Deals: refurbished iPhone 15 models, Galaxy S24 series discounts and foldables

15 September 2024

This week all eyes were on Apple and the new iPhone 16 series. Pre-orders started this Friday and will last a week – shipments and open sales start next Friday.

You can pre-order from Apple.com and, if you do, make sure to check the trade-in deals. Apple made a big deal about them during the presentation. Here are the US prices for the four iPhone 16 models without trade-in (they cost the same as last year’s 15-series).

	iPhone 16	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 16 Pro	iPhone 16 Pro Max
US	$799	$899	$999	$1,199

Are you getting an iPhone 16? While you ponder that, here are some alternatives. The obvious place to start is other iPhones, so we looked at some refurbished units from Amazon. In part because they are cheaper, but also because you can’t buy new iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max from Apple anymore (but Apple.com still stocks new 15 and 15 Plus).

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus kept the same 6.1” and 6.7” screens as their 15-series counterparts. Yes, they still have 60Hz panels. So, what changed? The more powerful Apple A18 chipset and the extra RAM allow the 16-series phones to run Apple Intelligence, the 15 and 15 Plus will not be supported. The new models also have faster charging and new ultra wide cameras with macro mode. Perhaps the biggest upgrade is the Camera Control and the Action Button, which enable a host of new shortcuts.

But looking back at the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, they have the same screens. The same 48MP main cameras and 12MP selfie cameras too.

The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max get larger 6.3” and 6.9” displays. That’s good for those who like large displays, but bad for those who think that the new models are too big. The faster charging and new buttons are also present on the 16 Pro duo. Also, there is a new 48MP ultra wide camera and this year, the small Pro has the same 5x periscope as the Pro Max (the 15 Pro has a 3x lens).

Unlike the vanilla models, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will be updated with Apple Intelligence (coming next month). The main and selfie cameras are the same and the 15 Pro Max even has the same periscope.

You can switch to Android this generation. All Galaxy S24 models have 120Hz LTPO displays and they all have AI (mostly powered by Google).

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has both a 5x periscope (with a 50MP sensor to boot, not 12MP like on the iPhones) and there is also a 3x lens. The main camera has a 200MP sensor. There is the S Pen too, which gives this phone tablet-like skills.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a 6.7” display, the same size as the iPhone 15 Plus and 16 Plus. But as we noted above, instead of an outdated 60Hz panel you get a 120Hz LTPO panel. This model also has a telephoto camera (3x 10MP).

The new iPhone 16 Pro is larger than the Galaxy S24. And with no new Xperia 5 this year and no small Zenfone 11 in sight, these are the last small flagships standing. The small S24 also has a 120Hz LTPO display a 3x 10MP tele camera, things for which Apple charges extra.

Apple still has no foldables, so there is no direct competitor for the Galaxy Z Fold6. But we couldn’t pass it over after we saw the $400 discount. It’s still expensive, but maybe now is the time to switch to a foldable.

Flip foldables probably make a better alternative to iPhones and there are plenty to choose from. Starting with the Galaxy Z Flip6, which can be yours for $950, which is less than a new iPhone 16 Pro (note: we have linked the 512GB Z Flip6 as the 256GB model had a smaller discount, so both ended up costing the same).

Then there are the Motorola razrs. These range from quite cheap – the razr 2023 is just $400, which is mid-ranger money (and to be fair, it is a mid-ranger) – to not so expensive with the razr+ 2024 at $900. If you’re not sure which one is right for you, we’d recommend the razr+ 2023 – it’s priced well (at $600 it is $100 less than the razr 2024) while still offering good performance (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) and a large, functional cover display (3.6”, 144Hz).

That’s it for foldables and we have one more phone to offer – the Motorola Edge (2024). It’s $450, but the curved 6.6” 144Hz OLED display and vegan leather back give it a premium look. It has a 50MP main camera and a 13MP ultra wide on its back. The 5,000mAh battery supports fast 68W wired and 15W wireless charging. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset is pretty slow for this price range, but the phone does have Ready For (Moto’s desktop environment).

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