TracFone Motorola W376g Review

The TracFone Motoroloa W376g is a flip phone that features a camera and (limited) internet access whose main claim to fame is that it is the first TracFone to allow (limited) bluetooth access.

TracFone models from left to right:  Nokia 2285, Nokia 2600, Motorola V170, Motorola C139, Motorola W376g.  Click on the pic for a larger view.

I bought a TracFone Motoroa W376g to review for my faithful fone-review readers like you, so keep reading to get the full scoop on what I've learned about the phone.

Click here to check the latest Motorola W376g price on the TracFone website.

Click here for details on how to get a $3 discount on TracFone phones such as the W376g.

If in you're in the market for a bluetooth-enabled TracFone, you might also want to check out my review of the TracFone LG 600G, which was released not long after the W376g.

TracFone Motorola W376g Features with Keith's Comments

• Flip Phone - This is nice because it protects the screen and the keyboard.  The phone also feels solidly built, more so than my wife's TracFone Motorola V170 flip phone.
• VGA 4x Zoom Camera - The camera has more features than I first thought it would.  Pressing the menu button while the phone is in camera mode brings up the camera menu.  The Pictures Setup menu lets you adjust the white balance, implement several special effects (such as inverse, black & white, sepia, etc.), set the resolution (maximum is 640X480), set exposure compensation, and adjust a few other setting.  The Auto-Timed Capture menu lets you set a delay before the picture takes so that you can run to be in the picture yourself.  Maybe most people wouldn't ever use many of the features, but the phone's camera definitely has more features than I expected.  You can store the pictures on the phone and use one as your wallpaper, but your options for getting them off the phone seem limited.  Since the bluetooth and usb port can't be used to transfer data, the only way I can find to get the picture off the phone is to send it as a picture message to another phone, or to send it as an email attachment to an email address.  Remember, though that you are charged 1 airtime minute for sending an MMS message plus 0.5 minutes of airtime for every minute it takes to transfer the data.  The picture of my daughter below was taken at medium quality (320X240), and I was only charged a grand total of 1.5 airtime minutes to send it to my email address.  It did, however, take nearly 4 hours for it to arrive in my email inbox. 
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• Bluetooth Enabled - Yes, the TracFone Motorola W376g has bluetooth, but you can only use it to connect to a headset, or another hands-free headset connection like the type built in to some cars or gps units.  You cannot 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, but when I tried to send a file to the phone, it gave me an error saying that the OBEX File Push profile must be installed on the phone.  So no, you can't download a ringtone or picture to your computer and then transfer it to your phone.  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 Motorola W376g 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.  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 OpenWave browser is open on the phone, and the browser opens whenever you access any of TracFone's data services.  You have to be really careful to not accidentally hit the browser button, because it is right below the left select button on the keypad.  I've done that a couple of times, and I always seem to get charged the 0.5 minute no matter how quickly I close the browser.
• Ringtones - The TracFone Motorla W376g can play mp3 ringtones, but you have to buy them from TracFone to get them to the phone.  Click here to read my full report on TracFone ringtones.  The phone comes with a long list of generic ringtones to choose from, or you can set the phone to vibrate only or vibrate & ring.
• 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.
• Games - The TracFone Motorola W376g comes with Soccer, Sudoku, and Tetris to help you pass the time when stuck in line somewhere.  Personally, I have used cell phone games to help pass the time while my wife decides which blouse looks best, and the games do come in handy at such desparate times.  :-)
• FM Radio - The TracFone Motorola W376g comes with a FM radio tuner, but you have to have a headset plugged in to use it because it uses the cord as an antenna.  The gym where I workout uses FM radio signals to broadcast the audio from the TV's, so this feature could come in handy while pounding away on the treadmill.  You do not get charged airtime if all you're doing is listening to the radio.
• Battery Life - The package says approximately 6.15 hours talk time and approximately 15 days standby time.  Interestingly enough, the TracFone website says up to 7.5 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby time.  So far, I've only been able to get about 5 or 6 days out of the battery, but I've been playing with the phone some trying out the features for this review.  Soon I'll give it a full standby test by charging up the battery and then set the phone on the desk not touch it and see how many days it goes before needing a recharge.  I will, of course, report the results here.
• Headset Port - Although the phone can connect to bluetooth headsets, there is also a port to connect to standard wired headsets.  The headset jack accepts 2.5mm plugs.  Note that the W376g manual from Motorola says on page 37 to plug in a 3.5mm headset to use the FM radio, but the port on the phone is definitely 2.5mm.
• USB Port - The USB port is only used for charging up the battery.  The phone doesn't come with a USB cable that you can plug in to a computer, and even if you have one, the phone won't transfer data through the port.  Note that the charger plugs into a standard wall outlet for charging, not a computer's USB port.  If you're technically savvy, and if charging your phone through your computer's USB port is important to you, there are some instructions here:  http://www.sudhian.com/index.php?/forums/viewthread/103433/#902906.  Please note that I have not tried these instructions myself.
• Hearing Aid Compatible - Rating:  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 quite loud, much louder than my TracFone Nokia 2600.
• External Call and Message Icons - There are are three lights on the face of the phone.  The call light comes on when you receive a call and keeps flashing if you don't answer so that you know you have a missed call.  The message light will flash if you have a text message, and the battery light comes on if your battery is low.  It's neat because they are behind a strip of mirror-like plastic, and you can't even tell that a light is there unless the light is actually on.  I know, I know, I'm easily impressed, but it's still kinda cool.
• The Manual - The TracFone Motorola W376g manual 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."   Click here for the official Motorola user's guide, which has more detailed information about how to use the phone's features.

TracFone Motorola W376g 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 500 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

Overall, TracFone Motorola W376g is a nice phone, and at $49.99 (now $29.99!) it's a great value when you consider that the Double Minutes For Life feature is worth $49.99 on its own.

It's no iPhone, to be sure, but then it doesn't come with the iPhone's $200 price tag and $70+ monthly bill.  If you can live with the W376g's limitations on bluetooth and internet access, then you'll be happy with the phone. 

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 Motorola W376g.  Happy Shopping!

Click here to check the latest Motorola W376g price on the TracFone website.

Comments

[Rafael Ortiz]

Nice and accurate review, except one correction: The headset jack is 2.5mm, not 3.5mm. You can get an adapter at Radio Shack or similar to use 3.5mm headsets.

[Keith Tyndall]

I did some double-checking, and the headset port is indeed 2.5mm, and I have updated my review. It's interesting that the W376g manual published online by Motorola says to plug in a 3.5mm headset to use the FM radio on the phone, when the phone's port is 2.5mm. Hmmm.
Anyway, I give a hearty Thank You to Rafael for pointing out the proper headset jack size!
Keith

[Diane S.]

I've used a Jabra headset from one of my old phones and it works just fine with this Tracfone. It does have 2.5 mm port.

[Bosco]

Besides what is mentioned. I don't care for the buttons at all. I need to use the tips of my fingers and listen for the beep. I need to key in passwords and numbers for my business and I'm always get kicked off for keying the wrong numbers. Arrggh!

[Derek Peevey]

wonderful review. me and my wife just replaced our old v170 from Tracfone. it was the lowest camera phone that we saw. double minutes was icing on the cake. thanx for confirming the size of the headphone jack was not 3.5mm as stated in the .pdf file. i knew it was small and now can take the headphones we bought back and get the correct size.
again very well done!

[Holly]

I have a Nokia 2126 Tracfone that I purchased almost 3 years ago. I would like to upgrade to the TracFone Motoroloa W376g but I still have around 450 minutes on my Nokia. Can I transfer my number and minutes from my Nokia to the Motorola, if I decide to purchase one?

Thanks!

[Keith Tyndall]

You can definitely transfer your minutes and your service time from the Nokia to the Motorola. You SHOULD be able to transfer your phone number also, but sometimes they have trouble with that. You might want to call Tracfone first to make sure they can transfer your number.

Keith

[Roger]

The USB port charges on a MAC without any modifications.

[dusty]

So which phone do you recommend. The W376 or the LG 600? Thanks.

[Keith]

Both the TracFone W376g and the TracFone LG 600 are fine phones, and you would do well with either one.

Unless the ability to connect your phone to a via bluetooth is a big priority for you, or you just really like the looks of the Lg 600, I'd probably go with the W376g. Especially since the W376g is $20 cheaper.

That's my .02

Keith

[Jim]

The W376g also charges on a printer with a usb port as well without any modifications.

[Roger]

Has anyone been able to receive email with this phone? I am on a T-Mobile network.

[te]

i need help i have motorolla prepaid and it wont charge with my usb idk y wont it but tell me why
i have a windows cpu

[BJ]

The battery does not hold a charge for more than 2 days. A HUGE inconvenience!

[Keith]

te: I'm not sure that the W376g can consistently be charged with a usb cable hooked up to a computer. You probably need to use the charger that came with the phone and plug it into a standard electrical socket. If you want, you could also try charging it on a friend's computer just to see if the problem is with your computer.

BJ: You might need to turn the bluetooth off on the phone when you're not using it. I need to updated my review, but my tests have shown that the W376g held its charge about 4 days with bluetooth on all the time, and about 7 days with bluetooth off. This was without making any calls during that time.

[DoubleL]

I will be moving from a Motorola Razr V3 with ATT to a Motorola W376g. Will I be able to move my data by swapping SIM cards? If I buy from CC or similar rather than bubble pac can they move my data over?

I have a Bluetooth adapter for the computer but it looks like I will not be able to communicate with the cell phone program I now have synchronized with my V3. Is this correct or has there been a software upgrade.

[Ren]

Will the DMFL that comes with the Moto376 and LG600 apply to the "Family Value Plan"? In other words, if we buy those phones AND subscribe to the family value plan, will we get 50 minutes x 2 for the 1st phone and then 30 minutes x 2 for the other 2 phones each month for the life of the phones? (We are a family of 3)

[Michelle Harris]

I am having difficulty in trying to activate the hands free speaker phone. One of the main reasons I purchased this phone was for this feature. The manual says to simply press the "speaker phone" button to turn it on or off, however there is no such button on the phone. I did get it to say spkr phone in the lower right hand spot on the menu screen, however, it did not work at all. This phone and the manual which I had to go to lengths to get, almost have me calling up tracfone and getting a refund. Now I know why people go for the yearly plans and regular cell phones. This one does not let you do anything unless it is through tracfone, like ring tones, etc. Has anyone else had similar problems? I am spending way too much time trying to figure out how to use it rather than actually making calls.

[Keith Tyndall]

DoubleL - I'm 99% sure that you can't just swap your sim cards. I'm not sure at all whether CC can copy the data from one sim card to the other, though I'd be interested in hearing back one way or the other.
As far as I know, the bluetooth on the W376g is still not able to connect to a computer.

Ren - According to the TracFone Value Plan FAQ, the value plan minutes do get doubled if you have DMFL.
http://www.tracfone.com/questions.jsp?task=questions&vp=true

[Celeste Freddie]

I know you said that is cost to send pictures, but does it cost to actually take the picture and save it to your phone?

[Keith Tyndall]

It does not cost anything to take pictures and save them to the phone.

[Rob Bay]

I had a thought but don't know if would work, is it possible to save pictures on the SIM card and then take them off using a SIM card reader rather than paying for airtime?

I ask because I'm looking to buy a cheap digital camera, and this would have the added benefit of the radio and phone.

[Keith Tyndall]

Rob, I've read about people copying their contacts using a SIM card reader, but not their pictures. That doesn't mean it can't be done, I just haven't been able to find anyone who has done it.

It does seem, however, that if you can read contacts off the SIM card then you could read pictures as well.

Sorry that I can't be of more help on this one.

[Bob]

The Moto manual has several references to an "Additional Storage Device" (distinct from SIM) without any details on what it is or how to attach. Do you know what this is?

[Jan T]

Do you have a review of the LG225 now offered by TracFone for $39.99 + accessory kit & DMFL? I couldn't find it on your blog or site anywhere, but maybe I overlooked it. I would like to compare with the LG600. Thanks for the great information!

[Keith Tyndall]

Bob, unfortunately, I'm not really sure what the "additional storage device" is. I've never read about anyone using one.

Jan, I bought a LG225 to purchase, but the screen went white the 2nd time I charged it up, so I'm going to have to send it back. I still plan on writing an LG225 review, but it will probably be a few weeks before I get to it.

[Nathan682]

I'm thinking about getting this phone, but mostly using it for texting (since it's much cheaper to text). Can anyone tell me how texting is on the phone, and how good iTap is? I've heard that it pales in comparison to t9, but It's pretty good. I've also heard that it's absoulutly terrible and it's easier to use the abc mode. Any answers would be greatly apprecated.

[Sam]

if you get a multimedia message that contains an mp3 can you open and save it on to the w376g?

[Cathy L]

Great Review, just commenting on the part about the browser part which I have seen some people have problems accidently hitting it. If you go into the settings, personalize,home screen,home keys, then choose left soft key, you can change it to what you want. I personally change that one to the camera and changed the right one to messages. that is what is there now and I have no chance of accidently hitting it to open the browser now. Just thought I would share info.

[Dave Anderson]

Can you receive pictures on this phone via the text messaging? Whenever I send a picture/text to this phone it doesn't receive either the text portion or the photo.

[Don Jacobs]

I have a Tracfone, Motorola W376g. I echo the comments made in the 8/7/08 review. I'll add that my phone has a shorter battery life, it only lasts 2.5 to 3 days idle time with the only activity being flipping the phone open twice a day to check the desktop battery indicator; I am only a casual user, battery life would probably be only 1 to 1.5 days with typical use of a few calls a day. I called Tracfone and they tried to tell me that 2-3 days battery life is normal depending on use. When I pointed out that 2-3 days was with almost no use, they still tried to say that was normal. When I pointed out that the phone's package said 15 days standby time, and their website said 10 days, I was asked for how long I charged the phone. When I said about 2 hours and the phone shows "charge complete;" I was told to charge the phone for about 10 hours, I asked doesn't the phone stop charging after it displays "charge complete," I was told that the phone keeps charging. I tried leaving the phone plugged in overnight but that made no difference; I also contacted Motorola and verified that the phone does in fact stop charging after the phone displays "charge complete." I contacted Tracfone and pointed out that charging stops once "charge complete" is displayed, and asked whether they thought it was a faulty battery or faulty phone; they said it could be the battery and they sent a replacement battery which I received a couple days ago; so far the new battery seems to make no difference in battery life. I'll try to get a new phone next.

[Michael]

Hello Keith!
I'm a college student interested in getting a prepaid cell phone to save money since I read your review.
I'm new to the whole cell phone & prepaid
thing. I never had a cell phone because I was afraid of long term and short term contracts, too much red tape with contract holders.
I read your reviews, it's very imformative. It made me interested in getting one presently, specifically the "TracFone Motorola W376g."

My question:
When you call a cell phone user with a contract, does he/she know if your using a prepaid phone at all?

[Keith Tyndall]

Michael,

No, the person you are calling has no indication at all that you are using a prepaid phone. You can just keep it your litte secret! :-)

[John Reynolds]

Thanks in advance. Can't find this info anywhere.
Is it possible to:
1 temporarily disable the voice mail?
2 change the time (number of rings) before voice mail answers?

again, thanks!
-john

[JOE SMOE]

DONT MESS W/ THE SIM CARD !!!
TRACFONE AUTOMATICALLY DISABLES THEM
THEN THEYLL HAVE TO SEND YOU A EW 1

[Connie]

I'm switching from Virgin Mobile to Tracfone. Reason? Because I 'cannot' get service on the Virgin Mobile outside of my State. My sister has an older Tracfone and has no problem.
My dilema? I'm trying to decide between the LG225, LG600G, or now the W376G.
Anyone know how reliable these are for service?

[Zachary]

So there is no way of getting the pictures of without using your minutes?

&& if you dont have a headset?

[booboo]

Read the tip from Sam posted 12/13. I dont understand how that changed things.On my 376g,I have trouble with the"hard key" marked with a "globe"icon next to the "left" button.I have hit it prolly 5-6 times in the 4 days I have had this, and charged every time.. The "soft" browser key you speak of does not connect you to the web,thus no charges.At least not on my fone.Is there a way to disable the browser "hard"key?

[booboo]

Hey Tracfone dude
to delete your pics the EASY way do the following.
Click on camera
press menu button
select go to pictures, pics will load then DO NOT press View.
Just click the menue button
Pictures Menu then appears and "delete" is the bottom choice on 1st page

[Keith Tyndall]

booboo - I have never seen a way to disable the browser "hard key" on the W376g. I suppose you could always take the phone apart and tinker with the hardware under the key, but I'll leave that to the experts. :)

Zachary - There's no way that I know of to get the pictures off the phone without using minutes.

Connie - From what I've read, the W376g has a good reputation for service reliability, not that the others have a bad reputation.

John - I'm 99% sure you can't temporarily disable voicemail on a TracFone, but I'm not sure whether you can change the number of rings.