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Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy phone and fitness tracker may be the best deals in tech

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Last year’s Galaxy A15 5G was a budget champ. This year’s model may be even better.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

If you’re seeking smart tech for someone who’s not tech savvy, buying your kid their first smartphone, or simply trying to save some money with a no-frills device, you’ll want to pay attention to two new Samsung offerings. 

Samsung is bringing two popular budget devices – a smartphone and a fitness tracker – to the US for the first time on Jan. 9. 

Also: The best fitness trackers: Expert tested and reviewed

The Galaxy Fit3 debuted in select markets in February 2024 and quickly found a fanbase with its $59.99 price tag. If you’re new to fitness trackers and curious how much of a savings that is, our current list of best fitness trackers has devices that range from $160 to $450. 

Like other fitness trackers, the Fit3 is essentially a basic smartwatch. It has a 1.6-inch screen, tracks more than 100 workout types, offers metrics like stress level, blood oxygen level, and heart rate, and is IP68 water- and dust-resistant. If you wear it overnight, the Fit3 also offers sleep insights, including sleep tracking and snoring detection, and has built-in fall detection that gives you the option to call emergency services on your nearby phone.  

Samsung says the battery lasts up to 13 days with typical use, but that’s with the “Always On” display and most tracking turned off. Most online reports estimate real-use battery life at 3-4 days, depending on settings.

The Fit3 might not have all the extra features of a fancy fitness tracker, but the price should be pretty enticing if you’re just looking for something deeper than your phone’s built-in tracking.

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Samsung

Also on the way is the Galaxy A16 5G, a 6.7-inch smartphone for $199.99. It has a triple-lens camera setup with a 50MP main camera sensor, a 5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. That, of course, doesn’t match up against flagship phones, but is enough if you want basic shots. The phone has 4GB of RAM, enough for everyday tasks, and it’s IP54 rated, meaning it can handle a little water splash.

Also: The best cheap phones: Expert tested and reviewed

Perhaps the biggest selling point of this device, however, is the software updates. Samsung is promising “six generations of One UI and Android OS upgrades, as well as six years of security updates.” For comparison, Google’s most recent mid-range phone offered 7 years of updates for a price of $499. Like the Fit3, the A16’s specs aren’t exactly special, but do provide impressive value. 

The two devices will be available next week at retailers, but if you purchase directly on Samsung.com<!–>, you can score 50% off the Fit3 when you buy the A16.

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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com