Technologies

Back Market Shaves an Extra 10% Off Its Already Affordable Refurb Phones

With these holiday savings, you can pick up a top-rated iPhone or Android for hundreds off the usual price.

Phone deals are plentiful pretty much year-round, and that’s especially true around the holidays. Retailers and carriers are offering some big discounts on top-rated iPhones and Androids right now, but even with these discounts, the latest models can still be pricey.

For those on a tighter budget, shopping refurbished is one of the best ways to get a great device without totally blowing the budget. Back Market is one of our favorite and most trusted sites to buy and sell used tech, and it’s even offering an extra 10% off select models for the holidays.

Now, there are a few things you should know when it comes to shopping for used phones. The most important of which is recognizing the difference between an unlocked phone, which can be activated at any carrier, and a locked «model» that is tied to a specific provider like AT&T or Verizon.

Back Market also inspects and guarantees that each device is 100% functional, but they will probably show some signs of wear and tear. Refurbs are graded between «fair» and «premium» depending on their condition.

If you can live with some dings and scrapes, there are some serious bargains available right now. The Galaxy S25 is Samsung’s latest flagship phone and lists for $799 new, but at just $403 this refurbished AT&T model is nearly half the price. For Apple users, this previous-gen iPhone 15 Pro is still a great value at $663. It’s an unlocked model, and this offer saves you over $400 compared to shopping new. You can even grab some truly budget-friendly models like an AT&T-locked Motorola Moto G Play, which is available for just $46.

MOBILE DEALS OF THE WEEK

iPhone 17 Pro on Us With Any Condition Trade-in and Qualifying Plan
Google Pixel 10 Pro 128GB Unlocked Phone (Obsidian):

$749 (save $250)
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G 128GB Unlocked Phone (Awesome Black):

$298 (save $102)
Motorola Edge 256GB Unlocked Phone (2024 Model, Midnight Blue):

$241 (save $310)
Google Pixel 9 128GB Unlocked Phone (Obsidian):

$499 (save $300)

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why these deals matter

Shopping refurbished models is one of the easiest ways to snag a great phone on a budget, and Back Market is one of the few vendors we trust. Plus, it’s offering a 10% holiday price cut on select models, which means they’re an even better value right now.

Back Market also carries phones from just about every major brand, with options for just about every budget. That means you’re pretty much guaranteed to find a good bargain no matter what model you’re looking for or how much you’re looking to spend.

Technologies

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Might Come in 5G and 4G Cellular Models

If the rumor proves true, the 5G Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 that debuted last fall.

Samsung’s next high-end Galaxy Watch could support faster 5G speeds, but if this leak is true, it will depend on where you live. The rumored Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might come in 5G and 4G cellular models, with availability for each smartwatch depending on the country.

According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, which would succeed the original model that debuted in 2024.

A representative for Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Galaxy Club website speculates that the 5G edition would be sold in the US and Korean markets, while the 4G edition would sell in the rest of the world. In the US, a 5G version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3, which debuted last fall. The 4G edition would have broader compatibility worldwide, since the earlier network is far more established.

It will likely be a few months until we hear anything official about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung typically unveils its new watches in the summer alongside its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones. Last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, but otherwise left the prior 2024 Ultra in the lineup for those looking for a larger 47mm smartwatch.

Technologies

2 Cases Show Supreme Court Isn’t Holding ISPs Responsible for Piracy

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 8, #1032

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for April 8, No. 1032.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is kind of tough. The purple category is a fun one, once you see the connection. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: In the group.

Green group hint: Appearance details.

Blue group hint: Often found in gyms.

Purple group hint: They help you see.