The holidays are right around the corner, and it’s almost time to usher in the new year. The most important part of any holiday season is spending time with family and friends, but getting a few presents never hurts. Sadly, gifts from loved ones don’t always hit the mark, leaving you shopping for yourself after the holidays.
Instead of leaving it to chance, pick up what you really want instead. But don’t waste money paying retail prices — you can treat yourself on Swappa for less and save a few bucks in the process. Keep reading for our top picks this holiday season.
Hottest video game systems
It’s no secret that gaming has been on the rise. The next generation of video game consoles kicked off late last year, and we’ve seen several high-profile games released since then. We already have a guide on finding the perfect gaming gift this holiday season, but here’s a quick recap of the highlights, so you can get your game on and start 2022 off right.
Next-gen consoles
Without a doubt, the Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X were at the top of many wish lists this holiday season. Unfortunately, they’ve been massively sold out everywhere since release, and retail shortages are expected to persist for several months or longer. Thankfully, you can find PS5 and XSX consoles on Swappa. So if you’re a gamer looking for the absolute best, look no further.
Save on last-gen consoles
While the next-gen consoles may be the new hotness, both Microsoft and Sony have committed to supporting their previous-generation consoles with new games and updates for the next few years. This means you can save hundreds on a gently used PS4 or Xbox One and still play the same library of thousands of games. Last-gen base consoles start at well under $200 — less than a third of the cost of a next-gen system.
If you’re looking for higher frame rates, 4K resolution, and an even better overall experience, consider the souped-up PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X instead. These performance-enhanced consoles start at around $300 and offer many of the same benefits as their next-gen counterparts — so you can buy a game system and a bunch of games, and still come in at less than the cost of a next-gen system. Basically, with the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Portable gaming
What if portable gaming is more your style? There are plenty of great gaming phones to choose from, but it’s hard to beat the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite when looking for the best mobile gaming experience. With a massive library of over 3000 award-winning games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (best side quests), and Mario Kart 8: Deluxe; there’s always something to play on the Switch.
If you want a premium gaming experience on the go, it really doesn’t get better than the Switch and Switch Lite. The Nintendo Switch hybrid console starts at $229 on Swappa — 25% off retail pricing. And starting at just $180, the portable-only Switch Lite saves you 15%. If you want the absolute best screen when gaming on the go, you can also look at the Nintendo Switch OLED. But our recommendation is to stick with the original or the Lite, since they’re significantly cheaper and play the same games.
Best affordable iPhone deals
Next up, we have iPhones. A consistent favorite among Swappa shoppers, iPhones topped many holiday wish lists this year. But if you didn’t get the perfect iPhone this holiday season, you can pick one up for less on Swappa. There are plenty of great iPhones to choose from — and we have an iPhone Comparison Guide detailing all the relevant differences — but here are a few of our top picks.
Apple iPhone 13
Apple announced the iPhone 13 on September 16, 2021, alongside the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. We gave the iPhone 13 high praise for its A15 Bionic chip with next-generation Neural Engine, 5G wireless connectivity, vibrant 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, and versatile 12MP dual-camera setup. Unfortunately, its $829 starting price puts it out of reach of many consumers. Luckily, prices on Swappa start at just $777, meaning you can save over $50 compared to retail.
Learn more in our iPhone 13 Comparison page.
Apple iPhone 11
If you want a modern iPhone that’s even more affordable, look no further than the iPhone 11. Packing an A13 Bionic chip with Neural Engine and a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display, the iPhone 11 offers a great user experience — even in the most demanding games and apps. The iPhone 11 currently sells for $599 at the Apple Store, but you can find it on Swappa starting at $370. Why pay more? Get the same iPhone for less on Swappa.
Keep reading in our iPhone 11 Comparison page.
Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
If you want to save even more, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are great options. These iPhones are powered by the speedy A11 Bionic chip, which means that they still have quite a lot of life left. And shutterbugs will be happy knowing they’re available with up to 256GB of internal storage.
While these aren’t your best if you’re into mobile gaming, they are compatible with the latest version of iOS and can certainly get the job done when it comes to everyday apps. The best part is that you can get a gently used iPhone 8 for under $200 or 8 Plus for $250 — a small fraction of their original $699 and $799 MSRP.
Continue on to our iPhone 8 Comparison and iPhone 8 Plus Comparison pages.
Budget Android phones
The iPhones we mentioned above are great, but what if you’re an Android fan? Thankfully, there are plenty of great budget-friendly Android phones on Swappa. And since Android phones tend to lose value fairly quickly, you can get a high-end device for less.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
One of the best cheap Android phones you can buy today is the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. This previous-generation powerhouse features the 8-core Snapdragon 865 with Adreno 650 GPU, and up to 8GB of RAM. The S20 FE packs a vibrant 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth motion and HDR10+ certification for vibrant images. The S20 retails for $699, but you can pick one up on Swappa for $310 — that’s less than half its retail price!
Samsung Galaxy S10
If you want a powerful phone that’s even cheaper, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy S10. This former flagship packs an 8-core Snapdragon 855 and 8GB of RAM, meaning that you’ll be able to run any game or app with ease. Samsung originally launched the S10 for $899, but you can pick one up on Swappa today starting at just $205 — less than 25% of its original retail price!
Keep reading in our Galaxy S10 Comparison page.
Affordable smartwatches and wearables
Finally, we have wearables. There are plenty of great smartwatches to choose from, and Swappa can help you find one for less. We recently took a closer look at some of our favorite smartwatches, but here’s a quick recap:
Apple iPhone users should get an Apple Watch Series 4 or Apple Watch Series 5. Android users looking for a similar experience should get a Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. And if you’re looking for the best fitness-focused smartwatch, get a Fitbit Versa 2.
Family and friends don’t always pick the perfect gift — but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Swappa makes it safe easy to treat yourself to something nice — and save hundreds in the process.
- Best next-gen game systems: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X
- Best budget-friendly game systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Best iPhones: iPhone 13, iPhone 11
- Best Android phones: Galaxy S20 FE, Galaxy S10
- Best smartwatches: Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Fitbit Versa
No matter what you choose, you’ll always get the best deals on Swappa. And there’s still a little bit of time left to get some great tech before the holidays!
Swappa makes buying even easier with Buy Now, Pay Later. Get the tech you want today, and pay for it in 4 easy installments spread over time.
So what are you waiting for? Click on the button below to get the best deals on gently used tech.
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