While smartphones have evolved to be an essential means of communication, getting a flagship model from either Samsung or Apple is still a luxury. Luckily, there are more than a few low-cost alternatives that have managed to pack high-end features into a more affordable handset. Right now, Best Buy makes two of the best budget phones featured in our roundup, the Motorolla Moto G7 and Google Pixel 3a even more affordable with discounts up to $170.
The Moto G7 is perfect for those fans of a massive screen. It flaunts a 6.2-inch IPS LCD screen surrounded by minimal bezels and only a tear-drop notch to maximize its Full HD+ Max Vision display. With a pixel resolution of 2,270 x 1,080 along with a 19:9 aspect ratio, you’re set for a comfortable viewing experience.
This midrange contender boasts a solid performance with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 632 processor and 4GB of RAM. It might not be the best multitasker but apps seem to fire up pretty quick. It runs on Android 9.0 Pie with quirky Moto Actions that allow you to create custom shortcuts as well as utilize its display options that enable you to interact with notifications even when it is locked.
The fingerprint sensor can be found right under dual-camera setup at the back but can also be unlocked via facial recognition through the 8-megapixel front-facing camera. Flip it over and you’ll find the 12-megapixel main camera which is complemented by the secondary 5-megapixel camera for depth. You’ll be able to take good shots in the right conditions but it struggles in low light.
Its 3,000mAh battery is built to last a day and features TurboPower charging through the future-proof USB-C port. The Moto G7 is often considered the midrange champ with a 4-star rating on our review to back it up. It normally rings in at $300 but Best Buy gets you a better price at just $130.
Google Pixel 3a
— $250 ($150 off)
Image used with permission by copyright holder
If you’re in store for the purest Android experience, the Google Pixel 3a gives you just that along with the security of software updates for the next three years. Two features our editor particularly loved are Now Playing and Call Screen. The first detects the song currently playing in your surroundings while the latter spares you from answering infuriating robocalls.
In terms of design and display, the Moto G7 may have the upper hand as Google’s Pixel 3a still has thick bezels when the trend is to phase it out as much as possible. While its 5.6-inch screen is obviously smaller with a lower pixel resolution of 2,220 x 1,080, it does step up with OLED panels that deliver sharp and captivating imagery in any light and a more impressive 4.5-star rating on our review. As for performance, the Pixel 3a clearly wins with the speedier Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. This means that you’ll have no issue loading games like PUBG: Mobile even when set to a high graphical quality.
Having a competent camera is an understatement as the Pixel 3a is lauded for being one of the best camera phones for 2019. Its 12.2-megapixel lens is capable of snapping well-detailed photos with accurate colors and strong HDR even in low light. Google’s Night Sight feature is great for ultra-dark situations while its A.I. can be counted on to digitally enhance your pictures. Selfies are similarly detailed with an 8-megapixel lens and videos are smooth, boasting 4K content up to 30 frames per second.
Running out of juice would be unlikely with the Google Pixel 3a because it also packs a 3,000 mAh battery that can be stretched to a full day’s worth of use. Snag this cool $400 phone while it’s available for only $250 from Best Buy.
Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals: Grab the foldable phone for $700
While the more recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has turned attention away from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Z Fold 4 is still an incredibly capable smartphone. Newer tech releases often make previous generations much more affordable, and that’s certainly the case with the Z Fold 4. While much of what’s available out there are refurbished models, there’s some huge savings to be had on a Z Fold 4. Retailers like Amazon and Back Market offer great ways to save, and we’ve got all of the information you need to do so. Reading onward you’ll find links to the best Samsung Z Fold 4 deals you can shop right now, as well as a little information on what each retailer has to offer with a purchase.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Best Buy
The Unlocked 512GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is on clearance at Best Buy. The popular retailer is really showing up with this deal, which sees the Z Fold 4 marked down to $700 and makes for nearly $1,300 in savings. Even more savings are available if you have an eligible device trade-in.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Amazon
Amazon may currently have the widest variety of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals. You’ll find both the 256GB and 512GB models discounted there, as though much of what's available are renewed models. Don't hold back because it's renewed, though, as Amazon has a great return policy should you receive something that doesn't live up to its condition. You can save even more when purchasing a Galaxy Z Fold 4 at Amazon if you have an eligible device to trade-in.
Best Verizon new customer deals: Galaxy S24, iPhone and more
If you’re in the market for one of the best phones, or any new phone for that matter, you’re going to need a good carrier. Verizon has long been one of the most popular options, as it boasts one of the most reliable networks in the United States. It offers some of the best cell phone plans out there, and for new customers Verizon also offers some pretty impressive discounts on new phones. In many cases this means you can brand new, recently released phones entirely for free when signing up with Verizon. And that’s the case right now, as we’re currently seeing some of the best Verizon new customer deals we’ve seen. You can pretty easily land a new iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone, and Google Pixel for free, and we’ve got all of the details on how to do so. If that sounds enticing, read onward and start shopping the best Verizon new customer deals available right now.
Free iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
The 2022 release of the Apple iPhone SE is yours for free when you sign up for a new 5G data plan on Verizon -- no trade-ins required. It's the best small smartphone in our list of the best smartphones with a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display, but it doesn't sacrifice performance as it's powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip that's also found in the iPhone 13 line and pre-installed with iOS 15. The latest iPhone SE is equipped with a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, which are boosted by Apple's software to enable better photographs.
The best noise-canceling headphones you can buy are 18% off
There is a lot of competition at the top end of headphones and Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology, with the last few years mostly being dominated by Sony and Apple battling it out for the top spot. Well, Sony's latest release, the Sony WH-1000XM5, is possibly one of the best headphones on the market when it comes to audio quality and ANC. While that does mean that they can get quite expensive, you can actually get a pretty significant discount with this deal from Walmart that knocks it down to $328 from $400.
Why you should buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
Where the Sony WH-1000XM5 truly stands out is in its ANC, which is by far the best on the market, even beating out the AirPods Max, which is impressive considering how good the ANC is on the Max. It's also good in almost any scenario, from the clinks and din of a coffee shop to the deep yet whining noise of an airplane engine, so it's great if you tend to spend a lot of time outside of the house. The only place where the Sony loses out to the AirPods Max is the transparency mode, which is only slightly better on the Max, although the automation for the ANC and transparency modes on the XM5 is still pretty excellent.
