Electronics

[JGalt]

I've always purchased my Tracfones from HSN and maybe QVC, but they have all been out of date when I get them. The Moto G Stylus 5G was upgraded to Android 12 when I set it up a year ago. I am concerned about security of phones with such old versions of Android. Unfortunately Motorola only does one update. I just did the $50 deal at Tracfone for another yr. of service...still have over 10000 talk, over 9000 text.

I see that Tracfone sells the new 2025 Moto G Stylus with Android 16 update for $220, just the phone. Amazon was selling it for $350, with more storage but that isn't important to me because this phone takes an SD card. Big price difference I guess because 128 vs 256 storage.

i always thought Tracfone sold only older phones so never gave thought to buying from them. Has anyone bought from Tracfone? Anyone see any disadvantage to buying from Tracfone?  Thanks for your thoughts.

[TheMemphisVette]

verizon owns tracfone

i'd say its ok to buy from them

[AuntMame]

I bought my latest phone directly from Tracfone. At the time I bought it it was an up-to-date Samsung android phone. That was about 2 years ago. 

Two problems quickly emerged. Not enough storage. The phone comes with all sorts of Google and Facebook apps I never use, which eat up space, and which one cannot delete. I've head this is typical with Samsung phones. There's not enough room for other apps which I do need. 

The phone also developed an android OS glitch that prevents me from sending or receiving photos via messages. I spent over an hour on the phone with tracfone tech support. They told me someone would call me back to help me. No one ever did. And the tracfone feature for updating the operating system will not work, giving me "invalid URL" messages or "web site down" whenever I try to activate it.

I guess this is all due to a confluence of glitches from tracfone, android and Samsung. 

Years ago tracfone had great tech support, but not so much now. 

I recently got a second-hand iphone from a family member and I plan to switch to that when my tracfone subscription comes to an end. 

[SilleeMee]

Yes, no problem.

[JoyFilled Warrior]

I like the days when at least some modicum of Beta testing before it hits the shelves was the norm.

This tech "Move Fast and Break Things," then issue any number of updates/upgrades to technology, has made me more cautious in my newest tech purchases, & so far, it's served me well.  Free Beta testing at the purchaser's expense, & unlimited non-beta tested updates,  well,  sucks, imho.

Good luck, @JGalt   Thanks for asking & informing!  and for info responses from @TheMemphisVette  @AuntMame  @SilleeMee 

[Carmie]

I just bought an iPhone 12 from Tracfone for my husband.  He and I had phone from HSN with unlimited talk, text and a few gigs of data for about $89 for 365 days.

I was always needing to add more data to his phone.  He is also rough with his phone...dropping it, letting in a hot car, and it started acting up.  It dialed 911 twice while left unattended a table.

I got him unlimited talk and text and 4 gigs of data a month for $20.  Also, I had to buy the iPhone outright.  It's not their newest model by a long shot, but it works for him.

I am keeping my old Tracfone....from HSN.  It works well for me.  I don't use my phone much.

The advantage from buying directly from Tracfone was a less expensive service plan than I could find elsewhere or with an unlocked phone.

[JGalt]

I don't do well typing on phone keyboards so I really like using the stylus for that. I think I'm allergic to cell phones...they drive me nuts. My phone hasn't dialed 911 but it responds to text messages on its own. I saw one reply within a few minutes so I was able to correct the msg. to say actually I was not available, only my phone apparently was. The man was confused.  It has happened a couple other times too...just answers the question the sender asked.

I use my phone as little as possible but have found there is no choice but to use it. Have to use the phone at stores when in the pickup spaces. Businesses are acting like there is no other way to function, must use cell phone. Grocery store offers discount coupons, but only on their app and then my phone has to be read at cash register.  The only way to contact, shop around, for repair people is by texting. So all kinds of strangers have my number.  Life was much better when we had regular landline telephones, so much more security.  

I also am content with my older and even older phones. But not being able to upgrade the operating system and security updates leaves me very concerned. I get scam texts regularly. While I immediately delete texts I do not recognize, my lack of tech knowledge just leaves me concerned about my phone being taken over by robots.

I do not use the phone for banking but I imagine the evil empire could assemble someone's life just by accessing the store apps, combined with photos and texts.

[JGalt]

@AuntMame, I resent Google and Motorola and others loading ALL SORTS of space hogging apps on the phones. It should be illegal, or at least easily deletable. When I get a phone, I immediately start deleting stuff, games for sure. I get the instructions on what I can delete from various YouTube videos.

[JGalt]

I appreciate the thoughts of the contributors here. I guess the only way to get updated operating software is to pay a whole lot more than I ever paid for a cellphone in the last decade or whatever it's been since I began life with Tracfone.

I dread it but I will have to call Tracfone because they don't provide much information on their bring your own phone program or buying from them. As I started the process, it asked questions which made me think they were going to activate the new phone and therefore drop my old one. I'm not ready for that. It now occurs to me the $220 price I saw might be for new customers buying one of their plans. 

[AuntMame]

@JGalt I'm not fond of using a cell phone either for every crazy thing. So many companies have decided to make our phones their profit center that the phones are becoming nearly unusable. 

I set up my new iphone a week ago and every time I pick it up it asks me to set up Apple Pay. Can't turn that dang notification off. Others report the same problem. I guess it eventually goes away in some fashion, but still. Annoying. 

I also have a hard time using that teensy keyboard. After a life of touch typing it seems like an insult.