Earlier this week, Samsung US offered discounts on the Galaxy Tab S9 series — those discounts are still available, by the way. The 2023 tablets get a new Galaxy AI update, which puts them in the spotlight again. But buying the 2022 Ultra may be a more cost-effective option.
The base Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is priced at $700 for the 8/128GB configuration (with microSD slot), while the 12/256GB version is on clearance for $750. By comparison, the 12/256GB Tab S9 Ultra costs $1,070.
Both tablets feature a 14.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and an 11,200mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging. Where they differ is in the chipset – the older model uses Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the new one Gen 2 – and the IP68 dust and water resistance added last year. Whether these things are worth the extra $300 or not is up to you.
Samsung US has also struck deals with some carriers for up to $1,000 in trade-in credits for the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5. If your contract is expiring, you should check out previous posts. If not, you can pick up the 512GB Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 for $900 from Amazon (it’s $1,120 on Samsung.com, and even the 256GB version is $1,000 before trade-in).
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is still quite expensive, priced at $1,400 for 12/256GB. Of course, the Z 6 generation is still a few months away, as Samsung plans to launch it during the Olympics. There’s talk of a cheaper FE and a more premium Ultra model.
Or you can opt for the $1,500 OnePlus Open (with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage). It has an LTPO display both inside and out, as well as a 64MP 3x telephoto camera (vs. 10MP 3x on the Galaxy), and a 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera (vs. 12MP).
Samsung has refused to launch the Galaxy A55 in the United States, and the A35 is not yet available. That leaves two options for phones in this class: last year’s Galaxy A54 and Galaxy S23 FE.
The S23 FE has a more premium build with an aluminum frame (the A54 uses plastic) and a more powerful chipset – Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with Exynos 1380. It also has a telephoto camera, 8MP module with 3x lens. However, the 8:28 hours of active use rating is quite disappointing compared to the A54’s 11:15 hours. The A54 also features expandable storage. If Galaxy A55 is launched, it will definitely be your first choice. But without it, the older A54 might be a better choice — certainly when there’s a $200 price difference to the S23 FE.
OnePlus is one of the few manufacturers selling foldable phones in the United States, and it also makes tablets. OnePlus Pad features an 11.61-inch IPS LCD, a premium panel with 10-bit color, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The Dimensity 9000 runs at up to 144Hz and has a pretty powerful gaming GPU. This Pad has four speakers and a 9,510mAh battery with 67W charging power, making it great for entertainment (and work, too).
In addition to its new foldable products, Samsung is expected to eventually launch a smart ring at the Olympics. But the Galaxy Ring is far from the first smart ring. Oura has been in the works for a while and released its third generation in 2021.
You can buy the silver version for $300, but there are other colorways available to match your look. You should go to the store or buy a sizing kit for $10 – the ring isn’t like a smartband with an adjustable strap. But just like a smart bracelet, the Oura Ring can track your heart rate and blood oxygen, sleep quality, and read your body temperature to provide women with period predictions up to 30 days in advance.
Smartphone gaming is by far the most profitable segment, but dedicated portable gaming consoles have carved out a niche for themselves. The ASUS ROG Ally (Ryzen Z1) was briefly available at Best Buy for $300. The price is now back up to $400, but keep in mind that this model launched at $600. Regardless, you can still buy an open-box console for $300 and play all the Windows games that don’t run on your phone (except streaming games).
ASUS ROG Ally
AMD Ryzen Z1, 7-inch 120Hz 1080p LCD display, 512GB
Instant discount of US$100/US$200
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