The HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are currently being offered for nearly half their original prices on eBay, and if you are looking for high-end smartphones that cost relatively cheap, this could be your best chance to get one.
An unlocked version of the One M9 is available on eBay for $379.99, which is far less than the $708 customers would have to pay if they purchased the handset for its full price from one of the carriers.
Take note that the variant currently being offered is available for 32 GB and Gunmetal Gray only. The phone isn't brand new; it is actually a refurbished One M9 from AT&T, which allows the seller to drop the price to its current level.
But since this is an unlocked version, the phone will still work on non-AT&T and GSM carriers. Those who use T-Mobile's network, however, will only be able to use HSPA on the carrier's refarmed 1,800 MHz frequency, but LTE will still be available wherever the coverage permits.
A refurbished version of the Galaxy Note 4 is also available for $369.99, which is a good $330 off its original price of $699. Like the One M9, this is also a 32 GB version from AT&T, but it is available in two colors, Frost White and Charcoal Black.
The seller notes that the Galaxy Note 4 is in excellent condition but with minor signs of use, such as some light scratches or scuffs on the casing. However, the phone should still be fully functional and working as expected.
For those who can't decide which of these two phones to get, we recommend that you go for the Galaxy Note 4 instead. While the One M9 is a newer smartphone unveiled in March, it is not without its problems, particularly an overheating processor and a bad camera.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Note 4, which was launched in October, is currently the top-of-the-line device in Samsung's phablet range and is expected to be replaced by the new Galaxy Note 5 later this month.
Unlike the One M9, this 5.7-inch smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 805 processor. Although it predates the former's Snapdragon 810, this chipset is not known for its thermal problems, and it is paired with a good 3 GB of memory to offer fast performance.
Users also have the advantage of having the S Pen, Samsung's critically acclaimed stylus, as well as a microSD slot and removable battery, two features that will not be coming to the Galaxy Note 5.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns | Flickr
