What Phones Are Compatible With Safelink

Communication has become an indispensable and integral part of modern society. It’s no longer a luxury. Hence, technologists and researchers all around the world are constantly trying to innovate new technologies. As a result, communication technology has reached pinnacle these days. Although these technologies offer unprecedented conveniences, they don’t always come cheap. This situation creates distinct digital divides in society and initiates a vicious cycle of poverty sometimes. Since communication technology greatly influences economic activities now, minimum access to such technologies will directly hamper those activities.

To mitigate such issues,  SAFELINK WIRELESS® is a program provided by TracFone Wireless, Inc. serving eligible households based on a person’s participation in state, Federal support programs, or by meeting the Income Poverty Guidelines as defined by the U.S. Government. About TracFone Wireless, it is the largest “No-Contract” cellular service provider in the U.S. with over 20 million subscribers. This program features only prepaid mobile phone plans where the subscriber doesn’t have to enter a service contract.

SafeLink Wireless® serves eligible customers with the opportunity to stay connected with their loved ones and their daily life through its LifeLine plans. The customer will receive either a SIM card or a Smartphone along with free minutes, texts, and data each month once the cell phone plan is activated. This program features from entry-level smartphones to industry-leading flagship devices. SafeLink Wireless also features a “Keep Your Own Smartphone” plan if the customer already owns a smartphone.

In case the customer can’t afford a smartphone, a free smartphone will be provided. These mobile devices aren’t substandard and pretty advanced devices from leading mobile manufacturers are available. This article is intended to discuss some of the phones compatible with the SafeLink Wireless program.

Why Should You Use a Safelink Compatible Phones ?

First of all, you have to understand that this program is designed to support people who can’t afford decent smartphone and network services. But if you are qualified for this program then there is no need to hold back. Because SafeLink offers no contracts or end of month bills and you will enjoy the freedom of prepaid phone service. Also, the coverage of this cell phone service provider is excellent and their signals are carried on the towers of over 30 major carriers around the U.S.

Safelink compatible phones will grant access to this network services. These phones are pretty standard devices, too. If needed, you can switch to a different network by changing the SIM. So, it’s pretty convenient.

10 Best Safelink Compatible Phones

As stated earlier, if you are eligible to enter the SafeLink Wireless program, you will be awarded a free mobile device. Now, there are a wide array of cell phones from pretty basic to cutting edge smartphones available as SafeLink compatible. Some of these mobile devices are discussed below. If you are interested, you have to visit the Safelink Wireless website and enter your zip code when prompted to learn about the latest promos, deals, and phones that are available from where you are located.

1. Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro 4G

If you are looking for a budget phone with a sleek and thin look with a curved edge glass screen with all the advanced features, then Samsung Galaxy Luna Pro could be satisfying. Its fast, compact, and wide dimension (0.3 x 2.7 x 5.5 inches) ensures it fits well in your Palms for better handling. The screen is an HD TFT LCD touch screen for a bright and colorful display and the resolution of the screen is 720 x 1280 pixels.

A 5-megapixel rear camera with flashlight is positioned on a stylish band at the back which is also a removable plate where you will find the battery, SIM card slot, and MicroSD card slot. Luna Pro features a lithium metal type battery that is safer and stronger than a lithium-ion battery and provides longer talk hour and standby time. The back panel blends flawlessly with the rest of the set which gives it the look of the upper echelon of smartphones. For selfies, you have got a 2-megapixel front camera.

The communication technology of this smartphone is 4G LTE and the device runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Luna Pro has Wi-Fi connectivity and Bluetooth 4.2 technology which makes the device compatible with a wide range of devices along with faster data transfer. To perform multitasking and operate smoothly, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.4GHz quad-core processor combined with 1.5GB of RAM. Hence, Luna Pro ensures elevated user experiences by fluidity and smooth animation. High definition screen and the Adreno 306 Graphics Processing Unit will provide superb video rendering and gaming experience. It’s an excellent budget phone with 16 GB built-in storage space where the system will occupy only 5 GB. You can extend it up to 256 GB with a MicroSD card.

2. ZTE ZFive 2 4G LTE Prepaid Smartphone

ZTE ZFive is another good choice as a budget phone. The dimension of the phone would be 2.88 x 5.73 x 0.42 inches and it weighs 168 g. You can insert one nano-SIM card and this device adopts GSM, CDMA, UMTS, and LTE technology for communication and for transferring data it has Bluetooth 4.0. USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity.

ZTE ZFive 2 runs on the Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) operating system and you will find millions of apps on the Google play store which are compatible with this OS. Also, the phone has a GPS facility for location-based apps and navigation. The central processing unit of the device is ARM Cortex-A53, 1.4 GHz with 1 GB LPDDR3 RAM memory and it has Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 MSM8909 motherboard. You will get a vibrant video streaming in the IPS TFT 5 inch display of 720 x 1280 pixel resolution and Qualcomm Adreno 308 500 MHz GPU will enhance the gaming experience.

Also, you will be able to store plenty of your favorite songs, videos, pictures, etc. in 8 GB internal storage space which can be extended up to 32 GB with a microSD card. 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and 2-megapixel front camera will capture high-quality pictures and videos. For audio output, you have a loudspeaker and microphone outlet. A Li-ion battery of 2800 mAh capacity provides 18 hours of talk time and 384 hours of standby hours. There are sensors like proximity, light, and acceleration sensors for increased functionality.

3. Alcatel IdealXCITE 5044R

It’s a lightweight, economic and attractive smartphone from AT&T with lots of built-in apps. The Alcatel IdealXCITE was released in 2017. This device utilizes Quad-Core 1.1GHz ARM Cortex-A7 CPU and Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 MSM8909  Chipset. To support that CPU, 1 GB RAM memory space is available with 8 GB internal storage space.  The device will support 128 GB of extended storage using a microSD card. The CPU is 32 bit and manufactured using 28 nm process technology. The RAM’s rated clock speed is 533 MHz. Alcatel IdealXCITE runs on Android Nougat v7.0.

The screen of the phone measures 5 inch diagonally which is also a capacitive touchscreen. The TFT LCD type display has a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. This smart also features Qualcomm Adreno 304 with 400 MHz clock speed. The Dragon trail glass of the screen is scratch-proof. This smartphone is compatible with network technologies like UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, LTE cat 4.

To capture Hi-Def pictures and video, a 5-megapixel camera is positioned at the backside with an LED flash and a 2-megapixel selfie camera on the front side. As for the power source, a Li-polymer battery with a rating of 2050 mAh is utilized with 5V charging voltage. Alcatel IdealXCITE has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 and USB 2.0 connectivity and GPS, proximity, light, and accelerometer sensor. It’s a slim, fashionable smartphone in the budget which measures 2.827 x 5.571 x 0.393 inch.

4. LG Rebel 4 4G LTE Prepaid Smartphone

LG Rebel 4 smartphone is so easy to use that even a person who is not tech-savvy will master the phone in no time. If you are not very picky about the screen size and you are looking for a budget-friendly option, then LG Rebel 4 is hard to beat.  This phone features Android 8.1 Oreo operating system and to facilitate the updated OS, there is a 64 bit, 4 core, 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 CPU in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 MSM8917 SoC. This combination ensures balance between performance and battery life. The 2.5D glass screen of LG Rebel 4 Capacitive Multi touch type and diagonally, it measures 5 inch with 66.41 % display area. This IPS type TFT LCD screen has HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The 8 megapixel rear camera has improved features like autofocusing, touch focus, exposure compensation, panorama, self-timer, etc., and LED flash. The front camera is 5 megapixel.

For tracking and navigation, this smartphone is GPS and GLONASS enabled. You can connect LG Rebel 4 with other devices via, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and Micro USB 2.0. 3.5 mm audio jack and loudspeaker will entertain you with your favorite song. This device supports different audio and video file formats. Another great feature is CDMA compatibility along with GSM, UMTS, and LTE network compatibility. A nano-SIM card can be inserted inside the device. A 2500 mAh Li-ion battery will sustain 15 hours of talk time. LG Rebel 4 has 1 GB RAM memory and 16 GB built-in storage space.

5. Prepaid ZTE Maven 3

The ZTE Maven 3 is an entry-level offering that is black, slim, stylish, and lightweight. This device measures 5.7 x 2.83 x 0.39 inches and weighs 160 grams. This device is lightning fast and responds fluidly. And this performance is achieved by Quad-core, 1100 MHz, ARM Cortex-A7, 32-bit, 28 nm and Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 8909 chipset. To support this CPU,  there is 1 GB RAM and dedicated GPU Adreno 304 for video and animation rendering. ZTE Maven 3 is operated by Android (7.1 Nougat) operating system.

This device is powered by a 2070 mAh battery which provides 18 hours of talk time and 56 hours of music playback time. Accelerometer and compass are available as built-in sensors in this device. Also, GPS and A-GPS enable tracking services and location-based apps. Connectivity features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and USB 2.0 allow ZTE Maven 3 to share files and multimedia content. When needed, you can share your presentation on a bigger screen using a wireless screen share from the 5-inch FWVGA touch screen of this phone. The screen resolution is 480 x 854 pixels and the display area is 66.20%. It utilizes Dragontrail scratch-proof glass along with an ambient light sensor and proximity sensor.

5.6 GB from 8 GB built-in storage space is available for saving your favorite songs and movies and this storage can be increased up to  32 GB micro SD card. The 5-megapixel rear camera has an autofocus facility and LED flashlight and for a selfie, a 2-megapixel camera is placed in front of the smartphone. These cameras capture HD-quality photos and videos. ZTE Maven works on network technologies like GSM, UMTS, and 4G LTE. AT&T prepaid service offers the best data networks which cover 99% of America.

6. LG Phoenix 3 M150

If you are a serious selfie snapper, LG Phoenix 3 will definitely satisfy your craving without costing a fortune. Because the front camera of this phone comes with 5-megapixel resolution and the screen will shine a soft light around the photo preview for well-lit selfies so that you can outshine others in social media. There are also features like video screenshot, burst shot, Geotagging, and easy switching option from front to the rear camera. The 5-megapixel rear camera is also equipped with tons of features. Some of them are 3 or 10 seconds timer, gesture shot, auto shot, digital 4x zoom, and live shot.

You can store all your favorite photos inside 9.3 GB of 16 GB internal storage space. 32 GB microSD card can be added to this space. LG Phoenix 3 runs on Quad-core 1100 MHz ARM Cortex-A7 28 nm CPU with a Qualcomm® MSM8909 SoC. This CPU is supported by 1.5 GB RAM memory and  Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow operating system. The power source of this device is a 2,500 mAh removable battery which offers 14 hours of talk time and 16 days of standby hour. The operation interface of the smartphone is rather convenient. You will receive control notifications and alerts and choose the action. Also, there is a customizable keyboard and EasyHome screen which shows frequently used apps. You can put your phone to sleep/wake it without picking it up or pressing the Power/ Lock Key and just by tapping the screen twice. For strong security, you can create a 6 to 8 point tapping pattern.

LG Phoenix 3 has VoLTE capability for HD voice communication over cellular networks. Apart from that, it has Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi, and USB tethering connectivity. To communicate with other phones, it can utilize GSM, UMTS, and LTE network technologies. 5-inch FWVGA screen has a resolution of 854 x 480 for brilliant color and remarkable clarity.

7. Alcatel CameoX 4G LTE

You will be attracted to the eye-catching design, slim and polished look of the Alcatel CameoX. The dimensions of the phone are 5.70 x 0.38 x 2.18 inches and it’s also lightweight, only 157 grams with battery. The lithium-polymer battery’s rating is 2,050 mAh and with power saver mode, you can do a lot of things in a single charge along with 15 hours of talk time. To enrich your multimedia experiences, this device features a 5 inch FWVGA IPS capacitive touchscreen with scratch-proof Dragontrail glass cover. To smoothly render videos and animation, an Qualcomm Adreno 304, 400MHz GPU is incorporated. The central processing unit of this smartphone is Quad-Core 1.1GHz ARM Cortex-A7 with Qualcomm MSM8909 chipset.

The RAM memory size of Alcatel CameoX is 2 GB with 533 MHz clock speed and 16 GB storage space. For advanced functionality, this smartphone has GPS proximity sensor, Accelerometer, and ambient light sensor. Alcatel CameoX runs on Android 7.0 Nougat. You can connect your device to the internet by Wi-Fi and mobile hotspot connectivity and with a computer via USB 2.0 micro USB. This smartphone utilizes single nano-SIM and GSM, UMTS, and LTE carrier technologies to communicate.

The 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flashlight can capture still photos of 2592 x 1944 pixels resolution and 720 p video at 30 fps rate. There is a 2-megapixel front camera, too. You can take steady videos because of image stabilization (EIS) technology. You will get FM radio options and different formats of ringtones.

8. Samsung Galaxy S4 i9500

South Korean giant Samsung didn’t disappoint the sky-high expectations of the tech enthusiast when Galaxy S4 was launched.  Unique features, advanced hardware like octa-core processor, gesture control option, sensors, and super sharp AMOLED display were highly appreciated.

The build of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is not very different from its predecessor and the body of the phone is made of polycarbonate plastic. The gorilla glass 3 front panel is encaged by a chrome frame and the dimensions of the phone are 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 inch. Beneath the gorilla glass, a 5-inch full-HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels packing 441 pixels per inch is placed. It won’t be exaggerated to call this display one of the finest and most vibrant displays available. It will adjust the color according to the ambient light condition with four manual and seven automatic modes. To enhance the video and animation quality, the hardware includes PowerVR SGX544MP3 GPU.

You will get a sharp display of icons, text, and images. Under the sun, the visibility of the screen is good and it’s not reflective.

As mentioned before, the smartphone features a combination of top-notch hardware to perform spectacularly. The octa-core CPU has 4 nos 1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 and 4 nos 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 and the chipset that has been utilized is Exynos 5410 Octa (28 nm). It has 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage onboard and it supports up to 64 GB microSD card. Galaxy S4 runs on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) which can be upgradable to Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop). It also features TouchWiz Nature UX, Samsung’s custom UI. this user interface employs large, glossy, and cartoon-like icons and menu for user’s convenience.

13-megapixel rear camera with LED flashlight excels at taking daylight shots. You can shoot a video of 1080p at 30 fps frame rate with this camera. The 2-megapixel front camera endows dual video call along with capturing stunning selfies. Besides, there are a lot of camera tricks like cinemagram, eraser mode, drama shot, burst shot, HDR mode, and panorama mode. You can take pictures simultaneously with both the front and rear camera.

Apart from standard sensors such as accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, temperature, and humidity sensors, the Galaxy S4 has air gesture sensors that can track a user’s hand gesture from 7 cm apart. With the help of the infrared port, you can configure any remote control that works on infrared bursts. For connectivity, the smartphone features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and micro USB 2.0 along with A-GPS and GLONASS for navigation and tracking. The 2,600 mAh Li-ion battery does a decent job supporting the device with 17 hours of talk and 65 hours of music playtime.

9. Motorola Moto G4 Play

You can carry Motorola Moto G4 Play on a rainy day without worrying much as the splash-proof design utilizes nano-coating to repel water, spills, splash, and little rain. The device measures 5.69 x 2.83 x 0.39 inch and weighs 137 grams. This phone is compatible with GPS, HSPA, and LTE cellular networks and supports double micro-SIM cards.

Motorola Moto G4 Play employs the Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) operating system, upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat). The brain of this device is a Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) SoC system. The processor functions with 2 GB RAM memory and built-in 16 GB internal storage space which is expandable up to 256 GB using microSD cards. To share the CPU load and enhance the performance of the display, Adreno 306 is incorporated as a graphics processor.

As for the display, 5 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen is available with a display area of 66.3% and 720 x 1280 pixels screen resolution. The screen has a pixel density of 294 pixels per inch. To facilitate a decent photo or selfie shoot, an 8-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera are available with HDR and panorama mode. Also, a LED flashlight helps to capture photos in low ambient light conditions. Advanced connectivity technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and MicroUSB 2.0 are incorporated in this device along with navigation and tracking technologies such as A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS. Moto G4 Play has a removable Li-Po 2800 mAh battery.

10. Samsung Galaxy Sol

Novice smartphone users will find Samsung Galaxy Sol extremely easy to operate and maintain because of its user-friendly interface and simple settings. The user can easily access the core functions and settings. Selfie photos can be taken without touching the shutter button because of the timer function and once the timer stops the picture is captured automatically. The selfie camera’s resolution is 2 megapixel which comes with a lot of picture modes like Auto, Beauty Face, Continuous Shot, Panorama, Pro, Selfie, Sports, Sound & Shot. There is a 5-megapixel rear camera and LED flash featuring autofocus and digital 4x zoom.

Samsung Sol has 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, and 4G LTE FDD cellular network connectivity along with Wi-Fi radio and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity for data networks. This device supports a wide range of audio and video codecs so that you can enjoy your favorite movie or song without any trouble. The display of this phone is protected by 2.5D scratch proof curved glass screen and this display is 5 inch super AMOLED IPS capacitive multi-touchscreen with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixel.

The hardware specification of Samsung Sol is impressive, quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU with a clock speed of 1300 MHz with 1.5 GB Ram memory ensures multitasking and smooth operation. The internal storage is about 8 GB and expandable up to 128 GB. It is packed with sensors like an accelerometer and proximity sensor. The battery will support 22 hours of talk time and 240 hours of standby hours.

Frequently Ask Questions on Safelink Wireless

How to qualify for the Safelink Wireless program

This service is area-dependent and some of the states have different requirements than others. However, the general qualifying criterion is that either the subscriber has an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or is a participant in any of the programs such as Medicaid, supplemental nutrition assistance program, supplemental security income, federal public housing assistance, veterans and survivors pension benefit.

How to activate SafeLink Wireless phone?

After you have received your SafeLink mobile phone, check for the SafeLink SIM Card Activation inside the box and follow the instruction of that card to activate your device. If you don’t find the activation card then your device might be activated already. You can contact SafeLink customer service if you have any other issues during the activation process.

What can I do if my Safelink service was disabled?

You have to contact the Lifeline administrator in your state to ensure your approval. After you are confirmed about active approval, you have to talk to a SafeLink representative. You will be asked to provide some information and then listen to the instructions carefully. In the end, you will be asked to restart your device to activate the network.

Can we transfer our SafeLink service to another phone?

Yes. in fact, SafeLink service has a program called “SafeLink BYOP” and you can migrate from another network by changing the SIM only.

What should I know about Safelink Wireless?

The most important information is that this service is to help the people in need. So, if you can afford or have a smartphone already, you shouldn’t apply for the program. The program follows the guideline of the federal government to determine the eligibility of a participant. Also, Safelink covers most of the states and has a wide coverage.

Can you use a safelink sim card on a boost mobile phone?

It’s possible now to migrate to Safelink service when the Boost mobile device is unlocked. But it’s not 100% guaranteed that it’s going to work. There are some criteria that must be met before unlocking your Boost mobile phone. These requirements are, your phone cannot be reported lost or stolen and the phone has to be activated for at least 12 months. You must recharge the phone account within the last three months.

How to upgrade my Safelink phone?

If you are eligible for an upgrade, you will receive a smartphone automatically from Safelink service. This eligibility is based on the federal government guidelines for poverty.

How to check my Safelink balance?

You can check your monthly safelink balance online on the Safelink Wireless website.

How to use a TracFone SIM card in an unlocked phone?

Although there are some issues as TracFone will be associated with the old ESN number, temporarily switching the SIM will work. You have to remove your Safelink SIM from your old mobile and insert it inside the new one.

Can I use any phone with SafeLink?

Unfortunately no. Safelink is a cell phone service program of TracFone which only provides prepaid cell phone service. So, the cell phones which feature SIM cards are compatible with safelink carrier.

Can I transfer my safelink service to another phone?

Yes, but there might be some problems. This is because the TracFone keeps a record of the previous ESN number.

How do I get a replacement phone from SafeLink?

In case your phone is lost or stolen, you have to follow the terms and conditions of Safelink Wireless replacement policy and you have to report the incident to the customer care representative within 48 hours. The replacement phone is limited to one phone per user. So, you will not get another replacement if you lose it a second time. The lost phone will be deactivated permanently. Once you receive your new phone, ask the support team to activate your new phone with the SIM card code on the back of the SIM and serial number on the activation card.

Does Walmart sell safelink phones?

You can buy unlocked phones at Walmart that are compatible with SafeLink Wireless along with other TracFone cell phones.

Does SafeLink give free smartphones?

Yes. There is a LifeLine plan which has the provision of providing free smartphones to the eligible household. Under this program, a single device is given to an entire family along with free talk time and internet data services.

How long does it take to get a safelink phone?

Once your application for the LifeLine program has been approved, you can expect to get your cell phone within 5 to 10 business days through US registered mail service.

Final Recap

Safelink service enables a person to access the digital world who can hardly afford such service otherwise. It is a praiseworthy attempt to lessen the digital divide. Safelink compatible phones are quite advanced and hi-tech devices. You will not be disappointed using such a device.