iPhone SE 32GB on Total Wireless or Straight Talk (Tracfone Networks) for $129.99 free shipping

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
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https://www.walmart.com/ip/Total-Wi...-32GB-Prepaid-Smartphone-Space-Gray/435764375

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Straight...-32GB-Prepaid-Smartphone-Space-Gray/497984946

Of these two networks I personally would go with Total Wireless as I think that one has the better deal on the prepaid cards. However, according to the following Walmart reviewer the Straight Talk phone can be activated on Tracfone as well:

Walmart customer review for Straight Talk iphone SE said:
A bargain!
7/15/2017

by YurtCamper

I ordered this for my son as an upgrade to his iPhone 5 that has seen better days. We activated this on Tracfone. This is a brand new, never activated iPhone that comes with all the accessories that a phone direct from Apple would. However, it is locked to Straight Talk, Total Wireless or Tracfone. The SE is a great phone, basically the same technology as a 6S, just in a 5S size. If you are coming from any of the iPhone 5 series, it will be a big step up in speed, camera and battery life. This is really an unbeatable deal for a new iPhone.

The following Q&A confirms it:

Can this be used with Tracfone service? Would it just need a different SIM card? by Chris9/4/2017
A.Hi. My name is Glen from Straight Talk Wireless. We will need to check if it is compatible with TracFone. You cannot use a different SIM card to it other than Straight Talk. Please chat with us at http://bit.ly/2gQCmUz?caseId=41023 to further assist you.
by TracFone Wireless9/4/2017

A.Hi. My name is Cristy and I work with Straight Talk Wireless. Yes, we can rebrand the phone to use it on TracFone Wireless service. There's no need for a different SIM card. We will use the same SIM card that comes with the phone.
by TracFone Wireless9/4/2017

Interestingly enough, one of the Q&A responders wrote his Straight Talk iPhone SE says Straight Talk or Total Wireless on it.

Will this phone work on total wireless? by ctx 8/30/2017
A.The SE I bought at Walmart said Straight Talk or Total Wireless on the back
by Todd8/31/2017

For those using Lifeline service I do wonder if this phone (specifically the Straight Talk version) would activate on Safelink (without unlocking) as Safelink is a Tracfone brand that also uses SIM cards (and apparently even the Tracfone airtime cards):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TracFone_Wireless

Safe Link does offer optional Tracfone Airtime Card Compatibility and Promotions for Free Bonus Minutes. These options allow Safe Link users to add more minutes anytime and for use after their allotted plan expires for the month.

Some technical specs on the iPhone SE from Apple:

https://www.apple.com/iphone-se/specs/

There are two modems found on this phone depending on the version:

Model A1662*
LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29)
CDMA EV‑DO Rev. A (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Model A1723*
LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28)
TD‑LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)
TD‑SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
CDMA EV‑DO Rev. A (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

According to this link the A1662 is used by AT&T, T-mobile and Verizon and the A1723 is the Global version used by Sprint and most carriers in Canda, Europe, Australia and Asia.

If I am not mistaken Straight Talk is a MVNO using the AT&T network and Total Wireless is a MVNO using the Verizon network. So the model in question must be A1662 for both Straight Talk and Total Wireless, but does the Total Wireless version have a SIM card? Or even if the Total Wireless version does have a SIM could it be activated with Tracfone without unlocking?

Other details:

4" 1136 x 640 LCD with 2GB RAM and the A9 processor.

Records 4K30 video.


P.S. These phones can also be picked up in your local Walmart. Check to see if they are in stock.
 
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cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
12,968
221
106
To sum things up concisely....

I would only buy the Total Wireless iPhone SE if you wanted to use Total Wireless prepaid.

However, it does look like the Straight Talk iPhone SE will also work with Tracfone prepaid (and probably with the Safelink Lifeline service).
 
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