Samsung Galaxy Archives

Here are the best used phones for $100, $300 and $500

If upgrading to a new phone and not keeping your old one, you could be looking at a nice payday. Here are some tips to get the most bang for your buck for your old electronics.

Perhaps you need an upgrade but don’t want to shell out for a brand-new phone. No problem! There are excellent used phones out there to fit any budget. Here are some of the best for each price point.

Secondhand is fine, but don’t dig too far into the past

Developers typically support a phone for a few more years when it is taken off the market. This means you don’t always have to run out and buy the newest model to keep your phone up to date.

It’s essential always to have the latest software patches and operating system updates. Not only do you get access to new and improved features, but you get the latest protection against hacks, viruses, bugs and malware.

The level of support goes down with time. They may get small incremental patches for a while longer but not significant updates. Eventually, support is completely dropped for older phones. Here are some obsolete tech devices you shouldn’t buy.

Now, let’s look at some phones! We picked an iOS and Android phone for each price point.

Best used phones for $100 or less

Apple iPhone SE (second generation)

The second entry in the budget line of iPhones packs the same internal hardware as the iPhone 11. There’s no plus-size version of this phone, and it’s nearly identical to the iPhone 8 externally, including the home button. It supports HDR content and can record 4K video at 60 FPS — you’ll get some stunning cinematics with this setting.

You can pick up a 128GB or 256GB model for about $100.

Google Pixel 4a 5G

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How to find your lost iPhone, even if it's powered off

Losing your things has become less of a worry as devices add tools and features to help you find your missing phone, tablet, headphones, laptops and more.

Ever leave the house not realizing you left something behind until it’s too late? Apple introduced a new feature with iOS 15 that alerts you when you leave your iPhone, iPad or Mac behind. This also works for AirPods Pro, which is much easier to misplace or forget. Tap or click here to activate separation alerts on AirPods Pro.

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Phone case wallets

If your favorite purse is a jacket, the transition to summer is bittersweet. Where to put your stuff? Enter the phone case wallet. Oh, and I always keep a $20 bill behind my phone case for emergencies. Do this and thank me later!

Best for iPhones: Smartish makes iPhone wallet cases that hold and hide three cards and cash with a spring-loaded door. Their iPhone 15 case costs $24.99.
Best for Samsung Galaxy phones: This handsome faux leather case ($18.99 for the S22) hides its built-in wallet, which has two vertical card slots behind a magnetic flap and an additional card pocket. Pick the right size for your Galaxy model!
Best universal phone case wallet: If you have a hard plastic case or prefer a caseless phone (brave!), go for an adhesive phone wallet. This clever model attaches with super-strong 3M adhesive and expands to hold five cards. Right now, it’s 25% off ($14.99).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

📸 Go, go, Android camera: This works on many Android smartphone models, including the Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy. Double-tap the power button to launch the camera, then use either the volume-up or volume-down button to take a snap. Easy!

Flip, not flop: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold SE is their first foldable phone with almost no crease in the middle. The Korea-only launch sold out instantly. Expect the same screen tech in the Galaxy Fold 7 in the U.S. next year. Psst, the Fold 6 (21% off) and Flip 6 (24% off) are on sale right now.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Privacy how-to: Hide notifications on your phone's lock screen

Our phones contain much of our personal lives in today’s digital world. From conversations to social media to our private photos, we have many things we may not want the world to see on our phones. Tap or click here to see six social media privacy mistakes you’re making.

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Military Appreciation Month: Up to $800 off a Samsung Galaxy + Exclusive plan discounts

May is National Military Appreciation Month, a special time to honor the service and sacrifice of members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Space Force.

We thank you for your service — and our sponsor T-Mobile is right there with us. T-Mobile is committed to serving military and veteran families with exclusive rates for military families, its mission to hire 10,000 veterans and spouses by 2023, and much more.

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Life upgrades you didn’t know you needed

Get the best night’s sleep of your life with a Bluetooth sleep mask.
A high-tech mug warmer will keep your java nice and hot.
This power bank is small enough to fit in your pocket and works with iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and others.
You’ll use this combo phone stand, Bluetooth speaker and clock every day.
Protect your debit and credit cards from thieves with this slim RFID-blocking wallet.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Malicious apps found in popular Android app store - What to avoid

If you own an Android, any number of apps can be risky — especially if you download them through unofficial sources. Some pose a danger to your data, and could quietly install malware on your phone.

Even the official Google Play Store doesn’t catch everything. Tap or click here for details on Android apps caught stealing users’ banking information.

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Google Photos Locked Folder coming to more Android phones - How to set it up

Over a trillion photos are taken each year on smartphones. Every photo we take ends up stored in our phones — even when we wished they wouldn’t.

Your phone is probably loaded with memes, screenshots and other junk hiding the photos you actually care about. Tap or click here for steps to find and delete pesky duplicate photos.

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Android update: New privacy feature, family reminders and more

The latest version of Android has been rolling out since October on Google Pixel phones and is now available for Samsung Galaxy devices.

Other users are still waiting for Android 12 to be available, bringing new security features such as a Privacy Dashboard. Tap or click here to check out new Android settings to protect your privacy.

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Android warning! Are you about to lose access to Google apps?

Updated Sept. 26, 2021 – The time to upgrade is now. Monday, Sept. 27, is the official day older versions of Android will lose access to their Google accounts. Read on for complete details.

Google’s Android operating system has been the preferred mobile platform for billions of users for a long time. The system has been around since 2008 and will be moving into its 12th version this year. Tap or click here for everything you need to know about Android 12.

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How waterproof is your phone? Find out - and what to do if you dunk it

Think of all the data your smartphone holds. Your contact list, photos, videos, personal notes, bookmarks, app files and so much more. Your phone might hold important business documents or personal memories you could never get back if they were lost.

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Samsung Galaxy: 9 tips and tricks to get more out of your phone

Most everyone decides early on whether they’re an Android or iPhone person and stick with it perpetually. No matter which one you chose, you definitely want to add some helpful apps for entertainment and productivity. Tap or click here for the most popular apps of 2020.

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10 must-try Samsung smartwatch tips and tricks

Are you in the market for a new smartwatch? There are so many options out there that it can be tough to figure out what each one offers.

You have a wide array of choices, from Apple Watch to Samsung Galaxy to Fitbit’s range of smartwatches. One of these options, the Samsung Galaxy smartwatch, offers some cool features that you may not know about. Need help choosing? Tap or click here for the five best smartwatches on the market.

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Mercedes' futuristic new car doesn't have a steering wheel - see it in action

When you think of new tech, items you use all the time probably come to mind. After all, it’s more common to hear details about the newest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy than it is to hear about a new, futuristic car that’s being unveiled.

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Here's how much Apple will pay you to trade in an Android smartphone

Apple has never been one to drastically discount its products, but times are changing and the competition is fierce. In the past year, Apple has offered several price promotions for its iPhone 11 handsets, and it looks like the trend is continuing into this year as well.

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Moving from iPhone to Android or vice versa? Here's how

It’s finally time for your phone upgrade and you’re really excited! But for the first time in your iPhone-owning life, you’re thinking you may want the new Pixel instead.

Or maybe you loved your Samsung Galaxy but now the iPhone 11 is calling your name. Switching from Android to iPhone or iPhone to Android is such a hassle; it can’t possibly be worth it, right? Tap or click here for 10 Android tips and tricks.

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