Samsung Galaxy Centura Android Prepaid Phone (TracFone)..
GET Samsung Galaxy Centura Android Prepaid Phone (TracFone) By Samsung
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289 of 294 people found the following review helpful.
By PepperPot
My prior phone was the LG 840g. Although the LG served its purpose providing a mp3 player, a better GUI experience, easier texting and a touch screen in comparison to my Motorola flip phone that preceded it, I was growing a bit weary of the limited software available and was anxiously waiting for tracfone to offer an android phone. I also admit I have been obsessed with the sony smartwatch and its not compatible with any Java tracfone. Anyhow, after 4 days I can say I am more than satisfied and, no, it has nothing to do with the watch. I didn't buy it yet. The most difficult issue I had was transferring my contacts from my old phone. Eventually I just transferred them phone to phone using bluetooth which was super easy after I figured it out. I went to the tracfone website to complete the transfer myself and it was easy. The transfer itself took about an half hour after I completed everything.
Things I like:
1) Multitasking - you can browse the web, play a game or access an application while you're on a call. Smart phone users might read this and say "welcome to 2011". However for tracfone users transitioning to android, its a mind blower.
2) Text messaging arrangement - No more going back and forth from your outbox to inbox just to see a full conversation. It's rite there on one screen. Your texts are on the right. The recipients response is on the left.
3) Triple Minutes - nothing new to LG 800 and LG 840g users BUT you get triple minutes for calls, text and web each. In other words 20 min are actually 180 min divided 3 ways. Have fun with it while you can. Someone is going to realize they made a mistake and change it. Just a Note; my LG 840 automatically utilized wifi when I was in range for the web. This phone will use your minutes if you don't turn off Mobile data under settings -----> data usage. Thanks to C. Overhulser for pointing this out.
4) Phone looks good and feels solid. Looks much better in person if that matters to you.
5) No issues connecting to Wifi.
6) Google Play - the software available on android is more than enough for anyone. I downloaded a free call and text app that I can use to make calls over wifi instead of using the minutes I paid for. That means I can do what all my friends love me for, which is listen to their relationship issues. Lucky me . . . I think.
7) Bigger screen - not in comparison to the current phones on the market but enough over most tracfones.
Things that I'm so so on:
1) The learning curve if you are transitioning to Android, could be a bit challenging. I went through hours trying to figure out how to transfer my contacts. At first, when I tried to connect the phones via bluetooth it didn't pick up. Under Your centura bluetooth menu select "only visible to paired devices". That switches it to pick up devices that are not paired. For some reason none of the tutorials I found on the web mentions transferring contacts phone to phone via bluetooth. Save yourself the trouble and pair the phones.
2) I don't like the tracfone app. Unlike the LG, its not real-time. You basically refresh the app through the web. No web, no update. It was automatic on the LG. No internet needed. The widget is also huge, but considering the info it provides I understand the size.
3) My 3g signal has only reached 2 bars, but honestly, I'm not even sure what that means and if it relates to me specifically.
4) The psychological transition - how do I explain this? Tracfone users like myself see a phone for what it is - a phone. The extra bells and whistles are a convenience, not a necessity. The smarter the phone the more personal it tends to be. For example, I synch'd this phone to my email which automatically makes this phone almost as important as my wallet. For me, its a bit uncomfortable. Of course you don't have to synch your email or any of your accounts but the whole idea behind upgrading to an android is to take advantage of what a smart phone has to offer. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. It's something "dumb phone" users like myself never had to worry about. It basically means your phone may contain sensitive information which makes it more than just a tool to make calls. In other words password protect it.
If you're on the fence I say give it a try. Overall, I'm happy with this phone. The price was not even a question for me. It's worth it. I took advantage of a deal on ebay that offered 200 minutes which broke down to 600 minutes each. It takes what the LG 840g does to a smarter level. I would also urge anyone looking over reviews or writing reviews to take a second to distinguish if the faults are a software or a phone issue. For example, although it was resolved, there was talk there was no way to view your remaining minutes. I can't hold samsung responsible. That is an android/tracfone issue. If you are new to android and your issue is software related, it will be an issue regardless of the phone you buy if its on android.
202 of 208 people found the following review helpful.
By Daisy
I saw a lot of people complaining transferring the current phone number and service through customer service. I did it by myself through website and followed steps exactly. No problem at all. After two hours it's done. I got my 1010 minutes, 1010 min text, and 1010 megabyte. It's very nice to have text and data megabyte. When I logged in using my existing GMAIL account, since I have another android phone used same GMAIL account, amazingly it will install and download all the settings and applications matching my old smart phone. I didn't do anything, but I saw my contacts, my games(candy crush, soduku,...etc)and my applications(whatsapp, skype, wechat,...etc.) are already on the new phone. Of course some is missing, I need to reinstall again. I saw one people from HSN site complaining all his data megabytes are gone, it may be caused by this auto updates, so make sure you use WIFI when you set up the phone. For me, I had the data usage disabled and wifi enabled all the time.
For this new phone, if you send out a short text message, it will deduct one minute. Not like LG840, it only deduct 1/3 minute. If you make a phone call, the timer is started when it rings. If you hang up early, you will see your time in your call log already and feel like it has used your minutes, but it may not. I called one friend which has longer waiting ring and hung up early, it didn't charge me. But if I call the friend with 3 waiting ring, and I hung up after 2 rings, I got charged. you can check your balance from the phone. Click on the web browser, the first item in the list is for balance. It will use your 3G data if you connect to 3G. Every time you check your balance from your phone, you will receive a text message showing the left balance, this is nice.
My son played the game on my phone, and he said the phone is nice, he likes it too.
One thing I don't like is the signal strength. I got the phone, no signal bar and "x" on signal bar which means no service around. I have to go upstairs (showing one bar)to make a phone call to have it activated. After activated, I saw the "x" has gone but still no signal bar when I am in downstairs. I was very upset. But somehow my phone still rings, I can call and answer the phone. I went outside driving around, the signal bar is always weaker than LG840. I was told the phone uses verizon network, it suppose should be better.
I just found out if you use your left hand to hold the cell phone, it will weaken your signal reception. It can drop 1-2 bars comparing if you use your right hand. And when I connected my phone to PC to copy music to it, in the middle of transferring, I got a text message which caused rest transferring error. I have to set the phone to airplane mode to complete my copy.
I bought a ZTE valet tracfone and used it for one week now. Comparing the two, my recommendation is buy Samsung Galaxy Centura.
1. Samsung Galaxy Centura's screen color is better.
2. Samsung Galaxy Centura screen responding is better.
3. Samsung Galaxy Centura's signal strength is better(both wifi and mobile network). I stay outside of my house, samsung is still connected to my wifi, but ZTE is not. Make sure using your right hand to hold the phone.
Found out another interesting thing. This is about MMS message. If you want to send and receive MMS message, you have to enable mobile data plan. If you only have WIFI enabled, you can't send/receive MMS message. Your received MMS message will tell you "can't download".
90 of 91 people found the following review helpful.
By william n reitz
There is on an app for that!
Go to "play Store" search "tracphone app"
Download it. The app will display your account, minutes remaining, texts remaining, data remaining, and service end date. You can also add minutes from a link.
Even easier - it will create a widget that you can place on one of your home pages.
Problem solved!!
I don't know if it uses data every time it opens but I have my data turned off and this will update me only when I am on wifi- so no extra charge.
