Deals: Various OnePlus models on offer, Honor Magic V2 is half off

As the saying goes, “old is gold”. The 16/256GB unit of the OnePlus 11 costs less than £400 now. True, this is a 2023 model, which means it’ll be 2 years old soon, but flagships are aging slower than ever these days.

For starters, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is better than most mid-range chipsets. And OnePlus is on track to get 4 major OS updates (it’s already discontinued and Android 15 is coming soon) and 5 years of security patches. This still gives the phone three years of useful life left.

Looking at other options in this price range, we get the OnePlus Nord 4. Its Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 is one of those mid-range chips that rivals the 8 Gen 2. However, the 50MP main camera (1/1.95″ sensor) and 8MP ultra-wide look basic compared to the 50MP main (1/1.56″), 32MP 48mm telephoto and 48MP ultra-wide on the 11. The Nord has slightly better water resistance (IP65 vs IP64) and a larger battery (5,500mAh vs 5,000mAh), with both phones supporting 100W wired charging only. The Nord will receive an additional OS update because it is a new model.

The OnePlus 12 is definitely better than the 11 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, plus a longer 70mm lens for the telephoto camera – which now has a 64MP sensor to boot. Also, the new phone has a larger battery (5,400mAh) and supports 50W wireless charging in addition to 100W wired. OnePlus didn’t really fix water resistance with this and only certified the phone at IP65. The OnePlus 12 is currently £750 for a 12/256GB unit, but last week it was £650, so maybe now isn’t the best time to buy it.

The OnePlus 12R is currently £550, but last week it was also £100 cheaper, which would put it closer to the OnePlus 11. The 12R uses the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, however, its camera lacks a tele lens and ultra-wide. Only has 8MP resolution. The battery is larger at 5,500mAh but charging is the same (100W wired only). Water resistance is the same at IP64.

Another model with the “oldie but golden” label is the Honor Magic V2. It was originally scheduled to launch in 2023, but it took until early 2024 to reach Europe – and that’s when it was priced at £1,700. Well, it now costs £800, which is a lot cheaper than your typical horizontal foldable flagship. It’s older, yes, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

However, the 50MP main camera is joined by a 20MP telephoto module (62mm lens) and a 50MP ultra-wide, which is better than your typical horizontal foldable, even from the 2024. Additionally, it measures 10.1mm in thickness and weighs 231g when closed, less than the Galaxy Z Fold6 Special Edition (10.6mm and 236g). It packs a large 5,000mAh battery with fast 66W charging (the Galaxy has a 4,400mAh battery with 25W charging).

Changing stances, the CMF Phone 1 is one of the best value-for-money models in the entry-level segment. It has a good quality 6.67” FHD+ 120Hz OLED display and a relatively fast Dimensity 7300 chipset. A 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging, a 50MP camera (no UW or Tele) and the promise of 2 OS updates (the first will be Android 15) also sounds good at this price. The removable back part is a bit of a gimmick, but you can have some fun with it.

The Honor Pad 9 has a larger 12.1” IPS LCD (10-bit, 120Hz), while costing around £200. It’s not the fastest with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, but it’s great for streaming with its 8 speakers. Additionally, for a slightly higher price, you can get it bundled with a keyboard cover for school or office use.

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Finally, a way to keep track of valuables like keys and backpacks – a smart tag. If you have an Android, especially a Galaxy phone, the Galaxy SmartTag 2 is worth a look. iPhone users should look at the Apple AirTag instead.