Stop paying for big brand overhead; Buy an unlocked phone online (Lenovo)

I just got done reviewing the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, and it is undoubtedly the most attractive phone I’ve ever seen in person. It’s also about $800. That kind of money used to be what you’d pay for a model with upgraded memory or some kind perks. Now, Samsung appears to be making it the new norm.

First, let’s get a couple facts out of the way. The Samsung Galaxy S7 retails for $669 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge comes in at $779 at my carrier of choice, T-Mobile. That breaks down to $27.92 a month with zero up front for the vanilla Galaxy S7, and $30 a month with a $59.99 down payment for the curvaceous S7 Edge. Add in tax (~7% here in Ohio) and you’re well over $700 or $800 for your phone of choice. That’s a lot of money.

I think it’s time we stopped putting up with this.

These phones are marvels of technology for sure. But, at $800 you have to ask yourself what you’re really buying. Through bulk rate buying, Samsung can get the component cost down to about $255 for the Galaxy S7.  Add in other overhead like advertising, manufacturing and human costs,  et. al, and you have a recipe for one of the most expensive phones out there.

Samsung spent $45 million advertising the Samsung Galaxy S6. Forty. Five. Million. Dollars. For a phone that wasn’t that good.

I’m sorry, flagships. I just can’t anymore.

Alternatives

I love phones. I never seem to get burnt out on them, no matter how many times I’ve switched. And I’ve switched a lot. I love experiencing what a new phone has to offer. I love seeing a company’s vision for what the mobile space should look like. I just love phones.

Browsing through Gearbest’s listings shows me that I don’t have to wait two years for new experiences. I don’t have to spend $800 to get a well-built phone with great specs. Here are some of my favorite Lenovo alternatives currently on Gearbest for literally half (or less) of a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

Lenovo Vibe X3

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
  
• RAM: 3 GB
• ROM: 32 GB
• Camera: 21 MP + 8 MP
• Display: 5.5″ 1080p; Gorilla Glass 3
• Battery: 3600 mAh
• Other features: Expandable storage (64 GB), Dual SIM hybrid slot,
• Price: $390
• Website: Gearbest

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Lenovo Vibe P1

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
  
• RAM: 3 GB
• ROM: 16 GB
• Camera: 13 MP + 5 MP
• Display: 5.5″ 1080p; Gorilla Glass 3
• Battery: 5000 mAh
• Other features: Expandable storage (128 GB), Dual SIM hybrid slot, Fingerprint sensor
• Price: $254
• Website: Gearbest

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Lenovo ZUK Z1

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
  
• RAM: 3 GB
• ROM: 64 GB
• Camera: 13 MP + 8 MP
• Display: 5.5″ 1080p
• Battery: 4100 mAh
• Other features: Dual Nano SIM slot, Fingerprint sensor, Optical Image Stabilization, Cyanogen Mod OS, Quick Charge, USB Type-C
• Price: $255
• Website: Gearbest

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Lenovo K80M

• CPU: Intel Moorefield Z3560
  
• RAM: 4 GB
• ROM: 64 GB
• Camera: 13 MP + 5 MP
• Display: 5.5″ 1080p
• Battery: 4000 mAh
• Other features:  Image Stabilization
• Price: $198
• Website: Gearbest

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Conclusion

Lenovo is just one company putting out top tier phones for a fraction of the price. Gearbest and other sites like Amazon and B&H Photo offer a lot of great unlocked options for really good prices. Buying flagships leaves you with huge overhead that simply isn’t necessary in today’s phone market These phones prove that you don’t have to break the bank to own a great phone. Keep your eyes peeled to our Twitter for more of these posts and some great deals on great phones.