A major change from 2017 was when Tracfone stopped including new phones with Triple Minutes for Life. The obvious aim with this is to encourage (force) users to buy the smartphone only cards instead of regular airtime cards (because without triple minutes, the regular airtime cards are not a very god deal).

We don't expect any major changes to Tracfone going forward into 2018 and see them working at streamlining their product offerings to make it more simple, and more attractive to potential customers.

What we Want from Tracfone in 2018

Here are some of the things we want Tracfone to do in 2018 (just in case someone from Tracfone reads this)

Add Triple Minutes for Life Back to New Phones.
While we understand why Tracfone ended triple minutes (to move users to the smartphone only cards) we think they should add triple minutes back to new phones because of the large number of unhappy customers. We noticed numerous comments stating dissatisfaction in Tracfone for changing this from loyal customers. While we hope Tracfone changes this, we don't expect they will.

Improve Customer Service and Fix Lingering Issues with BYOP Compatibility.
Small steps were taken by Tracfone in 2017 to improve customer service by opening several physical stores. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement and we hope they will make customer service more of a priority.

Tracfone also has some lingering issues with the BYOP program as a number of customers have run into issues trying to activate certain unlocked smartphones. Tracfone needs to fix this immediately.

Add More Budget Smartphones at Reasonable Prices
What we really want from Tracfone are more budget phones with good performance at under $200. Devices with 32 GB of memory and at least 2 GB RAM are generally necessary for an everyday device for most users. There are a number of unlocked devices in the sub $200 range that some consumers are already buying to use with the BYOP program (such as the Moto E4 Plus) but we want Tracfone to offer them directly for greater availability.

That concludes our Tracfone predictions, expectations and hopes for 2018!

Share your own thoughts in the comments below! What should Tracfone change in 2018?

Join us on Facebook with our growing community of Tracfone users where we share the latest news and information!

If you are new to Tracfone, start with our convenient Beginners Guide to Tracfone which will share the basics of how it all works.

And we also have a Tracfone Airtime comparison for those trying to find the best deal on Tracfone airtime.

Thanks for visiting and Happy New Year!

Top 10 Tracfone Gift Ideas - Christmas 2017

Best Tracfone Gift Ideas Including Phones, Accessories and More!

Welcome to TracfoneReviewer. We share the latest news, information and reviews for Tracfone cell phones.

10 Tracfone Christmas Gift Ideas

The Christmas season is upon us! And that means hot cocoa, Christmas cookies and staying warm by the fire.

It is also time to find gifts for all the people on our lists. That's not always an easy task, as we all have that family member or friend who is hard to find the right gift for. But don't worry! We are sharing our best Tracfone related gift ideas here for you today!

Our list includes many different helpful accessories, popular cell phones, and a few last minute options. Whether you are

If you are new to Tracfone, be sure to start with our Beginners Guide to Tracfone which shares the basics of how it all works.

Now let's get to these gift ideas!

Top 10 Tracfone Christmas Gift Ideas for 2017

Many of these gift ideas will work for anyone using a smartphone, not just Tracfone users.

1. New Tracfone Smartphone
Smartphones, like most other electronics, tend to slow down and run into problems over time. So upgrading to a new phone every couple of years (or every year) is a good way to avoid the frustrations of a slow device. Here are some great new smartphone options from Tracfone.

LG Fiesta 2
The Fiesta 2 has a large, 5.5" screen, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB memory and a quad core processor. Plus it runs on Android 7.0 and has a 13 MP camera. This is one of the more popular phones from Tracfone right now, and packs a lot of great performance and features. See our review of the Fiesta to learn more.

View the LG Fiesta 2 on Amazon
View the LG Fiesta 2 on HSN

Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro

Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro
Featuring a 5" touchscreen, 16 GB memory ad Android 6.0.1, the Galaxy Luna Pro is a very capable and popular device from Tracfone that is generally available for under $100 and also available with airtime bundle. View our review of the Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro to learn more.


See the Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro on Amazon
See the Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro on HSN

Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro
Similar to the LG Fiesta, the Galaxy Sky Pro also has a large, 5.5" touchscreen, 16 GB memory, 2 GB RAM and quad core processor. It can be found with airtime bundles and is another popular Tracfone deice because of the good specs and features. Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Sky Pro.

View the Samsung Galaxy Sky Pro on Amazon
View the Samsung Galaxy Sky Pro on HSN

Keep up with all the new phones on our Latest Tracfone Smartphone List.

And if you're giving a new phone, don't forget to also share our List of the Best Android Apps for Tracfone.

2. Unlocked Smartphone
More and more users are looking to unlocked smartphones to bring to Tracfone because of the wider range of phones available, and the huge flexibility it offers. Bringing an unlocked phone to Tracfone is fairly simple, you just need a Tracfone SIM kit and unlocked phone to start the process. Visit our Tracfone BYOP page for more information or our Guide to Activating a Tracfone Smartphone/BYOP Device.

Here are some popular unlocked phone options to bring to Tracfone:

Moto G5 Plus

iPhone 6 GSM Unlocked - 4.7" screen, A9 Processor, 8 MP camera, and access to the Apple App Store. 16, 64 or 128 GB memory options available.

iPhone SE GSM Unlocked - 4" screen, A9 Processor, 12 MP Camera (4K video) and access to the Apple App Store. 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB Memory options available.

Moto G5 Plus - 5.2" screen, Android 7.0, 32 or 64 GB memory, 2.0 Ghz octa-core processor, 12 MP camera and more. On Amazon for $199 (for prime members) with 64GB memory/4GB RAM. Compatible with GSM or CDMA.


Moto E4 Plus - 5.5" screen, Android 7.0, 16 or 32 GB memory, 1.4 Ghz quad-core processor, 5,000 mAh battery and more. Available on Amazon for $135 with 16 GB memory/2 GB RAM. Compatible with GSM or CDMA.

Samsung Galaxy S6 GSM Unlocked - 5.1" touchscreen, Android 7.0, 32 GB memory and a 16 MP camera.

iPhone SE Screen Protector

3. Phone Case/Cover
Phone covers and cases can go a long way to not only protect a device, but also add personal flair. There are many different types and colors of phone cases available, and many at a low cost. Here are some popular options.

Glass Screen Protector - Thin durable glass protector that keeps the screen from getting scratches or cracks. Options for many different phones (mostly high end phones such as iphones)


Here are links to covers and cases for popular Tracfone devices:
Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro Cases
Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro Cases
LG Fiesta/Fiesta 2 Cases
iPhone cases - 6/6S, 7, 8 and 10

Ebay is also a popular place to look for phone covers and cases with many different options available.

Anker 10,000 mAh Battery

4. External Battery
Most smartphone batteries will last about a day, which is fine if you have access to a charger. But for those who live an active, on the go life, they don't always have time to let their phone charge from a wall. Which is where an external battery pack is very convenient. It stores a charge until needed, and then can charge a phone typically multiple times depending on the capacity. Most external battery packs are no larger than a phone, making them easy to carry along as a safeguard against a dead battery in your phone. Below are some popular options.

Anker Powercore 10000 mAh Battery Pack - A popular choice that can recharge most cell phones 3-4 times.
Solar battery pack and charger - 10000 mAh battery and solar panel charger for powering a device while away from any electrical sources.

5. Tracfone Airtime!
Everyone loves extra airtime. Give an airtime card, a data only card, or text only card to show you want to communicate. Add the airtime on the Tracfone website, or purchase an airtime card.

Find airtime cards in many local retail stores like Walmart, BestBuy, Target and more. Also available on Amazon and eBay.

View Tracfone Airtime Cards on Amazon
View Tracfone Airtime Cards on eBay

6. Gift Card for Buying Apps or Games
A great option for kids who might change what they like by the minute, a gift card for buying apps and games is a great option to give a gift for those that might be hard to give to.

For buying apps and games, a Google Play Gift Card or iTunes Gift Card are the best options. An Amazon Gift Card is also great for buying all kinds of items from the online retailer.

Bluetooth Speaker

7. Headphones and Speakers
Headphones are a great way for anyone to enjoy music, a podcast, or movie without disturbing those around them. There are many different options, from in ear headphones, to large, over the ear. We have also included a great wireless option for those who like to listen to music while running or working out.

In ear headphones
Bluetooth Waterproof running headphones
Over ear headphones

But don't forget about wireless speakers which create subtle background music, or be the life of the party. And many speakers are very portable, and some even waterproof. Here are some great speaker options:


Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker and carabiner clip
Anker SoundCore Bluetooth Speaker with 24hrs playtime

8. Camera Accessories
More and more people are using their cell phone as a camera, and the quality of the cameras are improving rabidly. Take it to the next level with external lenses you can mount on the outside of your phone to get anything from Macro shots, telephoto images, and fisheye!

Most lenses can be used on a variety of different phones. View smartphone lens kits on Amazon.

For anyone who really wants to step up the quality of their video recording, a stabalizer will create perfectly smooth shots even whie you're walking and moving.

The DJI OSMO Mobile holds almost any smartphone and provides stabilized video capture for professional level video recording.

9. Extra Phone Storage
Most phones allow extra storage via a Micro SD card, like the Moto G5 Plus. This is very handy to keep extra music, photos, videos or anything else on.

See Micro SD Card options on Amazon. Most phones will accept up to 32 GB, and some up to 64 GB or more.

10. Photo/File Transfer Thumb Drive

Dual USB/Micro USB Thumb Drive

Have you ever had a photo on your phone that you wish you could put on your computer? Well the photo transfer thumb drive is an easy solution. One side can plug into your cell phone through the Micro USB port, and the other can pug into your computer through a regular USB connection. Now you can back up your mobile device, share those photos or videos you took, or load music onto your device.


The Sandisk Ulta 128GB Dual USB/Micro USB thumb drive makes it incredibly easy to move files from your Android smartphone to a computer. Back up your phone, or add music and videos to it, there is lots of flexibility with this 128 GB thumb drive.

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We hope this list of Christmas gift ideas helps you find the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list. Share any ideas you have in the comments below.

Join us on Facebook for the latest news and reviews. Plus it is a great place to get in contact if you have specific Tracfone questions.

Get free minutes by using a promo code from our Tracfone Promo Code list!


Learn more about how Tracfone works with some of our helpful guides including How Texting works with Tracfone, How Data works with Tracfone and 4 Ways to Check your Airtime Balance.

Thanks for visiting and Merry Christmas!

Tracfone Promo Codes for December 2017

Tracfone Promo Code List - December 2017

Promotional codes gathered and shared by TracfoneReviewer

Tracfone Promo Codes December 2017

It's December, the last month of 2017, and that means holiday celebrations, hot cocoa, and new Tracfone promo codes!

We collect these codes from around the web and share the latest valid Tracfone promo codes below in one easy list. These codes are used when adding airtime to your Tracfone device, and each code is for a specific airtime card, but some may be used with cards of greater value.

This list includes promo codes for both regular airtime cards and smartphone only airtime cards. We also have a more extensive list on our main Tracfone Promo Code page.

Most promo codes will work on smartphones. And you can keep up with the newly released devices in our Latest Tracfone Smartphones List.

Christmas is almost here and we are working on our annual list of gift ideas, so look for that soon!

Let's get to the list of new promo codes.

Tracfone Promo Codes - December 2017

For Regular Airtime Cards use these codes:
60 Minute Card use code 22703 or 12745 to get 60 free minutes

120 Minute Card enter 68879 for 30 bonus airtime

200 Minute Card add code 75830 and get 40 free minutes

450 Minute Card use 57597 to receive 50 additional minutes

1 Year/400 Minute Card enter code 68806 and get 300 extra minutes

$15 off 1 Year/400 Minute card with code 56254 (Online only)

Smartphone Only Promo Codes:
Get 1 GB Data with Promo Code 53629 on $25 and $35 smartphone cards

These are the latest promo codes for Tracfone. We hope these work for you. Let us know in the comments which code you used and how it worked.

Keep up with the latest news and info on our Facebook page! It is also a great place to send us a message if you have questions.

Learn how Data Works with Tracfone including the best way to buy more data.

Also take a look at our post on 10 Tips to Boost your Cell Signal if you've ever hard a hard time connecting or making a call.

Thanks for visiting and Merry Christmas!