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The OnePlus 8 may be a last-gen phone, but it's a great one to pick up for a song. Especially today as Amazon has a great Prime Day deal that brings it to a new record low price.The device did well in our review, wowing us with its 90Hz display, constantly speedy performance, and enduring battery life. You also get excellent 5G reception for what you pay today thanks to the Snapdragon 865 chipset plus 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
Google's white Pixel 4a 5G will no longer be a Verizon exclusive
The color was previously only available on Verizon's mmWave version
Google shook up its smartphone lineup during 2020, and part of that was releasing a new third tier of Pixel phones between the budget 'a' series and the flagship offerings. The Pixel 4a 5G ended up being the best of Google's three 2020 phones, and now a new color is available for anyone buying the phone unlocked.
Android 11 rolls out widely to US unlocked Galaxy S20 series
One UI 3.0 for Samsung's main 2020 flagships
Slowly but surely, Samsung is rolling out its Android 11 update (also known as One UI 3.0) across its product lineup. In the United States, most carrier variants of the Galaxy S20 series started receiving the OS upgrade in December, and now the carrier-unlocked models are joining the party.
Unlocked Galaxy S20+ hits new record low price of $812 ($138 off) on Amazon
Full-fledged, loses the pricey edge
We're another month removed from the release of the Samsung Galaxy S20 series and another month closer to the announcement of the Galaxy S21 series. So, if you want a Galaxy S20+ without having to tie strings with a carrier, you'll be able to get it unlocked for even less than its previous best price.You know the numbers: a Snapdragon 865 with 12GB of RAM, a 6.7" AMOLED display, a 64MP lead camera, a 4,500mAh battery, and 128GB of internal storage. It's just about as much of a phone as a Galaxy S20 if only a bit physically bigger — buyer's discretion is advised. But it will work on all three major networks in the U.S. and comes with a corresponding manufacturer warranty, so those are things you don't have to worry about!
Gift the Moto G7 Play as a first phone for the record low price of $100 ($30 off)
The basics done right and for the right price
Looking to buy a smartphone for a first-timer old or young? The Moto G7 Play is a lovely choice — easy to use, decent battery life, and cheap as it is. But since we're in Black Friday, of course, it's cheaper. Like, $30 cheaper to be exact.The phone's pretty darn livable with seemingly average specs: a 5.7" 19:9 720p display, a Snapdragon 632 processor with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (can take up to 512GB via microSD), a fingerprint sensor and single 13MP camera at back, an 8MP unit up front, and USB-C data and 10W charging input — that last bit punches above its weight at this price tier as most stick with 7.5W or even 5W. Plus, you can take it to AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or any of their affiliate networks.
Grab the OnePlus 7T right now for as low as $349 ($100 off)
Can't nab that price? You might be able to check it out for $370
The OnePlus 7T is a sturdy choice for a pocket filler in 2020 even as 5G marketing continues its assault down our collective gullets. Normally sold these days at around $450, you can get one today for up to $100 off!
Grab an international Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra as low as $980 on eBay
Significantly cheaper than the US models
Some people are always looking for a way to get the best and newest for cheaper and there are those who are able to provide it. eBay seller sobeonline1 is one of those providers and they have just provided the Galaxy Note20 Ultra in its international, dual-SIM, 256GB form, for $150 off the price of the 128GB U.S., single-SIM version.
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G on sale at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
The Galaxy A71 5G is available unlocked
If you took a look at this month's Unpacked announcements and found yourself sweating at how expensive those phones are, Samsung wants you to know that it's got you covered with 5G phones that don't break the bank. We actually saw a 4G version of the Galaxy A51 come out a few months ago with the promise of a 5G version later on in the summer. Well, that time has come.T-Mobile customers were first to be able to buy a Galaxy A51 5G on August 7 for $504. Metro by T-Mobile got the phone at some point, too, for $500. Verizon received a special version that will work on its millimeter wave or Ultra Wideband network on August 13 for the limited-time promotional price $360 on a 24-month installment plan — it's also available on Samsung.com as well for its full retail price of $550. AT&T and AT&T Prepaid round out the list with availability from August 21 with the postpaid operation offering a promotional price of $150 on a 30-month device installment plan.For context, the 4G A51 has an MSRP of $400.This is basically a Galaxy A51 with 5G radios — that means the same 6.5" 2400 x 1080 AMOLED display with an optical fingerprint sensor beneath the screen, a selfie camera right at the top of it, and four cameras (led by a 48MP unit) at the back. A couple of differences here come in the memory with RAM going up from 4GB on the 4G phone to 6GB here and microSD capacity jumping from 512GB to 1TB, though the 128GB internal storage remains the same.
ZTE Axon 10 Pro with 12GB of RAM is just $330 ($270 off) today only
That's a stunning dollar-to-RAM ratio
If you're looking for a phone off the beaten path to play around with, there aren't many options quite like the ZTE Axon 10 Pro. This Snapdragon 855 phone is still on sale in the U.S. unlocked market at B&H, and, for just today only, it's on sale for as low as $300.
Motorola Edge, unlocked for all US carriers, goes on pre-order starting at $500
And there's a spec switcheroo, too
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In April, Motorola brought out the Edge+, a Verizon-exclusive $1,000 phone that broke away from the Moto Z monotony with invigorated industrial design and integrated 5G connectivity. What we kinda glossed over — with fair reason given what little detail we had then — is the fact that the company also launched a mid-range 5G phone with similar looks called the Edge in Europe. Well, that device has made its way stateside, unlocked, and with a couple key spec boosts to boot.The Edge has a similar industrial design to the Edge+ — curved glass wrapped around an aluminum frame. In fact, both share the same 6.7" display with 90Hz refresh rate and the same 25MP selfie camera that's been "punched" into said display.Here are the specs as they are provided for the U.S.:
Samsung giving away free Galaxy Buds with unlocked Galaxy A51 purchases
A51 also available without the earbuds at AT&T, Xfinity Mobile
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After having an early run elsewhere around the world, Samsung is preparing to inundate the U.S. market with a half-dozen lower-cost smartphones this year — including the company's first cut-price 5G phones. Two of those phones are launching tomorrow: the Galaxy A01 and the Galaxy A51.
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If you're looking to grab a good and cheap phone to tide you over for a hot second — especially with all the crises that can be posed this very Thursday — we're just gonna point you to a lightning deal for Samsung's Galaxy A10e on Amazon right now. Like, seriously, now now.The A10e has gotten around the carriers as a leaner version of the more popular mid-ranger, the A50. It's got a 5.8" display with fairly good surface coverage, 32GB of storage, and a 3,000mAh battery. No army of cameras, just humble front and back units to do what you need. It's no screamer in the performance department, either, but you'll be able to use it at your carrier of choice in the U.S.
[Update: Nope] CEO says Huawei Mate 30 bootloader is unlockable, opening easy pathway to Google apps
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Huawei might have been able to deploy Android 10 just in time for its Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro releases, but, thanks to a looming U.S. imports ban, Western markets will not be able to use Google apps and services on those phones... at least out of the box. We've been expecting a couple of twists to come out of the company in order to accommodate those Google-dependent customers and they have certainly come — right out of the CEO's mouth.
It's undeniable that the Galaxy Note 10 and 10+ are the "best" stylus phones you can buy, but they're incredibly expensive. If you want a stylus that lives in your phone and don't feel like spending $1,000 to get it, the LG Stylo 5 might do the trick. This phone is easier to get now that it's available unlocked in the US, priced at $299.99.The LG Stylo 5 is a modestly specced device with a Snapdragon 450 and 3GB of RAM. The 6.2-inch 1080p LCD gets the job done, and there's a capacitive stylus that docks inside the phone. There's a fingerprint sensor around back, along with a single 13MP camera.Not only is this phone unlocked, but it also works on all major US carriers (CDMA and GSM). The phone costs $299.99, which is a bit more than carriers were asking at launch. However, Best Buy will knock $50 off the price if you activate on Verizon or AT&T and $100 off if you activate on Sprint. There's also a slightly cheaper Amazon version with bundled Amazon apps.Buy: Best Buy, B&H, Amazon
The new Palm Phone is, shall we say, a very complicated device. Then again, it was somewhat difficult to get a hold of in the first place: since its launch in November, it's been exclusive to Verizon and up until late April, you had to have a primary phone on a line of service to pick up this $350 "accessory." Nowadays, customers can use a Palm Phone as their main device, but that still leaves Big Red outsiders high and dry. Today, Palm is fixing that as it is availing its phone direct to buyers unlocked for use on most GSM networks.
If you think paying nearly $1,000 for a good phone these days is bonkers, you're not alone — we think there are plenty of fine unlocked options well under four digits that will suit most if not all your needs. That includes phones from the recent past like the Galaxy S9+, now on Amazon for $534 or less.Sure, you may not be getting an in-display fingerprint sensor or three cameras on the back as with the Galaxy S10+, but you should be able to a very stable experience overall. The Galaxy S9+ gets all of the basics right and has some of the whimsical software features you may or may not care for.Samsung and many other U.S. retailers are currently selling unlocked 64GB units new for $600. B&H has the S9+ at the oddball price of $589 while Best Buy will take it down to $500 if you immediately activate it on AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon — the good news is that since you're paying for the device in full and the service isn't on contract, you may choose to pull your phone off the service after a month.But if you don't have time for that rigmarole, you should take a look at Amazon: prices have dropped precipitously over the past couple of days from the $589 level and it doesn't look like the adjustments are over just yet.At the moment, Amazon is selling and fulfilling S9+ orders for $533.37 — that number has changed several times since we started writing this story. Meanwhile, third-party sellers on Amazon have been eager to jump in with their own stock at lower prices with one seller going as low as $521. That lot got bought up pretty quick, as you could imagine.
Although there have now been three successors to the LG V30 — V30S, V35, and V40 — the phone has only been out for a bit over a year. Thus, it's pretty surprising that an AT&T unlocked version can now be had for 9.99 new, which is a lot more appealing than its $799.99 MSRP.
FM radio might be hideously old-fashioned in this age of constantly connected streaming media, but it's free and sometimes it's just easier than finding streaming content. Samsung's phones have hardware support for FM radio reception, but the feature was missing from the unlocked Galaxy S9 and S9+ at launch. With the most recent update, that mistake has been rectified.
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Android 8.0 Oreo is finally rolling out to unlocked Moto Z handsets with model number XT1650-03 in the United States. The release weighs in at just over 1.4GB and includes Android security patches up to March 1. It comes almost two months after Oreo started reaching Moto Z owners in Brazil.
The LG V30's update to Android 8.0 Oreo has been rolling out for months and months. It started in South Korea and later added the V30 ThinQ smart camera and search features, then it spread to the US and arrived for Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, and finally T-Mobile. Now the unlocked US variant is getting it too.