The OnePlus 12R isn't a flagship phone – but with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and an LTPO AMOLED display (6.78-inch, 1264p), it sure feels like one. And you can pick one up for $500 or less.
That's in an 8/128GB configuration, but you can double that to 16/256GB for an extra $100. This is one way to make Galaxy S24 owners jealous – or you can show them the 100W charger that comes in the box.
Anyway, you can pick up the phone from Amazon and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Alternatively, if you have an old phone you want to get rid of, head to OnePlus.com. The trade-in program offers up to $400 in credit with a $100 warranty (“Any Phone, Any Condition”). If you are a student, you can get a 10% discount. Additionally, you can get 30% off the OnePlus Watch 2 and OnePlus Buds 3.
The OnePlus 12 is a proper flagship phone because it has the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a QHD+ LTPO display, and an impressive array of cameras (the 12R is fairly basic in this department). You can get up to $700 in trade-in credit from OnePlus.com, with $100 of that guaranteed (again, “any phone, in any condition”).
For roughly the same amount of cash as the 12R, you can get the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE instead. This device uses the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and its display is FHD+ only (not an LTPO panel). You'll get a remote camera (even if it's only 3x 8MP), a decent IP68 dust and water resistance rating (versus IP64 on the 12R) and wireless charging (but wired charging is only 25W). Also, the S23 FE will be supported for a year longer with another OS update (but this is negated by starting with an older Android version) and 5 years of security patches in total.
Another alternative is the Google Pixel 7 Pro. This device has a 6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO display, a decent 48MP 5x periscope and wired and wireless charging (both equally slow at 23W). This model dates back to late 2022 and the Tensor G1 chipset has a bad reputation. However, the phone will be supported for a longer period (it should see Android 16 and security patches until 2027).
If you're looking for a large, affordable tablet, it's hard to find better performance than the Amazon Fire Max 11. The 11-inch IPS LCD screen has a 2000 x 1200 pixel resolution and runs at 60Hz. The octa-core MediaTek chipset is better than what's found inside other Fire tablets and is a pretty decent fit overall. Although there is a microSD slot, we recommend paying a little extra to get the 128GB model, for just $15 more. Note: This does come without ads on the lock screen (usually at an additional cost).
A few weeks ago we spotted an Apple MacBook Air with an M2 processor for $950. However, you can now buy a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro — also with an M2 but air-cooled — for $1,000. This is for the same 8/256GB configuration. You can get double the storage for an extra $100, but Best Buy doesn't have 16GB RAM models in stock (it has a 24GB/1TB option, which is a $300 upgrade).
For reference, the latest Apple MacBook Pro with the M3 chip is $1,450 in an 8/512GB configuration. This generation is slightly larger (14-inch screen) and drops the touch bar in favor of more standard function keys.
The price of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air M2 dropped a few weeks ago to $900 for 8/256GB and $1,100 for 8/512GB.
We've featured this bundle before – the PlayStation 5 Slim (Disc Edition) with Marvel's Spider-Man 2. However, it's normally priced at $500 and is now 10% off.
Gamers who don't like wires should take a look at the Logitech G Fits. These look like a pair of TWS Bluetooth headphones (and they are), but they come with a USB dongle that enables a low-latency Lightspeed connection. Lightspeed is Logitech technology that is also used in their wireless mice. This works with both consoles like PS5, computers, and smartphones as well. To get the same thing at a cheaper price, take a look at Soundcore VRB10 Whoever denies.
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