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Affordable
smartphones boast
impressive specs
What is it?Samsung
Galaxy J3
How much?$249
Pros:Truth be told, if
you want a really budget
Android, there’s a large
range of options even
cheaper than this, but the
J3 offers a strong
entry-level candidate from
a major brand. For your
money, you’ll grab a quad-
core 1.2GHz CPU, a 5-inch
Super AMOLED 1280 x
720 display, an 8MP cam-
era and 8GB storage.
Decent stuff.
Cons:Don’t expect
Galaxy S8 ($1199)
performance, but the
performance-for-price
ratioisinyourfavour.
samsung.com/auA
t some point in the last decade, the
smartphone eclipsed the PC as
the ubiquitous, must-have digital device.
Whereoncepeoplereadbooksand
newspapers on buses and trains, we
now sit glued to our tiny (and not so
tiny, these days) smartphone displays,
and with good reason too. Our phones
are the most convenient and portable
computing gadget, making even today's
svelte laptops and tablets seem some-
what cumbersome by comparison.
They're our instant connection to
Facebook and Instagram. They're our
cameras, our gaming fixes, our short-
cuts to YouTube and Google. They’re
alsousedtomakephonecallsonocca-
sion. But such is the nature of the tech
media – which loves to coo over the lat-
est slick, top-of-the-line flagships – you
could be forgiven for thinking the only
phones out there are ones costing in
excess of $1000. Not true. You can
spend a fraction of that these days and
still end up with a device that's probably
more computationally capable than
your second-last laptop. These days,
budget and mid-range smartphones
are more powerful than many people
need them to be, so why pay more?What is it?Apple
iPhone SE
How much?From $679
Pros:Eschewing the
larger formats Apple intro-
duced with the iPhone 6,
the iPhone SE crams
iPhone 6s-era tech into
a smaller 4-inch frame.
Now with 32GB storage
for the base model, the SE
is probably Apple’s most
well-regarded ‘budget’
iPhone ever, ranking #1 in
arecentUScustomersat-
isfaction survey.
Cons:Being an iPhone,
the SE still isn’t exactly
cheap – but shop around
for the first-gen 16GB
model on import and you
could save considerably.
apple.com/auWhat is it?Motorola
Moto G5 Plus
How much?From $399
Pros:Stepping things
up a little, the recently
released Moto G5 Plus is
regarded by many as one
of the best mid-range
smartphones on the mar-
ket today. A handsome
metal finish encloses an
8-core 2GHz processor, up
to 32GB of internal storage
(expandable to 128GB),
a 12MP rear camera,
fingerprint reader, and
a Full HD display.
Cons:Camera a little
dicey in low light compared
to premium smartphones,
but most users will be
pretty satisfied here.
motorola.com.auWhat is it?Friday, July 21, is National
Pyjama Day, which raises awareness
of, and funds for, children in foster care.
Hosted by the Pyjama Foundation,
the annual event encourages partici-
pants to host a fundraising event at
their home or workplace. You can host
an event, attend an event in your pyja-
mas or simply make a donation on the
day. The way you host your party is up
to you – popular choices include morn-
ing teas, book readings and pyjama
discos at schools. Just remember to
remind your attendees to make a
donation on the day.Where your money goes:
The Pyjama Foundation was founded
in 2004 to make a positive impact on
the lives of vulnerable children in foster
care. The event raised more than
$10,000lastyeartohelpfundbetter
educational resources and support
the Love of Learning Program, which
recruits, screens and trains volunteers- known as Pyjama Angels – to become
personal mentors to foster children.
How to donate:To re g is te r fo r
the event and get your host kit
and promotional materials, visit
nationalpyjamaday.com.STEPH NASH
GIVE IT UP
National Pyjama Day
THIS MONTH
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