Best Unlocked Phones for Tracfone BYOP in 2018

Best Unlocked Smartphones for Tracfone Prepaid - 2018

The best unlocked phones by TracfoneReviewer and updated June 27th 2018 

Tracfone offers a growing selection of smartphones to use with their prepaid cell service, including Apple iPhones, high end smartphones (Samsung Galaxy S6, S7), and many budget smartphones. But consumers can also choose to purchase their own unlocked phone to bring to Tracfone's BYOP program.

List of Best Smartphones for Tracfone BYOP

But many consumers who want to buy their own phone, have certain questions.

What's the best phone to bring to Tracfone's BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) program? Are there any phones besides the Smartphones from Tracfone that I can use with Tracfone prepaid service? What phone should I buy as a Christmas present for my family member or friend? These are all good questions, and we will help answer them, and more, in this list of the best unlocked smartphones that can be used with Tracfone prepaid service.

Tracfone's BYOP program allows consumers to find their own smartphone, and then activate it with Tracfone's prepaid service. It is a very convenient way to get to choose whatever phone you want, while keeping Tracfone's low cost service plans. But not everyone knows all the best options, so we are here to share our top picks for phones to bring to the BYOP program.

For specific details on the requirements for activating a phone with Tracfone, see our Guide to Transferring/Activating a Smartphone with Tracfone or visit our Tracfone BYOP page (which also has a large list of phone options).

We are choosing these phones based on a variety of factors including popularity, value and cost. These are some of our best suggestions of phones we believe will fit most user's needs. In the end, each person needs to understand what they want out of a phone, and choose a phone according to that.

Most Tracfone users decide to use BYOP because they want a phone with a little more power and performance compared to most Tracfone smartphones, plus a wider selection of devices. In our list, we only include phones priced between $100-$400 as the majority of our readers are looking for a phone in that price range.

Now let's take a look at the list!

Top 6 Unlocked Smartphones to use with Tracfone (that are Reasonably Priced)

Below are the six best phones (and a few others) to use with Tracfone based on several factors. We hope this list will act as a guide and suggestion, and allow you to choose which phone best fits your needs.

1. Motorola G6 and G6 Play
The Moto G6 is the sixth and latest generation of a well-rounded line of phones that offer great value at a reasonable price. The Moto G line has long been known as the 'budget king' because of the terrific balance in price and specs, with the G6 maintaining that title.

The G6 has a large, 5.7" full HD touchscreen, 1.8Ghz Octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB Storage and dual rear cameras. It also features the latest Android OS, 8.0 Oreo and is compatible with both GSM and CDMA networks. For more details, view our recent Moto G6 specs and features list.

If you want to save a little money, and don't quite need the performance of the G6 but want a larger battery, the G6 Play is the answer, with a 4000 mAh battery for all day performance. The G6 Play has many of the same features, including Android 8.0 Oreo, 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage, plus a 13MP rear camera (but not dual rear camera).

Another option is the slightly older Moto G5S Plus which still packs amazing performance and now at a discounted price. View the Moto G5S Plus on Amazon for around $200

View the Moto G6 on Amazon - $264
View the Moto G6 on Amazon (Prime Exclusive) - $234

View the Moto G6 Play on Amazon - $222
View the Moto G6 Play on Amazon (Prime Exclusive) - $189

View the Moto G6 Plus on Amazon - $364
The G6 Plus features more RAM, Storage, and a larger screen but is only compatible with GSM networks.

2. Apple iPhone SE
One of the main reasons many Tracfone users started switching to the BYOP program was to use an Apple iPhone with Tracfone service. Recently Tracfone has also started offering several iPhones including the SE, 6 and 6 Plus and even the iPhone 7 (Visit our Latest Tracfone Smartphone List to see exactly what's new). But it is still generally cheaper to find an unlocked iPhone such as the SE and use it with BYOP.

The iPhone SE is a compact device with impressive internal performance. It features a small, 4" retna display, and internal specs inline with the iPhone 6S, including A9 processor, 12MP rear camera with 4K video, and up to 64GB storage.

Look for the iPhone SE in some retail stores, but also online through Amazon or eBay. Make sure you choose an unlocked version that is compatible with the service in your area.

View the iPhone SE with 32 GB on Amazon for $300
View the Refurbished iPhone SE on Amazon for under $200

3. Nokia 6.1
Built from a single block of aluminium, the Nokia 6.1 is made to be stylish and durable with Corning Gorilla Glass on the 5.5" full HD touchscreen. It also features 3 GB RAM, 32 GB Storage, a 16 MP rear camera and runs Android One.

For those who are unfamiliar with Android One, it is a pure version of the Android operating system with no additional apps or clutter. It is both a hardware and software technical standard from Google designed to give users a consistent experience.

The Nokia 6.1 is a great looking phone but also a little more expensive than some of the options here.

View the Nokia 6.1 on Amazon (Prime Exclusive) - $269

4. Samsung Galaxy S5
With a 5.1" full HD touchscreen, 16 MP camera, 2 GB RAM and Quad-core processor, the Galaxy S5 packs good performance despite the fact it was released a few years ago. It runs on Android 4.4, but is upgradable to 5.1, and even 6.0 in some cases.

When it was released in 2014, the Galaxy S5 was the flagship phone for Samsung, packing in the latest and greatest performance and features that make it relevant even today.

Why we include it in this list is that this phone can be found for around $100, and even less if you're willing to buy a refurbished model. That's a bargain for a phone that can shoot 4K video at 30fps, and much more.

View a Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S5 on Amazon for $134
View the Samsung Galaxy S5 (Unlocked GSM) on eBay for $100

5. LG Q6
Featuring a 5.5" full HD IPS screen with 18:9 ratio the LG Q6 is the budget friendly version of the LG G6 and comes with many of the sleek design elements. It also has passed many durability standards, thanks in part to metal sides.

Internally the performance of the LG Q6 is good with 3 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, a 13MP camera and a 1.4 Ghz octa-core processor. The phone runs Android 7.1 and is compatible with GSM networks.

The LG Q6 compares closely to the Moto G6 Play, with each phone offering certain pro's and con's.

View the LG G6 on Amazon for $200

6. Huawei Honor 7x 
Looking for that sleek, high-end feel? Consider the Honor 7x which comes with an all metal shell for protection and appearance and edge to edge 5.9" screen with 18:9 ratio. Inside it houses dual rear cameras (16MP and 2MP), 3 GB RAM, 32 GB storage and uses GSM networks.

Another great feature on the Honor 7x is the fingerprint sensor (also available on the Moto G6) which allows you to securely lock the phone, and quickly unlock it. All of this is available for under $200, making it another great option.

View the Honor 7X on Amazon for $199

Several more phones that may be worth considering include:
-Google Nexus 5x - 32 GB Memory, 5.2" touchscreen, 12 MP Camera
-Motorola Nexus 6 - 32 GB Memory, 5.96" touchscreen, GSM compatibility

That concludes our list of the the best budget friendly smartphones to use with Tracfone. We hope this list serves to provide some ideas of different phones available to use with Tracfone BYOP.

We want to hear from you! Share your current/favorite phone you use with Tracfone in the comments below!

Also join in on the discussion on our Facebook page where more than 2000 followers already get the latest news and information in their feed.

Don't miss out on our monthly list of Tracfone Deals, Discounts and Sales which also include unlocked phones and Tracfone smartphones.

Also take a look at our recent Cell Phone Reviews which lists all our reviews in one convenient place.

And if you need some info on activating or switching your phone to Tracfone, read our full Guide to Activating or Transferring to a Tracfone Smartphone.

Thanks for visiting!