[MD-Sligo] FW: [tech-vi Announce List] Great Low-Priced Smartphones

Tue Jun 6 22:39:47 UTC 2023

From: tech-vi at groups.io <tech-vi at groups.io> On Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 5:17 PM
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Subject: [tech-vi Announce List] Great Low-Priced Smartphones

Latest News from Consumer Reports - Monday, June 5, 2023 at 4:23 PM

Great Low-Priced Smartphones

These 10 phones deliver admirable performance—even without the very latest cameras and processors—for $600 or less

By Melanie Pinola

Looking for a great phone at a reasonable price? Though the cost of premium options continues to rise—now topping $2,000 in some cases—that doesn’t mean you have to raid your savings account to get what you want.

There are plenty of phones on the market today that are more budget-friendly ($600 or less) and offer features that users have come to expect. The 10 best low-priced smartphones listed below might not have the fanciest cameras, the fastest processors, or handy features like wireless charging. But for a lot of people, they make excellent choices. All are 5G-capable and score well in our performance, battery, and durability tests.

Before we get to the list, though, here are some tips for finding a great low-priced smartphone.

Buy an older model. Richard Fisco, Consumer Reports’ head of electronics testing, says there’s often little difference in technology between today’s phones and the models they replace. And choosing last year’s model can yield significant savings.

Case in point: The iPhone 12 <https://www.consumerreports.org/products/cell-phones-services-28951/smartphones-28726/apple-iphone-12-402431/> , which cost $830 when it came out in 2020, can now be had for $600. The OnePlus 10 Pro <https://www.consumerreports.org/products/cell-phones-200703/smartphones-28726/oneplus-9-403938/> , released in 2022 with a $899 starting price, now costs $499.

Look at lesser-known brands. Samsung and Apple aren’t the only companies that make top-rated phones. Google, OnePlus, and others have designed models that impress our testers <https://www.consumerreports.org/smartphones/five-great-smartphones-not-made-by-apple-or-samsung/> , too. A couple of those options are listed below.

Buy refurbished. One person’s trade-in is another person’s treasure, especially when it saves money. But do your homework <https://www.consumerreports.org/smartphones/should-you-buy-a-refurbished-phone-a1521807626/> . Not all retailers refurbish phones with the same care.

Refurbished phones sold in Apple’s stores and on its website <https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/iphone?afid=p238%7CsJnIMS0du-dc_mtid_1870765e38482_pcrid_308995216990_&cid=aos-us-kwgo-iPhone--slid--product->  have a new battery, a new outer shell, a new white box, and even a new 1-year warranty in case anything goes wrong. Samsung has similar standards for the refurbished phones sold on its website <https://www.samsung.com/us/explore/certified-pre-owned-phones/> .

But refurbished phones offered by other retailers might not have new batteries or a full-year warranty, and they sometimes come packaged without a charging cord. So before buying a refurbished phone, always inquire about its condition, the return policy, and whether the device is covered by a warranty. Look for the “certified pre-owned phone” designation to make sure the hardware and software have been carefully inspected for any flaws.

Need more ideas? Here’s a look at some of Consumer Reports’ highest-rated phones for $600 or less. Members can check out our full smartphone ratings <https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cell-phones-services.htm>  for additional details.

OnePlus 10 Pro 5G

CR’s take: The OnePlus 10 Pro is the best-performing phone not made by Apple or Samsung in our ratings. It earns top marks for its bright 6.7-inch display, impressive performance, and image and video quality from the three rear cameras. On the flipside, the 30.5-hour battery life is shorter than that on similarly sized phones, and the 10 Pro isn’t rated for water resistance.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

CR’s take: The 6.4-inch Galaxy S21 FE (Fan Edition) fits between the S21 and S21+ in size. It costs less than all the other models in the S21 series without making too many compromises. While its battery life is just 29 hours and its rear cameras aren’t as advanced as those on its siblings, the S21 FE had strong performance overall in CR’s tests.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

CR’s take: The Samsung Galaxy A54 stands out for having a 6.4-inch display with a high 120-hertz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations. The model also has an impressive 46-hour battery life, although it lacks wireless charging. It boasts a triple-rear camera system (50-megapixel main, 12MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro camera), along with a 32MP front selfie camera. Add in a memory card for expandable storage and this is a very capable phone at a wallet-friendly price.

Apple iPhone SE 2022

CR’s take: This entry-level iPhone has a small display, measuring just 4.7 inches diagonally. But packed into the diminutive phone is Apple’s A15 processor and a battery that lasts 30 hours in our tests, which is unusual for a phone this size. The SE comes with just a single rear camera, yet CR’s expert testers still praise the model’s still-image, rear-video, and selfie-image quality.

Google Pixel 7

CR’s take: This 6.3-inch phone uses Google’s custom-built chip and earns top marks for performance and ease of use. The model receives strong ratings for still-image, selfie-image, and rear-video quality, too. Features like wireless charging and a fingerprint sensor add to the phone’s appeal. The Pixel 7 lasted 29 hours on one charge in our labs.

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

CR’s take: With a 45-hour battery life, the Galaxy A52 5G has more staying power than most phones in our ratings—at any price range. You also get a top-quality 6.5-inch display that’s water-resistant and survived CR’s demanding durability tests. The rear cameras rate just okay for still-image and video quality, however. 

OnePlus Nord N20 5G

CR’s take: This 6.4-inch phone is the one of the lowest-priced models to earn a CR recommendation. It has a whopping 44.5-hour battery life and a memory card slot for expanding the storage capacity. And according to CR testers, the overall performance and still-image, selfie-image, and video quality are all very respectable.

Google Pixel 6a

CR’s take: The Pixel 6a carries the same price as its predecessor, but it packs Google’s home-brewed Tensor chipset, which enables the phone to do some fancy photo tricks. CR testers praise the bright 6.1-inch display, the quality of the selfie-cam photos, and the performance of the two rear cameras for still images and video. The battery life is 30.5 hours.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

CR’s take: With a 6.5-inch display, the Galaxy A53 5G is one of the most budget-friendly large-screen smartphones <https://www.consumerreports.org/smartphones/best-large-screen-smartphones-a1082428960/>  on the market. The model earns strong scores for the video and still-image quality from the four rear cameras, and it has a memory card slot, a feature fast going by the wayside for phones these days. The battery lasted 36.5 hours in our tests.

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

CR’s take: If you’re okay with giving up a zoom lens, water resistance, and wireless charging, you can save even more money with the Galaxy A42 5G <https://www.consumerreports.org/products/cell-phones-200703/smartphones-28726/samsung-galaxy-a42-5g-403707/> , which lasted a whopping 49 hours in our battery life tests, second only to the 52.5 hours of the $1,100 iPhone 13 Pro Max <https://www.consumerreports.org/products/cell-phones-200703/smartphones-28726/apple-iphone-13-pro-max-404546/> .

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2023, Consumer Reports, Inc.

https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/cell-phones/great-low-priced-smartphones-a9663548941/

     David Goldfield 

Assistive Technology Specialist

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