“Gifty mode” on, maybe you’re thinking about offering your loved ones a phone. What’s more generous than offering something that is used on a daily basis, maybe even hourly basis, right? 

Statistics say that: 

  • Generally, people spend an average of 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phones. ​Americans spend even more 5.4 hours. No statistics for Cuba, but they’re pretty hooked on their phones as well
  • ​​People check their phones 58 times a day on average with more than half of those occurring during working hours. What did we just say? Hourly… 

Keeping that in mind, a phone may surely be a memorable gift. So if you’re thinking about that or just getting it for yourself, a nice gift to show you how much you appreciate yourself (that’s a must, joke aside), here are some options that will help you both save money and make you wonder why people spend $1000 or more on a new flagship.

Google Pixel 6A – $ 449 (price in the US)

Wired.com lists Google Pixel 6A as “Best overall”, thanks to the Google Tensor processor, that makes it the most powerful Android phone for the money, while enabling the smart software features found on Google flagships, from Assistant Voice Typing to the Magic Eraser that allows user to erase things in the background of your photos. So no more strange cables hanging behind your lovely smile or people in strange positions capturing the attention instead of your new dress… 

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G – $ 449 (price in the US)

Launched in April 2022, this phone is one of the most standout phones in terms of camera quality, display or design. For the connaisseurs – reviews say that it attempts to distill Samsung’s OneUI 4.1, found in the Galaxy S22 Ultra, into a more affordable package, and on the surface, it succeeds. Also, it features an AMOLED screen, which matches the Pixel 6A in inky blacks, but it supports a 120-Hz refresh rate. For the common mortals –  it loads fast and it feels smooth when you scroll down your social media. :)

iPhone SE 2022 – $429 (price in the US)

For all the iOS fans out there, not willing to give up food for the foreseeable future in order to be able to buy the latest iPhone, please meet the iPhone SE, 2022 edition. According to Tomsguide.com, this iPhone SE 2022 takes cheap phones to the next level of performance by including Apple’s powerful A15 Bionic chip. This is the same processor found in the iPhone 13, and it blows all Android phones away, whether you’re playing games or editing video on the go. 

OnePlus N20 5G $299 (price in the US)

Not impressed yet? You can just give in to the OnePlus’ slogan – Never settle. The phone works well thanks to the Snapdragon 695 chipset and 6 GB of RAM and has a striking design. Also, according to AndroidPolice.com, the battery is out of this world: they managed to get 10 hours of screen time over three days between charges.

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro – $329 (price in the US)

Another Best overall, this time in TechAdvisor.com’s terms. Although bulky, the phone boasts a lot of strengths; strong specs leading to exceptional performance, a beautiful display and absolutely fantastic battery life.