Latest news with #budgetphone
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Motorola's newest mid-range trio includes a Moto G86 Power with a ridiculously big battery
Are you looking for a nice budget 5G phone with a respectable set of specifications and a stylish design... on the old continent? Motorola has not one and not two but three very compelling new mid-range soldiers for you to consider, especially if you like an Android handset capable of delivering more than a day of battery life without breaking the bank. With a little more fanfare than a couple of days ago, the Moto G56 5G, Moto G86 5G, and Moto G86 Power 5G have gone up on multiple official Motorola websites across Europe, this time around including not just full spec sheets but also recommended prices for markets like France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 2712 x 1220 pixel resolution, 120Hz refresh rate technology, and up to 4500 nits of brightness; 90 percent screen-to-body ratio; MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor; Android 15 ; ; 8GB RAM; 512GB internal storage space; 50MP primary rear-facing camera with Sony LYTIA 600 sensor; 8MP secondary ultra-wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture; 32MP front-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture and Quad Pixel technology; 6,720mAh battery; 30W TurboPower charging capabilities; Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos; Corning Gorilla Glass 7i screen protection; On-screen fingerprint reader; IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance; MIL-STD 810H durability; 161.21 x 74.74 x 8.65mm dimensions; 198 grams weight; Pantone Spellbound, Pantone Cosmic Sky, Pantone Golden Cypress, and Pantone Chrysanthemum color options. You know how Motorola's entire mid-range product portfolio was essentially stuck at the 5,000mAh battery capacity mark for what felt like an eternity? Well, we've clearly moved past that stage... in style with the outlandish 6,720mAh cell-packing Moto G86 Power 5G. This bad boy promises to keep the lights on for a "full weekend" on a single (rapid) charge, and that's despite rocking an undeniably high-quality AMOLED panel, especially for its price. That's set at £299.99 ($405) in Great Britain, €329 ($373) in Spain, €379 ($430) in France, and €399.90 ($453) in Italy, and whichever number from that list you choose to focus on, you're likely to be swept off your feet by the G86 Power's tremendous value for your (Euro) money. Too bad US availability is almost certainly out of the question, as is the case for the "regular" G86 and the lower-end G56. 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 2712 x 1220 pixel resolution, 120Hz refresh rate technology, and up to 4500 nits of brightness; 90 percent screen-to-body ratio; MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor; Android 15 ; ; 8GB RAM; 256GB internal storage space; 50MP primary rear-facing camera with Sony LYTIA 600 sensor; 8MP secondary ultra-wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture; 32MP front-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture and Quad Pixel technology; 5,200mAh battery; 30W TurboPower charging capabilities; Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos; Corning Gorilla Glass 7i screen protection; On-screen fingerprint reader; IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance; MIL-STD 810H durability; 161.21 x 74.74 x 7.87mm dimensions; 185 grams weight; Pantone Spellbound, Pantone Cosmic Sky, Pantone Golden Cypress, and Pantone Chrysanthemum color options. The Moto G86 5G may not carry a Power label, but that doesn't make its 5,200mAh cell a pushover, as it still guarantees a more than reasonable 41 hours of endurance between (fast) charges with the same gorgeous screen and the same respectable processor in tow as the heavier and pricier model detailed above. If you're willing to give up the chance to own the phone with Motorola's "biggest battery ever", you'll only have to pay £280 ($378) for a non-Power-branded G86 with half the 512 gigs of internal storage space in the UK, as well as €279 ($316) in Spain, and €349 ($395) in France and Italy. This is definitely yet another strong value proposition, especially when you consider the equally robust and elegant design of this relatively thin and lightweight Android mid-ranger. 6.72-inch LCD screen with 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate support; 87 percent screen-to-body ratio; MediaTek Dimensity 7060 processor; Android 15 ; ; 8GB RAM; 256GB storage; 50MP primary rear-facing camera with Sony LYTIA 600 sensor; 8MP secondary ultra-wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture; 32MP front-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture and Quad Pixel technology; 5,200mAh battery; 30W charging support; Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos; Gorilla Glass 7i; IP68 and IP69 certifications; 165.75 x 76.26 x 8.35mm dimensions; 200 grams weight; Pantone Black Oyster, Pantone Dazzling Blue, Pantone Gray Mist, and Pantone Dill color options. Pretty low, as it turns out, at least in terms of retail pricing. The Moto G56 5G, which was essentially already an open book prior to today, costs a measly £199.99 ($270) in the UK, €249 ($282) in Spain, €269.90 ($306) in Italy, and €279 ($316) in France. Despite being significantly cheaper than its two newly unveiled "cousins", this mid-end device remarkably offers more screen real estate, just slightly less processing power, as well as plenty of battery juice, super-fast charging, excellent camera performance, and the highest level of water and dust protection available on modern smartphones. Why oh why is Motorola not more successful in the global budget-friendly smartphone space?
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Grab the Moto G Power 5G (2024) for $100 off with this Amazon promo
Struggling to find an affordable Android phone for everyday use? There are many options to consider, but the Moto G Power 5G (2024) is one standout choice Motorola fans shouldn't ignore. Sure, this model already has a successor, but Amazon's latest deal lets you buy it for $100 off. $100 off (33%) The Moto G Power 5G (2024) is way more affordable once again, thanks to Amazon's latest deal. The model is currently $100 off at the e-commerce giant, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers. Buy at Amazon As you might recall, the handset has been $100 off on multiple occasions, and it got even cheaper almost two months ago. However, we haven't come across a major discount — $100 or more — in quite some time, making Amazon's latest promo harder to ignore. By the way, the discount is exclusive; neither the Motorola Store, Best Buy, nor Walmart match it has a regular price of just under $300, this Motorola phone simply can't beat the best Android phones. But it stands its own ground in the budget department, featuring a good-looking 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chip, and a 50MP main camera. During our time with it, we noticed this fella delivers a pretty admirable performance for its asking price. You can expect most everyday tasks to run smoothly, though hiccups might occur if you open way too many apps simultaneously. Find out more about our impressions through our Moto G Power 5G (2024) review. Camera-wise, you get mostly decent photos with some detail and slightly saturated colors from the 50MP main lens. That said, the phone doesn't perform ideal in low-light conditions, making it a good backup option but certainly not your main camera phone. When it comes to software updates, the model runs on Android 14 out of the gate and gets Android 15 as its final OS version. Find that insufficient? We don't blame you, especially since options like the ~$200 Galaxy A16 get a whopping six years of support. On the bright side, the device packs a 5,000mAh battery that should last about 24 hours with moderate use. But if you don't mind getting just one major OS update, the Moto G Power 5G (2024) might be your ideal budget-friendly phone. Get one and save $100 at Amazon.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- The Sun
I tried an absolute bargain new Android mobile that costs £250 & proves you DON'T need to break the bank on posh phones
A SMARTPHONE that costs £250 in 2025? Surely not - or at least it must be pretty dog poor. 5 5 CMF Phone 2 Pro (128GB) buy now for £219 at Amazon Well, no. Not the CMF Phone 2 Pro. For those who don't know about CMF, it's the budget brand of young London-based phone makers Nothing. As The Sun's main Android smartphone reviewer I get my hands on loads of mobiles all the time. The CMF Phone 2 Pro represents the best value for money I've seen this year by a mile. Of course, there are certain features that aren't as good as other phones out there but it's a solid option for anyone wanting to save the pounds - and proof once again that you don't need to break the bank to buy a decent handset. Here's what I made of the CMF Phone 2 Pro after spending a week with it. CMF Phone 2 Pro: Look and feel The CMF Phone 2 Pro is anything but boring with a bold eye-catching design. It's rugged and industrial looking, with exposed screws - and I love it. Another unique selling point is the accessories to match, with a wallet and stand, a lanyard and interchangeable lenses available as optional extras. At 185g, it feels pretty light too but remains quite sturdy. However, the rating for resistance to dust and water is on the low side compared to rivals - the official rating is IP54 which means it can only withstand light dust and water splashes, not accidental drops into water. Meanwhile, the display is bright and sharp for watching videos on. Android owners call Google's 'Circle Search' trick 'insanely useful' and say best way to use it 'made my life so easy' CMF Phone 2 Pro: Performance and features The chip on the inside keeps things running pretty smoothly despite not being one of the top end processors around. I navigated from app to app without any lagging or problems. The CMF Phone 2 Pro runs on Nothing's own version of Android 15. This brings with it Nothing's unique design - and it's one of the few twists on Android's core look that I actually like. Under the surface, you get all the same Google apps from Android as standard. Nothing has committed to provide the device with three years of Android updates and six years of security updates, which is less than many other brands around - though the latter six years will keep you going for sometime. Who offers free updates longest? The longer you receive updates, the longer you can safely continue using your smartphone - with the latest features thrown in too for free. Samsung For the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung said it would provide at least seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates. OnePlus At the launch of the OnePlus 13, OnePlus committed to at least four years of Android updates and six years of security updates. Xiaomi Xiaomi offers four years off Android updates and five years security updates. Google For the Pixel 9 series, Google said that devices would receive at least seven years of support. CMF Phone 2 Pro: Battery The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a pretty standard battery by Android standards these days on paper, at 5,000 mAh. In reality, that kept me going for a whole day and then some based on general usage such as occasional web browsing, WhatsApp messaging and watching a TV show on Netflix. There is no charger in the box. With up to 33 watt charging speeds, I managed to get full battery again in just over an hour. It still packs a mighty punch for such a price - and in this day and age, you really wouldn't tell it cost so little CMF Phone 2 Pro: Camera The camera on the CMF Phone 2 Pro does the job - and by that I mean, the results don't wow me but they don't disappoint either. But in the context of price the camera is pretty good indeed. There's a 50-megapixel wide lens, a 50-megapixel telephoto snapper and an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera. Taking some photos in my garden and the results hit the spot, adequately capturing colour and detail, but slightly lacking a bit of oomph. 5 CMF Phone 2 Pro: Price The CMF Phone 2 Pro starts from just £219 for the 128GB storage option. But for only £30 extra you can double the storage to 256GB, making the total price £249. There are four colours: Black Orange White Light Green CMF Phone 2 Pro: Verdict At £250 for the highest storage option, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a no-brainer for anyone who wants a decent smartphone without paying through the roof I adore the unique design of the handset that makes it truly stand out among the crowd. Sure, the photos aren't as impressive as other handsets. And it's lacking tougher water resistance. But it still packs a mighty punch for such a price - and in this day and age, you really wouldn't tell it cost so little. Rating: 4.5 / 5 Always do your own research before making any purchase.
Phone Arena
13-05-2025
- Phone Arena
For $120, Metro by T-Mobile will open the door to 5G for you with the new TCL K32
Teased at CES 2025 some months ago, the TCL K32 5G phone is now available at Metro by T-Mobile. The budget-friendly device is far from the performance benchmarks of flagships like the iPhone 16 Pro or the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but its price is also far lower than those costly flagships. We're talking about a smartphone that is 5G capable and will set you back $119.99, as the offer by Metro by T-Mobile clarifies. The TCL K32 5G comes with a large 6.75-inch HD+ display (720x1612 px resolution) and a 2-in-1 camera setup on its back. The main snapper is a 13 MP one, and there's a 2 MP depth sensor that doubles as a macro lens, although I wouldn't rely on it to produce striking up close bee shots for National Geographic. On the front, there's a 5 MP selfie camera that should be enough for making those video a large battery on board, and that's great, frankly speaking. The cell is rated at 5,010 mAh capacity, which should get you through the day, and there are features like Smart Manager and Battery Saver on board to help you keep the lights on longer. Image credit – TCL Under the hood, the Midnight Blue TCL K32 5G (that's the only color it comes in) packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chipset. This processor was presented last summer and it's unreasonable to expect miracles out of it. Again, don't forget that we're talking about a $120 phone (that has a large display and a large battery!)There's 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage available, but that can be easily expanded to up to 2 TB via a MicroSD card – something that flagships these days refuse to offer. There's also a 3.5 mm headphone jack (really useful), dual speakers, but no charging brick is included. Android 15 is the operating system you'll use out of the box. The TCL K32 5G is a great way to enter the smartphone 5G realm. If there's someone in your life who is still using a legacy phone, but wants to give modernity a try, $120 sounds like a reasonable price to pay for the try-out.
Phone Arena
12-05-2025
- Phone Arena
I thought I found the PERFECT budget phone, until I noticed this
You would think that in 2025, nearly 20 years since the first smartphones arrived, we would finally be able to buy a no-compromise phone for a budget price. But that hasn't really been the case. In the past few years, smartphone prices have gone up, not down. And the quality of budget phones has honestly improved in very slow increments. Just look at devices like the $200 Samsung Galaxy A16 with a processor that still stutters and lags, making an easy argument to upgrade to a more expensive device. Even at the $300 price point, you have devices like the Moto G series that come with a compromised LCD screen rather than OLED. So you can see how I was really excited to test a new kind of budget phone that made very little of those adjustments. Big and beautiful OLED screen? Check. Fast and smoother performance. You've got it. Decent haptics? Surprisingly, yes! A good camera? Yes, indeed. Thin and lightweight? You bet! Solid battery life. Check again. And there are many other details that make this phone special, including just the sheer value of getting a phone with 256GB of storage for $280, while Samsung charges $300 for the Galaxy A26 that only has 128 GB on board. Not to mention the creativity of Nothing. You can add a screw-on case with custom lenses and it also adds MagSafe magnets to the back of the phone. And you can easily add a kickstand or a lanyard. Now, that's cool and creative. So… have I found the perfect budget phone? Well, those were my thoughts in the first few days of living with the CMF Phone 2 Pro, the latest creation by former OnePlus guru Carl Pei (now founder and CEO of London-based phone maker Nothing). There was really very little to dislike about the CMF Phone 2 Pro, even from a seasoned and occasionally grumpy phone reviewer like myself. But then I opened the YouTube Music app, played my favorite song and the moment I heard it, I knew that this was a deal-breaker. I had just stumbled upon the biggest flaw of this otherwise phenomenal budget phone. Yep, the loudspeaker quality kind of sucked. The sound was too quiet, but also the low frequencies were completely missing and even the mids sound muddy. It's just an incredibly dull listening experience, and I was so disappointed I had to turn off the song immediately. Now, I am the kind of person who listens to a lot of music, YouTube videos and podcasts on their phone, and if you are not like me, then great — consider the CMF Phone 2 Pro about as perfect as budget phones get. But if you like listening to music on your phone, too, then… curb your enthusiasm. And it's a bummer that most reviewers don't seem to ever mention that as if it was not something you bump into every day. I am not saying other budget phones in the sub-$300 price will give you much better sound quality. I would actually suggest going for at least a $400 phone for that, but I was hoping the CMF would be different in its new energy and vigor. After all, wouldn't it be the dream to finally have THE PERFECT budget phone? But let me know: do you care about the loudspeaker on your phone, and is that an important factor for you when you pick your next phone? Read more about in our in-depth CMF Phone 2 Pro review
