I'm looking to replace an older Tracfone with a keyboard model. The LG 500g is readily available at discount prices. Also my daughter has a SAM t401g on NET10 which she likes. The similar SAM t404g is available fotr Tracfone. Has anyone used/owned/played with these two models?
I have tried both. I have found the Samsung to be better than the lg. the Sammy also has triple minutes. The Sammy is also more expensive. The lg is an ok phone and relatively Easy to text on but the Sammy seems more refined and has a much better keyboard. The Sammy has a 2.0 megapixel camera whereas the lg only 1.3. They both have edge data but data on tracfone is still expensive and for a quick check of weather or news.
If your daughter tends to lose things or breaks things get the Cheaper but if she is responsible and takes care of things get the Samsung.
Another point they both have music players but the lg has the standard 3.5mm headphone jack but the Sammy does not. The Sammy prob can send the music to a Bluetooth headset but I use Bose headphones with an iPod so I really don't use my trac For music. Another issue is that the new phones get crap phone 411 which is entirely automated the old phones get carrier 411 in which you eventually will get a live operator. I just re read your post and realized the phone was for you not your dtr. I would get the Sammy.
I have both the Trac Sam T404g and Trac LG 500g. The 404 is the better phone.
They both have microSD cards but the Sam T404 has it under the battery cover whereas the LG 500 has it under the battery. You have to remove the entire battery, not just the cover, to get at it.
As far as the T404 headset, it uses Samsung's proprietary S20 interface. The headset is included in the Universal Accessory Kit. I think the kit costs about $15. You can order it when you order the phone. Also, the 404 does appear to suppport Bluetooth stereo headset for both voice calls and music. Here is the description contained in the phone's Bluetooth Help function:
"... make calls and listen to music via Bluetooth stereo headsets."
People, men in particular, have reported that because the LG 500 is so thin, it can snap and break if you bend over when it is in your pocket. I carry it in my handbag so that's not a problem for me but could be something for you to consider. But the T404 is much heavier.
Also, as pattyrn mentioned, the Sam T404 is triple minutes and the LG 500 is not.
I'm a newbie here but not to feature phones or TracFone, and I have to disagree. I much prefer the 500G.
The keyboard on the T404G is generally better, but cramped in the top row where it butts up against the slider. The T404G also has a dedicated camera key and a better camera (0.7 MP difference on paper, but markedly better image quality). The T404G is also available on Amazon for under $40 shipped, which is where I got mine.
All that said, I found it impossible to get passwords keyed into the T404G and I don't know why; the keyboard was somehow unresponsive and unworkable. I do know that the T404G wouldn't go into landscape mode with anything but the stock browser. Wouldn't work with UC or Bolt (couldn't get Opera to work at all), nor with PicoMail. I don't have the patience to flip the phone back and forth to type, then read the screen, then type--and I'm too lousy a typist not to have to do that. TF's stock browser is just too slow.
The 500G boots fast, is thinner, shorter, costs $30 regularly ($15 at Target this week), and accepts Bolt and PicoMail without a problem. Unlike the N10 900G that I was initially converting from, it'll play and use .WAV files as ring/message tones. The 500G also allows you to disable the still camera shutter sound; the T404G won't. I hated to lose TMFL, but DMFL and a usable phone beats TMFL and a useless one.
IMO the LG500G isn't so thin that it will snap. I've carried it in my back pocket numerous times and it's been fine.
Thank you very much on the comparison. As an LG500G owner, I've been thinking of buying another tracfone; the T404G being one of them. After reading both reviews (anotherFNG and annepani), I am glad to cross the T404G out of the list.
I cannot get my son's T404G to run any apps that I send via Bluetooth.
Best I can tell you have to download the apps using the native browser, which greatly increases the cost of trying out apps.
The LG I download and send via BT or USB without issue.
The Samsung uses a special cable for USB (S20?) which is not readily available locally.
I can get micro-USB cables for the LG all over.
The 16GB SD card is a nice plus for the Samsung (v/s the 4GB max on the LG).
My LG500Gs from HSN are TMFL. Cost a bit more as they included a 1yr, 400 minute card (tripled to 1200).
Had a lot of trouble with the TMFL on the Samsung (purchased from TF no less). Minutes were not tripling (not even doubling). No issues with the LGs though.
Recently my son has complained that his Samsung is "rebooting" randomly.
It will just suddenly show the start-up screen, like you turned it off them back on.
But it wasn't turned off, and didn't show the shutdown screen.
My wife occasional has "unregistered SIM" on here LG. Turning off and back on resolves it.
And one time the SD card was lost. Re seating the card fixed that, and it hasn't happened again.
I've had the SIM error once or twice too, but not as often as she gets it.
Most retail stores and online stores seem to sell the phones with the AT&T cards, I think it cuts down on the returns. Check the SIM number when you get it, if it starts with 890126 it is T-Mobile and 890141 is AT&T.
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