I used a LOT of phones this year, including all the flagships, mid-range phones, and budget options. While the flagships were predictably great, the mid-range category has never been stronger, and if you're looking to pick up a phone during Cyber Monday, you'll find plenty of great options under $500.
Most users would automatically gravitate toward the Galaxy A54 now that it's down to $324, and for good reason — Samsung did a good job with the device, and it is decent in daily use. But there's a much better option: the Pixel 7a. Google's mid-ranger beats the Galaxy A54 in most key areas, and the best part is that the Pixel 7a is now available for just $374, so you're getting a significantly better phone for just $50 more.
