Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've been a Tracfone customer for years because their rates work out to be the lowest for my usage. I bought my first real smartphone, a Tracfone LG L39C (Dynamic II), about 6 months ago. I was somewhat satisfied with it but it really left me wanting more because it was slow and couldn't easily scan bar codes and QR codes with its fixed focus camera. When I learned of this phone, I noticed the specs were SIGNIFICANTLY better than the Dynamic II and I really wanted one. When I saw the deal on QVC w/1200 minutes and 1 year of airtime, I ordered 2, one for me and one for my wife. Let me just say that I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. This phone is SIGNIFICANTLY better than the Dynamic II in every way - processor (dual-core instead of single core), RAM (1GB instead of 512MB), screen (bigger and higher resolution than Dynamic II), camera (auto focus with flash), Android 4.4 (instead of 4.1), more internal memory, better battery life, etc. The CPU-Z app reports 2x ARM Cortex-A7 @ 1.19 GHz, revision r0p3 and for the GPU a Qualcomm Adreno 305 @ 400 MHz. It also reports a screen size of 4.5 inches and screen resolution of 480x800 at 240 dpi. Internal storage is 5.04 GB. Battery is 2100 mAh. Anyway, all those specs give you a responsive phone. Sure, it's not as fast as premium quad-core phones, but it is fast enough unlike previous Tracfone Android offerings... and I can now scan bar-codes and QR codes with the auto-focus camera, which is great for using apps like Amazon's that lets you scan items and look up prices and reviews while you are out shopping. I also really like the lighted oval ring around the home button that lights up and flashes different colors to give you information when the screen is off (like when you have new text messages or when the phone is charging or when it's finished charging). The back and menu buttons are capacitive touch and are not back-lit, but I don't find that to be a problem at all. WiFi works fine too (very important not to use up your mobile data allotment). Transferring my minutes and numbers on Tracfone's website was very easy. I was surprised because I only had to enter the serial number (or IMEI?) number and tell it that I was transferring from my previous Tracfone (which was already in my account). No codes and parameters to mess with like with other transfers I've done in the past. The phone does not come with a micro SD memory card. I don't mind that at all since I can buy the exact one I want and the size I want, or not buy one at all. Keep reading this review for a link to the one I chose to buy. QUIBBLES STRIKE THIS (SEE UPDATE) ---> 1. I don't like how Tracfone has divided the minutes into separate buckets of minutes and texts on Android smartphones. If you text a lot then you may use up all your texts and still have a lot of minutes left, and you can't buy just texts like you can buy just data. If this is the case for you, then I'd look into a texting program. I installed "Nextplus" on my wife's phone and paid $6 to get rid of the advertising for a year because she texts a lot. UPDATE: I later decided to also install "Nextplus" on my phone even though I don't text as much as my wife. UPDATE 2015-01-04: Avoid Nextplus until the fix the bugs and reliability problems. <--- STRIKE THIS (SEE UPDATE) 1. UPDATE 2015-04-21: Tracfone is now selling 1000 texts for $5 (used to be $10) on their website! This is fantastic as it's only 1 cent per text and it solves the problem of heavy texters using a lot of texts and running out of texts well before they run out of minutes... so this QUIBBLE is really no longer a quibble. Thanks for listening Tracfone! UPDATE 2016-10-22: The price has been lowered to $5 for 1000 texts! 2. The phone came with Android 4.4.2, but 4.4.4 is the latest and resolves some bugs and security issues. I'm not sure if this phone will ever get an update but I hope it does. 3. The video record quality is still kind of junky at only 840x480 max, not even 720p. ACCESSORIES This phone is very similar, if not identical to, the LG Optimus L70. I bought this case for it: AERO ARMOR Protective Case for LG Optimus L70 - Black The above case was good but then I tried this case and like it even better (it's cheaper and less bulky): MYBAT Advanced Armor Protector Cover for LG Optimus Exceed 2/Optimus L70 - Retail Packaging - Black I bought these screen protectors for it: iLLumiShield - LG Optimus L70 Screen Protector Japanese Ultra Clear HD Film with Anti-Bubble and Anti-Fingerprint - High Quality (Invisible) LCD Shield - Lifetime Replacement Warranty - [3-Pack] OEM / Retail Packaging I use this magnetic mount for it in the car: Okra Universal Magnetic Vent Car Mount For iPhone 6/5s/5c/4s, Galaxy S5/S4/S3/S2, HTC One & All Smarthphones And Gps Devices - (Retail Packaging) I bought this micro SD card for it (it's 64GB and works): Samsung 64GB EVO Class 10 Micro SDXC up to 48MB/s with Adapter (MB-MP64DA/AM) MY FAVORITE TIPS: 1. Tap your knock code while the phone is sleeping (screen is off) to wake it up and unlock it. 2. Hold down the up or down volume button while the phone is sleeping to quickly enter camera mode and snap some pics or take some video. 3. Don't forget you can "hold down" the menu button for the task switcher. CONCLUSION Now you can have a REAL smartphone, and a DECENT one, with a monthly cost much less than the other service providers (unless you use your phone a lot in which case it may make sense to pay those higher monthly fees). This is a GREAT Android offering from Tracfone and it's MUCH better than their previous offerings. I would highly recommend NOT getting any of their previous Android phones now that this one is out because the new Android offerings with 1GB of RAM and Android 4.4 are MUCH better than the older ones. An easy 5 stars because the phone is so good and the cost is so low for what you get.