Which Tracfone phones have Android 11?

[ultrarunner2020]

Hi;
I have a Moto G7 Optimo Maxx on Tracfone. The OS is Android 10.
I have been frustrated for many months over the problem with Android 10 always defaulting to SBC coded over Bluetooth even though my Jabra Elite Active 75t IEM's support both SBC and AAC.
I would like to use AAC for better quality, but I have read that Android 10 has a limitation which defaults to SBC on most phones.
So I'm thinking that maybe I can upgrade my phone to one that has Android 11 - while sticking with Tracfone.

Are there any phones (locked or unlocked) that will have the Android 11 OS and be compatible with Tracfone on a Verizon network?

As I stated at the beginning; I am looking for an upgrade, but I would accept a 'lateral' switch, so long as the phone is at least Android 11 and will work on Tracfone with Verizon hardware.

Thanks for your help
Ultrarunner

 

[B. Diddy]

Any recent Pixel phone would be a good choice.

 

[ultrarunner2020]

Update:
I just did a short chat session with TF asking them which phones have Android 12.
I was told that all Samsung, LG, TCL Alcatel phones use Android 12.
So I checked out one of their more expensive Android phones: The Samsung A51.
Nowhere does the description state which Android version it has installed, nor do they tell you how much storage it has. The phone comes in 64 and 128GB versions.
All TF does tell you is that it has a 48Mpix camera and is a GSM / 4G LTE phone, so it will work with Verizon.

Even when I checked out the same phone (128GB version) on Amazon, there was no statement about which Android version it had installed.
That said, I suppose that if I receive a phone that has Android 10, I would be able to upgrade at least to Android 11 - if not 12.
I suppose 11 would be OK, so long as it doesn't have that 'whitelist' for AAC over BT that Android 10 appears to have.

 

[B. Diddy]

Unfortunately, the Tracfone rep you spoke to was misinformed. Android 12 is currently still only available on Pixel phones. There are beta versions available for Samsung and OnePlus phones, but it's unclear when those will be finalized.

Don't assume that a phone with Android 10 will get an upgrade to Android 11 -- it depends on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers are notoriously bad at providing version upgrades.

 

[smvim]

...
I was told that all Samsung, LG, TCL Alcatel phones use Android 12.
...

Just to add to what B. Diddy posted regarding that Tracfone rep being misinformed, it also needs to be noted that LG has stopped making smartphones, so there are no new LG models to even be running Android 12. Resources devoted to new development (i.e. Android 12) isn't a part of its business plan so current support and maintenance is only for existing, older LG phones, and even that's going to dwindle down eventually.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Just to add to what B. Diddy posted regarding that Tracfone rep being misinformed, it also needs to be noted that LG has stopped making smartphones, so there are no new LG models to even be running Android 12. Resources devoted to new development (i.e. Android 12) isn't a part of its business plan so current support and maintenance is only for existing, older LG phones, and even that's going to dwindle down eventually.

Additionally, LG was always slow to update Android versions even on its flagship phones when it was still in the smartphone business.

 

[B. Diddy]

I also misspoke earlier -- Samsung just started pushing out Android 12 to the S21 (but not to any of their other flagship devices yet).

 

[ultrarunner2020]

Thanks guys;
You just saved me a big headache!
I'll wait until A12 has been around for a while to upgrade my phone. My current phone (Moto G7 Optimo Maxx with A10) will certainly keep me going well into next year!

To be honest, the only reason I was even considering an upgrade now is that the Moto G7 with Android 10 does not support the use of high quality codecs over Bluetooth. I have never been able to use anything except SBC.
Since Motorola is not upgrading this phone, a new phone would be my only option.
Turns out I have an 'older' pair of headphones (ATH-M50X) which are strictly wired, but sound so much better than both the BT devices I own.
Perhaps the codec is to blame, but it may just be that the quality of the BT devices I own isn't so great.
One is the Jabra Elite Active 75t (IEM), and the other is the JBL/UA Sport Wireless Train (on-ear).
I would like to purchase a pair of HiFiMAN Deva Pro, which are basically wired cans with a BT dongle, but would have to use them as wired with the phone. No point in spending over $300 on a pair of cans, then resorting to SBC!

 

[ultrarunner2020]

If I were to root my Moto G7, would I then be able to upgrade it to Android 11?
Or is rooting only to enable a phone to be used with a different carrier, or to install a custom ROM?
I'm not entirely sure I want to go through the hassle of rooting - and risk bricking the phone, but it's a thought.

 

[B. Diddy]

I'm not sure about your model. From this list, it sounds like the only G7 that has an Android 11 custom ROM is the G7 Power: https://www.xda-developers.com/android-11-custom-rom-list/