Opt for Android Smartphones: 3 Editors' Choice Deals, Get a $100 Gift Card

You'd have to be a smartphone hermit to steer clear of all the Apple gossip surrounding another iPhone update. But let's not ignore our favorite Android devices, either. Check out these Android smartphone deals that include three Editors' Choice handsets, including deals from Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and more. And don't forget to check out our daily smartphone deals for more models.

1. $100 American Express Card with Smartphone Purchase
   Vendor: Sprint
   Price: From $0 with free shipping
   Lowest By: At least $36
   Expires: August 26

   Is It Worth It?: With this Editors' Choice deal, you can get a $100 American Express Reward Card and free activation on select smartphones with a new 2-year service agreement. Did someone say free activation? And a $100 reward card? Yowza! Some phones eligible for this deal actually cost $0 before the reward card.

   A best bet is the Motorola Photon Q 4G Smartphone for Sprint (pictured) with the $100 gift card for $199.99 — a low by $112, assuming you use the credit. (It's the first phone on the page.) Features include a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4.3" 540x960 ColorBoost LCD, up to 7.5-hour talk time, 1GB RAM, 8-megapixel 1080p rear camera, 720p front-facing camera, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0, and Android 4.0 OS (Ice Cream Sandwich).

2. Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G Google Android Smartphone for Verizon Wireless
   Vendor: Best Buy
   Price: Free with free shipping
   Lowest By: $50

   Is It Worth It?: An Editors' Choice laurel goes to this Android phone, which you get for free with a new or extended 2-year contract. CNET says this smartphone "marries the power of the Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS with the speed of Verizon's LTE network" and that the phone's "beautiful screen and internal performance are top-notch."

   Features include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4.65" 1280x720 multi-touch AMOLED, 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, 1080p HD video, GPS, 802.11n wireless with mobile hotspot (requires additional service), Bluetooth 3.0, 32GB internal memory, Google Android 4.0 OS (Ice Cream Sandwich), and more. Note that a $35 activation fee applies for new accounts, while a $30 upgrade fee applies for existing accounts.

3. Unlocked BLU Studio 5.3 Android Smartphone
   Vendor: newegg
   Price: $199.99 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $35

   Is It Worth It?: This Editors' Choice discount on the BLU Studio smartphone is not only $55 under our April mention, but it's also the lowest total price we've seen for any unlocked Android phone with a 5.3" LCD. This dual-SIM GSM world phone features a 5.3" 800x480 touchscreen LCD, microSD slot, 5-megapixel rear camera, 0.3-megapixel front camera, video recording, FM radio, Bluetooth, GPS, microUSB connectivity, Android OS 2.3 (Gingerbread), and more.

4. HTC One V Android Smartphone for Virgin Mobile
   Vendor: Virgin Mobile
   Price: $159.99 in-cart with free shipping
   Lowest By: $20

   Is It Worth It?: To get this deal, you'll need to go to "Shop" and then "Android-Powered Phones" and select the second option in the top row. Add it to your cart, and its price drops to $159.99. While CNET believes that demanding Android fans will be displeased with the HTC One V's performance, it admits that the "premium design and low, no-contract price makes it a steal on Virgin Mobile."

   This CDMA phone features a 3.7" 480x800 touchscreen LCD, 1GHz single-core processor, 5-megapixel camera, GPS, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth 3.0, 512MB RAM, 4GB built-in memory, Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS, and more.

5. Unlocked Mobile REXX 52 Dual SIM Android Smartphone,
   Vendor: eXpansys
   Price: $179.99 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $75

   Is It Worth It?: Here's a catch for those seeking an unlocked phone with some nice bells and whistles at a reasonable price. This dual-SIM GSM phone features a 5.3" capacitive touchscreen LCD, microSD slot, 5-megapixel rear camera, 0.3-megapixel front camera, Bluetooth, GPS, microUSB connectivity, Android OS 2.3 (Gingerbread), and more. Additional storage is supported up to 32GB via the microSD slot.

Lou Carlozo is a dealnews contributing writer. He covers personal finance for Reuters Wealth, and was most recently the managing editor of WalletPop.com, and before that a veteran columnist at the Chicago Tribune.

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