Motorola W370 Tracfone Cell Phone: A Durable, Sleek Choice

Tracfone is the most popular prepaid cell phone provider, bringing affordable cell phones to individuals in a way that wasn't previously available. They have thousands of customers, a dozen or so phones to choose from, and a simple, revolving cell plan.

For awhile, Tracfone offered almost exclusively candy bar style Nokias. The phones were reliable and durable, with good battery life and reception. The only downside was their style, which was basic and generally ugly. As the company grew in popularity and more consumers moved from contracts to prepaid, Tracfone updated their cell phone line.

While their phones are still quite basic, the style and selection has grown. One of the newer phones to offer a more stylish flip phone option is the Motorola W370. The Moto W370 is designed to remind one of the Razr and Krzr cell phones, both from the Motorola company.

The body of the phone is slim and square, with an internal antenna and smooth LED interface. The body is hefty but not burdensome - it feels solid in the hand. The body is tough, and can withstand drops to a hard surface easily. There is not LCD on the front of the phone. Instead it is a smooth black rectangle of plastic. Under the plastic are three different color LCDs with images of a battery, circle, and postal letter. When nothing is lit, the front appears to be solid black. When you get a message, however, a sleek blue image of a letter appears. The same happens for calls and dying batteries.

The screen is sharp and bright, though not as large as what's available on the Razr. It can display images nicely.

The keypad is interesting - it looks like the keypad found on the Razr, but it appears is made of a solid piece of plastic. The buttons don't make a clicking sound, yet feel solid to the touch, and are comfortable for typing.

The firmware on the phone is the Tracfone firmware, which isn't the most visually appealing. It is slightly laggy, but doesn't interfere with texting or typing. The menu is easy to navigate.