Anybody remember when investing in a smartphone was a sign of disposable income? When cell phones were considered a luxury item? Some of us may even be a bit afraid to admit we do, lest we accidentally reveal our age. The undeniable truth, however, is that those times have passed. A smartphone is no longer something we splurge on; they’re something we invest in. Whether you are an independent contractor, a student, or a corporate business professional, the chances are that simply leaving your smartphone behind for one weekend will leave you out of the loop from social and even money-making opportunities.
While smartphones may be more available than ever, service bills are at an all-time high. Perhaps precisely because mobile service is now as essential as electricity or gas, many phone carriers have increased their rates, tightened their contracts, or even bundled services as part of limited or inconvenient bundles.
The major difference? When it comes to mobile services, you still have the power to choose what you sign, or even not to sign at all.
For those who are ready to take the leap into mobile freedom, we’re showcasing the best 12 smartphone models available for Tracfone service right now.
iPhone 7
The iPhone 7 was infamous upon its first launch as it was the first Apple model that got rid of the audio jack. However, that could never take away the fact that this is a superb smartphone. The model is a few years old already, so it doesn’t really fall in the “premium tier” category anymore. However, a waterproof and dustproof phone that offers almost instant responsiveness, long battery life, and a very powerful processor will always fall in the “great” range. The camera’s brightness and colors are vibrant and joyful, and its auto-adjust mode works quickly and seamlessly. The CPU is powerful enough to handle serious multitasking. Plus, it’s available in six different colors: aluminum-silver, matte black, gold, rose-gold, jet black, and red. On the Android side of the spectrum, there is rarely any reason to miss out on any groundbreaking features. The Samsung Galaxy S9 is one of the most shining examples of this. Its best characteristic is, undoubtedly, the camera. Not only does its resolution meet the industry’s standards, but it also has the widest lens available on a phone right now. Plus, it performs superbly in low-light conditions. As for the rest of the phone, there is very little that could disappoint. Overall, almost every aspect of design or performance has improved when compared to the previous Galaxy S8. It’s slimmer, faster, and less than a gram heavier. In addition, it offers live language translation though Bixby. Plus, the not-so-modest internal storage can be expanded by up to 200 GB, thanks to its Micro SD card slot. If you are looking for a high-quality option, but your budget is still not ready for the latest and brightest, then the Samsung Galaxy S8 offers a great compromise. Much of the greatness of the S9 is still there, but the cost can be anywhere between $50 and $100 cheaper. The camera offers the same resolution, although the lens is narrower and a couple of image-editing options are missing. However, the battery life is longer, and both the phone and its fingerprint sensor work quickly even when the battery is low. In addition, the phone’s customization options are near endless, thanks to the Google Play store. An LG does not usually carry the hefty price tag of a Samsung or Apple model, but when they hit big, they usually do so with a very high-quality product. If you need a price-controlled phablet, then the Stylo offers a great and reliable option. First, let’s take a look at its styling pen that the phone is named after; light and flexible, it offers all the basic features and then some. Quick and comfortable hand gestures will allow you to take screenshots, save GIFs, and adjust your music’s volume without stopping your notetaking. Although it uses a relatively old processor (the Snapdragon 450), the phone is still capable of performing decently, even when multitasking. Animations and videos go through with minimal lag, and the camera previews are stored and shown nearly instantly. One possible downside is the plastic casing. If you have become spoiled by high-end aluminum or glass cases, it may feel like a downgrade. However, the plastic is well-polished and does not feel cheap – just light. On the other hand, plastic cases are notoriously more resilient, so the LG Stylo 4 will take a drop or two. The iPhone 6S is a great phone for an Apple lover or anyone who is already comfortable with their ecosystem, but finds themselves in a bit of a financial bind – for example, if the worse happened and you need an affordable replacement. Despite being an older model, the iPhone 6S still feels like a high-end option. Part of this stems from its 7000 series aluminum, especially if you go for the rose-gold finish. The display is bright and clear, although the resolution is already lagging behind that of newer models. However, when it comes to responsiveness, it is still among the best. Naturally, the design keeps to Apple’s classic sleek lines and elegance. Samsung’s S-series may be a regular on the news, but it is not the only option they offer. After all, any large brand needs to diversify itself if they want to truly conquer the market. The Samsung J7 is a surprisingly high-performing example of their budget-level phones. Dubbed “the selfie phone,” it was targeted at younger people who love to see beauty on their feeds but are not necessarily power users. The camera is one of the best available models at this price range, while the display is vivid and responds well to light conditions. Both casing and screen are sturdy and can be pocketed or shuffled inside a bag or pack easily. The phone does show a bit of lag when multitasking, but overall, it offers the classic Samsung Galaxy experience at an affordable price point. Before the LG Stylo 4, came the 3. While some of its specs may be running with outdated technology, it remains a great option if you are dead-set on enjoying a stylus pen. After all, not everyone’s fingers are meant for haptic screen typing, and if you are a basic or mid-end user and need a sturdy work phone, the Stylo 3 will meet all of your needs. The built-in note taking and scanning apps work very well, with close to zero glitches. The display is a bit duller than what many of us are used to, but this has an upside: the battery life is significantly longer than almost anything else on the market. Finally, it equips both a fingerprint reader and a removable battery. Dubbed “Motorola’s answer to the iPhone X,” the Motorola G6 reaches heights that one wouldn’t expect for a phone in the “budget” range. From the first look, it offers a bold difference when compared to almost any other smartphone: a wider screen ratio of 18:9, as opposed to the classic 16:9. If you travel a lot or have to suffer long commutes and need a phone that allows you to watch a full HD movie, give the G6 a go. The cinematic feel of this phone’s display is further enhanced by its anti-glare screen, vivid colors, and power video card. It’s covered in Gorilla Glass 3, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally scratching it with your keys. All this prowess had to come at a price, however: the battery will run out quickly if you keep all your video settings on High. If Apple ever dared to expand their portfolio into the affordable range, it was with the iPhone SE. However, this model has also been a favorite for the nostalgic users who miss the days when a phone could truly fit inside a pocket. And despite the relatively small display, it is still a fully-featured iPhone, after all. It is FaceTime compatible, offers 4K resolution for video recording, a fingerprint reader, and a very modest selfie cam. The rear camera does offer full-sized options, however, including quick autofocus, slow-motion video mode, and the proprietary iSight sensor. In addition, the phone fits quite comfortably in any hand, even a relatively dainty one. Battery performance was significantly improved from earlier models, and it’s actually better than many newer models. Finally, it is fully compatible with iOS 12, the latest iteration of Apple’s operating system. Few things are as frustrating as abruptly finding yourself without a smartphone, and consequently, without any connection to the wide world. If you have $100 or less to replace it, but still need something fully functional, then the Galaxy J3 Luna may be a blessing. The camera is relatively modest, although this is compensated by a very sharp and bright display, so you’ll be able to see everything in the picture exactly as you took it. The Qualcomm processor is a few models behind, but it still manages to keep everything running quickly. The battery life, on the other hand, is superb. Plus, the battery is fully replaceable, so you can always keep a spare one around in case of an emergency. Finally, although 16 GB may feel like very little nowadays, it can be expanded by 32 extra GB of storage with a simple SD card. The LG Fiesta is a rugged and resilient phone that, despite its modest price, still manages to pack an impressive amount of punch. A 13-megapixel camera that is up to standard with phones that are over twice its price is perfectly complemented by its 1080 pixel video capability. The hardware is also quite thorough and includes all the bells and whistles that we have come to expect from a smartphone – from gyroscope and movement sensors to adjustable screen brightness and multi-window capabilities. For its efficient performance, the LG Fiesta also remains remarkably energy-friendly. Its extra-large Lithium-ion battery will mark an end to the days where one had to hoard a plug anywhere they went. The Rebel is a fully-functional but largely basic option for those who need a cheap Android phone on the go. It sticks to the very basic and obvious in matters of both design and software, so if you need to have this phone up and running, you can tweak all the necessary settings in less than an hour. Both the camera and the display screen keep the resolution low, but return this sacrifice to the customer with an unbeatable price. The Quad-Core processor it uses is more than enough to handle the apps available for it (the phone runs on Android Lollipop) without any of the detestable crashes to desktop that is typical of many high-end phones as they age. Just 8 gigabytes of internal storage can run out quickly, but they can be expanded up to 32 GB with an SD card. Tracfone is one of the country’s leading prepaid cell phone service providers. Although they’ve been around for over 15 years, their popularity has increased sharply over the last couple of years, as more of us have explored the advantages of deciding how many minutes to buy, and when to buy them. Tracfone’s philosophy is based around offering low and commitment-free prices. This means that you won’t be able to get a phone for $1.99 with them, but you also won’t end up paying several times its price over 48 months with an inconvenient plan that offers way too many talk minutes (which many of us barely use anymore) and almost no data. Instead, they sell prepaid packages or airtime cards, each one equipped with a certain number of minutes and service days. They start as low as 30 minutes or 500 MB. You can mix and match the minutes and data bundles in whichever way you like, and they offer unlimited rollovers. They also offer auto-renew options that you can subscribe to or abandon as you see fit. In addition, Tracfone has deals with some of the largest carriers around the country (such as AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint), which allows them to provide wide coverage at a much lower price. Tracfone offers a large line of their own branded cell phones, manufactured by Samsung, LG, or Apple. However, you can also bring your own device – just make sure it’s unlocked and compatible. Because researching 3G and 4G bands or networks (in addition to processing, camera quality, and performance specs) can be a bit of a hassle, we’ve done the legwork for you with this list of the 12 best Tracfone smartphone models for every price range.
Samsung Galaxy S9
Samsung Galaxy S8
LG Stylo 4
iPhone 6S
Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro
LG Stylo 3
Motorola G6
iPhone SE
Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna
LG Fiesta 2
LG Rebel
What is Tracfone?