Our Favorite Android Phones Are on Sale Right Now
Step aside, Obi-Wan. These are the (an)droids we’re looking for—and they’re discounted until midnight….
When it comes to tech, it can feel like Apple is the Empire and the varied Android gadgets are the scrappy Rebellion. I don’t know how long I can keep this Star Wars metaphor up, but I do know that the force is strong with the Rebellion today. Amazon is holding an “Android Days” sales event that ends at 11:59 pm PT on August 30, and some of our favorite phones are on sale right now (along with some other goodies, like earbuds). This includes Google Pixel, Samsung, Motorola, and OnePlus devices. If you’re in the market for a new handset, today is a great day to snag one.
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Google Pixel Deals
You can learn more about these devices in our Best Google Pixel Phones and Best Wireless Earbuds guides.
The Pixel 6A is our favorite Android phone (8/10, WIRED Recommends), and this is the lowest price we’ve seen (it only launched last month). The Google Tensor chip is a standout, but our favorite software features are the highly accurate Assistant Voice Typing, so you can speak your messages instead of typing them; Hold For Me, to avoid lengthy and tedious holds; and Now Playing, to know what song is playing without having to ask. There’s no wireless charging or charging brick included with the Pixel 6A, but this phone is water resistant, has an excellent camera system, and features a bright OLED screen.
The Pixel 7 is right around the corner, but this is still a great price (the lowest we’ve ever seen) for last year’s Pixel 6 (9/10, WIRED Recommends). Its larger camera sensors mean it can snap some of the best photos of any smartphone right now. The upgrades over the Pixel 6A include a 90-Hz screen for buttery-smooth animations, a larger OLED screen, wireless charging support, and better build materials. It’ll get two more OS upgrades and four more years of security updates. If you want an even bigger phone and an excellent 4X optical zoom camera, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is on sale for $649 ($250 off) at Target.
The Pixel Buds A-Series (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are our favorite wireless earbuds for most people. They have great sweat resistance and a comfy fit, plus they pair with Android phones and iPhones pretty quickly. The only downside of pairing with an iPhone is that you won’t get Google Assistant integration. The audio sounds better than Apple’s base AirPods though, so it might still be worth it.
Samsung Phone Deals
Read our Best Android Phones guide for more recommendations.
The Galaxy S22 series (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are some of the best Android phones you can buy. They pack nearly everything you’d want in a smartphone, from powerful processors to beefy batteries that last a little more than a full day. Most people will be happy with the standard Galaxy S22 and its manageable size. This is the lowest price we’ve ever tracked. If you want a bigger phone, the S22+ is on sale for $750 ($250 off).
The S22 Ultra is the ultimate Android phone, and not just because it has a built-in stylus. Its 6.8-inch screen is massive, but our favorite feature is its 10X optical zoom camera, which lets you zoom out super far and still get crisp shots of your subject. You can read more about the differences in the S22 series right here.
This is an excellent smartphone at its MSRP, and this discount makes the deal even sweeter (though the phone does dip to this price frequently). The Galaxy A53 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has a large 6.5-inch AMOLED screen with a 120-Hz screen refresh rate, decent cameras, and day-long battery life. It’ll be updated longer than any other Android phone at this price: Samsung promises four OS upgrades and five years of security updates. Just know that there’s no headphone jack and wireless charging, but you do get a MicroSD card slot.
OnePlus Phone Deals
The OnePlus 10 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a good phone, but it costs a little much for what you get. That’s why OnePlus officially brought down the MSRP from $900 to $800 this month, and this deal drops that even further. You get some of the fastest charging around, so if you often find yourself by an outlet charging your phone, this is the device you want. It has smooth performance, a 120-Hz screen, and capable cameras. Just know that if you’re on AT&T, you will only get 4G LTE, as this device doesn’t support the network’s 5G.
The Nord N20 5G (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a much more affordable option than most of the devices on this list, but that doesn’t mean a ton of compromises. You still get an AMOLED screen, a day-long battery, and excellent performance. It even has NFC support so you can make contactless payments. It will get three years of security updates but only one OS upgrade. There’s no 5G support on AT&T, and 5G doesn’t work on Verizon either, so it’s really best for anyone on T-Mobile.
The OnePlus 9 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is last year’s OnePlus flagship, and it’s a pretty good phone. It’ll get two more OS upgrades and three more years of security updates, so it will last a while, but the big takeaway here is that you’re getting flagship-grade performance for a great price. It’ll have no trouble with the most demanding games. It even supports wireless charging and has a 120-Hz AMOLED screen. The cameras are just OK.
Motorola Phone Deals
Our Best Cheap Phones guide has more Motorola advice.
The Moto G Stylus 2022 is a perfectly fine phone, but it’s a much better value at this price. You get two-day battery life, a 90-Hz LCD screen, and three years of security updates. Performance has actually declined from its predecessor, which is unusual, but it still runs well enough. There’s still no NFC to let you pay with your phone, and I didn’t find the built-in stylus all that useful. Still, for $200, it’ll do the job.
The Moto G 5G is another Motorola phone that was too expensive for what you get at its MSRP but a better deal at this price. There’s 5G support, a day and a half of battery life, and decent performance. It’ll get three years of security updates but only one OS upgrade. NFC is still unavailable, so you can’t make contactless payments, and the cameras are lackluster.
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