OnePlus launched the 12 and 12R for international markets this week (they were already available in China). This includes the US, where the market is not as competitive as Europe or Asia and is dominated by Apple and Samsung.
But check this out – $800 gets you a proper flagship with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, plenty of memory (16/512GB with free upgrade), and a 6.82-inch QHD+ LTPO display. The cameras are very good (50MP main, 64MP 3x tele, 48MP ultrawide, and a nice 32MP selfie camera), but daytime video recording could have been better. The only other complaint is that the phone is only rated at IP65, not his IP68 like other flagships (and some mid-ranges). This year there is also wireless charging (50W) for the 5,400mAh battery, and with wired he can also do 80W.
It’s even cheaper with the OnePlus 12R. This is a step down to last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (which is still a very fast chip), and the resolution of the 6.78-inch screen drops slightly to 1,264 x 2,780 pixels (between FHD+ and QHD+). The camera is also affected, as the 50MP main sensor is smaller and there is no telephoto lens, only an 8MP ultra-wide angle. The 5,500mAh battery only supports 80W wired charging.
Keep these prices in mind when considering the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. As we already listed last week, Amazon and Best Buy offer gift cards that make the price easier to swallow. Additionally, free storage upgrades are still valid. Still, you can buy an 8/256GB Galaxy S24 for $800 ($750 after gift cards). The Galaxy S24 Ultra has excellent video recording (including 4K 120fps and 8K modes), and his $200 gift card from Amazon will lighten your wallet, too.
On the cheaper side, the Samsung Galaxy A25 and A15 5G also come with gift cards. At only $25, these are cheap phones (the S24 is only $50).
The Beads Studio Buds+ are last year’s TWS Buds. It features solid listening time (up to 36 hours with case), high-quality sound (with the brand’s signature bass emphasis), and improved noise cancellation.
For some reason, Apple brought back the Beats Solo3. These were originally launched in 2016. I don’t know why the Cupertino guys did that, but these are great on-ear buds with Apple’s W1 chip. It could have used an upgrade or two, for example microUSB is totally outdated.
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