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Amazon to Sell Discounted Unlocked Phones As Long As You Agree to Watch Ads

Jun 29, 2016, 8:22 AM by Eric M. Zeman

Amazon today announced a new promotion that will allow Amazon Prime subscribers to buy unlocked handsets at reduced prices. The first two phones eligible for the promotion include the Motorola Moto G4 (pictured) and the Blu R1 HD. Amazon said the Moto G4 will cost $150, rather than $200, and the Blu R1 HD will cost $50, rather than $100. There's a big catch, however; people who buy these phones will be required to watch ads. "The breakthrough pricing on unlocked smartphones is supported by personalized offers and ads," explained Amazon, "including deals and product recommendations, displayed on the phone's lockscreen. When a customer sees an offer, they can tap to learn more about it or simply unlock their phone to dismiss." Amazon uses a similar model to discount the price of its own Kindle-branded e-readers. Both the Moto G4 and Blu R1 HD go on sale July 12. For a limited time, Prime subscribers can get an additional $25 off the G4, dropping the total price to $125.

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Blu R1 HD Revealed In Full

Jun 29, 2016
Amazon today announced the Blu R1 HD, an inexpensive Android smartphone that will be sold unlocked starting July 12. The R1 HD boasts curved Gorilla Glass 3, a metal frame, and soft-touch paint job on the rear cover to give it a premium feel.

Motorola's Refreshed G Series Streets July 12

Jun 28, 2016
Motorola today said its fourth-generation G series smartphones will go on sale beginning July 12. The G4 will cost $199 and the G4 Plus (pictured) will cost $249.

Fourth-Gen Moto G Comes In Three Varieties

May 17, 2016
Motorola today announced the fourth-generation Moto G, which is a trio of handsets rather than a single phone. All three devices, which include the Moto G, Moto G Plus, and the Moto G Play, run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and feature slimmer designs than previous generations.