With so many smartphones on the market, choosing the right one for you can be daunting, especially if you’re concerned about price.
Buying a new device doesn’t have to drastically reduce your savings.
See Shaun White’s full report in the video above
If you know what you’re looking for, you could save hundreds of dollars.
“You should really ask yourself what kind of experience are you looking for,” says Matt Williams, Managing Director of Optus.
“Is it that ultra premium phone experience, or just a great phone to get around? And of course – what system are you used to? Is it the Apple system or is it the Samsung system /Android?”
Sunrise Tech expert Val Quinn has broken down the hottest smartphones of 2022.
iPhone 13
Apple’s iPhone 13 was one of the most anticipated phone releases of 2021.
The range starts with the Mini model, which retails from $1199, followed by the standard from $1349, then the Pro from $1699.
But for those on a budget, the stripped-down iPhone SE remains a top pick, available from just $679.
“With the iPhone SE, what you get over the iPhone 13 is a much smaller screen,” Quinn says.
The SE comes with a 4.7-inch screen, compared to the 13’s 5.5-inch for the mini, 6.1-inch for the standard, and 6.7-inch for the Pro Max.
“Also, the iPhone 13 has triple or dual cameras, whereas like with the iPhone SE, you have a single camera.”
Quinn says the SE is perfect for those who primarily use their phone for calls and messages.
“You pay a lot more for advanced technology and sometimes it costs a lot of money in research and development and that affects the cost of the phone.”
If you’re less concerned with the latest tech, Coles has teamed up with Boost Mobile to sell refurbished iPhone models for under $500.
Samsung S21 FE
Samsung’s cheapest and newest model is the Samsung S21 FE, or “Fan Edition”.
“The FE Edition has all the fan-favorite features at a cheaper price,” says Quinn.
“In terms of what you don’t get for your money, the screen itself is smaller and less clear, but it still uses the same screen technology which is bright and very smooth.
“Other things like the camera – you still get triple cameras like the higher-end versions of the S21, but those cameras don’t have the same resolution as the higher-end models.”
Matt Williams says the Samsung FE is good value for money.
“It’s got fast 5G, an amazing screen, an amazing camera, a really pro-grade camera and superb battery life,” says Optus’ chief executive.
“So really offers everything in a very affordable package.”
Samsung’s S21 FE starts at $999.
Samsung will be the first tech company to hold a major product event in 2022, with its Unpacked event on February 9.
Industry websites speculate that the tech giant will unveil its flagship Galaxy S22 lineup, including Note-like business models using an S-Pen or stylus.
Google Pixel 6
Google’s Pixel 6 is Val Quinn’s top pick for anyone looking to save hundreds on a new phone.
“Google is really competitive this year compared to others, so it’s the phone to watch,” he says.
“These phones are priced, at least the smallest, under $1,000.”
“These are flagship phones, so they give you all these amazing features that compare to other flagship phones that cost $1,500, $1,700 and more, but you get it at a much lower price.”
The Google Pixel starts at $999, going all the way up to $1,599 for the highest-end Pro model.