The OnePlus 12R isn’t a flagship, but with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and an LTPO AMOLED display (6.78 inches, 1264p), it sure looks like one. You can buy one for $500 or less.
This is the 8/128GB configuration, but you can double that to 16/256GB for $100 more. Here’s one way to make Galaxy S24 owners jealous – or you could show them the 100W charger that comes in the box.
Regardless, you can pick up the phone from Amazon and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Or, if you want to get rid of an old phone, visit OnePlus.com. The trade-in program offers up to $400 in credit, $100 of which is guaranteed (“any phone, any condition”). If you are a student, you can enjoy a 10% discount. Additionally, you can get 30% off on OnePlus Watch 2 and OnePlus Buds 3.
The OnePlus 12 is a true flagship, as it comes with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a QHD+ LTPO display, and a great set of cameras (the 12R is pretty basic in this regard). You can get up to $700 in trade-in credit from OnePlus.com, $100 of which is guaranteed (again, “any phone, any condition”).
For roughly the same cash as the 12R, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. This one uses the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, and its display only has an FHD+ resolution (and it’s not an LTPO panel). You do get a telephoto camera (even if it’s only 3x 8MP), proper IP68 dust and water resistance (versus IP64 on the 12R) and wireless charging (but wired charging is only 25W). In addition, the S23 FE will receive an additional year of support, an OS update (but will expire starting with older Android versions) and a total of five years of security patches.
Another option is the Google Pixel 7 Pro. This one comes with a 6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO display, a proper 48MP 5x periscope, and wired and wireless charging (both equally slow at 23W). This model was launched in late 2022 and the Tensor G1 chipset has a bad reputation. The phone will be supported for longer, though (you should see Android 16 and security patches by 2027).
If you’re looking for a big, cheap tablet, the Amazon Fire Max 11 is your best bet. Its 11-inch IPS LCD has a resolution of 2,000 x 1,200 pixels and runs at 60Hz. The eight-core MediaTek chipset is better than what’s inside other Fire tablets, and overall it’s pretty good. While there’s a microSD slot, we recommend spending a little more and getting the 128GB model – it’s just $15 more. Note: This does not have lock screen ads (usually, this requires an additional fee).
A few weeks ago, we spotted an Apple MacBook Air with an M2 processor for $950. Now, though, you can buy a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro for $1,000, also with the M2, but air-cooled. This applies to the same 8/256GB configuration. You can get double the storage for $100 more, but Best Buy doesn’t stock the 16GB RAM model (it has a 24GB/1TB option, which costs $300 to upgrade).
For reference, the new Apple MacBook Pro with the M3 chip costs $1,450 in the 8/512GB configuration. This generation is slightly larger (14-inch display) and ditches the Touch Bar in favor of more standard function keys.
The MacBook Air 13.6-inch M2 from a few weeks ago is now down to $900 for 8/256GB and $1,100 for 8/512GB.
We’ve previously recommended this bundle – PlayStation 5 slim (disc version) and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 . However, it normally sells for $500 and is now 10% off.
Gamers who don’t like wires should check out the Logitech G Fits. It looks like a pair of Bluetooth TWS headphones (and it is), but it comes with a USB adapter for low-latency Lightspeed connectivity. Lightspeed is Logitech’s technology also used in its wireless mice. This applies to consoles like the PS5, PCs, and smartphones. If you want the same thing at a cheaper price, check out Anker’s Soundcore VR P10.
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