Skip to main content

LG’s $60 Aristo aims to satisfy growing demand for low-cost 4G smartphones

lg aristo news v1
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Affordable handsets were among the most popular category of phones last year. Research firm Gartner attributed a 3.9 percent market growth in the first quarter of 2016 to “demand for low-cost smartphones” and “affordable 4G smartphones.” And analysts at IDC report that budget devices like Samsung’s J-series helped drive a 1 percent increase in the number of smartphone shipments last year.

It’s no surprise, then, that smartphone makers like LG are doubling down on the low-cost strategy. On Tuesday, the company announced the LG Aristo, an entry-level device set to launch on MetroPCS later this month.

Recommended Videos

There’s nothing particularly noteworthy about the LG Aristo’s hardware, but that’s sort of the point — at $59 after instant rebate, it’s one of the cheapest smartphones in MetroPCS’s catalog. It sports a 5-inch 720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) 2.5D LCD screen with “in-cell” technology that LG says gives it “brilliant color” and “remarkable clarity.” And it pairs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 425, a midrange 1.4GHz quad-core model with an Adreno 308 graphics chip, with 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a microSD slot, Bluetooth 4.2, and a 4G-capable radio.

It sports a 13-megapixel rear shooter (with digital zoom up to 4x) and 5-megapixel selfie camera. There’s a fingerprint sensor on board, and a 2410mAh removable battery. And the Aristo packs convenience features like Gesture Interval Shot, which lets users raise a hand and make a fist to take four selfies in sequence; Selfie Light, which illuminates a soft light around the Aristo’s photo preview for selfies; and Auto Shot, which takes selfies automatically using face detection.

The LG Aristo will be MetroPCS’ first Android 7.0 Nougat phone when it launches there on January 23. It’s coming to T-Mobile on January 25 for $0 down and $6 per month for 24 months, which amounts to about $144. For a limited time, T-Mobile is offering 25 percent off a Tech21 protective case and screen protector for the Aristo when purchased together.

The LG Aristo may not pack the specifications of budget smartphones like, say, ZTE’s ZMax Pro, but it’s significantly less expensive — $144 versus $180. That gap alone is likely to move units off shelves. If price is your most important consideration, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal.

Deals like the LG Aristo speak in part to MetroPCS’ recent success. The prepaid carrier represents an increasing percentage of parent T-Mobile’s subscriber accrual over the past few months. “We’re killing it in prepaid,” Legere said during a recent earnings call. “The majority of our growth is on MetroPCS, as opposed to other brands.”

Kyle Wiggers
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
Best iPhone 15 deals: How to get Apple’s latest iPhone for free
The display on a green iPhone 15.

Apple recently released the iPhone 16, which makes now a great time to be looking at iPhone 15 deals. Even though it’s still a fairly recent release the iPhone 15 has found itself among the best phone deals from time to time, and you can even find it among the best Apple deals. Various retailers and carriers currently have discounts available on the iPhone 15, and we’ve rounded up all of the information below. You can also shop the best refurbished iPhone deals if you’re looking for ultimate savings, and there are plenty of iPhone 14 deals and iPhone SE deals to look at if having the most recent iPhone release isn’t of importance to you.
Today's best iPhone 15 deals

: Get up to $700 in savings when you trade in a similar device. Also included are 3 free months of Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, and 4 free months of Apple Arcade.
: Get the iPhone 15 128GB model for free with a new line and 36 months of bill credits.
: Get the iPhone 15 128GB model for free via 24 monthly bill credits when you trade-in an eligible device on a Go5G Next plan.
: Get the iPhone 15 128GB model for just $11 per month for 36 months (regularly $21 per month).

Read more
The best Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max screen protectors for 2024
Someone holding the iPhone 16 Pro.

Apple's new iPhone 16 series is now available, and after snagging the best iPhone 16 Pro deals, you're probably thinking about how you protect your shiny, expensive investment. You may want the best rugged case, or you could chosoe to be brave and leave it fully unprotected.

Regardless of whether you pick up a case or not, you'll definitely want to buy one of the best Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max screen protectors. The question is which one should you buy? Is one type better than others? Do you go for something that provides minimalist protection for just scratches, or one of the most durable options that will keep your phone protected even if you have butterfingers?

Read more
Best phone deals: Save on the iPhone, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and more
Galaxy S22 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro cameras seen from the back.

There have been several new phones recently released, which typically means there’s going to be plenty of phone deals on previous generations in addition to what the new releases have to offer. There is plenty of savings out there if you’re in the market for iPhone deals, Samsung Galaxy deals, or Google Pixel deals, and here we’re going to look at the best of everything that’s available. If you’d like to shop for specific phone deals you can check out today’s iPhone 15 deals, Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, and Google Pixel 8 deals, but if you don’t have a specific phone in mind just yet read onward for all of the day’s best phone deals.
Nokia C300 (Unlocked) — $120, was $140

The Nokia name may trigger nostalgia for the early days of cell phones, but the Nokia C300 is as modern as it gets in an entry-level smartphone. It has an octa-core processor for better performance and multi-tasking, yet still manages to get up to two full days of battery life on a single charge. Its camera system is more on the entry-level end, but it still takes 13-megapixel pictures and has three lenses for different shooting scenarios. This phone comes with a pre-installed, full version of Android 12, allowing you to keep up to date with all the latest features the operating software has to offer.

Read more