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. 
• 
   
• 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

[Karen]

Can phone numbers from Net10 be transfered to Tracfone? They seem to be related somehow.

[Crystal]

Ok so i have the LG 600 and my reception is very very bad, everyone tells me i sound awful when they call me if they can even get through to me. Also half my calls drop when dialing or when trying to answer. Is this the phone or the service ? I am in the Denver Metro Colorado area.

Thank You
Crystal

[Dave...ß]

With my W376g I wasn't able to send my photos by email - so I called Tracfone and they told me is wasn't possible. Is this problem area specific? Has anyone been able to do this?

[NextVoiceUHear]

I bought a TracFone Motorola W376g at Wal-Mart for my daughter to take to school. She kept running out of minutes and I kept refilling them. NOW HEAR THIS:

(1) TracFone "tech support" [LMAO] is miserable. Sourced somewhere in India, I think.
(2) Getting a report of remaining minutes via "tech support" requires 20 min and [at least] 2 supervisors.
(3) Remaining minutes is NOT available on the TracFone website.
(4) Had I known the above, I WOULD NOT have bought a TracFone.

NVUH

[cindy]

mysteriously my incoming calls and texts are displaying the incoming phone numbers instead of the name and pic that used to display how do i fix this? of course the manual doesnt explain anything except that numbers stored on sim cannot be displayed with name and pic i have had my phone for a year and my incoming has always displayed the name and pic and i have nothing stored to sim please help

[Keith Tyndall]

Karen - You can transfer any number to a TracFone phone, not just Net10 numbers. TracFone and Net10 and Straight Talk are owned by the same parent company.

Crystal - I haven't had connection problems here in Missouri.

Dave - I'm able to send photos by email.

NVUH - You are correct, the remaining minutes are not shown on the website, they are shown on the phone.

Cindy - Do you have the area code stored in the contact info? I've heard that if you don't it can cause the problem you are seeing. Otherwise, you'll have to try customer service.

[tracy]

Here's a way to put your mp3 ring tones on Motorola W376g, go to http://www.myxer.com/3Guppies/ and follow the directions. I just added a mp3 ring tone to my phone this way and it works great. You will have to play around and see how big of a ring tone you can use, the one I used isn't very big. Hope this helps:)

[Judy]

My sister and I both bought the Universal Accessory kit but the car charger does not work for the Moto W376g model. What's up with that what do we need to get to charge that phone in the car?

Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide.

[Carol]

I need to know how to send my W376g photos to my email address please let me know where to find out how to do this

[Rich]

To email a picture you took with your 376G just select an MMS format and attach the picture from your
Create
MMS
Insert
Additional storage
scroll through the pics
press select to pick one
Click OK to accept
(You must create a new email phone book entry or pick an existing one)
Pick New Entry
Email
enter the name and email address
Click done to save
Pick it from the list
Push the button for Select

Pictures are just so-so, not great

[Bobbi]

Can someone explain the lock codes and what they are used for?

Sim Pin?

Pin2

Bar code. etc?

I would just like to be able to keep someone from just picking up the phone and making a call. However,I dont want to have to insert a code to answer the phone.

Thanks

[FITZMANDM]

The current deal on Tracfone for the W376g is 19.99 but it is a reconditioned phone. Are reconditioned phones reliable?

[Rich B]

I have the Tracfone 376G and have the same problem with short battery life. Idle time battery life is 2 days max on a full charge! NOT GOOD!

[Lynette]

My question about the W376G has to do with games. Why can't I download any new ones to the phone? This is my second Tracfone (can't recall the make/model of my first) and I remember being able to get new games or apps. on that one. ??

[Sunny]

NVUH, Tracfone customer service centers are NOT located in India at all. But I don't blame you, now a days we all think every outsourced service goes to India, whereas it has a share of less than 5% of the global outsourcing!

For the record, Tracfone customer service centers are located at :

Barranquilla, (Colombia)
ColombiaBogotá, (Colombia)
GuatemalaGuatemala City, (Guatemala)
BelizeBelize City, (Belize)
GuyanaGeorgetown, (Guyana)
PhilippinesCebu, the (Philippines)

see wikipedia for more details.

[Lynette]

Happy New Year!

[Z0M813]

The only thing I have a problem is the lack of games and the browser key, I press it once in awhile and i curse it for being there.

The thing I noticed on not being charged, well what worked for me is simply closing the phone itself really quick. Out of all of the times that I accidentally pressed the browser button the only time I got charged was when I tried closing the browser with the other buttons.

[Steve]

I have a Motorola W376g Tracfone. I've gotten several complaints from people I call that at their end the volume is very high; they have to hold their phone away from their ear while listening to me talk. Anyone know if there is some way at my phone I can alter the volume at the distant end? ... or is the my phone the problem? I know how to change the volume at my end.

[Ivan]

Are the W376g sold at Tracfone's site for $19.99 refurbished ?
How about the ones at Walmart ? And Target ?

Please let me know, Anybody...
I couldn't find any info on their website. Are they just "conveniently" avoiding the detailed description ?

Thanks a lot Keith, great site !

[Keith Tyndall]

Ivan - I dont think Wal Mart or Target ever sell refurbished TracFones.  The TracFone website does sometimes, but it will always clearly state that the phone is reconditioned.  Im glad you like my site!

[Tammy Zedaker]

where could you buy a data cable and the software for a motorolla w376g phone. I want to download my pictures from the phone to my computer can anyone help?

[Cynthia Parker]

My question is, what type of bluetooth do I need for my motorola W376g. Or can any motorola bluetooth match? Thank You
Ms. Cynthia Parker

[Joe]

Can you please tell me if there is an extended life battery available for the W376G? Thanks

[ada]

does this phone motorola 376g work up state,state college
pa and further north??morris pa???

[Amanda]

I have to agree with this review and found everything you posted ot be accurate. I dumped my iPhone for this phone and I'm happier with this phone that I ever was with the iPhone if you dont use your cell phone that often this is totally the way to go. I'm glad this is no iPhone because I hated my iPhone.

[W]

i like mine. Far better than my old Nokia "Shorty" / by Virgin Mobile

[John Bacheller]

I've had two batteries - neither lasts more than a day and a half with bluetooth enabled. I use the phone very little - one or two short calls a day. DON'T BUY IT!

[cubic]

could you take out the sim card of the w376g and add ringtones ,games,and wallpaper etc. to it from your computer. Then put the sim card back in the phone and the programs on the phone would find them??

[cubic]

using a sim card reader pluged into your computer...sorry forgot to add that

[Roger Echols]

my w376g when turned on does a random beep tone and it is often enough to drive one nuts. I have no calls comming in and no messages and it is a new phone.
What would be causing this annoying beep tone?

[Nick]

Getting VERY frustrated.

I've been a longtime Tracfone customer and have, generally, been quite happy with the service.

Bought a W367g about a month ago. Oy!

Problem 1. It had the T-mobile Sim. Not good where I work. Contacted them and they sent an ATT sim...twice (first one went to wrong address). Took two weeks.

Problem 2. Couldn't get ringtones. Went to website, selected tone, tried "Deduct from Minutes" never got a message saying I could download the tone. Tried "Charge Credit Card". Credit Card got charged but never got message to download.

Problem 3. Called tech service. They assured me they'd credit my card (never happened), had me enter a bunch of numbers and re-set my phone. Said I should be all set. Made no difference BUT now I can't get any mms message sent from any email account. I try to download and it fails. This DID work before. Same email accounts. Nothing is different except whatever they did on their side. (Oddly, I CAN get mms from another cell phone.)

Problem 4. Called tech services again last night. Told them what was happening and that I suspected my mms account may be messed up. They say it should be fixed by 6pm today. We'll see... I just tried downloading a ring tone and, again, no message has been sent to my phone.

*sigh*

[Eric]

Roger- The "random beep tone", probably the network service tone that beeps whenever you get coverage or no coverage. To turn it off go to Menu-Settings-Network-Service Tone-OFF. Hope this helped!

[Eric]

cubic- tracfone disables that kind of stuff. It probably wouldn't work.

[chris]

Where is the speakerphone key on my W376g
Tracfone? This is driving me crazy. In the manual it says press spkr key. CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE. This is my one MAJOR disappointment so far with this phone.
It was one of the main reasons I bought this phone. ANY SUGGESTIONS?????

[Ron]

The speaker "key" doesn't appear until you make a call. The word SPKR ON appears in the lower right corner of the screen and you push the upper right "dot" button to turn it on.

[Kim]

This is what finally worked for mine:

1. Select email address from phonebook
2. Scroll to and highlight "Send Message"
3. Press the button below "Select"
4. Press the button below "Insert"
5. Scroll down to & highlight "Attachment" (instead of the tempting picture button)
6. Press the button below "Select"
7. Highlight "New Attachment"
8. Press the button below "Select"
9. Highlight "Picture"
10. Press the button below "Select"
11. Highlight "Additional Storage Device"
12. Press the button below "Select"
13. Scroll to your photo
14. Press the button below "Select"
15. Press "Back"
16. Press "Back" again - (you will now see the paperclip icon on the top of your message

area. The photo has been attached. Enter an optional message.
17. Hit "OK" (it will show message details page)
18. Hit "Send"

Good Luck!

[Adrienne]

Got one on TF site for 19.99 + 60 min card (120 + start-up 10 = 130 total min.) + free shipping; double minutes life of the phone.
I am glad ity's a phone; don't need anything else. Wish I coud shut off the hello moto sound, though...

[John Baarda Sr.]

Need owners manual

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