TracFone LG 600g Review

The TracFone LG 600g is a flip phone that features a camera, internal and external screens, (limited) internet access, and bluetooth access that can both connect to headsets and transmit data.

 TracFone models from left to right:  LG 600g, Motorola W376g, Motorola V170.  Click on the pic for a larger view.

The LG 600g is the second bluetooth enabled TracFone, coming out right on the heels of the Motorola W376g.  Since the LG and the Moto have similar features, I thought it would be good to do a review of the LG and see how it stacks up.

Click here to check the latest LG 600g price on the TracFone website.

Click here for details on how to get a $3 discount on TracFone phones such as the LG600.

While you're researching bluetooth-enabled TracFones, you might also want to check out my review of the TracFone Motorola W376g, which was released just a few weeks before the 600G.

TracFone LG 600g Features with Keith's Comments

• Flip Phone - The LG 600g has an external screen along with the standard internal screen.  The external screen shows indications for missed calls and messages and such, and will also show the time and date if you hit one of the buttons on the left side of the phone.  I really like this feature because I use my cell phone as a watch instead of wearing a watch.  Hey, I've got the phone with me all the time anyway, so a wristwatch is just extra bling I don't need!
• Screen - The internal screen looks fine when you look at it straight on, but it significantly dims if you look at it from an angle.  It's hard to get good pictures of a cell phone screen, but here's a couple that kind of show what I mean. 
•    click on the images for a larger view.  I've noticed that if you look at if from the top down, the image gets too dark, and if you look at it from the bottom up, the image gets too light.  The effect is not as pronounced if you look at the screen from the side.
• VGA Camera - The camera on the LG 600g can be activated when the phone is open by pressing the camera button on the keypad, or when the phone is closed by pressing and holding the down arrow button on the left side of the phone.  When the phone is closed, the image the camera sees is shown on the external screen, and since the external screen and the camera are on the same side of the phone, this mode is best used for taking charming self portraits.  When in phone-open mode, the up and down arrows on the keypad are used to zoom in and out (only in 320X240 resolution), while the left and right arrows are used to set the exposure compensation (make the image lighter or darker).  The camera Options menu lets you set resolution (max. of 640X480) and quality, multishot mode and self timer, along with a few other options such as white balance and color effects (color, sepia, mono, negative).  The multishot mode lets the camera take 3 pictures in a row whenever you press the button, which could come in handy at times, especially since the camera has noticeable shutter lag.    You can store the pictures on the phone and use one as your wallpaper or as a picture ID.  You can also send the pictures as a picture message to another phone, or as an attachment to an email to any email address.  My wife was rather bemused when I sent her a picture of one of my Aerogarden flowers on my desk at work.  Remember that you are charged airtime if you send the picture to another phone or to an email address.  You are charged one minute because it's an MMS message, and then another 0.5 minutes for every minute the browser spends uploading the picture.  The upload time will vary depending on the resolution of the picture and the strength of your connection, but in my case I was charged another 1.5 minutes for the data access time when sending the picture in an email.   Here's a picture of my daughter that I took with the camera at 320X240 resolution (shown here at full size): 
  
• Bluetooth Enabled - The TracFone LG 600g has bluetooth, which can be used to connect to a headset, or another hands-free headset connection like the type built in to some cars or gps units.  You can also use the bluetooth to connect to a computer or another phone to transfer files. I was able to get the phone connected to my bluetooth-enabled desktop computer and copy a cute picture of my sweet little girl to the 600g to use as the wallpaper.  When the phone and the computer established a connection, the phone simply showed up as a folder on the computer, with subfolders for images, sounds, and "other", so you can copy basically any file to the phone, and you can copy pictures from the phone to your computer.  I was able to copy a .mp3 file to the phone with no problems, but read my ringtones section below for more info on that.  Since I don't have a bluetooth headset, I didn't try to connect the phone to one, but from the instructions that come with the phone and from my experience with connecting the phone to my computer, I have no doubt that the phone could be connected to a bluetooth headset with little difficulty.
• Internet Enabled - Yes, the TracFone LG 600g has internet capablity, but you can only use it to access data services from TracFone.  You cannot, for example, use the phone to access Google or Yahoo.  When I try going to a site such as m.yahoo.com, I get an error message saying that I don't have access to that site.  TracFone has services where you can buy ringtones and graphics and a subscription to sports, entertainment, weather, and other news.  You are charged 0.5 airtime minutes for every minute that the browser is open to access any of TracFone's data services.  If you accidentally hit the browser button on the phone, you have several seconds to close the browswer before you are charged the first 0.5 minute of airtime. 
• Ringtones - I tried to buy an mp3 ringtone from TracFone, but I got an error message saying that this product is not compatible with my phone.  Interesting.  I would have thought that a phone this nice would be able to play mp3 ringtones, but I guess not.  The TracFone LG600g does, however, come with an audio record feature that allows you to record any audio you want and make it your ringtone.  The quality is decent, and it gives you unlimited ringtone possiblities.  I also tried downloading an .mp3 file to the LG600g via bluetooth connection with my desktop computer.  On my first attempt, I downloaded it the Other Files folder by mistake and found that there's was no way to assign it as my ringtone and no way to copy it over to the Audio and Ringtone folder.  On my second attempt I copied to the Sounds folder, but the file did not appear when I access the folder on the phone, even though it is there when I access the same folder on the computer.  I figure out that the Sounds folder on the computer is the same as the Audio and Ringtone folder on the phone because I could see some of the same files in each.  The phone comes with a long list of generic midi ringtones to choose from, or you can set the phone to vibrate only.  Click here to read my full report on TracFone ringtones. 
• Double Minutes For Life (DMFL) - You get one minute free for every minute you add to phone for the life of the phone.  This is a great money-saving feature, and it comes standard on the phone.  You don't have to do anything to get it, just add an airtime card and the minutes will automatically be doubled!
• Text Messaging - It costs .3 airtime minutes to send or receive a standard text message (SMS), and 1 minute for multi-media messages (MMS).  You are also charged for the browser time to download the muli-media file with the message. The Lg 600g does have T9 mode for faster entry of text messages.
• Games - The TracFone LG 600g comes with Sudoku and BattleReversi to help you through times where you are overcome by sheer boredom. 
• FM Radio - The TracFone LG 600g does not have an FM radio feature. 
• Battery Life - The package says approximately 6.5 hours talk time and approximately 4 days standby time, and these numbers seem about right based on my experience so far.   The LG 600g details page on the TracFone website says the standby time is up to 13 days.  Maybe you can get that kind of time if you leave the phone turned off, but that seems very very optimistic if you leave the phone turned on.
• Headset Port - Although the phone can connect to bluetooth headsets, there is also a port to connect to a wired headset.  The headset jack shares the same connection port as the the charger.
• USB Port - The only external port on the phone is the charger/headset port.  The LG 600g manual on the TracFone website shows the port as a Headset/Charger/Cable connector port, so maybe you can use a data cable with the phone?  I don't have a data cable with the right connector to test it.  The accessories section of the manual does not list a data cable.
• Hearing Aid Compatible - Rating:  T3/M3
• Ring Volume Buttons - These are on the left side of the phone and allow you to easily change the ring volume.  At full volume the ringer is plenty loud.  If you press and hold the down arrow button when the phone is closed, it activates the camera.
• External Call and Message Icons - The external screen shows notifications for messages, incoming calls, etc.  For incoming calls, it shows the phone number of the person calling.  The external shows a notification of a missed call, but the screen goes dark after a few seconds as a power saving feature.  Nothing blinks or anything, so you have to hit one of the arrow keys to activate the screen again to know that you have a missed call or message.
• The Manual - The TracFone LG 600g manual that comes with the phone is split into four basic sections.  The first section gives a general overview of the phone's features and talks about how to install the battery and activate the phone.  The second section is about how to add airtime to the phone, and the third sections is about how to make calls, setup voicemail, send and read text messages, setup bluetooth devices, and make international calls.  Note that the manual only mentions making bluetooth connections to headsets or hands-free car kits.  The fourth section is actually the longest, and it contains all the fine print with the terms and conditions of service and the "important saftey and legal information."   LG 600g manual on the TracFone website has more detailed information about how to use the phone's features.

  

TracFone LG 600g Additional Features

Here are some additional features that I won't comment on because they just work as advertised and expected.

• Voice Mail, Call Waiting, Caller ID, Alarm Clock, Stopwatch, Calculator, Calendar, Recent calls and messages lists, Phonebook with up to 1000 entries, hands free speaker.
• All the standard TracFone features such as the Airtime Balance and Days of Service display, minutes that never expire as long as the phone is active, etc.

Final Thoughts

The TracFone LG 600g is an interesting phone that has some capabilities that left me pleasantly surprised, but also some features that left me disappointed.

On the pleasantly-surprised side of things, the fact that the bluetooth is not crippled and the audio record feature were both very handy.

On the disappointment side, the fact that the screen dims and fades when viewed from and angle and the phone's inability to play mp3 ringtones both left me wanting more.

At the current price of $79.99 (now $49.99 !), the LG 600g is currently TracFone's most expensive phone.  The DMFL feature that comes standard on the 600g sells for $49.99 on it's own, so the phone is not a bad value, it all just depends on what features you are looking for.

The goal of Fone-Review.com is to share what I know about TracFones, and I hope that this review has helped you learn more about the features and limitations of the TracFone LG 600g.  Happy Shopping!

Click here to check the latest LG 600g price on the TracFone website.

Comments

[Thao Huanguu]

All in all outstanding reviews! Thanks.
1)One would assume assume (bad word???) the LG600g receives pictures too. But didn't see anything mentioned about receiving MMS! Does it? And does the same scenario for outgoing apply? I.e., .3 plus the time it takes to download the picture?
2)Thinking about upgrading my V170 to a flip camera phone. LG225 -vs- W376g -vs- LG600g, got any recommendations? I've read the LG225's camera is poor. Read the W376g's battery life isn't as advertised, and the Internet button poorly placed. How does the LG600g compare?

[Loukia]

Pam, If you are still checking this blog, guess what? My lg600 quit allowing me to add pictures to my contacts - what the? I am so perplexed. I get the "write error" message now. The lg600 is either limited by tracfone or has technical problems. I am so disappointed. If anyone has a "fix" for this problem, please post - thank you.

[Marty]

Thao Huanguu, this might help... it sounds to me like the memory is full. What is memory space avail. for the sim and for the phone? Try freeing up space then retry, if it allows one add then gives the same write error, it's full. If it works fine when the memory is empty then there you have it.

Has anyone achieved longer battery life--anything close to 13-days in standby--with blue tooth turned off and all backlight settings set minimally?

[Mymy]

hi!
I would like to know if any one of you guys have found how to put a picture on the external screen??
I tried, like a hundred times and it doesn't seem to work =(

[Loukia]

Thao, thank you for the advise, but my phone memory has plenty of room. I think there is a bug in this lg600 since others have had similar problems attaching pictures to contacts. Mymy, I am almost certain you cannot do anything to the external screen. If anyone has a fix for the pic to contact problem, please post. Thank You.

[Don C]

I have the LG600G TracFone.

Under Security there are 4 options:

1. Lock Handset
2. PIN Code Request
3. Fixed Dial Number
4. Change Codes

How do I Lock the Handset? Do I select #1 and that locks it to require the default PIN of 0000? I’m afraid to do anything because the first time I tried to change the Code, I kept trying and trying until I had to call TracFone and they sent me a new SIM card.

The manual tells some info but not how to do what I want to do. I simply want to Lock the Handset so that no one else can use it except me.

I will eventually want to change the PIN code to something other than 0000, but first things first unless someone wants to detail how to do this.

Thanks,
Don

[AnnaEadie]

Very New Here, and to this type of technology. Considering buying lg600g. Only care about using it as phone, camera, and occasional texting. Saw the picture taken with it on the other page and it looks like it takes fine pictures! I know it was stated to buy a "USB bluetooth component - to send pics to your PC..." (no clue what that is) We usually take our cameras to walmart and download the images onto their computer thingy and then pick them up in an hour. Can we still do that? Or do we have to put them on the computer first, and then email them to Walmart? thanks ...anna

[AnnaEadie]

Oh, and how many pictures do you think it can hold before downloading them?
thanks again ....anna

[tim]

hey..I have a LG600 net10 phone..I have a question..what key do you press to delete a letter if you misspell a word during texting??? The backspace key on my old phone used to delete..but it doesn't on the LG600 phone. Does anyone know the secret? It's very frustrating!

[Keith Tyndall]

Try using the big "C" key. That should do it!

[Bruce]

hi, i just bought this LG600 phone from the website after purchasing the samsung T301g at a radio shack, which i didn't like as much. it's charging now, but i believe when i switch over to the new phone, i may loose some of the promotional minutes i got when i purchased the first phone based on some of the fine print reading in the manual. i bought 400min got 400 DMFL plus 250min from promo code 17336 or 21191(i forget which one worked).
most important: i can't figure out how to make the speakerphone function work on either phone. can you please tell me how to make it work with the LG600? i would be very greatful.
thank you and thanks for your great website!

[Connie]

I recently purchased the LC CG 225. How does this model compare with the LG600G?

I can't seem to send a picture I took on the camera to an email address - it comes up invalid address.

In having the phone for only a month, I have received 41 unsoliciated calls/voicemails!! (Apparently they gave me someone else's phone #??)

Than you for any help.

[JAMIE]

hi thinks for all the info and your little girl is so cute you have been alot of help to me thanks

[Keith Tyndall]

Bruce,

From the Lg 600g Manual:
http://www.tracfone.com/Common/English/Digital_Assets/32364.pdf

Using the Speakerphone
You can use the integrated
Speakerphone during a call by
pressing the right soft key Options
then select Speaker On. The
speakerphone indicator will
display on the display screen.
The loudspeaker is automatically
deactivated when you end the call.
Warning
Because of the higher volume
level, don’t place the phone
too close your ear while the
speakerphone is enabled.

[Keith Tyndall]

Connie - I've got someone working on a full review of the LG CG225, but I won't have it up until early June.

As for sending a picture in an email, I went to Menu, My Folder, Graphics. Then I picked the picture I wanted to send and selected the "send to" option to enter the email address, and then selected "send". It came through just fine.

It does sound like you got someone's old phone number. You might call TracFone and see if they can assign you a new number.

[Daniel Reis]

I, along with the other "Dan" that has posted here, am curious about how fast the response "speed" of the lg600g menu system is. I had a VX8100 from LG back when I was using Verizon and its responsiveness is what sold me on the camera. Also, you CAN put .amr files on the lg600g if you have a computer with bluetooth abilities (not MP3, but close!):

http://techwatch08.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/lg600g-file-transfer/

Do you have any comments on the overall phone's speed? Also, is the body pretty durable? My VX8100 was nearly unbreakable and I'm willing to pay $50 for such a upgrade to my current Tracfone, the Motorola W370.

Let me know - thanks! By the way, I enjoy the site. I'll see if I can help you out a bit by telling my friends. If I open up some sort of phone blog myself, I'll be sure to link to you. ;)

[E]

I just bought an LG 600, and I plan on texting alot with it. When I went to write a "New Message" and tried to change the typing options to word, it wasn't available. Is there an option for word on this phone?

[marc]

under bluetooth the guy does say it can transfer files to the pc and later on in the paragraph says you can copy pictures to pc.

[Jim]

Thinking of upgrading from V170 to LG 600g. Will I need to purchase separately an LG 600g data cable to download pictures to my PC?

[Connie]

Thanks Keith - no need to review the LG225 because I switched over the to LG600G.

Is my phone defective? The outside display only stays on for 3 second then goes completely black, like the phone is off. I do not have power save 'on' and I have the display set to 30 seconds. On ALL my other phones you could always see the clock in the outer display - it didn't turn completely black. Thanks~

Also, did I read in one of the blogs that they do 'not' send the manual with the LG600G? Why not?

[Keith Tyndall]

Daniel - I don't have a VX8100, but the LG600 menu system seems responsive enough and the phone seems as durable as any TracFone. And remember me if you start your own phone blog!

E - I apologize, but I don't know for sure if there's a way to switch to word. You might check the manual I link to in the review.

Jim - You can't connect the LG600 to a computer with a data cable, you have to use bluetooth.

Connie - With this phone you can press one of the buttons on the side of the phone to make the external screen come on again. Most of the new TracFones these days only come with a small "manual", but you can find the full manual at the link in my review. It must just be a cost-saving measure on TracFone's part to not include a full printed manual.

[Connie]

Thanks Keith. Regarding the LG600 and the external screen - so this is normal for this phone - that a person has to press the button on the side for it to light up? My husband thought it is probably done this way to save on the battery life? (So, it's 'not' defective in other words?)

I saw the manual on your site - like 270 pages?? I wonder if they would send me a manual free of charge if I requested one?

[Russell Kennedy]

I live in an area with poor signal coverage and with my 600 have no service. My old 200 did and I was wondering if the 225 would? Tracfone told me it was because of the SIM card technology that I had no service.

[mason]

does this phone use a SIM card?

[Keith Tyndall]

Connie - I think your husband is right (I know you hate to hear that!:). I think it's a battery saving thing. I doubt that they'd send you a free manual, but it never hurts to try!

Russell - It sounds like you might be in a CDMA area instead of a GSM area. If that's the caseI would think that the phones that show up on the tracfone website for your zipcode would all be CDMA. You can go here to enter your zipcode on their website:
http://www.fone-review.com/TracFone_Blog_Link

Mason - yes it uses a SIM card.

[Beth]

I've read your review of the CG225 and 600G, but I'm still undecided... do you like one better than the other? What features made the difference for you?

[Keith Tyndall]

Beth - If I had to choose between the CG225 and the 600G, I would go with the 600G. It looks a little more modern because the antenna doesn't stick out, the camera takes better pics, and it has bluetooth to connect to a headset for talking or computer for downloading pics.

The CG225 is certainly not a bad phone, and it can be had for a little less cash, but overall I like the 600G better.

[Wendy]

Two questions:

1) I have the Tracfone LG600g and I was wondering if you can add a signature to your text messages and if so, how?

2) Can you personalize the display? Or can you only remove the airtime minutes being displayed? Thanks!...Wendy

[Keith Tyndall]

Wendy - I don't see any way to make a signature for text messages. The only thing that I can think of is to maybe edit a template to make it have your signature, and then always use that template as the starting point for sending new messages. I'm not 100% sure that will work, and I don't have my LG600 with me to test it, but it's a thought.
The only other personalizing that I can find to do on the display is to change the wallpaper.

[GPW]

Earpiece volume is hard to hear, even pressing max volume during call - so I end up using speakerphone. Am I doing something wrong? Loudness controller activated? Bad phone?

[mip86]

On the LG600G is the caller ID displayed on the external display screen or do you have to open the phone to find out who is calling?

[Paul Tow]

mip86- Yes, the caller ID is shown on the external display. Depending on whether or not the caller is in your address book, the external display will show either the name or the number.

Note that you will NOT ever see the photo ID on the *external* display, even though it's a color screen. Photo IDs appear only on the *internal* display.

[cody anderson]

I can't use songs sent to me as my ringtone I can't even listen to them it stinks

[Elizabeth B]

I'm thinking of buying the LG 600g, primarily for testing. Would this be a good testing phone?

[me.yahoo.com/a/x1ztlukLy_pr3MiRPvK8Zwp4kwig]

I purchased a LG 600G from Tracfone and received it two days ago. Everything about this phone impresses me except that voice input by the caller is barely audible to the receiving party and includes loud squitter noise. This is also true when using the voice recorder. This phone is obviously defective and should never have been shipped, which leaves me unimpressed by Tracfone's quality assurance methods. I tried calling customer service but kept getting a message that said they were too busy to take my call. I emailed customer service and am waiting for their reply (it is NOT overdue at this point).

[Larry]

LG600 the audio is terible on receive and sending.two phones and still same problem

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1304461543]

I have the LG 600 from Net10. I find the screen impossible to see in the sunlight. The brightness setting is at 100%. Any thoughts? Also, with regards to transfering pictures via bluetooth, I bought a bluetooth adapter (~$10) for my laptop and now can transfer pictures from the phone to the laptop with no problems.

[JohnW]

I'd like to switch by home phone from a landline to TracFone. I have a GE Bluetooth docking station allowing me use my house phones to access a Bluetooth cell phone. Is there any difference in the quality of Bluetooth and voice between the Motorola W376G, the LG600G, and the Samsung T301G? Anyone have a recommendation of one over the others? This is a great site. Thanks.

[Catherine Maddox]

I just bought two lg600 phones. The reception is awful. When I make a call I can hear the person on the other end just fine, but the person on the other end says I sound like I'm speaking underwater. I contacted tracphone. They sent me two reconditioned phones, but these aren't any different. I still have the same problem. What do you suggest?

[Connie]

Does anyone know 'who' manufactures the LG600G, i.e. Motorola?

Also I have Bluetooth capabilities in my 2009 Saturn. I paired my phone and it worked fine for 3 months. Now every time I turn the car off, my phone is no longer ‘paired’ to my vehicle when I start the car again. Anyone else have this problem?