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CNET
05-05-2025
- CNET
You Can Find a Great $300 Phone as Long as You Make One Choice
If you need a new phone for less than $300, there are a plenty of options that could fulfill your most important needs. But there's a big trade-off when it comes to phones in this more affordable range. A phone with modern specs like an eye-catching design, improved multitasking and wireless charging might still only receive one or two major software updates and three years of security patches. Some sub-$300 phones have a longer timeline of four years for software updates and five years of security updates. But those devices skimp on certain features, possibly leaving you wanting to upgrade sooner anyway. This is the dilemma I've been weighing after testing a variety of phones that cost less than $300. We take software and security timelines seriously in our reviews because these updates can dictate whether devices get new software features and critical fixes. Now that premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the Pixel 9 are promised seven years of software and security updates, we'd like to see more affordable phones step up to at least four to five years. But we're not there just yet. Most phones that cost $300 or less are shipping with a promise of one additional software update and three years of security updates. Though Samsung is taking the opposite approach with its $200 Galaxy A15 5G and $300 Galaxy A25 5G, both of which get four years of software updates and five years of security updates, both have a dated design and lack features found on comparable phones. Samsung's new $200 Galaxy A16 is upping its software and security commitment to six years, but I haven't had the chance to test this phone yet. That means shoppers have to contend with the very same decision I've been pondering during the last few months: Do you go with a more feature-packed phone, such as the $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G, which has extremely fast wired charging and a 108-megapixel main camera? Or is it better to choose a more bare-bones phone like those in Samsung's Galaxy A series, which will get crucial software updates for years to come. And to make matters more confusing, what about an older device that's now available at a discount, such as the Google Pixel 6A? Left to right: The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G, Motorola's Moto G Power 5G, Google's Pixel 6A and the OnePlus Nord N30 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET More features, but shorter updates Motorola and OnePlus both offer $300 phones that are worthy of your time and attention. This 2024 Moto G Power 5G is a looker, starting with its Pale Lilac vegan leather design. The entire Moto G line now makes use of this material, which results in an easier grip should you choose not to use the phone with a case. Motorola has also thrown 15-watt wireless charging into the mix, making it one of the cheapest phones to include this option. You'll get faster, 30-watt speeds when plugging in the phone and charging it the old-fashioned way, but the flexibility to charge it without a cable is quite helpful -- and rare at this price. Motorola has also announced 2025 editions of the $200 Moto G and $300 Moto G Power that continue this trend of a colorful vegan leather design, durability and quick charging speeds. The OnePlus Nord N30 5G has an attractive reflective design, which emphasizes its 108-megapixel main camera. It took decent photos when I reviewed it last year, but the real value feature was its 50-watt SuperVooc charger. Even though it's proprietary (meaning only the included charger achieves these speeds), it replenishes the battery up to 75% in 30 minutes -- a speed that most other phones do not achieve. Both Motorola's and OnePlus' cheaper phones include a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate, NFC for contactless payments, and processors that are fast enough for multitasking along with playing games. But unfortunately, both these phones also have shorter update schedules. Though the N30 is still on sale, it's now nearly two years into its three-year security support commitment. Meanwhile, Motorola's 2025 Moto G phones are getting two years of software updates and three years of security updates, a slight uptick from the single software update the Moto G line received in prior years alongside the same security commitment. Samsung's Galaxy A25 (bottom) puts its selfie camera into a bezel-adjacent notch, while the Moto G Power 5G, Pixel 6A and OnePlus Nord N30 5G use a sleeker display cutout for the camera. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Long lifespan, but a phone that's less fun Samsung deserves recognition for extending the lifespan of its cheaper Galaxy A series phones. It's absolutely wonderful that both the $200 Galaxy A15 and the $300 Galaxy A25 are receiving four years of software updates and five years of security updates. And it's even better that the Galaxy A16 is receiving six years of each. No competitor even comes close to that promise. Samsung nailed the basics for both of these phones, with high-refresh displays, NFC contactless payments and powerful enough processors. But compared with other similarly priced phones, Samsung's Galaxy A devices feel dull. The A15 and A25 are made of plastic and have a blocky notch rather than the sleeker cutout for the selfie camera found on most other competing phones. While Samsung's cheaper phones can handle essentials without issue, they struggle with simple multitasking. The A15 in particular consistently loads slowly. Though the A25 fared better with most tasks, it occasionally stutters when loading games or playing music while using a web browser and password manager simultaneously. I look forward to testing the A16 to see if Samsung was able to improve phone performance for its lower-priced option. This makes the Galaxy A15 and Galaxy A25 completely adequate if all you want is a phone for communication that won't need replacing anytime soon. But I worry that you'll run into dead ends as apps and services develop over the coming years, especially if these phones are already easily overwhelmed. While the OnePlus Nord N30 5G released in 2023 and Google's Pixel 6A in 2022, both phones are still available for under $300 with features worth considering. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Could Google's Pixel 6A be the low-budget champion? You may have noticed that I didn't discuss the cameras on any of the previously mentioned phones. That's because while all of them feature at least 50-megapixel main cameras, none of them take particularly impressive photos. Yet Google's Pixel 6A remains available for sale and often gets priced under $300. Thanks to a recent extension given to the Pixel 6 and later, the Pixel 6A will now get software updates until July 2027 along with security updates for the same amount of time. This is a major boost to this cheaper phone's usability, especially considering that Google originally planned to sunset the Pixel 6A's software updates in 2025. The Pixel 6A's 12.2-megapixel main camera is still impressive for the price. It runs on Google's first generation Tensor processor and comes with many of the Pixel's flagship features like Magic Eraser for editing photos, Live Translate and other long-standing Pixel exclusives like Call Screening and Hold for Me. The Pixel 6A also includes the AI-powered Circle to Search. Even though the Pixel 6A will miss out on Google's newer and more advanced Gemini AI features, it's still a promising option even two years after its release. However, you won't get wireless charging or a headphone jack on the Pixel 6A, and its screen is smaller and dimmer than other phones mentioned in this story. The Moto G Power 5G (left) includes wireless charging while the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G (right) gets more years of software and security updates. Mike Sorrentino/CNET How to decide the best option? Your priorities matter most when choosing a budget phone. If you want the most features for an affordable price wrapped in an eye-catching design, consider phones from Motorola, Google and OnePlus. However, if the most important reason for buying a cheaper phone is to avoid upgrading for as long as possible, you should consider Samsung's Galaxy A phones. The irony is that you can't have both. The phone that gets updated for four years may not necessarily be the one you want to hang on to for four years.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
You Can Get a Great $300 Phone as Long as You Make One Choice
If you need a new phone for less than $300, there are a plenty of options that could fulfill your most important needs. But there's a big trade-off when it comes to phones in this more affordable range. A phone with modern specs like an eye-catching design, improved multitasking and wireless charging might still only receive one or two major software updates and three years of security patches. Some sub-$300 phones have a longer timeline of four years for software updates and five years of security updates. But those devices skimp on certain features, possibly leaving you wanting to upgrade sooner anyway. This is the dilemma I've been weighing after testing a variety of phones that cost less than $300. We take software and security timelines seriously in our reviews because these updates can dictate whether devices get new software features and critical fixes. Now that premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the Pixel 9 are promised seven years of software and security updates, we'd like to see more affordable phones step up to at least four to five years. But we're not there just yet. Most phones that cost $300 or less are shipping with a promise of one additional software update and three years of security updates. Though Samsung is taking the opposite approach with its $200 Galaxy A15 5G and $300 Galaxy A25 5G, both of which get four years of software updates and five years of security updates, both have a dated design and lack features found on comparable phones. Samsung's new $200 Galaxy A16 is upping its software and security commitment to six years, but I haven't had the chance to test this phone yet. That means shoppers have to contend with the very same decision I've been pondering during the last few months: Do you go with a more feature-packed phone, such as the $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G, which has extremely fast wired charging and a 108-megapixel main camera? Or is it better to choose a more bare-bones phone like those in Samsung's Galaxy A series, which will get crucial software updates for years to come. And to make matters more confusing, what about an older device that's now available at a discount, such as the Google Pixel 6A? Motorola and OnePlus both offer $300 phones that are worthy of your time and attention. This 2024 Moto G Power 5G is a looker, starting with its Pale Lilac vegan leather design. The entire Moto G line now makes use of this material, which results in an easier grip should you choose not to use the phone with a case. Motorola has also thrown 15-watt wireless charging into the mix, making it one of the cheapest phones to include this option. You'll get faster, 30-watt speeds when plugging in the phone and charging it the old-fashioned way, but the flexibility to charge it without a cable is quite helpful -- and rare at this price. Motorola has also announced 2025 editions of the $200 Moto G and $300 Moto G Power that continue this trend of a colorful vegan leather design, durability and quick charging speeds. The OnePlus Nord N30 5G has an attractive reflective design, which emphasizes its 108-megapixel main camera. It took decent photos when I reviewed it last year, but the real value feature was its 50-watt SuperVooc charger. Even though it's proprietary (meaning only the included charger achieves these speeds), it replenishes the battery up to 75% in 30 minutes -- a speed that most other phones do not achieve. Both Motorola's and OnePlus' cheaper phones include a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate, NFC for contactless payments, and processors that are fast enough for multitasking along with playing games. But unfortunately, both these phones also have shorter update schedules. Though the N30 is still on sale, it's now nearly two years into its three-year security support commitment. Meanwhile, Motorola's 2025 Moto G phones are getting two years of software updates and three years of security updates, a slight uptick from the single software update the Moto G line received in prior years alongside the same security commitment. Samsung deserves recognition for extending the lifespan of its cheaper Galaxy A series phones. It's absolutely wonderful that both the $200 Galaxy A15 and the $300 Galaxy A25 are receiving four years of software updates and five years of security updates. And it's even better that the Galaxy A16 is receiving six years of each. No competitor even comes close to that promise. Samsung nailed the basics for both of these phones, with high-refresh displays, NFC contactless payments and powerful enough processors. But compared with other similarly priced phones, Samsung's Galaxy A devices feel dull. The A15 and A25 are made of plastic and have a blocky notch rather than the sleeker cutout for the selfie camera found on most other competing phones. While Samsung's cheaper phones can handle essentials without issue, they struggle with simple multitasking. The A15 in particular consistently loads slowly. Though the A25 fared better with most tasks, it occasionally stutters when loading games or playing music while using a web browser and password manager simultaneously. I look forward to testing the A16 to see if Samsung was able to improve phone performance for its lower-priced option. This makes the Galaxy A15 and Galaxy A25 completely adequate if all you want is a phone for communication that won't need replacing anytime soon. But I worry that you'll run into dead ends as apps and services develop over the coming years, especially if these phones are already easily overwhelmed. You may have noticed that I didn't discuss the cameras on any of the previously mentioned phones. That's because while all of them feature at least 50-megapixel main cameras, none of them take particularly impressive photos. Yet Google's Pixel 6A remains available for sale and often gets priced under $300. Thanks to a recent extension given to the Pixel 6 and later, the Pixel 6A will now get software updates until July 2027 along with security updates for the same amount of time. This is a major boost to this cheaper phone's usability, especially considering that Google originally planned to sunset the Pixel 6A's software updates in 2025. The Pixel 6A's 12.2-megapixel main camera is still impressive for the price. It runs on Google's first generation Tensor processor and comes with many of the Pixel's flagship features like Magic Eraser for editing photos, Live Translate and other long-standing Pixel exclusives like Call Screening and Hold for Me. The Pixel 6A also includes the AI-powered Circle to Search. Even though the Pixel 6A will miss out on Google's newer and more advanced Gemini AI features, it's still a promising option even two years after its release. However, you won't get wireless charging or a headphone jack on the Pixel 6A, and its screen is smaller and dimmer than other phones mentioned in this story. Your priorities matter most when choosing a budget phone. If you want the most features for an affordable price wrapped in an eye-catching design, consider phones from Motorola, Google and OnePlus. However, if the most important reason for buying a cheaper phone is to avoid upgrading for as long as possible, you should consider Samsung's Galaxy A phones. The irony is that you can't have both. The phone that gets updated for four years may not necessarily be the one you want to hang on to for four years.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 'E' in iPhone 16E Might As Well Stand for Expensive
Apple has unveiled its newest phone, the iPhone 16E, and promptly removed its budget iPhone SE (2022) from its online store. While that suggests Apple sees its new phone as a follow-up to its only affordable option, its $600 price tag means it's more of a discounted premium handset than a true budget pick. But I hold out hope. I'm an iPhone SE truther: I believe the affordable phone space is too valuable for Apple to give up. The iPhone 16E inhabits a mid-range role that had been missing for a couple key reasons, but at some point, the company will triumphantly bring back the true inheritor of the iPhone SE throne, if only to stop Samsung from eating its lunch. Samsung's been dominating the market for budget phones for years with models like the Galaxy A15 5G, a sub-$200 phone that was the fourth best-selling phone in the US last year. Though Apple phone fans have at least had the $430 iPhone SE which was the most affordable way to access iOS and Apple services. The SE also suited users who wanted a no-frills iPhone that they could use for years. I can't imagine that the company wants to abandon that constituency. Check out: iPhone 16E Preorder Deals: How to Save on Apple's New Budget Model Even if Apple suggests the iPhone 16E is its budget option, the phone is serving a different purpose: being the most affordable phone with premium features. Aside from the performance of its A18 chip, it also has Apple Intelligence (and the unspecified amount of RAM needed to run it), a higher-resolution 48-megapixel rear camera and a 6.1-inch OLED display that covers the full front of the phone. It also supports satellite services for Apple's Emergency SOS and iMessage texting. All of these features likely justify the jump in price, but they also appeal to a different customer segment than buyers of the iPhone SE line. Who is the iPhone 16E for? Likely consumers who wanted those premium features and are willing to forego some for a "discount." There's a place for the iPhone 16E, but it's not at the very bottom of Apple's phone lineup. It was painfully obvious that Apple wasn't interested in updating the design on its later budget phones, with the 2022 iPhone SE carrying the same look (massive chin and top bars, home button) as the iPhone 6, which launched in 2014. There's presumably an economic advantage to pumping out the same old displays and body designs year after year. To its credit, Apple did endeavor to upgrade the hardware to ensure the later iPhone SE models could handle all new iOS features until gracefully aging out of software updates five to seven years later. But since Apple took the 2022 iPhone SE off its online store, it seems like the company wants to make a clean break from that phone. Hopefully, it's just to retire that specific aging design and use the iPhone 16E as a stopgap until the company figures out the best way forward. Ultimately, there are a few features, like Apple Intelligence and Emergency SOS, that require pricier components and chips to work. For now, it's not clear if Apple could make a cheaper phone with those features, which it's including in every new phone it releases. Perhaps Apple decides these are standard on its future phones, and if so, the iPhone SE line could be put on ice until these components become cheap enough to get its phones back down to budget prices. Of course, it's always possible that Apple decides that a price point lower than the iPhone 6E's $600 is unattainable. I don't think we've seen the last of the iPhone SE, or at least, I hold out hope. For all the phone nerds like me who want the latest and greatest, there are plenty others who just want a device that works with features they can depend on, and so far, Apple's given it to them at reasonable prices. I hope it becomes so again soon.
