Nokia 1221 (TracFone)

To keep this review orderly, I'm going to break it up to the good and bad points of the phone, and then move on to my personal experiences with this phone (it was my cell for several years, and I know it quite well) and finally a bit of a checklist you can go through to help determine if this phone is right for you.

The good!

1. It's DIRT CHEAP. A lot of "trendy" cell phones these days will cost you upwards of $100. From tracfones website it's only $20 and on ebay it's even cheaper (about half that price).
2. It's rather durable.
3. In the case that you DO break it... it's not a big deal to replace.
4. It's fairly simple to operate if you aren't technologically inclined.
5. This phone is text-message capable.


The bad...

1. The technology is outdated. Most phones come standard with color screens and polyphonic ring tones (pretty song-like ringers). This phone has a very pixel screen (think old mario and tetris games) and the ringers are monophonic (very basic and the "song" rings can get very tiring).
2. No vibrate function.
3. Does not come with picture or video capabilities (other than the very pixelated stoke pictures on the phone)
4. If service is not perfect on this phone it can be hard to hear (gets crackly, etc).
5. Due to it's candybar style, the screen is more vulnerable to scratches and if you forget to lock the keypad you can find yourself accidently calling people in your phone book and wasting minutes (not to mention their time).
6. No T9 messaging.


This phone was OK for me for the few years I had it, but my needs have simply outgrown it. While it was very durable through all it went through (various school trips and being thrown in and out of my purse, occasionally dropped) there are simply better deals for your money through tracfone. Now that's in it's last legs of life, it appears to be malfunctioning. My mother adopted the phone after I bought my new phone (LG flip from tracfone), but it seems to shut off after she hangs up on a call.


This phone could be the right choice for you IF:
1. You sincerely will only use it for emergencies.
2. The technological factor is not an issue.
3. You will not mind if the screen gets scratched or cracked.
4. You really want a cheap phone!

If you like to be on the up side of technology and don't feel like blowing your money on a RAZR, this phone is not for you. Tracfone is rapidly expanding their areas of service and where their technology goes. As soon as I see my current LG flip phone listed on ebay I will be giving it a review of excellence, because that is how it has treated me.

In the end, if you fit the qualities listed, go for it! If the shortcomings don't bother you than this phone could be your new best friend. If you're buying as a gift for someone... spring an extra $20-$30 and get a newer model phone. It will be well worth it.

I hope this guide has been useful, happy shopping fellow ebayers!

Cool Grraphics, easy to use and refill minutes. Used it where other services were unavailable. Wide service area with no roaming.

Tracfone discontinued NOKIA 1221.
Nokia 1221 Tracfone is of no use as a normal cellphone, Tracfone will not activate, reactivate Nokia 1221.
MIGHT be useable for 911 but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

I've had this phone for almost 2 years now. I have never had a problem with it. The tracfone service has very good coverage in my area. The battery life in this phone is good too.