Editor’s Desk
Android Central’s Editor’s Desk is a weekly column discussing the most recent information, tendencies, and happenings within the Android and cellular tech area.
Amazon Prime Day is correct across the nook, and it is at all times tempting to spend cash on alluring offers, just because they exist. Whether or not it’s Prime Day or Black Friday, I discover myself shopping for issues I usually wouldn’t and which are usually out of my value vary, as a result of who is aware of when the following time that TV or laptop computer can be this low cost?
It’s simply as straightforward to spend some huge cash on a smartphone. My favourite telephone this 12 months is the Motorola Razr Extremely 2025, a telephone that prices $1,299, or simply as a lot because the Galaxy S25 Extremely. After all, they go on sale now and again, however can be discounted by a few hundred {dollars} or much more if you commerce in a telephone.
However to be sincere, you don’t have to spend a ton of cash on a telephone to have an excellent system. Inexpensive telephones maintain getting higher yearly, with firms like Motorola and Google providing extra for much less. At Moto G or Pixel A-series costs, you don’t even have to attend for a sale; these telephones supply loads of worth year-round at full MSRP. A Prime Day low cost would simply be the cherry on high.
Filled with specs
I lately reviewed the Moto G Stylus 2025, and I used to be completely impressed with simply how good a telephone it’s. At $399, it presents specs that rival these of many flagship Android telephones, such because the Galaxy S25, and includes a trendy vegan leather-based design that stands out from the group. It comes with a 120Hz Tremendous HD OLED show, an all-day 5,000mAh battery, and 68W charging that tops up the telephone sooner than an episode of “Andor.”
The 50MP digicam can also be higher than you’d anticipate from a $400 telephone. Photograph high quality hasn’t precisely been Motorola’s robust swimsuit, so it’s good to see the corporate bettering on this entrance, even on its lower-end telephones.
General, the Moto G Stylus 2025 is a significantly better telephone than you’d anticipate, and even consists of some AI options like Circle to Search and Sketch to Picture, each of which work nice with the improved stylus pen you get constructed into the telephone.
But it surely’s not simply the Stylus; the extra reasonably priced Moto G 2025 can also be surprisingly good for the value. As Android Central’s Nick Sutrich factors out in his Moto G 2025 overview, this $300 telephone includes a shiny, eye-friendly show, a big battery, and an improved digicam in comparison with its predecessor.
If you happen to’re a Motorola fan, both of those 2025 telephones could be an excellent choice. However generally, having probably the most spectacular specs is not every thing, and Motorola isn’t the one firm with telephones which are straightforward in your pockets.
All of the AI for much less
Whereas the Moto G Stylus could have some spectacular specs, it doesn’t have a lot in the best way of AI. Which may be high-quality for a lot of, however if you’d like the most recent options from Google at half the price of most flagships, the Pixel 9a might be the telephone for you.
I reviewed the bottom Pixel 9 final 12 months and actually loved it; it actually felt near being a Professional-level telephone. Nevertheless, the $500 Pixel 9a may make you suppose twice about spending that further $300. That’s as a result of apart from a number of spec adjustments and a more recent design, these two telephones are extremely related.
You get lots of the similar AI options, the Pixel 9a will get first dibs on new software program updates like Android 16 and past, and also you get a reasonably spectacular twin digicam system with the efficiency anticipated from a Google telephone.
Android Central’s Michael Hick’s calls the Pixel 9a the “Energizer telephone,” as a result of battery life goes on and on, which is a bit a part of the brand new design. And that’s an excellent factor as a result of charging speeds aren’t essentially the most effective, however that’s much less of a priority when the telephone lasts all day after which some.
You additionally received’t discover many smartphones this reasonably priced with software program help just like the Pixel 9a, with a promise of updates for seven years.
The specs is probably not the strongest, however you continue to get a flagship-level Tensor G4 chipset. This brings tons of AI options straight from Google, from Gemini to Pixel Studio, and all of the AI digicam or photograph enhancing options. Pixels are enjoyable telephones, and also you don’t have to spend so much to get entry to the most effective of Google.
Spend correctly this Prime Day
It’s at all times tempting to purchase the most recent and best smartphone, however as I’ve discovered over the previous couple of years, a smartphone half as costly could be simply nearly as good, relying in your wants. Past Motorola and Google, firms like OnePlus and Samsung supply units that undercut a lot of their flagship counterparts whereas nonetheless providing flagship-like specs and experiences.
I’m not saying don’t purchase that Razr Extremely, Galaxy S25 Extremely, or no matter different Extremely you’ve had in your radar for a while, particularly if you find yourself discovering a superb Prime Day deal on it. Nevertheless, keep in mind that there’ll at all times be some good choices obtainable that will not harm your pockets as a lot, deal or no deal.
