Image via Complex Original
This is one of our favorite times of the year. With summer drawing to a close and the back-to-school buying rush kicking into gear, now's one of the best times to get great gadget deals—more specifically, great deals on smartphones. Now that every major carrier has initiated markdowns on several elite handsets to clear space for its Q4 lineup, consumers have a shot of copping premium mobile hardware at a fraction of the original cost—with a two-year contract agreement, of course. We shopped around the web to find the best carrier deals at the moment and put together an elite collection of phones you'd be foolish to pass up. Before you plot your upgrade, check out the 10 Best Smartphones Under $100 Right Now.
Related: The 10 Best Android Phones Available Now
Samsung Galaxy Blaze 4G
Carrier: T-Mobile
Price: FREE (w/two-year contract)
The Galaxy Blaze 4G is a mid-level handset that boosts strong benchmarks and notable multimedia features. T-Mobile’s improved 4G network should have subscribers pulling solid data speeds and the phone’s 1.5Ghz dual-core puts in work on the performance end. Think of it as a great set-up device for the Galaxy S III. Note: T-Mobile's been fidgeting with the price tag over the past few weeks, so you got until the 19th to score the Blaze 4G for gratis.
Sony Xperia Ion
Carrier: AT&T
Price: $100 (w/two-year contract)
Backed by a 12MP shooter and good multimedia features, the latest entry in the Xperia series stands as one the best entertainment handsets available now. Capture sharp images on the rear camera, while pumping tunes on the upgraded music player, which uses Sony’s “SenseMe” recognition system to analyze your musical tastings and create playlists. The Bravia Mobile engine boosts onscreen visuals by enhancing sharpness and color saturation. Best of all, the Ion sports a two-way HDMI output that allows the phone to be operated by a remote when paired with a Bravia TV. Sick.
Samsung Galaxy S II
Carrier(s): AT&T, Sprint
Price: $100 (w/two-year contract), $100 (w/two-year contract)
Sure, it’s not the feature-filled behemoth that is the Galaxy S III, but its predecessor is still highly capable. The phenomenal 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display delivers stunning image and video quality, where as the 8MP camera does a good job recording 1080p HD and 720p videos. And like its latest sibling, the device supports ICS, LTE, NFC, and motion functionality.
LG Spectrum
Carrier: Verizon
Price: $100 (w/two-year contract)
LG’s never been considered a top-tier Android handset maker, and has had shade thrown at its mobile devices over the past few months. But if you’ve glanced at the Spectrum’s spec sheet and watched videos on its stunning 4.5-inch HD display, you’d consider it a top-tier smartphone. HD content looks vibrant, battery life is solid, data speeds are impressive, and mobile gaming excels thanks to the 1.5GHz dual-core CPU.
HTC Vivid
Carrier: AT&T
Price: $50 (w/two-year contract)
If you prefer performance over aesthetics, HTC’s handset is highly recommended. The 1.2GHz dual-core processor puts up big benchmarks and offers a lag-free experience. At 15Mpbs, we found the 4G LTE service to be very strong in the Tri-State area. Images, videos, and text also look crisp on the 4.5-inch Super qHD Super LCD display. Throw in ICS and you're looking at a dynamic handset.
Motorola Atrix HD
Carrier: AT&T
Price: $100 (w/two-year contract)
Motorola proved the third time's a charm by redeeming the Atrix series with its HD reboot. Borrowing from its Droid RAZR line, the phone carries some of the same dope features of its Verizon counterpart such as the Kevlar-coated exterior and Smart Actions energy conservation tool. The 4.5-inch HD panel is the main attraction here, though, generating vivid output and more pixels due to Moto’s new “Color Boost” technology. Multitasking and LTE service shine as well.
Nokia Lumia 900
Carrier: AT&T
Price: $50 (w/two-year contract)
Windows Phone 7 devices might be phased out once Microsoft unleashes its Windows 8 mobile platform this fall, but that shouldn’t steer you away from the Lumia 900. Between its sleek design, impeccable LTE connection, and dynamic Mango OS—Nokia is offering a premium handset at an unbeatable value.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Carrier(s): Sprint, Verizon
Price: FREE (w/two-year contract), $100 (w/two-year contract)
Google’s flagship device is still one of the most popular phones thanks in large part to its NFC capabilities, fast CPU, its unfettered installation of Ice Cream Sandwich, and gorgeous 4.6-inch Super AMOLED screen. Google Wallet looks to be on board for both carriers as well, with Google’s recent app update being compatible and available on the Verizon model. The fast LTE speeds and enhanced interface only add to the Nexus’ barrage of facets.
iPhone 4 (8GB)
Carrier: AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon
Price: $100 (w/two-year contract)
Minus Siri and the A5 processor, the iPhone 4 practically offers the same experience as its successor, the iPhone 4S. You’re still getting fast performance, multitasking, HD-video recording, and access to the largest app store in the mobile market, and the incredible Retina Display. What's there not to love?
HTC One X
Carrier: AT&T
Price: $100 (w/two-year contract)
Not only is the HTC One X the best buy at the moment, it’s the No.1 Android smartphone on the market. AT&T subscribers will become infatuated with what's clearly the greatest mobile camera ever built; one that allows them to capture images and videos simultaneously, while snapping pictures at insane shutter speeds of 0.7 seconds. Other notable attributes include ICS, Sense 4.0, Beats audio technology, and a strong dual-core processor. If that’s not enough, HTC has a Jelly Bean update coming down the pipe in the near future.
