Inclined to wait and see what the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, Note 5 and LG G4 Pro are all about before committing to a new daily driver device? Perhaps interested more in the looming third-gen Motorola Moto G?
Still convinced Android tablets have a thriving future, despite all the signs suggesting the exact opposite? Tempted by one of those fancy, fledgling smartwatches, but fascinated with the ways LG and Motorola could further refine the already exquisite designs of the Watch Urbane and Moto 360?
Our advice is to leave all hesitation related to current gadgets aside, stop obsessing over future breakthroughs and advancements, and start living for the day. Carpe diem and all that. Strike while the iron is… cheap. The (discounted) bird in the hand. You get the idea, so let’s just proceed:
This week’s best smartphone deals
LG G4 – $579 factory unlocked in leather brown; $583 metallic white; $589 leather black
We can’t praise the dark leathery variant enough for pretty much matching the robustness and elegance of Samsung’s glass-and-metal GS6 duo, but the brown and aluminum-aping ivory flavors aren’t ugly either. Not to mention they’re incredibly cheap, all premium internals considered, and qualify for the free 32 GB microSD card + extra battery + charging cradle bundle redeemable here.
Only through June 30, so hurry up!
Motorola Moto E LTE for Verizon prepaid – $49.99
Think tiny no-contract specialist Cricket Wireless is generous for letting you have the second-gen E at $80? Big Red and Amazon’s joint kindness goes even further, and the number one US carrier’s data plans cost as little as $45.
Phenomenal steal overall, with a large 4.5-inch IPS screen in the mix, near-stock Lollipop software, 64-bit quad-core Snapdragon 410 power and 2,390 mAh battery juice.
BLU Life 8 XL – $79 US GSM or global GSM unlocked ($50 off list price)
While Amazon stays mum on this, we’re fairly certain the promotional tag will go up to $129 in roughly a week. If supply lasts that long, which is never a guarantee with BLU merchandise available for around half the costs of comparable, competing gear.
Yes, the Life 8 XL, which technically rolls out on July 1, offers respectable mid-end features like a 5.5-inch HD display, octa-core 1.4 GHz MediaTek SoC, 1 GB RAM, 8 MP and 2 MP cameras.
Samsung Galaxy S6 – $565 factory unlocked in gold; $578 black
A staple of our weekly deal roundups already, the non-edgy “next big thing” has once again been trimmed, from $598 and up seven days ago to a tariff rapidly approaching $550. Could the imminence of the S6 Edge Plus be to “blame”?
Amazon Fire Phone 32 GB unlocked – $179 (down from $449)
We’re not going to lie, the 4.7-inch Fire is pretty crappy. The ecosystem feels rigid, there’s no Google Play access and, even if Lollipop was ever on the horizon, you probably wouldn’t recognize it, beneath all of Amazon’s cosmetic changes and forks.
Nonetheless, at sub-$200, you get a quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, 2 GB RAM, loads of storage space and stellar albeit gimmicky 13 MP OIS rear camera.
Tablets on the cheap
Asus MeMo Pad 8 ME181C – $137 (47 percent off)
Comfy, decently sharp 8-inch 1,280 x 800 IPS LCD screen. Android 4.4 KitKat, likely with Lollipop around the corner. Intel Atom inside (the quad-core kind), 16 GB ROM, 1 GB RAM, microSD support, 8.3 mm waist, 9-hour battery, 5 MP camera and “over $270 worth of content and services included.” We rest our case.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 9.7 – $289
Literally just released this side of the pond, the low-cost Lollipop soldier is only discounted by $11, but between you and us, it’s a good deal even at three full Benjamins. The 4:3 display aspect ratio makes it stand out in the Android slate décor, the software is buttery smooth and up to date, and the hardware… not bad.
BLU Touchbook 8.0 3G – $135
Many folks are under the impression BLU specializes in inexpensive smartphones only, but they’ve started to dabble in pads too, and for a cellular-enabled 8 incher, the Touchbook feels like a steal. Furthermore, the panel is HD, the processor quad-core, and the US network support very widespread.
XO-780 kids tablet – $67 ($82 off)
It fell short of our parent-recommended top ten a few weeks ago, but at less than $70, we must say we’re impressed with the rugged exterior, full Android support, easily accessible educational content and 7-hour autonomy.
Best budget wearable options
Motorola Moto 360 – $185 black leather; $190 stone grey; $230 light metal; $255 dark metal
Expired at Best Buy for a while now, the OG 360’s discounts (mostly) live on through Amazon, no doubt foreshadowing that highly anticipated sequel’s debut. Be honest though, aside from the “flat tire”, do you expect the “361” to upgrade anything else of importance? Battery life? Yeah, keep dreaming.
Basis Peak – $172
It’s nowhere near as stylish as the 360, and while it’s camouflaged as a smartwatch, it’s underneath it all a glorified pedometer. With calorie burn tracking functions, sleep monitoring and standalone heart rate features.
Samsung Gear S – $99 with AT&T contracts; $300 outright
Fun fact: the Tizen-powered, Android-compatible, voice call-initiating timepiece is squarely available directly from AT&T in “certified like-new” form… at $149.99 and up. Amazon sells it starting at a Benjamin, or for $30 less than Best Buy’s no-contract mark. Sweet!
Mobile accessories deals
Photive Silverbuds Pro wireless Bluetooth earbuds – $39.95 (69 percent savings)
They’re minuscule, so not particularly powerful, but excellently isolated from exterior noise, water resistant and sweatproof, plus capable of up to 10 hours continuous play time. You know what they say, you can never have too many Bluetooth headphones.
Anker 2nd gen Astro E3 Ultra Compact 10,000 mAh power bank – $21.99
7,700+ customer reviews, 4.6 star average. 18-month warranty, almost four Galaxy S6 full charges, up to 3 amps speed. Enough said.
SoundBot SB571 Bluetooth wireless speaker – $26.99
Okay, so perhaps you already own too many pairs of interchangeable earbuds. How about a pocketable little speaker with 10-hour autonomy, 6W + 6 W output, rich bass and 40mm premium drivers? If you won’t go to the party, the party must come to you.
LG G4 Spigen protective case – $19.99
Since the G4 is so affordable, you may be predisposed to spend a small fortune on accessories. But while, say, a wireless charger is pretty expensive, the obligatory shielding cover doesn’t have to be. Despite providing dual-layered protection, with a shock-absorbing TPU interior and polycarbonate exterior.
The post This week’s best deals on phones, tabs, wearables and accessories: June 22 – 28 appeared first on The Droid Guy.