Jenga Game Wooden Blocks, one of w&h's picks for Christmas gifts for kids
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Google Pixel 4a

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1. Google Pixel 4a

The overall best budget Android phone you can buy

Specifications

Display: 5.81-inch OLED, 2340x1080, 60Hz refresh rate
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Cameras: 12.2MP primary, 8MP selfie
Charging: 18W wired
Battery: 3,140 mAh
Water Resistance:
Dimensions: 144 x 69.4 x 8.2mm
Weight: 143g

Reasons to buy

+
Incredible camera
+
Excellent build quality with polycarbonate shell
+
Three years of updates
+
Clean Android build
+
Has a headphone jack

Reasons to avoid

-
Lacks wireless charging
-
Lacks water resistance
-
Only available in one size option

The Pixel 4a has one of the best cameras on this list, but it's so much more than that. It's a fantastic overall device that happens to cost a bit more than our top pick.

Google didn't change much about the Pixel 4a over its predecessor, the Pixel 3a. It kept the plastic body, the austere design, and the no-nonsense approach to Android. But what it did change, it improved on a wide scale: it's faster, has more RAM and memory, a nicer display, and three additional years of Android platform and security updates to soothe even the most critical of users.

The Pixel 4a limits user choice, though: it only comes in in one storage variety, 128GB. Unfortunately, it's also only available in one size, a 5.8-inch model that's easy to hold and use in one hand.

Where the Pixel 4a excels is in the basics. Its 3,180mAh battery lasts all day, thanks to the power-sipping properties of its upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor. Its 5.8-inch OLED display goes edge-to-edge, with only the slightest hint of a bezel and a camera cutout near the top left. There's only a single camera on the back, too, but that 12MP sensor combines with Google's best-in-class post-processing for the best photos you'll find in a phone at this price point. It's so good. In fact, you'll have a hard time telling the difference between photos produced on the Pixel 4a and those from the much more expensive Pixel 4.

So, where does the Pixel 4a cut costs? There's no wireless charging or water resistance, and the plastic body, despite a premium matte finish, can feel a little less premium than its metal-and-glass counterparts. Otherwise, this is a near-perfect phone for its very reasonable price and should be at the top of your list if you can spring the extra money over the Moto G Power.

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Fitbit Inspire 2 - Smartwatch

Fitbit Inspire 2 - Smartwatch

A ridiculously good deal

The Fitbit Inspire 2 is a really fascinating product. On its own, it's a fully-fledged fitness tracker that doesn't cost a lot of money. You get all-day activity tracking, 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, 10-day battery life, and more. The cherry on top is that it comes with a free year of Fitbit Premium, effectively making it free.

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Fitbit Inspire 2 - Smartwatch
Free Year

Fitbit Inspire 2 - Smartwatch

A ridiculously good deal

The Fitbit Inspire 2 is a really fascinating product. On its own, it's a fully-fledged fitness tracker that doesn't cost a lot of money. You get all-day activity tracking, 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, 10-day battery life, and more. The cherry on top is that it comes with a free year of Fitbit Premium, effectively making it free.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce lacinia vulputate sapien ut ultrices. Mauris varius condimentum tempor. Donec id vestibulum erat, et consequat ipsum. Aliquam non posuere nibh, ultrices pulvinar turpis. Morbi in metus ac odio tempor venenatis et sed magna. Curabitur gravida viverra odio, lobortis tempor velit imperdiet ut. Duis urna odio, ultrices in diam eget, varius auctor dolor. Maecenas sodales tincidunt vulputate. Sed mattis dapibus erat ultrices blandit. Phasellus sodales feugiat odio at sollicitudin. Ut at eros elit. Vivamus libero dui, luctus interdum luctus ut, viverra sagittis lacus. Morbi imperdiet velit diam, sed auctor ligula semper eget. Etiam ac justo eget massa mattis porttitor eget sollicitudin nunc.

Phasellus rhoncus dui at enim condimentum eleifend. Duis vitae laoreet nunc. Vestibulum in ligula erat. Quisque felis eros, sagittis at odio quis, hendrerit fringilla diam. Duis vulputate diam volutpat nunc dictum, in laoreet orci maximus. Sed porta velit nec sapien feugiat, at accumsan augue bibendum. Quisque ullamcorper fringilla turpis, non fringilla dolor lobortis sit amet. Morbi quis enim vel lorem bibendum hendrerit id a elit. In ultrices ornare ultrices. Vestibulum turpis justo, facilisis ac cursus sit amet, pellentesque nec ex. Donec a tortor ante. Sed id neque pretium, rhoncus neque quis, maximus ante.

Ross Curtis
Senior Product Manager