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| Galaxy S22 Slides to Midrange Price While Redmi Note 12 Pro Dives Even Lower |
The 15th of October brought some wild price drops in the smartphone world. Samsung's powerful Galaxy S22 crashed to unheard of lows, making it cheaper than even last year's iPhones. Meanwhile Xiaomi's Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G fell to the pricing basement, rocking specs that embarrass many pricier midrangers. Even Apple's own iPhone 14 and iPhone SE 2022 took some startling tumbles. Let's dive into these tech deals and see how the value proposition has changed for some big names.
Galaxy S22 Hits Rock Bottom Pricing with Premium Power
Samsung's Galaxy S22 entered 2022 as a top-shelf Android, duking it out with the iPhone 13 family. But time and rivals have worn away at its price point. Now halfway into its cycle, the S22 sits at midrange territory while packing plenty of premium punch.
The S22's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor remains blazing fast, easily standing up to even the iPhone 14's A15 chip. Its 6.1" Dynamic AMOLED display hits a crisp FHD+ resolution with up to 120Hz refresh for silky smooth scrolling. And the triple rear camera system produces stunning photography with a 50MP main sensor, 10MP telephoto for 3X optical zoom, and 12MP ultrawide lens.
Perhaps most impressive is that the S22 still promises up to 3-4 years of Android OS and security updates. So it will stay fresh long into the future. Of course, its sleek glass-and-metal design still appears modern and packs water resistance too.
For a flagship that's only 8 months old, finding the S22 below $500 is wild. But deals dipping closer to $400 are popping up already. At these prices, the Galaxy can keep up with or beat the upcoming iPhone 16 in several areas while costing hundreds less.
Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G Defies Budget Expectations
Xiaomi's sub-brand Redmi usually sits squarely in the entry-level and lower midrange categories. But the new Redmi Note 12 Pro aims higher while retaining a bargain price.
Yes, it's limited to 4G connectivity rather than 5G. But the MediaTek Helio G99 chip inside can still whip through apps and games with smooth frame rates. The 6.67" AMOLED display dazzles the eyes at Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
The highlight for many will be the giant 108MP main camera, which can capture staggering detail and resolution compared to other budget phones. It's joined by an 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro shooter.
Even with the Note 12 Pro's excellent 5000mAh battery, 120W charging, Gorilla Glass protection, and 5G-beating power, it still comes in at just $250-300. For shoppers who don't need 5G yet, this Redmi could make midrangers like the Galaxy A55 5G and iPhone 14 look weak for their price.
iPhone 14 Drops to Unprecedented Lows Against Newest iPhone 16
Apple's iPhone 14 entered the world saddled with criticism and low expectations. With minor upgrades over the iPhone 13, it failed to wow reviewers and buyers. Now halfway through its life cycle, the iPhone 14 has cratered to record low prices for a still-current iPhone.
In October 2022 deals, the iPhone 14 base model with 128GB of storage slashed under $700. For comparison, the equivalent iPhone 13 only reached this price point after the iPhone 14 launch. This makes the iPhone 14 Apple's cheapest current-gen smartphone ever after only a month on sale.
With Apple's A15 Bionic chip, solid dual rear cameras, excellent build quality, and guaranteed 5 years of updates, the iPhone 14 remains a compelling device. Especially at these prices hovering around $650-700, it significantly undercuts the improved iPhone 14 Pro models. Heck, it's priced similarly to 2020's iPhone SE now.
For those less wowed by the dynamic island and Always-On Display of iPhone 14 Pro models, these iPhone 14 deals deserve a look. You still get silky performance and great photography for hundreds less than the Pro or Pro Max.
iPhone SE 2022 Drops to $279 With Powerful A15 Chip
Apple gave its budget-friendly iPhone SE a considerable specs bump earlier in 2022. The iPhone SE 2022 sports the same blazing fast A15 Bionic processor as the iPhone 13 family. It also gains improved durability and 5G connectivity.
But the SE 2022 retains the classic iPhone design with thick bezels and Home button. Its single 12MP camera also lags the photographic prowess of pricier iPhones. However, at its new low price of $279, this iPhone SE becomes extremely tempting.
The A15 chip can churn through iOS 16's latest features and games with no sweat. And the 12MP sensor, while dated, does gain advanced processing and Smart HDR 4 for solid image quality. The SE 2022 can even shoot 4K video and do Portrait mode photography with background blur.
Yes, the design isn't flashy and the battery life merely average. But finding a brand new iPhone model with Apple's latest silicon for just over $250 is remarkable. The iPhone SE 2022 at this price still promises buttery performance and years of software support. It brings a true iPhone experience to the most budget-conscious shoppers.
Galaxy S23 Promises Compact Size and AI Photography
Samsung's next flagship lineup, likely the Galaxy S23 family, should arrive in early 2023. But rumors already paint an exciting picture, especially for the Galaxy S23 base model.
Current leaks point to the S23 retaining a compact 6.1" display. But it will gain a sleek new design with much thinner bezels. The rear camera system may protrude less as well for a smoother profile.
Of course, the S23 will rock Android 13 and Samsung's One UI 5.0 software. But the biggest upgrade looks to be an advanced AI engine and ISP or image signal processor. This should greatly boost photography and camera features.
The AI and ISP upgrades could put the S23's shooting abilities closer to the Galaxy S22 Ultra's level. And Samsung Exynos or Qualcomm Snapdragon chips will provide more power.
While the Galaxy S23 likely won't launch until January or February 2023, some deals are already cropping up. Savings of $100-150 have appeared, hinting at the S23's pricing potential. Samsung could position it as an iPhone 16 killer at $700-800.
Final Thoughts - A Buyer's Market for Smartphones
The flurry of price drops proves that patience pays off for smartphone shoppers. In just the first half of their life cycle, devices like the Galaxy S22 and iPhone 14 now sell for chunky discounts of 20% or more off MSRP.
Savvy buyers can land supremely powerful devices like the S22 for midrange prices. And even budget buyers can now access premium features like AMOLED displays and 108MP cameras for reasonable costs.
With smartphone innovation plateauing a bit, even older devices like the iPhone SE 2022 remain speedy and capable thanks to strong processors. For light users, today's midrange segment outperforms what used to be flagship-level just a couple years ago.
October 2022 clearly showed the market moving in favor of buyers ready to scoop up these deals. And the holiday season should bring even steeper discounts across all segments. Shoppers have all the leverage right now, so it's a great time to bag tremendous smartphone value.