We just covered a list of the Best Smartphones under $500 in the US. Now, let’s turn things up a notch with the top 5 smartphones for under $1000. For such a hefty price tag, these are premium smartphone models. So read on to see which phones deserve your hard earned money.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Starting off the list, we have Apple’s brand new iPhone 16 Pro. The Cupertino based giant’s latest flagship phone launched with a starting price tag of $999 for the 128GB variant. It sports a 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED ProMotion display. Under the hood, the iPhone 16 Pro is equipped with the A18 Pro chipset, which is one of the fastest mobile processors in the market right now. It promises not just fast CPU and GPU performance but with new ML accelerators for access to AI generative models.

You also get a 48-megapixel main camera, along with a 12-megapixel telephoto shooter and a 48-megapixel ultra wide angle lens. But that’s not all, one of the biggest changes includes the addition of a dedicated camera button, which may or may not excite you. There’s also a premium titanium design, a larger battery, and iOS 18 that comes with Game Mode.

Preview	Product
	iPhone 16 Pro / 256GB / Desert Titanium	Check Price on Amazon

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Samsung Galaxy S24+

Samsung is one of Apple’s biggest rivals and its Galaxy S24+ directly competes with the iPhone 16 Pro. The device also costs $999 for its base model and comes with top notch hardware. It sports a 6.7-inch Dynamic 2X display with 2K+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The phone is powered by either an Exynos 2400 or a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC.

The rear packs a 50-megapixel triple camera setup. A 4,900mAh battery pack powers this model, which supports 45W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging. Other notable features include 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. So if you’re in the market for Samsung’s latest flagship, the Galaxy S24+ is worth considering for under $1000.

Preview	Product
	Samsung Galaxy S24+ Plus 5g SM-S926B/DS 256GB 12GB RAM, 50 MP Camera, AI Smartphone, Unlocked	Check Price on Amazon

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Google Pixel 9 Pro

Google recently debuted the Pixel 9 Pro for a starting price of $999. There are plenty of improvements over its predecessors, but the Pixel 9 Pro shines in photography once again. It features a 50-megapixel main sensor with f/1.68 for better performance in low light, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto unit with 5x optical zoom. These feature various useful features like Magic Eraser and Best Take.

It features a boxier design with flat corners, pill shaped camera module, and a 6.34-inch Actua OLED display with 120Hz LTPO panel, and 3,000 nits of peak brightness. The Tensor G4 powers this model, which is coupled with the Titan M2 security chip, 1GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. People have described the Pixel series as an iPhone equivalent on the Android side. So this is definitely worth checking out.

Preview	Product
	Google Pixel 9 Pro – Unlocked Android Smartphone with Gemini, Triple Rear Camera System, 24-Hour…	Check Price on Amazon

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OnePlus 12

While the OnePlus 12R is one of the best smartphones under $500, the OnePlus 12 easily makes the top 5 for premium phones under $1000. You get a gorgeous 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 2K+ resolution, high brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it is equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Even the camera setup is quite versatile with a 50-megapixel main, a 64-megapixel telephoto shooter, and a 48-megapixel ultra wide angle lens.

You can also expect impressive battery life thanks to the 5,400mAh cell, which supports 100W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging. The OnePlus 12 is easily a true flagship that aims to excel in every aspect. So if you want a tall screen, big battery, capable cameras, and top notch performance, be sure to check this one out since it is also one of the cheapest in this list. It is available for a $799 starting price for the 12GB + 256GB option, while the 16GB + 512GB variant costs $899.

Preview	Product
	OnePlus 12 (Silky Black, 12GB RAM, 256GB Storage)	Check Price on Amazon

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Motorola Razr+ 2024

Foldable phones are usually pricey and can cost over $1000. But Motorola is a veteran in this segment by now, bringing the Razr+ (2024) flip phone to the US market for just $899. Right off the bat, its unique selling point is on full display with a flexible main screen and a secondary cover screen. The primary panel is a 6.9-inch LTPO panel along with a 165Hz refresh rate, FHD+ resolution, and 3000 nits of peak brightness.

Meanwhile, the cover screen is a 4-inch LTPO AMOLED 165Hz panel. Under the hood, it is equipped with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which is an underclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. So while you don’t get the top end performance, the hardware doesn’t disappoint. The back has a twin 50-megapixel camera and a 32-megapixel selfie shooter. A 4,000mAh battery pack powers this model, which supports 45W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging.

Preview	Product
	Motorola razr | 2024 | Unlocked | Made for US 8/256GB | 50MP Camera | Spritz Orange	Check Price on Amazon

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The post Best Smartphones Under $1000 in the US (October 2024) appeared first on Gizmochina.

Buying a new smartphone is always a tough decision as there are many factors to consider like specs, features, pricing, and much more. So to make things easier, we have compiled a list of some of the best smartphones you can buy for under $500 in the US. There are 5 solid options to choose from, so let’s have a look.

OnePlus 12R

The first on our list is the OnePlus 12R, which is a budget flagship smartphone. It has a starting price tag of $499 and offers some top notch specs and features. The device sports a tall 6.78-inch AMOLED display that offers 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for protection. Under the hood, the OnePlus 12R is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, which is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage for the $499 configuration.

For optics, there is a 50-megapixel triple camera setup on the rear and a 16-megapixel selfie shooter on the front. It runs on the Android 14 OS based OxygenOS 14 custom skin out of the box and is powered by a large 5,500mAh battery pack that supports 100W wired fast charging. So this is a great all-round option that you can choose, especially if you like the OnePlus ecosystem.

Preview	Product
	OnePlus 12R (Iron Gray, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Storage)	Check Price on Amazon

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Motorola Edge+ 2023

At this price range, most of these devices are quite competitive in terms of hardware. Just like the OnePlus 12R, you also get a 50MP triple camera setup, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and more with the Motorola Edge+ 2023. So your decision to buy a phone might be influenced by some of its unique aspects or better features. The Edge+ features a 6.67-inch curved OLED screen with a higher 165Hz refresh rate. Its camera setup also has a 12-megapixel telephoto shooter. But there is also support for 15W wireless charging. So if you want a more versatile camera setup, capable performance, and clean UI, this is a great choice for you.

Preview	Product
	Motorola Edge 50 5G (8GB RAM + 256GB Storage) | 50MP + 13MP + 10MP | 32MP Front Camera | 5000 mAh…	Check Price on Amazon

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Google Pixel 8a

While Google’s focus is the premium Android segment, its A series aims to be more accessible. The Pixel 8a is the third and most affordable entry in the Pixel 8 lineup. It is a compact phone that sports a 6.1-inch OLED display (120Hz, FHD+). The brand also promises up to 7 major Android upgrades. Google’s Pixel series is well known for its cameras, the rear has a 64-megapixel dual camera setup, while the front houses a 13-megapixel selfie shooter. Just a couple of months ago, the Pixel 8a went on sale for just $349, but it typically sells for around $400.

Preview	Product
	Pxel 8a 5G (Obsidian, 8 GB Ram, 256 GB Storage) Smartphone	Check Price on Amazon

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Samsung Galaxy A35

There’s an affordable option for even Samsung fans. For just $399, it is one of the more affordable smartphones on this list. You get a solid 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate on the front, while the rear packs a 50-megapixel triple camera setup. However, the biggest letdown is its Exynos 1380 SoC. But in every other regard, it easily competes with the other models in this list. A large 5,000mAh battery pack powers this device, which supports 25W wired fast charging. So if you’re a part of the Samsung ecosystem, this is a great mid range offering.

Preview	Product
	Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Awesome Iceblue, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage) | Premium Glass Back | 50 MP Main…	Check Price on Amazon

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Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

Back in 2022, Apple launched its last iPhone SE model. It was the 3rd generation entry and continues the compact form factor. The design is reminiscent of the older iPhones like the iPhone 8. So this is perfect for those looking for a simple smartphone from Apple but don’t need all the bells and whistles of the newer models. Getting this model also saves on cost since it can be purchased for under $300. Other specs worth mentioning are the 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD screen, Apple A15 Bionic, 12-megapixel rear camera, and Touch ID.

The post Best Smartphones Under $500 in the US (October 2024) appeared first on Gizmochina.

Last year a Lenovo-backed company released a ZUK Z2 – a phone that had a great design and killers specs. Right now you can get this phone for just about $180 and it seems to be one of the best phones for the price since it has a Snapdragon 820 chip, 4GB of RAM and a lot more! Learn more in our ZUK Z2 review after 1 year.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0KVJ_ogfEs[/embedyt]

Check out Lenovo’s deal page

ZUK Z2 Review: UNBOXING

The phone ships with all the usual stuff that includes the USB C cable, a fast charger, SIM ejector pin and some paperwork.

ZUK Z2 Review: SPECS

ZUK Z2 Review: DESIGN and DISPLAY

As far as design goes, it has changed quite a bit if we compare it to the ZUK Z1.

Now we have a rather compact phone, which uses a very high quality and sturdy metal frame around the device. I love the fact that all the buttons and a dual SIM card tray are on the right and all other stuff is on the bottom. Thus, other sides of the phone look clean.

The sound quality from the loudspeaker is pretty good but nothing we haven’t heard from similarly priced phones.

Also, we have Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and rear. A great thing is that the phone has some sort of anti-fingerprint coating and it does its job very well.

We have a 5” 1080p display, which is nice and sharp but it could be slightly brighter for a better sunlight legibility.

An 8MP shooter is here for selfies along with a notification LED light on the top.

On the bottom, we have just one physical home button but it has tons of features. First of all, you can physically press it and it takes you home. Also, you can tap it and it acts as a back button or swipe it from left to right if you e.g. want to access your recent apps. Also, the button is highly customizable and you can assign different tasks. I have to say that this is one of the best home button implementations I’ve ever seen.

Last but not least we have a fingerprint scanner, which is accurate and it reads a fingerprint straight from the standby mode.

On the back, we have a 13MP shooter with f/2.2 aperture and a single LED flash.

Overall, the phone is well-built, it feels nice in the hand and it sports some flagship-worthy materials in the construction.

ZUK Z2 Review: HARDWARE and PERFORMANCE

ZUK Z2 still sports some flagship-grade specs. It has a Snapdragon 820 chip, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of on-board storage without the microSD card slot.

As you may have guessed, the phone can handle anything you throw at it without a sweat. All the games ran almost perfectly on the highest graphics. However, the phone does quite warm on the top portion of the device but there are no overheating warnings or anything that could impair the performance.

ZUK Z2 Review: USER INTERFACE

When it comes to the user interface, there are two different versions. The one I reviewed like 8 months ago shipped with the Chinese ROM that had quite a bit of bloatware and no Google services. The one I have ships with the fully de-bloated ZUI rom, that is built on top of Android 6.0.

First of all, I love that the UI looks clean and it is fast and fluid. Also, there are some extra features and customization options. Besides the ability to do a lot of stuff just by swiping on the home button, you can swipe from the bottom to open up quick settings toggles, which are highly customizable too.

It would be great to have the Android 7 on this ROM but honestly, I really love it and so far it looks a lot better than the Chinese ROM.

ZUK Z2 Review: CAMERA

When it comes to the camera, we have a few shooting modes but there is no manual mode to take a full control of the images you take. Also, there are some basic settings to play with. In addition, the phone can take pictures very fast, which is probably the most important aspect for most users. Finally, the device triggers HDR mode automatically.

ZUK Z2 Review: IMAGE QUALITY

ZUK Z2 can take some nice looking daylight images with a good amount of detail, accurate looking colors and sharpness.

The camera starts struggling in lower-lit situations as the images have quite a lot of noise and less detail. Still, you can get some usable images out of this phone.

The 4k video looks really good for a $180 phone. However, the footage could have less noise and compression, and the green color of the grass looks oversaturated. See a video review for a video sample.

An 8MP selfie snapper can take some decent looking selfies for social media needs.

Overall, ZUK Z2 does not have a perfect camera but it is definitely one of the better cameras in a $300 phone.

ZUK Z2 Review: CONNECTIVITY

I didn’t have any connectivity issues with the phone as the signal reception was good and the call quality was decent. Also, the Wifi worked fine and the GPS was accurate.

ZUK Z2 Review: BATTERY LIFE

The ZUK Z2 ships with 3500mAh built-in battery and it performs great.

I could constantly get over 5 hours of screen-on time on a mixed use, which involved using the camera, browsing the web, a bit of gaming and so on.

The phone ships with a fast charger and I was able to fully charge the phone in 1 hour and 30 mins.

ZUK Z2 Review: CONCLUSIONS

So, there you have it, ZUK Z2 after the buzz. With the recent price drops, I honestly believe that this is one of the best phones you can buy. Sure, it has a few shortcomings to consider but given the fact that it has really powerful internals, great and compact design, the ZUK Z2 is a fantastic offering for about $180.

The post ZUK Z2 Review after 1 year – The Best Budget Smartphone for $180? appeared first on Gizmochina.