Latest news with #midrange
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Phone Arena
Samsung's hugely successful Galaxy A56 5G mid-ranger is up for grabs in the US at last
After reportedly striking gold at the European box-office, Samsung's best 2025 mid-range smartphone is today making its highly anticipated (by some) and long overdue (by all standards) US commercial debut. Unlocked, 128GB Storage, 8GB RAM, Exynos 1580 Processor, 6.7-Inch Super AMOLED Display with 2340 x 1080 Pixel Resolution and 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, IP67 Water and Dust Resistance, Android 15, 50 + 12 + 5MP Triple Rear-Facing Camera System, 12MP Single Front-Facing Camera, 5,000mAh Battery, 45W Charging Capabilities, Two Color Options Buy at Samsung Unlocked, 128GB Storage, 8GB RAM, Exynos 1580 Processor, 6.7-Inch Super AMOLED Display with 2340 x 1080 Pixel Resolution and 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, IP67 Water and Dust Resistance, Android 15, 50 + 12 + 5MP Triple Rear-Facing Camera System, 12MP Single Front-Facing Camera, 5,000mAh Battery, 45W Charging Capabilities, Awesome Graphite Color, $50 E-Gift Card Included Buy at BestBuy The 6.7-inch phone with a homebrewed Exynos 1580 processor under the hood and 8GB RAM can be purchased stateside for the time being only from Best Buy and its manufacturer's official regional e-store starting at $499.99. That's enough for an entry-level 128GB storage variant, with double the local digital hoarding room setting you back just 50 bucks more on Samsung's US website. Coated in "Awesome Graphite" and "Awesome Lightgray" colors (which, between you and me, are not the most eye-catching paint jobs possible for a Samsung phone nowadays), the Galaxy A56 5G clearly takes most of its cosmetic cues from last year's Galaxy A55 5G mid-ranger rather than this year's high-end Galaxy S25 family. Interestingly, the camera island at the back looks... unique, giving the budget-friendly device a somewhat unexpected air of distinction and elegance. Unfortunately, $499.99 is simply not a very competitive price point in a market where the OnePlus 13R exists and Google's Pixel 9 is so easy to come by at a hefty discount. As highlighted in our comprehensive Samsung Galaxy A56 5G review a little while back, this is by no means a bad product, but it's not an exceptional one either, shining as far as long-term software support goes while delivering solid battery life, respectable (at best) overall performance, excellent charging speeds (for once), as well as limited AI capabilities (at least for the time being), mediocre audio quality, and unimpressive camera performance. In short, you're looking at a decidedly mixed bag here that probably needs more than a $50 gift card to overshadow the aforementioned OnePlus 13R and Pixel 9 or even Samsung's own Galaxy S24 FE as far as bang for buck is concerned. Switch to a 2-month Total 5G or 5G+ plan with Total Wireless and score this foldable deal. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Android Authority
5 reasons I won't spend more than $500 on my next phone
Joe Maring / Android Authority The phones we all like to talk about the most are incredibly expensive. The base Galaxy S25 starts at $800, while the Ultra launched at $1,300. The Pixel 9 goes for $800 as well, and you'll need at least $1,100 for the XL model. That's a lot of money. And don't even get me started on foldables. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold goes for $1,800, while the latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs even more at $2,000. I love technology, especially phones, but I'm not paying that much for my next device. Considering the specs and features I need, I don't need to spend more than $500, and I think that goes for most other people — here's why. How much do you spend when buying a new phone? 0 votes No more than $300 NaN % Around $500 NaN % As much as $800 NaN % Up to a $1,000 NaN % Over a $1,000 NaN % More than enough power Ryan Haines / Android Authority You don't need to spend a grand on a phone to get a lag-free experience. Most mid-range phones these days have more than enough power for the majority of users. The phone at the top of my list right now is the Pixel 9a. It comes in at $500 and packs the Tensor G4 under the hood, which is the same SoC you find in the rest of the Pixel 9 series — including the $1,800 Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Paired with 8GB of RAM, this phone will handle everything I need it to and more. It's a similar situation with some of the other phones in this price range. These include the Galaxy S24 FE, OnePlus 13R, Nothing Phone 3a Pro, and even some that currently aren't available in the US like the Xiaomi 14T and the Galaxy A56. Some of these launched at a little more than my budget but are frequently on sale and can be had for around $500 when shopping around. The cameras are still great Ryan Haines / Android Authority I'm not a huge photography enthusiast, but I still appreciate a camera that can capture great photos. The $500 Pixel 9a gets the job done in this area, offering two sensors on the back that perform great both in daylight and when there's limited light available. The setup comes with loads of Google AI features, including Magic Editor, which can get rid of unwanted people and objects from my shots. The Pixel 9a offers an intuitive camera interface and pack plenty of clever shooting modes. My colleague Ryan tested out the cameras of the Pixel 9a and was impressed. He said they process images brilliantly, offer a simple, intuitive camera interface, and pack plenty of clever shooting modes. I've played with the Pixel 9a myself, as well as lots of other mid-rangers under $500 from Samsung and various Chinese brands, and I was always impressed with the image quality when compared to the price tag. Sure, I might miss out on a few features I'd get with more premium phones and will perhaps have to make do with two instead of three rear cameras, but that's something I can live with if it means saving a lot of money. The software update promise is unchanged Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority The thing I care most about when buying a new phone is software support. The great news is that many $500 phones offer the same software pledge as phones costing as much as $2,000. The Pixel 9a, for example, is promised seven years of OS and security updates, the same as the rest of the Pixel 9 series. The story is similar with the Galaxy S24 FE, while the Galaxy A56 drops down to six years, which is still good enough since I'll upgrade my phone within that timeframe anyway. The only potential drawback with Samsung phones is that it can sometimes take a while for updates to arrive. When Samsung starts shipping out the latest version of Android, premium phones get them first before they make it to those around the $500 mark. The Pixel 9a is the better option in this case since it gets the latest version of Android on day one, alongside the rest of the supported Pixel phones. Plenty of premium features Ryan Haines / Android Authority Just because I won't spend more than $500 on a phone doesn't mean I won't get any of the premium features available on flagship phones. Some mid-rangers come with an IP rating and wireless charging. Sure, the build quality might be a little less premium, as phones in this price range usually have plastic backs instead of glass ones. However, a lot of them come with an IP rating that will protect the device against water and dust. This includes the Pixel 9a, which also supports wireless charging. Then there's the 120Hz display for a smoother viewing experience. Samsung's S24 FE also packs all these features, while the A56 drops wireless charging, which is something I can live with. Cheaper phones like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro make additional sacrifices, like dropping the water resistance from IP68 to IP64, meaning they can only handle splashes of water. Battery life is sometimes better Robert Triggs / Android Authority You'd think that a cheaper phone would have a worse battery life than an expensive one, but you'd be wrong. It's on par in most cases, and even better in some. Let's take my favorite budget phone, the Pixel 9a, as an example again. It sports a 6.3-inch display and a 5,100mAh battery. For reference, the more expensive Pixel 9 comes with the same display size and a smaller 4,700mAh battery. Then there's the premium Pixel 9 Pro XL, which has a larger screen at 6.8 inches yet still sports a smaller battery at 5,060mAh. And considering that this phone has more power under the hood, which takes its toll on the battery, the Pixel 9a comes out on top as the better option for battery life. Great battery life is a pillar of a great smartphone, and you don't need to spend over a grand for a phone to experience it. As you were probably able to tell, I'm eyeing the Pixel 9a as my next phone. It has everything I need for $500, and it really feels like I wouldn't be making that much of a sacrifice compared to getting a flagship that costs at least twice as much. Of course, your mileage may vary since we all have different wants and needs. Besides the Pixel 9a, I'd also be happy with the S24 FE if I could get it on sale for around $500. Samsung is currently selling it for $525, so it's technically just a tad over my price range. Then there's the A56, which is a fantastic phone as well, but it's not yet available in the US. I'm from the other side of the Atlantic, though, so I can easily pick one up. I think the average user will also be happy with phones from brands like Nothing, OnePlus, and Xiaomi that don't cost an arm and a leg. But for me, I'll stick to either Pixel or Galaxy due to the software experience and the update promise, along with the rest of the features I value. What about you? Which phone under $500 would you consider buying? Let me know in the comments.
Phone Arena
5 days ago
- Phone Arena
New extremely durable phone with 8,000+ mAh battery goes official
One of the few things that can make a mid-range phone stand out in an already overcrowded market is the size of the battery. It's one of the first things customers usually look after price. Honor is one of the companies that understood that and its new X70 is proof of that. Introduced earlier this week in China, Honor X70 is trying to appeal to the masses with its extremely generous 8,300 mAh silicon-carbon battery. This is a new technology that allows companies to pack much bigger batteries inside their phones. Honor X70's huge battery features support for 80W wired charging, but those who pay for the expensive 512 GB benefit from 80W wireless charging support too. But that's not the only thing that makes Honor X70 so desirable. The Chinese handset maker announced that its mid-range phone packs a decent Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, which was introduced back in February. This particular chip promises 29% better GPU (graphics processing unit) performance, 11% improved CPU performance, and 12% power savings compared with the previous generation. Realme 14 and Oppo K13 are among the not so many phones that are using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 processor, so it's probably safe to assume that these will be Honor X70's main the X70 brings to the table that no other phone powered by the same chipset brings is exceptional sturdiness. According to Honor, the X70 can withstand water up to 85 degrees Celsius. Honor X70 | Image credit: Honor Also, the phone is waterproof up to 6 meters and it should still be ok after being dropped on concrete from 2.5 meters. Honor X70 features IP66, IP68, and IP69 certifications covering just about every common ruggedness standard. Users can even operate the phone using gloves. On the back side, Honor X70 features a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera with PDAF and OIS (optical image stabilization), which is a bit odd even for a mid-range phone . The fact that the X70 comes with a single rear camera is probably its only downside. Let's hope it's not going to be its downfall too. As far as the screen goes, Honor X70 sports a vibrant 6.79-inch AMOLED display with 1200 x 2640 pixels resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, and incredible 6,000 nits peak brightness. Honor X70 at first glance : Display : 6.79-inch AMOLED, 120 Hz refresh rate, 6,000 nits peak brightness : 6.79-inch AMOLED, 120 Hz refresh rate, 6,000 nits peak brightness Chipset : Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 : Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 Memory : 8/12 GB : 8/12 GB Storage : 128/256/512 GB : 128/256/512 GB Camera : 50MP : 50MP Front camera : 8MP : 8MP Battery : 8,300 mAh, 80W wired charging, 80W wireless charging (only 512GB model) : 8,300 mAh, 80W wired charging, 80W wireless charging (only 512GB model) OS : Android 15-based MagicOS 9.0. Honor X70 is now available for pre-order in China for prices that don't go above the $300 mark. The phone comes in four different flavors - Phantom Night Black, Bamboo Green, Cinnabar Red, and Moon Shadow White, but won't hit shelves until July 18. Honor X70 prices in China : 8/128 GB – 1,400 yuan (€165 / $195) 8/256 GB – 1,600 yuan (€190 / $225) 12/256 GB – 1,800 yuan (€215 / $250) 12/512 GB – 2,000 yuan (€240 / $280) Unfortunately, it's unlikely that this will be available anywhere else but China. Perhaps Honor will bring this to other markets under a different name and with a slightly modified specs sheet, but that's just a guess. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
GSM Arena
5 days ago
- GSM Arena
Samsung Galaxy F36 5G to launch in India on July 19
Samsung has announced that it is launching the Galaxy F36 5G in India on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Being an F-series device, the phone will be available on sale on Flipkart. The Galaxy F36 is a lower-mid-range smartphone and will be priced under INR 20,000. It will feature a triple-camera system on the back with a 50MP main camera with OIS. Samsung promises impressive low-light capabilities as well as a suite of AI photo and video editing features. The Galaxy F36 will feature a faux leather texture on the back and will measure 7.7mm thick. The phone will be available in three colors. More information will be revealed closer to the launch date.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rockets' Kevin Durant minds the game, brilliantly explains mid-range jumpers
The post Rockets' Kevin Durant minds the game, brilliantly explains mid-range jumpers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Kevin Durant hasn't played a minute for the Houston Rockets, but he's already making his presence felt, not with a ball in hand, but with a microphone in front of him. On the latest episode of Mind the Game, Durant joined LeBron James and Steve Nash to talk hoops, per Houston chronicle. Not trades. Not gossip. Just the art of basketball. Advertisement The episode was recorded before his trade to Houston, but what Durant said still carries weight for what lies ahead. Since 2020, he has hit over 41 percent of his three-pointers while averaging only 5.5 attempts per game. That is intentional. 'The midrange game is coming back for sure,' he told LeBron and Nash, signaling a shift in how elite scorers navigate the floor. Durant made it clear that not every player should be told to launch threes. 'You can't tell Bron, Luka or Austin Reaves not to shoot midrange shots. Just be you,' he said. Shot selection should match a player's skill set, not just a spreadsheet. He recalled a game from his Phoenix days against Cleveland when Celtics forward Georges Niang told him to shoot more threes. Durant disagreed. 'The dudes around me need to shoot more threes. I'm playing my game.' If the defense collapses, he'll kick it out. But if the clock is ticking down, the best scorer needs to take charge. Advertisement A message for Houston: Let the scorers cook Durant spelled it out clearly. 'When there's five or six seconds left, give it to your best player,' he said. 'If he pulls up from midrange, that's a good shot.' What teams should avoid is putting the ball in the hands of a role player like Dorian Finney-Smith or Royce O'Neale with two seconds on the clock and hoping for a contested three. That kind of offense is not built to last. Steve Nash backed the sentiment. The midrange is not outdated. It just needs to be taken by the right players. 'It has to come from the right dudes,' Nash said. Role players stretch the floor, but stars break defenses with rhythm, timing, and precision. After Houston struggled in the halfcourt during their playoff exit against Golden State, Kevin Durant's mindset offers something new. This is not about looking flashy. It is about trusting instincts, playing smart, and getting the best shot when the moment demands it. Advertisement Related: WWE star Jey Uso hilariously botches Cody Rhodes' birthday celebration Related: Warriors' Draymond Green says 'PA made a sh– deal', torches second apron
