Have you had enough of your bricked Iphone 6 and now looking to upgrade and maybe even switching to Android? Are you tired of your old beat up Galaxy S III and wanting to change? Well, let me break something to you. Much has changed since you bought those old models. With the latest launches of the IPhone X and Samsung S9/S9+, the $1,000+ smartphone is now an accepted reality. Those older devices you more than likely bought with a contract – usually a two year term – and paid a much lower price.
Enter the brave new world. Carriers have dropped that contract caveat and now make you pay full price for their phones. The good news is that monthly network contract prices have either dropped or stayed nearly the same in the last couple of years. For example, in 2010 Verizon offered 900 minutes for $79.99 and currently in 2018 the company is charging $75 for unlimited data service. A good price trend after eight years but there is a downside. The affect is now devices are no longer subsidized by carriers and your paying full price for a majority of the latest smartphones.All is not lost though however. If your willing to sacrifice the latest features and technologies the marketeers are deeming groundbreaking, you can still upgrade your old device without breaking the bank.
If your a loyal Samsung devotee or completely lost trust in Apple after the Iphone 6 slowdown debacle and ready to make a switch to a more affordable Android device, than Samsung may have a phone that fits your budget.
First up is the Samsung Galaxy J Series. Sporting a previous generation body, the Galaxy J7 is the most capable of the bunch. With 8mp camera, 5.5 inch display, and removable 3,300 mAh battery, the J7 is a capable phone. And with a price point of $219 unlocked, its an economical choice and one of Samsung’s best deals.
Moving down the line in the J Series, is the Galaxy J3 which at $149 unlocked is even cheaper. You pay a price for saving 70 bucks, however. When compared to the J7, the J3’s screen is smaller (5.0’’ vs 5.5’’), the battery takes a hit (2,600mAh vs 3,300), the processor loses a little power (Quad Core 1.4 GHz vs Octa Core 1.6), and the camera resolution is not as sharp (8mp vs 5). If you don’t care about the slight performance decline and don’t mind the smaller form, than it could be a viable and super economical choice.
Samsung offers a slew of other devices that require a purchase through a carrier and may come with contract and network restrictions. These devices, such as the Galaxy Sol, Galaxy Amp Series, and Galaxy S III Mini, can be had for sub $100 prices – even free, but they come with the obvious contract restrictions. These devices, which are also based on older hardware, might be tempting for those who do not mind switching carriers.
With these budget phones from Samsung, you can still post photos on Instagram, take selfies in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, and watch the latest Game of Thrones episode. You just won’t be able to unlock the phone with your face, charge the device wirelessly, and enjoy the brightest and clearest screen the latest Samsung technology can provide. Maybe you are ok with these limitations. If so, Samsung may have a phone for you and all those not willing to dish out $1,000.