Buying a smartphone from at least a year ago can feel risky – especially as, the older a particular model of phone is, the slower it could feel when running. It might also be denied the same steady supply of software and security updates available for the latest devices.
Nonetheless, certain ‘old’ phones – like those highlighted below – have aged like a fine wine while remaining much cheaper to buy than ‘back in the day’.
Apple iPhone 11
The iPhone 11 was released just two years ago, though it might admittedly feel longer ago than that, given that it was before the pandemic; the iPhone 11 handsets were, to date, the last iPhones unveiled by Apple at an in-person media event rather than an entirely online one.
The only obvious drawback of the iPhone 11 today might be its lack of 5G support – but, as Digital Trends notes, “most people probably won’t notice the difference, given that 5G isn’t really widespread at the moment.”
Apple iPhone 8
Even upon its initial launch back in September 2017, the iPhone 8 was admittedly overshadowed; at the time, most press attention centred around the much more futuristic iPhone X.
Ironically, though, that device’s biggest headline feature – its Face ID facial recognition system – now looks rather irrelevant in the age when face masks are prevalent. Conversely, the iPhone 8 is sitting pretty due to its inclusion of the older Touch ID technology, where a fingerprint is used for authentication instead.
Samsung Galaxy S10
Since releasing the Galaxy S9 in 2018, Samsung has gone through a series of what you might call ‘iterative updates’ with its Galaxy S range of smartphones. Nonetheless, if want to save money by opting for an ‘old’ Galaxy S phone, you should probably resist going for anything older than the S10.
That’s because it’s slightly faster and offers longer battery life than its predecessor – not to mention that, unlike this earlier, single-lens device, it is equipped with a triple-lens camera arrangement.
Google Pixel 5
While the Pixel 5 has long had much to recommend it, one major sticking point used to be its price. It’s fortunate, then, that this price has started falling in the wake of the Pixel 6’s launch.
The Pixel 5 has, for example, been spotted among the selection of reasonably priced mobile phones available through OnBuy. Tom’s Guide hails the device’s 90Hz display and nine-and-a-half-hour battery life, plus “all the usual software and camera features that make the Pixel range so popular”.
OnePlus 8
Originally released last year but since superseded by the OnePlus 8T and OnePlus 9, the OnePlus 8 houses a beefy Snapdragon 865 processor and 5G connectivity behind a stunning 6.3-inch OLED display. The handset also excels in its battery life, while the camera can capture surprisingly good photos in low-light conditions.
If you like the Android operating system but not so much the bloatware that often comes installed on it, rest assured that the OnePlus 8’s Oxygen OS is one of the cleanest Android versions available.
