Motorola C261

A slight step up from the Motorola C139 (*est. $10), the Motorola C261 is another low-cost prepaid phone in TracFone's lineup. The pocket-sized C139 measures 4.3 inches by 2 inches by 0.6 inches, and it weighs 3 ounces -- slightly longer, wider and heavier than the C139, but a bit thinner. While the C261 sports a similar sleek and durable candy-bar design that appeals to users, the greatest differences between the two devices are improved hardware and functionality. The C261 has a beefed-up 128-by-160-pixel display that users describe as bright with vivid colors, and a VGA camera with 4x digital zoom. It also has a speakerphone, an item not included on the C139. The keypad remains about the same -- cramped yet supported by iTap predictive text.

Like the C139, the C261 maintains the same premium voice quality, and user feedback indicates that reception is better, even though TracFone leases its network space from AT&T, which ranks among the lowest for reception in major cell phone carrier surveys. Additional improvements include multimedia messaging and a larger phonebook, which stores up to 250 entries compared with 100 for the C139. Standard features remain the same: voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, multilingual support, games, downloadable ringtones and wallpaper, an alarm clock, stopwatch, calculator and currency converter. Among the setbacks, users cite mediocre battery life, a minimal 5 MB of internal memory for photo storage, no USB port for transferring photos and a subpar WAP browser for downloads. Overall, the improved functionality is worth the extra money for some users, but for anyone just needing a reliable phone for making calls, the C139 is still the best value. 

Although Associated Content provides the sole review of the Motorola C261, users have also posted comments regarding the C261 at About.com, CNET and PhoneScoop.com, which reveal potential problems with long-term use.