Amazon subsidizing unlocked smartphones with ads -- a big win for Prime members
When Amazon launched its Kindle 'with offers', some folks likely groaned at the prospect of getting a discount on the device in exchange for advertisements. Me? I loved it. Seeing advertisements doesn't bother me, and I find a lower cost for the hardware to be a reasonable trade-off.
Today, Amazon announces that it is expanding the program beyond its own hardware. Prime members exclusively can now buy unlocked Android phones with ads on the lock screen. If you are OK with this, you can score some extreme discounts -- up to 50 percent off! Initially, there are just two devices being offered, the Moto G (2016) and BLU R1 HD.
"Amazon Prime members can now take advantage of exclusive pricing -- up to 50 percent off the full retail price -- on a selection of newly released, fully featured, unlocked Android smartphones. The all-new BLU R1 HD is only $49.99 ($50.00 off its retail price of $99.99) and the new fourth-generation Motorola Moto G is $149.99 ($50.00 off its retail price of $199.99). Each phone is offered unlocked, with no commitment to a contract, giving Prime members the flexibility to switch between wireless carriers and service options to best fit their needs", says Amazon.
The retailer further says, "the BLU R1 HD and Moto G feature Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Google Mobile Services, including Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Play. A single sign-on experience provides Prime members easy access to their Prime benefits through the most popular Amazon apps, including tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, over one million songs and playlists with Prime Music, unlimited photo storage and backup with Prime Photos, one free pre-released book a month with Kindle First, FREE two-day shipping on millions of items, and more".
These prices are amazing -- a $50 unlocked Android phone from BLU with decent specs? The ads are totally worth it! With that said, I would opt for the new Moto G. Amazon is offering an even deeper discount for it, thanks to an additional limited-time $25 discount. Motorola's newly-released phone works on Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-mobile for a paltry $124.99 -- a no-brainer for Prime members.
If you want to get in on the action, you can learn more here. Which one will you buy? Tell me in the comments.