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Net10 LG900G Review: A No-Contract “Smartphone” for Under $40?
This past week I upgraded from an old-school Net10 Motorola W375 flip phone (think first gen. Razr) to the new Net10 LG900G. I’ve praised Net10 a lot on the site before for their low cost, prepaid, no-contract plans. I’m guessing a few readers followed my lead in switching away from the bad guys and their early termination fees, so I thought I’d give a review of the new phone – which due to a possible quirk and special pricing at the moment, could actually result in a free upgrade for you right now.
Why review one single phone from Net10? Because it’s a brand new no-contract, full QWERTY, mp3, digital camera, web-enabled phone for less than $30! It’s probably the best phone they have, and it comes at a great price. It might just be the missing link that allows you to have cheap cell phone service without looking like too much of an intentionally cheap jackass.
Net10 LG900G Snapshot
Although it claims to be a “smartphone” in that it can multi-task and is web-enabled, I would not label the LG900G as a smartphone (which, in my opinion, should be reserved for phones with nimble and easy web functionality). It’s a full QWERTY keyboard phone (one of two offered by Net10) with very strong functionality for the price. To my knowledge, these are brand new and not refurbished phones.
Features & Accessories
The LG 900G has the following features:
- Full QWERTY keyboard
- 2.0 megapixel camera, capable of taking video
- Bluetooth compatible
- MP3 player
- FM radio
- 1GB built-in-memory (expandable up to 4GB with microSD)
- Web browser
- Headphone jack
- GSM quad-band
- MMS/text-messaging
- Speakerphone
Note that the phone only comes with a wall charger, SIM card, and battery. If you want to take advantage of the MP3 player, you’ll need to purchase the standard USB phone cord. It also does not come with a microSD card. The phone does have 1GB of internal memory, so you might not need the SD card if you don’t have an extensive mp3 library.
Appearance & Feel
It definitely has a Blackberry look and feel to it. Pretty stylish compared to other non-smart phones. The one big difference from a Blackberry in key functionality is that it does not have a touch or ball pointing device, like most Blackberry’s. Rather, it has a standard left, right, up, down directional keypad. The keyboard is backlit, if you were wondering.
It has a mid-weight feel to it and fits nicely in my medium-sized hand. Despite the low price, it doesn’t look or feel cheap. The keys and casing plastic are pretty solid and seemingly durable, unlike the other Net10 QWERTY, the Samsung T401G.
The Pros with the LG 900G
Here are the pros that I’ve experienced with the 900G thus far:
- MP3′s sound great, and the player and playlist functionality is good and very intuitive. I love that this phone has a standard headphone audio jack, so I don’t need any adapters or to purchase anything new.
- Interface is intuitive, even if much less superior to iOS or Android.
- Love the FM radio functionality. I’m a bus commuter, so I can vary it up from mp3′s. You can pre-set stations.
- Phone clarity and connectivity is good thus far. I’ve never had a problem with Net10 on this.
- Picture and video clarity is good.
- Also has voice recording capabilities to record memos for yourself.
- You can download javascript apps – getjar.com has a ton of free apps.
- Battery-life is strong. After a few days, I’ve only lost one of three bars.
Cons with the LG 900G
For the price, these are somewhat expected and petty concerns, but:
- Web-browsing capabilities are limited, which is why I say it’s not truly a ‘smartphone’. The browser is slow and navigation with the native browser is clumsy.
- Doesn’t come with a good manual, you’ll have to dig one up online for the LG 300GW (which launched in non-U.S. markets).
- Pre-loaded apps and games. The 900G comes pre-loaded with FaceBook as the only app and just two games – Sodoku Cafe and WordAttack. Sure, you can get more for free, but pre-loaded app functionality is always nice.
- Not voice activated.
Price & Availability
Net10 is offering the LG 900G for $39.99 now with free shipping.
Plans & Free Upgrade:
This phone can be used on any of the Net10 plans – unlimited or not. I personally buy the 300 minute, 60-day plan for $30 ($15/month is ridiculously good). I’m planning on using the web functionality only when needed, since one minute of web = one minute reduction in minutes and one could speed through minutes pretty quick.
The Upgrade Trick: Get this. If you’re an existing Net10 customer and you transfer your time and minutes from your old phone, Net10 usually adds on a few extra minutes and they gave me 60 days of added airtime (which usually costs me $30). This means that if you are upgrading and you’re able to snatch up the phone for $35, you’re basically getting the phone for free! If you sell your old phone, you’ve made money. For a phone with this level of functionality, that is outstanding.
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My name is G.E. Miller and 
Not likely. SMS texting is between phones only. Browser speed and Internet are extremely slow. I think it’s less than 3G, prolly 1G. The system also compresses photos sent, and my received photos are compressed to less than 10k. Thumbnails. You can upgrade the phone so that texting with a qwerty keyboard is really all I wanted, plus the ability to text my local metro for bus and train arrivals, so it’s only a +1 for me. The system behind the phone is only bare bones, but cheap!
I thot I understood that the LG900g net10 phone was internet capable? But I can do/acomplish almost nothing on the internet! Everything came up, “INSUFICIANT MEMORY” or “UNRECOGNIZABLE SCHEME” OR “INCOMPATABLE” The internet is mostly worthless. If you’re looking for internet capability don’t get this model. When I looked at reviews, why isn’t anybody else seem disappointed as to this major understatement. There’s so little that can be done thru it’s internet it shouldn’t even be classified as an internet capable phone.
The distinction is the network, not the phone. The phone might well function quite well on another network, but the LG900G is a phone made specifically for Tracphone subscribers/month to month services.
Phil, the lg900g is an internet capable phone with limitations.
With the correct browser loaded it will allow for some browsing and email IF you have a little patience!! If not the use a laptop,it’s easier!
Once again, people the lg900g is NOT a android based phone and should NOT be expected to provide you with quality internet use!!
Cell phones are being depended on WAY too much for tasks better left to a pc. Your “dumb phone” is NOT as smart as you think!
But fortunately it’s not as dumb as it first seems either!
Agreed. It’s so bad that I won’t be using the internet.
My computer at home doesn’t have Internet access; I have one available only 4 or 5 days a week, so I’ve found the phone to be an enormous help. I have Opera Mini 4 and UC as well as the native browser. MOST websites are available, especially on the 2 browsers I installed.
In order to have decent internet browsing you have to download Opera mini 6.5! Other than that its a great phone!
that’s because you used all of your memory all ready, get a micro sd chip and insert it into your phone for more memory, your internet should work fine. and the sd chips are cheap
Phil, go online with the LG900G browser, to Yahoo search, type in Opera 4.3 Mini browser, download that to the Applications file and voila. Do all surfing with the Opera Mini and you will be AMAZED.
For anyone having trouble with the internet on this model, follow Barbara’s Jan. 1 message here, she did a bang-up job of explaining it!
I have the same problem. To avoid it, I went to getjar.com and downloaded Opera Mini web browsing app. This app works great and does just about anything except stream and download.
I have the lg900g and at first yeah, the internet was worthless. But a friend told me not to use the built in browser. He told me to google on that browser and search opera mini web browser download and download it. Then once it’s downloaded, you’ll find it in your apps menu and be able to use it. Now, it’s still not amazing, but it does work a whole lot better than the one that comes with the phone.
thats the same problem i be having .
I had the same problem. Downloaded an opera mini app & now get on internet through that & have absolutely no problems at all. Also you can go to waptrick to download free games, music, ringtones, & videos!
Phil, Try the Opera Mini browser. See some of the earlier comments for help in installing it. (Unfortunatley, Bolt browser is no longer available.) Also try UC. You can get to a lot more of the web than just through the native browser.
typing in the getjar.com, at the site it doesn’t recognize my phone. Is there another way to download Opera?
In the native browser go to m.opera.com. Opens page: Opera for Mobile Devices. Click: Other download options. Toward the bottom of the page is the heading Options for Opera Mini 4.4. Click: Select Code-Signing Certificate. Next: All Certificates. Finally: Download Opera Mini 4.4. And ”Yes” to download. Going through these extra steps to get the signed version saves you REPEATEDLY getting the warning about an untrusted app and then having to click Continue–all the time you’re in Opera!
Thanks for that Barbara! May be you could help with another situation. I’ve downloaded to the SD card books from CDs. I’ve listed them alpha-numerically, set them in a playlist, yet they won’t play in order. I haven’t set it to shuffle, yet it shuffles just the same. Is there a solution?
To be a bit clearer, I’ve purchased the data cable for the phone, and downloaded music from my computer to the phone’s SD card. However, the fact that I have downloaded the music in file folders doesn’t allow me to keep the music in file order, list order, and therefore play in order. I can’t place music in the folders that the phone will create, (not enough memory) or access those phone created folders from my computer, and it completely ignores the folders I created from my computer.
You’re welcome. AND — I haven’t a clue! — haven’t played with playlists at all yet and need to start. Will let you know if it works out.
When you use the facebook app, that uses up airtime too right?
Fakebook does use your minutes, SO the answer is cut and dried here. That site is not worth your hard earned $$.
If you do get a Sd card how do you hook it up to the phone and switch the SD card to the messages and and video’s
Draven, the sd card comes with your phone. A down load cable from your pc to your phone will work OR a sd slot on your pc will allow you to remove the card from your phone and load it from your pc direct.
My phone didn’t come with a micro sd card; had to buy one separately. It goes in the little slot on the left edge of the phone, down near the bottom. Make sure the cover is closed tight after you insert the card.
The micro sd card comes with an adaptor the size of a regular sd card. The micro card goes in the adaptor, and the adaptor goes in the sd card slot in the computer.
However, I usually leave the micro card in the phone and use a USB cord to connect it to the computer. It’s much easier, with less fumbling and danger of dropping–and LOSING– the micro card, which is TINY.
To save to the memory card, go to Menu, Settings, 6. Memory Info, 5. Primary storage card, 2. External memory.
It’s easy to move files from the internal to the external memory. With the phone attached to the computer, the external and internal memory are treated as separate drives, so you can see what’s where, move things around, delete multiple files, etc.
Oh geez, I had to open the shuffle folder and turn it off in there. D’oh!
Thanks Barbara.
i thought someone said the lg 900g had 1gb internal memory. At least mine does not. Or maybe i have not figured out how to access that 1gb of memory. If anyone knows,or if there was more than one production of this phone,could you kindly let me know?
I have had this phone for a few months and I have had very little trouble with either it or Net10′s service. There is only one thing I would change if I could.
Sending texts can be slow: when I send a text the screen shows .50 minutes used, then text sent with a blinking green check mark. I don’t need to see all this. I just want the text sent quickly, with no extra windows popping up. I have never encountered this with any other phones or service.
I sent away for a clear LCD screen cover that precisely fits my phone. Otherwise it will get scratched up.
I have two questions. I’m very techno-unsavy and this is my first phone with apps. If I download a free app game at getjar, when I play the game am I still online and losing my minutes? Or am I playing from the phone itself. Second question, does anyone know how to turn sound off on the keypad for when I’m texting. It’s hard to text quietly with it beeping every letter.
Nancy, YES there are many you can get for your phone which do NOT use your minutes…but you don’t get them from getjar.com
Instead go to your folder on the lg900 then scroll down to games and there a selection to buy games! They are $4.99 each one time purchase, and you can play them offline!
For your second question…To make your keypad silent,go to settings in your menu,select profiles,then options,edit,select keytone, select silent and you’re done!
Thank you technodude. Got the keytones turned off. They were about to drive me crazy. Thanks for info on the games too.
Hi, I have just purchased this fone and I want to change the ringtone to a song that is one my sd card…is that possible and if so how….cause I can’t figure it out for the life of me!!!!
Maria, the ringtone file is limited to 300kb so you would have find a ringtone for it to be a working download a file no bigger than that.
Does anyone know how to turn off the shutter sound on the phone?
Carrie There is no way to shut off the shutter sound that I know of, however you can put your fingertip over the speaker which will mute the sound. I have wanted to do this myself.
Darn why would they not make total silence an option?
thanks for the suggestion
Carrie, They DO make total silence as a option! It’s in the profile menu, I use that option at work.
How do I lock and unlock the phone so I don’t accidently call someone?
Cindy this is very easy! See the large round button on the right with the power button in it? “C/padlock” Push and hold the bottom for a half second,and you will see the screen lock.
To unlock,just push menu and follow the prompt!
Simple and easy once you know! Thank you!
If you go to menu-settings-profiles, you can select totally silent, or modify another as a customized setting including the ring tone, message, key tone, and the volume of each.
Well I like my LG900G from Net 10..Not near as much as my LG Quantum from AT&T. Its a really good back up. If it was my main phone though I think I would have to shoot it.
I can see where Ken is coming from the phone has its quirks, BUT I am feeling quite triumphant about it right now. I have enabled the USB connection to my computer with my LG990g.
With the help of this website, I went to Menu, Settings, Connectivity, USB Connection Mode, Mass Storage and selected the latter. And voila, USB connects to the pooter. So now, I can actually get photos off the phone without using minutes, something my old Motorola Tracfone could never do with its disabled usb connection.
For this alone I am thinking this phone was 30 bucks well spent at Dollar General. It does seem to be a good solid phone for the money.
But tell me. I can understand it’s too expensive to provide a comprehensive print manual for the phone. But would it kill them to provide a comprehensive web manual on the Net10 web site?
Gibby, Some sites recommend this: http://www.mediafire.com/?jg2gm3n7awhpdg6. It’s the manual for the Lg300, which is similar to the LG900g. It has around 70 pages. I haven’t checked it out, but apparently most of the info applies.
This phone is a piece of crap. I’ve had it for less than a year and already it’s messing up on me. The internet is very very slow, and it eats up minutes really fast. I’ve already lost all my music, sounds, pictures, and videos that I’ve stored on this phone just because I charged it overnight. Like, what’s up with that? I bought it last June and it’s already half-broken. I’ve lost all the important media on my phone. The reception is awful as well, you can’t even hear the other person you’re speaking to most of the time. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone except maybe a tonedeaf person.
Well what the hell, first of all the reception could be to to several things, like your relation to the cell site, saturation level etc.
Did you request the 2.5 cent per text feature from net10?
Did you install a SD card in the slot on the side of the phone to give you external memory??
Did you download Opera mini 6.5 as a browser for your lg900 to speed it up???
Also keep in mind the the lg900 is NOT a android based operating system,so it is NOT designed for full internet!
I have used the lg900 for well over a year and it continues to be a trooper every day.
I bought an SD card to put music on and I figured out how to make my playlists, but what I can’t figure out is how to make it play all the way through a certain playlist without turning on the shuffle option. I don’t want it to shuffle, I want it to play the songs in the order that I have listed. But if I don’t have the shuffle on it only plays one song and then stops. Any way to make it keep playing?
Is all your music stored in a file on the SD card? Make sure the ‘Shuffle’ option is checked, in order for the phone to continuously play your music.
I created a music folder on my SD card, where I uploaded all my mp3′s. In my music folder, I have all the artists listed, and when I click on one title to start playing, it plays one artists after the other.
Try clicking(?) on the shuffle selection. Then you’ll see whether shuffle is on or off. I spoke with Net10 cs, and was told that the other way to listen is to go to My Folder > Memory Card > Sounds and select the folder you want to play. That way, they play in the folders you’ve created, in the order you have them there.
The shuffle is off. My problem is that it won’t play more than one song without it on. It plays one song and then stops. It then plays another one when I hit play again, but I don’t want to have to hit play every time. I want it to play through the list on its own. I tried the going under My Folder, but it did the same thing – one song and quit.
The “shuffle” option has to be ON in order to play continuously, there’s no way around it.
Sending texts can be slow: when I send a text the screen shows .50 minutes used, then text sent with a blinking green check mark
anyone know how to turn that off so i don’t get that screen after sending a text
ok I have this phone and it’s bugging me to no end. If it werent for the money i have spent for airtime it would be sailing. I have a 4g SD card, and the primairy memory settings are for External. When I open Memory info I have 3119.4mb of free memory under “External Memory’. SIM Memory says 174 KB free, Handset Reserved Memory says 4.5 MB. Handset common Memeory says. Usr memory 14.4 MB in use, and System memory has 11.8 MB in use and 8.4 MB free. the problem is when i go to move pics to folders or try to forward pics it says ‘Memeory Full’ The User Memory lists the Images as being full. How do I fix this so that IM using just my SD card for memory. I have Primary Storage setting as External Memory already, how do I see waht images are being stored on my handset memory instead of in my SD card? All in all, I like the phone, just not being able to simply forward a pic or group them in files is extremely annoying. Thank you.
How do i use the FM radio app on my phone Lg900g do i need an antana where do i get it
Jennifer, a decent pair of earbuds are needed to plug in the earphone jack on the top of your lg900.
Your earbuds will function as the antenna for fm radio,which you access thru your menu under multimedia. The radio works very well for me.
Hope this helps!
Any type of earbuds or headphones will work as the antenna for the phone. I use the “over the ear” type headphones as the antenna for mine, because earbuds don’t sit nicely for me, and I needed something that would stay put!
I just purchased the LG900G yesterday and activated it, and the date and time were fine at first, but now everytime I turn it on the date and time show 12:00 Jan 1. How do I correct the time and date?
Try taking the battery out, leaving it out for a minute or so, then replace and see what happens,
Barbara, thanks for the suggestion with the battery, still turns on each time back at 12:00 on Jan 1, 2010.
You may have to set it manually…
From the Menu Screen:
1. Click TOOLS.
2. Select WORLD TIME.
If location isn’t shown in window..
3. Select OPTIONS.
4. Select ADD CITY.
A listing should come up displaying the names starting with the first letter of the city you entered. If your city isn’t listed, you may have to repeat steps 3 & 4 above, and enter the name of the city closest to you.
For example, because Hawaii is made up of 8 different islands, I had to enter “Honolulu” as my city, since the phone recognized it as the capital of the State, and doesn’t acknowledge the name of the city on my island.
Hope this helps!
Dave, Thanks for the suggestion to reset manually, I’ve had it set to Denver time which is closest to my time zone, but the problem remains, each time I turn my phone off, then turn it back on, the new time says 12:00 am, 1 Jan 2010. Maybe I got a bum Phone?
Maybe the internal battery is bad. So yes… you could have a “bum” phone. Even though you were to remove the battery, then re-install it, the phone should’ve retained the time setting that was set previously. And seeing that it is not, one must assume that either the internal battery or the memory chip that supposed to retain the information, is malfunctioning.
If you just got it, return it.
Does this phone do email? I can’t seem to find anything on that. I need it to be able to read my emails through and app.
Thanks
Sorry – through an app.
Net10 sucks! My phone died under warranty and I called in Three times to get a new one. Each time they said they would ship me one and they finally did after FOUR MONTHS! Now I have to call in to transfer my number because they won’t let me do it online because they canceled my old phone’s service without my permission the first time I called in. With all the hassel, next time I`ll just get a major carrier’s service. It was SO NOT WORTH IT!!
WHY did you not simply take the phone back where you purchased it from for a full refund??
You can have a defect in any form of electronics,but how you choose to deal with it is up to you I suppose.
Contract cellular service is nothing more than a 2 year money trap,in case you weren’t aware…
I just downloaded the browser from http://www.opera.com/mobile/download/versions/ because I didn’t find the LG900 on the list of phones, to my computer and transferred it to my phone. I found it in My folders/other files, and installed it. Viola!
Sorry, but as noted above in the ‘Cons’ section, the manual and other market identity of this phone is as the gw300. Anyway, it uses the Mini 6.5 browser.
I hate cellphones all around but i use my lg900 with no problems save one
WHY WONT MY SAMSUNG MICROsd 2.0GB MEM. CARD WORK?
How can I change my ringtone on this phone. I tried everything.
go under setting and then profiles and change one of the customised and change it with a voice recodering of a song… thats what i did.
I hope this helps
on my LG900g i have this little icon towards the top that is an envelope with a exclamation point inside of it and i have done everything i can to get it to go away and it wont disipear will someone please help me??
The envelope with an exclamation point means that one of your text messages failed to send. To get rid of it go to your messages menu then scroll down to your outbox and delete or resend the failed message. That should remove the icon.
I can’t seem to download apps or games onto my phone because getjar.com can’t find my phone.. please tell me how to download free apps and games onto my LG900g phone
JENNY,Your phone is also known to the getjar site as the GW300, instead of LG900. Download your games to your SD card first, then re-insert into your phone.
Also read the ABOVE POSTS for other useful info!
This is the best phone I’ve ever had it gets better signal than my cousins at&t phone
My text boxes are at 93% full and I’d like to move them to my SD card. But I can only move them to the ‘my folders’ and there I can not find them. Any suggestions?
Okay, I’ve created folders within My Folder, Can I move those intact to my SD card?
Ah ha, Setting/(6) backup text messages/ (2) external memory.
Just sharing. :^)
That’s MESSAGES, THEN Settings -(6) backup text messages -(2) external memory. It backs up to a text file, and you can read it with a text reader like notebook.
Ok, now it’s my turn I guess. I’ve spent a little time here trying to help people become familiar with their lg900 (gw300)and now I have question??
Has anyone succeeded in pulling up any form of weather that will loop on this phone, so you can follow the direction of a storm?
I do have opera mini 6.5 loaded and have pulled up accuweather radar on it, but it doesn’t seem to want to loop even when loop is selected.
Even another weather site would help if it will loop the images?
Thanks in advance for any help!
tech.
This is NOT a smartphone,it can hardly browse the internet,it cant even post pics to facebook.It say it has insufficent memory even if u just wanna like something on facebook when I have a 4GB memory card in it. It has a junk processor in it,noteven close to an android phone.The battery has a 2hr life on it.when I get a new phone I will destroy thos pos.
It IS possible to upload photos to Facebook. Send the picture in a message to your personalized upload email address. For help in finding your address, go to https://www.facebook.com/help/search/?q=email+address. You can’t send a caption with it, though, because the LG900g’s messages don’t have a subject line, where the caption needs to go. However,you can edit the photo and add a caption in Facebook.
maybe you just got a bad one. My battery lasts up to 2 weeks sometimes!
KEN, FIRST of all, many of the previous posts will explain what you CAN do to get better performance from your lg900 (gw300). Try reading those and have a little patience!
Also read the directions, FULLY charge your battery with the phone OFF for the first 12 hours before use. Your battery should give a minimum of 10 hours use! Mine is well over a year old and will last a good 3 days before needing a charge! This NOT a android based phone as I have said in PREVIOUS POSTS, It is somewhat limited on the internet so DO NOT expect android 3G or 4G performance.
You need to download the 6.5 browser mentioned in above posts for better performance!
Okay…i have this phone…but i dont know how to upload pictures from my phone to facebook..!! Help please??
See my previous comment, 3 or 4 comments up. Hope it helps!
AHHHH! Cant anyone tell me how to upload pictures on this LG PHONE!! Please it would mean alot to me!:] please respond!
I love my phone. The only thing I don’t like is when a text fails to send and it still takes .5 minutes from me. Other than that my phone works great.
My dad bought me this phone, but it was $50 at CVS then $25 for 750.00 minutes. I have a Tracfone or how ever it’s spelled, and it DOSENT take way minutes, that’s why a have around 2,000. I just got this cuz the sound sucked on the ok phone, and this was the best phone at the store.
I am on the fence about this phone… like okay I love that its unlimited and that it looks better then most prepay phones… and its very durable because I be dropping my phone all the time…but what I dont like about it is that I cant go on a lot of sites online and I cant even listen to you tube videos or any music on it… and somehow all my pictures and my videos and music somehow got deleted off my card when I put it in the phone… I dont know Ive had this phone for almost a years and it is a good little phone just wish it was more capable to do the things I like to do! :/
Pamela, if you would have read the previous posts you would already know that this phone IS NOT A TRUE ANDROID INTERNET CAPABLE phone. It has LIMITED internet use.
If you need to make nationwide calls, Text, Listen to tunes, take pics, record videos then you’re good to go!!
It does all the above very well!
Techno
I lost my phone is there a way to find it like by tracking it?
Saysha, these are cheap at $30 you can but another,and this time put a secure password in it so no one else gets your info!!
Did you try to call it??
The lg900 does NOT have GPS so no you cannot track it!
Remember, Next time keep a grip on your phone and put a password in it!!
Techno
Ok…..i reallly need help on this phone!! How do I upload my pictures from my phone to facebook? Not useing anything to plug something into the computor but just upload it!!! HELP PLEASE! It would mean alot to me!